From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Jan 11 10:19:24 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:19:24 -0800 Subject: Interlinear Introduction Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* January 11, 2011 *INTRODUCTION - THE OUTLINED INTERLINEAR GREEK NT - 2011-01-07* *A. BRIEF HISTORY - And Background for this Project* *My grandfather, James Alexander Watt emigrated from Scotland with 4 brothers in the mid 1850's. He settled in Gananoque, Ontario, and supervised a 7-year apprenticeship for my father in his machine shop. After two years more of university, my father James Wilfred Watt entered the field of steam and electrical engineering. This followed the steps of James Watt of Greenock, Scotland, who perfected the steam engine with 6 improvements, chiefly the condenser, which conserved the heat of the steam, making it some 40% more efficient. The existing steam engine in the Scottish mines of that day was only 5% efficient.* *At the age of 44 he was chief engineer of the smelter in Trail, BC, at which time he married my mother, Eva Maude Mosher, who had served as a nurse in France during World War I with the Canadian forces. My father's oldest son from his first marriage, was chief electrical engineer over 22 Rainier Mills in BC.* *When people asked me - with your name, are you related to the steam engine inventor? I reluctantly confessed that I was, though all the Watt genes had skipped me, and I could scarcely fix a bicycle. A relative of mine in Anacortes, Washington said, ?Cheer up - your ancestors and family may excel in steam, electrical and computer power - but God has given you a gift in spiritual power!? I have felt better ever since.* *My paternal grandmother remarried George R. Gordon after the death of my grandfather in Vancouver, BC. During depression days, he very faithfully left a 32 page pamphlet from England each month for 4 years entitled, ?The Lily Series?, at a farm we leased from him in Langley BC. I read each of these starting at the age of 10, and because I heard no clear gospel message in our church, determined to go to England when old enough, and find God there.* *After graduating from the Alberni District High School on Vancouver Island in 1941, I worked as a Lumber clerk, invoicing for ships and railroad cars leaving Port Alberni. I was chagrined to find the number of errors I made at the first. Following a very serious resolve, I aimed to have no errors pass my desk in the future, by double and triple checking all that went through me. They doubled my salary within a year, and promised me a far better job if I went to University and obtained an accounting degree. This ?checking? habit starting when I was 18, is something that has carried forward into this Interlinear Project. * *In 1943 at the age of 19, I was attending the University of British Columbia in the Field of Accountancy. I still did not know God, but I did regularly read my Bible, based on 4 years of Bible Study I did from the age of 10-14 through our denominational take home Sunday School paper. While I was reading Psalm 107:23-24 in the Fall of 1942, I sensed God saying to me - ?Join the Navy - and I'll reveal Myself to you.? I did so in June of 1943, and read 100 books in the next 9 months trying to find Him. I finally turned to the Bible and the NT. When I got to the book of Romans I discovered the way to know Him, but I felt the cost was too high. However, after hours of really praying for the first time in my life, I promised that if He'd reveal Himself to me - I'd serve Him according to the Bible the rest of my life. No answer. So I prayer it twice more. On the third time I knew He had heard me. He then led me to go and tell my former Communist chum from UBC, that I could no longer study communism with him, because I had made a commitment to God according to the Bible. As soon as I found myself making this confession, immediately God put the Spirit of the new birth within me, and I knew Him for the first time. This was at Passover 1944, and I was then 20 years old. I have never looked back, and it definitely gets better year by year.* *Just before joining the Navy, I went on a Vancouver Island tour with the Vancouver Kitsilano Boys' Band under Arthur Delamont, so it was natural for me to join the Navy as a Seaman-Bandsman.* *That Summer, Dr. Jewell of Calgary, Alberta, a Russian Jew, approached me as a new believer and asked, ?You are called to the ministry, no?? I assented that was so. ?You would like to know Greek, no?? Again I assented. ?If I taught you Greek, would you study the works of the great Ivan Panin?? Never heard of the great Ivan Panin. But if for a little study I could get free Greek, why not? So I immediately agreed!* *That was the last I saw of Dr. Jewell. No one in a church of 400 could remember having seen him. I knew he couldn't have been an angel, because he left me with 2 pamphlets on Panin, listing some 20 publications either by him or concerning him. 20 years later someone heard me recount the above, and clearly informed me of Jewell's residency in Calgary.* *I was drafted from HMCS Naden in Esquimalt outside of Victoria to HMCS Cornwallis in Nova Scotia just before World War II ended. If one had a job or school to go to following the War, he could get an immediate discharge. I had neither. Desperately I stayed up in the ship's laundry all one night fasting and praying for a school to go to. At 5:00 in the morning, God showed me something wrong I had done before I was a Christian, and assured me that except I made it right, I would stay in the Navy an extra year. I made full plans to right the wrong, and immediately received the words, ?Write George R. Hawtin, Bethel Bible Institute, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and apply as a student.? No address given, but it got there. I was admitted, and the Captain of our naval base shipped me to Victoria for my discharge, and then on to Saskatoon. I spent one year at this Institute. This was God's working, because I became well-known to the principal, and when the Revival broke out in February of 1948, I was invited to share as one of the 7 elders at the Summer Camp Meeting. All of this is extremely significant, as will soon appear.* *I was now getting Classical Greek through Dr. Leddy - Rhode's Scholar and head of the Department of Greek at the University of Saskatchewan, so I didn't need to study the works of the great Ivan Panin. But I still had the 2 pamphlets Dr. Jewell had given me and thought - ?Why not?? I received a discharge gift from the Navy, and I was unmarried, so I could afford to order all the books listed there either by or concerning Panin. So I did. When they arrived the Fall of 1945, I discovered in the Introduction to Panin's Bible Numeric Greek NT this note: - When it went to press at the Oxford Press of England for printing, Panin discovered too late that Bible Numerics even established for every NT Book what was a true Sentence, Subdivision, Paragraph and Section or Chapter Equivalent. I am a great Outliner - so I thought - ?What Book should I try this out on? I'll do Ephesians, because it is one of my favorites.?* *I can still - 66 years later - remember the awe that came when I surveyed Ephesians in this new Outlined form! By 1967 I had the entire NT of Panin outlined, both English and Greek, in an interlinear format. I typed up his complete English translation, and then by hand copied out his Greek text in an interlinear format, summarizing it all in the 4-fold pattern Panin had discovered by Bible Numerics. I already had seen how he established his Greek text through Bible Numerics with no alternate readings. The 3000 alternate readings in the Westcott and Hort Greek NT, soon gave way to the original reading, from among the 7 quite complete NT Greek Manuscripts, plus the 1000's of Greek fragments.* *Like Panin, I did all of this without computer. Then in 1996 I was given a computer and printer by a friend and taught how to use them. In 2000 AD, my oldest son Jim provided me with a Website. Then in 2007 my grandson Keelan Long updated this Website by undergirding it with data-processing. When he looked at my format for the Interlinear, he said that it was difficult to read everything in black type. He suggested I leave the Outline titles and the English type in black, but the Greek text in lighter type, creating a contrast. You will note that this I have done. He has also done some innovative work on the home page - making it easier for readers to find the various divisions in the Interlinear, Embryonics, and other divisions.* *In the summer of 1946 I returned to complete my university work, this time at the University of Saskatchewan, where I graduated cum laude in 1948. I took part in the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and was chosen as their speaker and teacher for some 100 students. Their male quartet traveled the Province of Saskatchewan, and invited me along as their speaker. They knew about my goal back then to put Panin's Bible Numeric Greek and English NT into an Interlinear format, accompanied with my notes. They said - ?Hurry up and get it done, and we'll all buy copies.? I fear some are already in heaven!* *Because God had called me to the ministry even before I knew Him - now that I had come to an intimate relationship with Him - I not only enrolled for a pre-theological degree at the University, but also at St. Andrew's College - one of our United Church of Canada Seminaries. I soon discovered however, how ?modernistic and liberal? was my denomination and this seminary. I won 6 of the students to the Lord. But twice every lecture the OT professor would say - ?Where does that put your inspiration of Scriptures?? Except for the unusual mathematical proof of the Scriptures by Panin, I don't know if I could have stood! Dr. Oliver as founder and first president of St. Andrews, was questioned by a minister: ?Don't you know that 60% of the young men preparing for the ministry expect to be grounded in Bible belief in your seminary? Aren't you afraid they will graduate like this?? His reply - ?Our Master was very wise in His parable of the mystery of growth: first the blade - then the ear - then the full corn in the ear. We have these boys 7 years. In the first 2 we can rid them of these old-fashioned ideas - and in the next 5 years build into them something better - and if one in 100 slips through our hands - we can afford to take that chance!? This is wisdom from beneath! I soon resigned from 4 positions in my denomination. It was largely God's Bible Numerics through Panin that saved and delivered me! This Interlinear Greek NT is not mine - nor Panin's - but God's. God led Panin to discover the phenomenon, though he was not the first. Another one preceding him by a century was Dr. Astruc, a French physician. However - it was Panin who brought the discovery through to a successful conclusion with the Greek text and its English translation after 50 years and 100,000 hours labor. He died in 1942, disappointed that an ?Interlinear? had not been produced. He turned down the Jehovah's Witness offer to do so, because they were a cult.* *So God soon laid it on my heart to do so in 1945 - though it has taken 66 years to see its fruition.* *B. Format for This Project. There are many different Interlinear Greek NT's on the market. There are 9 areas of difference between this Bible Numeric edition and the majority of others that are available.* *First, it is an Outlined Interlinear Greek NT, based on the Discovery of Ivan Panin, just before his Greek Bible Numeric text went to press. It was then too late to incorporate this recent discovery into his text, but it does appear in his English Version. I took this latter and worked backwards, and updated his Greek text to accord with the English one. I then outlined each sentence with a title of eight words or less. These I gathered up and summarized these titles into subdivision; the subdivisions into paragraphs; the paragraphs into sections; and the sections into Book Summaries.* *Textual Critics often spend up to 60% of their space and time seeking to understand the original texts and its subdivision. With God's Bible Numeric discovery by Ivan Panin and his 50 years of 100,000 hours of work - we now can go directly to the text, and see wonders through this context that does not appear in any other text.* *The second departure from regular interlinears, is that the Greek text is transliterated, so that laymen who wish, can more easily handle it. It uses the Berlitz method of transliteration, which capitalizes the accented syllable, and hyphenates all other syllables not directly adjoining the capitalized one. This aids in a more accurate pronunciation. Dr. Leddy mentioned above, said that from Classical to Koine Greek, the 3 accent marks ceased to have as great importance in both their usage and differences.* *The third departure - the English words in the translation do notimmediately appear under its Greek equivalent. Rather, as Ken Taylor in his Living Bible made a thought by thought translation, so this interlinear has clause by clause or sentence by sentence equivalents.* *Four - rather than formatting the texts in prose form, both English and Greek are centered, as closely as possible clause to clause - or sentence to sentence. This aids the layman to read the English text in its regular word order, and eliminates the necessity of having another full translation at the outer margin.* *Winston Churchill and Dr. Peter Marshall also used this method. * *Five. The English translation is in black type, so that those not interested in the Greek transliteration, can pick it up more easily.* *Six. The Strong's number when it appears with a significan Greek word, follows that word in brackets, rather than requiring an extra line above.* *Seven. In Greek there are two forms for the letter ?e? and ?o?. So that you may differentiate between the two, the long ?e? and ?o? are underlined.* *Eight. English ?help? words in the translation that do not appear in the original are in ?Italics.? The Authorized King James version and most other translations follow this same format.* *Nine. The ?iota subscript? is a vestigial form standing for the letter ?iota? in ancient Greek. It helps to identify the Dative Cases as one of its purposes. It is appreciated by advanced students. However, my computer does not include this ?subscript?, and because the majority of readers who will use this Interlinear NT will not make use of it, it has been omitted. Scholars can easily verify each occurrence.* *Ten. The Definite Article ?the? in Greek is of great importance. Latin does not have this part of speech. The King James Authorized Version is declared to be a translation directly from the Greek, but the definite Greek article is not correctly used. It seems apparent that the translators of the 611 AD version relied far more heavily on the Latin Vulgate than the Greek originals. Panin has been very careful to give this Greek part of speech its proper place. When it does not make sense to use it in his translation, he puts it in as a ?colon? (:) in front of the noun or verb form it modifies. Those who understand the importance of this part of speech, will appreciate being made aware of it presence.* *Eleven. Punctuation in the Greek differs in some points from English. Because the Greek has been in our case transliterated into English letters, I have taken the liberty to change into the Greek text, the English ?colon,? ?semi-colon,? and ?question.?* *Twelve. There is a ?rough breathing,? and a ?smooth breathing? in Greek. The former has an apostrophe facing the word starting with a vowel. It has been transliterated with ? ' ? in the transliteration. The ?smooth breathing? is not pronounced, and is traditionally not transliterated.* *Thirteen. But most of all, the two texts employed are those of Ivan Panin's Numeric Greek and English New Testaments. There is absolutely no deviation from Dr. Panin's Greek text. However a very few minor changes have been made in his English translation. ?Ye? has been replaced with ?you?; ?whilom? has been replaced with ?former,? because of its archaic nature. You can trust that except for such very minor changes, you are reading exactly as Panin himself made his translation, even to the punctuation. He was a master of English, and though nearly 100 years have passed since he made his translation, we could not feel justified in making any other changes. If you purchase his translation, you can check how faithful we have adhered to his text.* *Fourteen. Dr. Panin discovered there was no Lexicon or Dictionary accurate enough for his requirements in producing his Greek NT. Perhaps one of the best in his day showed no Numerics concerning the number of references to the Name of ?Moses? in the Bible. Had there been one extra reference, Numerics would have been evident. He found the missing reference from this Lexicon in the book of Hebrews. So Numerics even caught this error. So for 10 years, Panin worked in producing a Bible Numeric Greek Lexicon, with all vocabulary words of the NT perfectly aligned together. Then and then only was he able to produce this Greek text with no alternate readings. This Lexicon also guided in making choice of the proper word in translating this Greek text. ?Washings? to replace ?Baptism? is completely out of order according to this.* *Fifteen. I am still in favor of a traditional Interlinear Greek NT for serious students and scholars, who desire the Greek text non-transliterated, and the English text placed word for word under the corresponding Greek words. There is a possibility of one taking on this formidable task.* *Sixteen. Sentence Summary outlines are preceded by lower case letters of the alphabet. The summaries are 8 words or less - like a newspaper headline - to give an insight into the meaning of the sentence. A space is left above each sentence. The summaries are not inspired. The reader is encouraged to substitute his own summary where that in the text doesn't satisfy him.* *Seventeen. Subdivisions are preceded by Arabic Numbers; Paragraphs by Upper Case Alphabetical letters; Sections or chapter equivalents by Roman Numerals. Readers are encouraged to substitute their summaries for these also, just like for sentences.* *Eighteen. It is interesting to note that only the 66 books of our Hebrew and Greek bible show the Numerical phenomenon. The Apocrypha books of the Bible do not have it - nor any other religious book of any other religion. God has used ?Mathematics? as His Signature to put His non-counterfeiting mark upon His Word.* *Nineteen. Motivation on my part to produce this Interlinear - came because of a former friend who pretended to be a friend of Panin also, but by an Interlinear he produced unilaterally - violated so many of the above principles, that for two years I could not even look at it. Then in the last ten years I sensed God saying to me, ?Why don't you produce for Me an Interlinear Greek NT?? So at the age of 84 and with the help of my grandson, I commenced this work which in 3 years is now complete.* *The importance for this brand of Interlinear in the light of ?The Automated Laser-Telescope? and ?Spiritual Star Wars?, you as a reader will be able to discern.* *C. Helpful Details and Additions.* *One. This Bible Numeric Interlinear Greek NT came out as individual mailings with a NOTE attached to each one. For the printing - because of space and cost - it was thought best to eliminate the NOTES in each case. However, the complete Interlinear Greek NT with NOTES does appear on our Website under ?Interlinear.? So for those readers who wish to see what the NOTES might contain for all 260 NT chapters - they areavailable. * *Two. As you can note under ?A? - the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles for 1948 in Northern Canada are also on our Website listed under ?Embryonics.?* *Three. There is also an ?Archive? Section on our Website, that has several articles on Ivan Panin and Bible Numerics.* *Four. For those interested in documenting some of the statements in this Introduction, you can go to our Website under ?Interlinear?. At the bottom of the ?Notes on Numeric Interlinear NT by Ivan Panin? is a URL for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. Click on that, and an article will come up entitled ?Reaching Unbelievers through Bible Numerics? written by Jim & Marie Watt. Under one of 5 links entitled ?Dr. Keith L. Brooks?, you will find ?A List of Dr. Ivan Panin's Works in Print?. There you will find copies of both of Ivan Panin's Bible Numeric NT's. I would warmly recommend ?Absolute Mathematical Proofs @ $1.00 by Keith L. Brooks, 15 pp.; plus ?Mathematics Prove Holy Scriptures? @ $5.00, 158 pp. by Karl Sabiers.* *James Watt* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Jan 11 17:31:06 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:31:06 -0800 Subject: Interlinear Format? Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* January 11, 2011 *GREEK INTERLINEAR NT FORMAT & PRINTING* *HISTORY BEHIND THIS FORMAT* *January 10, 2011* *December 7, 1941 was critical in the Days of World War II, especially for Britain. Pearl Harbor brought the US and Britain together as Allies. Churchill immediately came over to the States to consult with FDR re finishing off Hitler in Europe, before taking on Japan in the Pacific. This was agreed upon.* *While Churchill was in America, he was invited to address the joint houses of Congress: both Senate and House of Representatives. He introduced his speech by saying - that if the role of his parents had been reversed: and his father was American and his mother English - he might have made it over here as an American on his own!* *Following his speech, a cub reporter spotted that he had inadvertently dropped one of its pages. He nabbed it, and it was printed on the front page of leading newspapers across America.* *There were no speech writers in Churchill's day, and he agonized over every word of each speech. (Lincoln followed the same pattern.) He first dictated it to his secretary. Then he took this copy and worked it over strongly - even word by word, making changes even up to speech time.* *The final copy is set out in ?blank verse format?,* *set out like the book of Psalms.* *It looks like poetry, it brings it to life,* *It gives him, I think, the rhythm -* *it enables that great Churchill oratory.* *Now here Behind the ?Blood, sweat and tears? speech,* *that is no more evident than in the final page.* *But on December 7, 1941, Dr. Peter Marshall, Pastor of New York's famous Presbyterian Church, was asked to speak at West Point Military Academy to the young Cadets. He felt he just had to change his message at the last moment, and received permission to do so. It was a message exactly fitting for young men who would within hours be called up to war - many losing their lives!* *By the end of the decade he had the honor of being chosen as Chaplain of the US Senate. Before he was 50, he died of a heart attack. His widow Catherine wrote his biography, ?A Man Called Peter,? but first she selected 10 of his sermons and entitled the book, ?Mr. Jones - Meet the Master!? * *From the ?Preface? we read the following words - ?Printed sermons are often as uninteresting as warmed-over potatoes. This is because they are designed to be heard, and are dependent on the preacher's personality for much of their effectiveness.* *In the pages which follow, these difficulties have been largely surmounted by the use of an unusual format. Peter Marshall always preached with a complete manuscript before him. These sermons have been set up just as his manuscripts were typed.* *Grateful acknowledgment is made to Dr. Trevor Mordecai, formerly pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, Alabama, who first suggested this form to Dr. Marshall twenty years ago.* *Originally intended for ease in reading, the style eventually became an integral part of Peter Marshall's work. It adapted itself to his vivid imagination and strong poetic streak.* *On the printed page it conveys much of the force of his personality make articulate, almost audible, the written word. We believe that this style will add much to your reading enjoyment.?* *Catherine in 1949 felt God leading her to print up these 10 sermons in this format.* *In 1941 I cut out and filed away Churchill's printed fallen Manuscript page of this form of speech. Since then I have used his format to preparing this Interlinear Greek manuscript.* *Then in 1945 I received a Commission from God to prepare a manuscript to fulfill Ivan Panin's dream: An Interlinear Greek NT using his Greek and English Bible Numeric texts.* *I had prepared the full NT/MS by 1967; I had typed up his entire English NT on the above format, and inserted by hand the entire Greek NT. I then outlined it all sentence by sentence - summarizing these into paragraph subdivision; these into paragraphs; these into sections or chapter equivalents; and these into complete NT Book Summaries.* *While in the above process, I heard God's voice, ?Get My NT done!? I flew out of bed very early in the morning, and have worked to fulfillment ever since. I brought my wife Marie to Pilot Baseball games in Seattle in the early 60's, and while she watched, I inserted the Greek text into this format, plus the titling and summarizing process. I even missed a grand-slam by pitcher Broadbender!* *Then in 2007 I got the word to put all of this on computer, transliterating the Greek text. I finished this task 3 years later, December 31, 2010.* *Printers have now come to plan the printing of this unusual work.* *I felt God gave the format for the project back in 1941 before I was even a believer, through Winston Churchill, and confirmed in 1949 through Peter Marshall.* *I acknowledge that their format uses up much more space than ?prose?. But for laymen who have a problem picking up main and subordinate clauses from prose - this poetic type of format makes it easy to see these sentence relationships.* *Not only that, but as one reads this text like a Churchill speech or a Peter Marshall sermon - it enables that same Churchill oratory or Peter Marshall preaching to come to the lay-reader. It works for scholars too!* *Problem: Now to conserve space in the printing process - what can be done to preserve God's original intent in this format - and yet meet the practical demands of the Printer to conserve space and cut costs?* *Just as in Congress - bills are debated and adjusted, so that reasonable compromise can be met.* *We could eliminate spaces between sentence and paragraph subdivision. That would be a large saving. We could cut spaces between paragraphs and section or chapter equivalents.* *In short clauses or sentences, we could have the Greek transliteration share the line with the English.* *We could ensure that all one line sentences have the English serve dual duty as ?titles? as well.* *In shorter clauses, we could put them together.* *All of this would save a great amount of space - yet without compromising the Churchillian and Peter Marshall ?blank verse? format.* *I will set up several pages showing these revision and present to our printers. They are not only business men - but also prophetic. I am sure that in the light of God's interest in all of this for laymen, that this possibly could tend to come much closer to their practical goals.* *If you as readers will go to our Website and click on Interlinear, the full NT has now been posted there. Casually, or even closely, look it over. See if these adjustment could be made while yet retaining the original integrity. Please let us know.* *Direct links to PDF files.* *Original: http://2rbetter.org/other/Matthew_5:1-16.pdf* *Condensed: http://2rbetter.org/other/Matthew_5:1-16-condensed.pdf* *I have contacted another author in this regard. He believes God will give a word of wisdom that will satisfy God's heart, my heart, the heart of the printers - and you too as readers!* *We do need this Interlinear Greek NT production in print in the not too distant future. There are some 250 prayer groups in Canada numbering up to 2000 - in cities, towns and villages right across the Dominion. They undergird mayors and councils in weekly prayer in these venues. They could profitably use this Key Component part of the Spiritual Star Wars Effect that comes from God's Automated Laser Telescope.* *That would have to be multiplied by ten or much more to meet the needs of the Untied States. Already a man from Pakistan, proficient in both Urdu and Hindi, has offered to translate this into these two languages. Ken Taylor's Living Bible went into some 40 languages.* *It does seem that God delayed Ivan Panin's hope of a soon production of this in 1941 - that it might have a special effect for the end of this age and the return of His Son. - Jim Watt* *P.S. This is not my Interlinear Greek NT - nor is it even Ivan Panin's Bible Numeric Greek and English texts. He merely discovered in the late 1890's what God had put in His Hebrew Bible text 4000 years ago, and the Greek text 3000 years ago. Panin even wasn't the first to discover this. Dr. Astruc of France, a physician, discovered it among others a century before. Panin merely obeyed God in producing these two texts. I have merely obeyed God in putting these two together. It is God's Interlinear Greek NT for His last days purposes! JW. * *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Jan 22 14:47:18 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:47:18 -0800 Subject: Russia's Gift to Christianity Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *January 22, 2011 * *DR. IVAN PANIN* - RUSSIA'S GIFT TO CHRISTIANITY - As we attempt to capture the essence of this remarkable man and his enormous contribution to the cause of Christ, a sense of frustration is immediately encountered because of unyielding constraints the need for brevity forces upon us. Many books have been devoted to what we must condense, but we encourage the reader to further investigate the discoveries of Dr. Panin through that which has been written by him and about him. (Book list and ordering information is available on *www.2rbetter.org . *At the close of the Introduction under ?Interlinear?, is a ?URL?. Click on Dr. Keith L. Brooks in this article, and all of this will appear.) Ivan Panin was born in Russia on December 12, 1855 and as a young man he was an active Nihilist. one who was so "turned off" by the inane circumstances surrounding him that he adopted the attitude that all values were worthless and nothing was knowable or communicable. He apparently detested the Czarist government so much that he participated in various plots against it and eventually was forced into political exile. From there he moved to Germany where he spent a number of years furthering his education. When he left Germany he immigrated to the United States and soon entered Harvard University where he became the personal friend of both the famous professor William James and the University's President Eliot. Mr. Panin was a brilliant scholar and a Master of Literary Criticism. After graduating from college he became an outstanding lecturer on the subject of literary criticism and toured the country speaking on Carlyle, Emerson, Tolstoy, Russian literature, etc., receiving up "top dollar" for each address; which shows us the caliber of his talent. His lectures were delivered on college campuses and to exclusive literary clubs in many cities of the United States and Canada. And during those years of travel and exposure to the public, Mr. Panin became widely known as a confirmed agnostic. so well known, in fact, that when he renounced agnosticism and embraced Jesus Christ, several newspapers carried banner headlines announcing his conversion! Upon hearing of this remarkable turn of events, Professor James, who was reputed to be the greatest Metaphysician of his day remarked, "What a pity that Mr. Panin is cracked on religion. A great philosopher was spoiled in him." Prior to his life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ, Mr. Panin wrote some three thousand aphorisms (brief statements of principle) and many outstanding essays, which stand today as a memorial to his days as a Master of Literary Criticism. He also was an editor of two daily newspapers, a gifted writer, and an eloquent speaker. What event made this brilliant and gifted man. one firmly convinced that absolute truth ("God") was unknowable. change his mind? What so challenged his intellect and shook him to the very core of his being, that he was left with no alternative but belief in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior? The answer is this: He made *THE* SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY THAT SHOULD HAVE SHAKEN THE ENTIRE WORLD! (The fact that it has not yet done so and has been quietly disregarded by those who should have been its greatest advocates, is one of the great mysteries of our time!) One day in 1890, Mr. Panin was casually reading the first verse of the Gospel of John in the original Koine Greek. This verse, in the original, says: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and the Word was God." And as he read this sentence, his curiosity was stirred by the fact that the definite article "the" preceded "God" in the first instance, but not the second. Why the difference? To analyze this apparent discrepancy, he made a parallel list of all verses in the New Testament in which the word "God" occurs with the article "the" and all those without it. Then when he compared the two lists he noted that there was a *mathematical relationship* between the two sums. Next, he went through the same procedure for the word "Christ" and on through several other words. each time taking note of the *amazing numeric relationships* hidden beneath the surface of the text. This "chance" observation would later prove to have been a life-changing event as Ivan Panin enthusiastically pursued the newly-found and exciting discovery he later named "*Bible Numerics*." As these discoveries began to unfold, one after another, Mr. Panin quickly came to the realization that they were far more than just coincidence. There was a *mathematical* *precision inherent to the entire Bible* that no mere mortal could have devised and his intellectual objections relative to an unknowable God were overruled! Jesus Christ revealed Himself through His Word to this "chosen vessel" and, like the apostle Paul and a host of others, Ivan Panin was never the same man again. From that day in 1890 until he died on October 30, 1942, Ivan Panin literally devoted his life (over 50 years) to fully developing this discovery and preserving it for the world. It is said of him that he worked tirelessly for 12-18 hours each day counting letters and words, compiling hand-written concordances, and working out mathematical problems. He worked with such zeal that on several occasions his health completely failed. But in spite of the tremendous mental and physical strain this placed upon him, he labored *without pay*, giving himself entirely to this labor of love. At one point he was offered the very tempting position as president of a college, but he turned it down trusting God to provide for his needs. This man whom the world would gladly pay "top dollar" for a lecture, chose a life of frugality in order to serve his Master by counting words, letters, syllables, and Bible numbers. preserving his findings in neat, hand-written notes now yellowed with age, all *40,000+ pages* of them! The following is a description of Dr. Panin by Mr. Karl Sabiers, in his book "Mathematics Prove Holy Scriptures." It was originally published in 1941, while Mr. Panin was still alive: "This distinguished person is a man of extra-ordinary resources in scholarship. He is keen-minded and alert and possesses amazing analytical and dissecting ability. He is eminently open and scientific. He assumes nothing, but bases all on observed facts: facts of a positive, irrefutable, unparalleled sort. He pursues his way with calmness and is positive of the ground he covers. He is a complete master of himself and of the facts at his command. "Mr. Panin is an ardent and devout Christian, a 'born again' child of God. His pleasing personality radiates the abiding presence of the Christ within. This refined gentleman and his lovely wife live quiet, humble lives on a small Canadian farm, far removed from the busy city activities. Mr. Panin is very modest and conservative. He prefers to be called Mr. Panin rather than Dr. Panin, and is reluctant about publicizing facts concerning his own life story. He points out that the Apostles left little or no life stories of themselves, but exalted Christ instead. Incidentally, Mr. Panin is a citizen of the United States." GETTING STARTED In order to gain a proper understanding of the enormity of Dr. Panin's work, we must realize that he "started from scratch", so to speak. The mathematical precision required of his labors necessitated reference works that for all intents and purposes were non-existent! The first thing he had to do was compile a library of "tools" with which to work and he had to make them himself. Try to imagine if you can, the extreme difficulty that Dr. James Strong encountered in compiling his "Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible," where each and every word of consequence in the entire Bible was carefully noted, recorded, collated, etc., while corresponding Hebrew and Greek definitions (with assigned numbers) were given as well. Yet, this Herculean task does not measure up to that task which confronted Dr. Panin! He had to compile his own unique concordance *before* he could begin work! Not only did the words of the original Greek texts have to be arranged into a systematic and workable concordance, but a very special concordance as that one in which each letter of the respective language was meticulously recorded, along with its numerical equivalent. The Hebrew and Greek cultures did not have a separate alphabet and numbering system as we do today. Their alphabet was also their numbering system, each letter having a corresponding number associated with it. So their calculations were actually manipulations of the various letters of the alphabet. (We will not attempt to give illustrations of these alphabets, or tables reflecting their respective values, deferring instead to the various authors' books which list them.) Additionally, vocabularies and other Bible analyses had to be compiled with a special view to absolute accuracy, down to the smallest detail. The first result was a thousand-page concordance listing every one of the 137,903 occurrences of the New Testament Koine Greek words. They are all in alphabetical order and every reference to chapter and verse is neatly listed beneath each word in hand-written entries. The reason this was made necessary was the fact that the very best Greek concordances in print at that time were just too inaccurate for Dr. Panin' s purposes! Next, Dr. Panin felt the need for a concordance listing all of the various forms of the Greek words, so he created another concordance of 2000 pages. twice as large as the first! Six years of tedious and time-consuming labor were required for these two "tools". After that, other books containing the vocabulary words of the Greek New Testament were also compiled, in which each word was listed along with 16 columns of numeric data related to that word. Four columns containing the order number, place value, numeric value, etc. precede each word. Behind each word are 12 columns containing the number of occurrences, number of forms, syllables, letters, writers, books, diphthongs, etc. The completion of the vocabulary required an additional two years. But through all of the years of tedious and mentally taxing labor, Dr. Panin was not the only one who did not receive a salary; all of the secretarial assistance he received was done voluntarily as well. The result of this lifetime of effort was a "NUMERIC GREEK NEW TESTAMENT" and a "NUMERIC ENGLISH NEW TESTAMENT", both of which are commendable and scholarly pieces of work. The concise text of both testaments were established by means of the numeric designs discovered by Dr. Panin. designs that completely and literally permeate the whole of Scripture. THE STORY OF THE TWO TESTAMENTS At this point we probably need to explain why this would have been deemed necessary in the first place. And why just the New Testament? Wouldn't the Old Testament require this same type of revision as well? Let's answer the question about the Old Testament first. The Old Testament Scriptures were given by God through the pens of various men chosen by Him and were confined to the nation of Israel. The copying and transmission of these writings were handled, for the most part, by *religious professionals* and done under the most rigorous rules imaginable. Each line and each page had a numerical equivalent attached to it, the sum of the individual letters, and absolutely no mistakes were tolerated. If, for any reason a single line or page did not "add up" properly, it was discarded and burned. The task was approached with the greatest of reverence and it has been said that if the scribe encountered any of the numerous names of God, he would put down his pen, take a bath, change clothes, get a new quill pen and then very reverently write down the name. If the name of God came up in the same verse, he would go through the whole procedure again! With such scrupulous and meticulous care taken by professional scribes, we can see how the Old Testament was passed down to us with only a very few, and relatively minor, errors. However, the New Testament is another matter entirely. Most of the original manuscripts were sent as letters to various individuals and churches, where copies were often made and passed on to others. Those who wished to have copies for their own use, either paid semi-professional copyists to do it, or often did it themselves. Little care was taken to maintain strict accuracy and many times just the kernel of the information was recorded. Persecution of Christians was commonplace and therefore any copying done had to be done quickly. Some copies were the result of personal recollection being written down, while others were made from the recitations of those who had heard the words spoken by a preacher. Because of this desire for and love of the Word, over a period of time quite a hodge-podge of manuscripts were floating around the Christian world. And at some point along the way, the original "autographs" the actual documents penned by the apostles and others were lost entirely. This was obviously God's intent, because depraved men would doubtless have given an inordinate amount of attention to them (bordering on worship)! They would have worshiped a version of the Bible, rather than the Creator! To determine the exact wording of the originals, their chronology, and even if they were Scripture or not, educated and godly men had to compare the available texts with each other and against the Old Testament Scriptures quoted by them, to determine authenticity as well as accuracy of text. They did such a wonderful job, that over the years the New Testament Scriptures were settled with a very high degree of confidence and no doctrine left in doubt. Yet, the scholars still could not come to 100% agreement and a few relatively minor places in the Old Testament were debatable. To a certain degree this problem still exists today, but according to the findings of Dr. Panin, all question has been removed and the bickering should cease immediately! The whole of Scripture, down to the last "*jot and tittle*" has been determined through Bible numerics and as it turns out, precious little needed to be changed anyway! What is so amazing is that this final determining factor was published nearly sixty years ago, but Protestant leadership have ignored it. Yes, I know that "the powers that be are ordained of God" and God can certainly open their eyes any time He chooses to do so. Perhaps this is the time? *What is the so-called "heptadic" structure that Dr. Panin discovered? Simply stated it is this: **Bible** * *Scripture**, both Hebrew and Greek. where the numbers equivalent with the letters are added up properly. at some point: word, sentence, paragraph, or chapter, will *always be divisible by the number seven*! And, beyond this, utilization of "place numbers" determines punctuation as well as proper chronology of the various books. This mathematical phenomena occurs and reoccurs **only** **in Holy Scripture and thus rules out all that is spurious. For instance, the "Apocrypha", the fourteen books written during the 400 year "inter-testament" period between Malachi of the Old Testament and Matthew of the New, have no numerics whatsoever and are thereby revealed as being merely of man. Numerous Greek classical writings have also been checked with no evidence of Bible numerics found. Thus Dr. Panin determined that Scripture and only Scripture has this numeric "signature of Divinity" within it. * RE-ISSUING PANIN'S CHALLENGE To his credit, Dr. Panin actively sought men whose academic credentials would qualify them to serve as his critics, but few even bothered to respond and those who did offered no rebuttal whatever. To this day, no one has come forward with any substantive rebuttal arguments and if any were possible, we feel that Satan would have rolled them out long before now! For that reason we are constrained to *re-issue the challenge* made by Dr. Panin three quarters of a century ago. The importance of this subject dictates that it should be totally acknowledged by the Christian academic community or else conclusively proven false and discarded. If it is valid, (and we believe that it is) to continue to ignore it would be unthinkable because the harmful division now taking place in the body of Christ over textual issues has gone on entirely too long. WESTCOTT AND HORT -- OCCULTISTS Interestingly enough, one of the main issues that keeps on surfacing in the "Which Bible is Scripture" debacle centers on the persons of Wescott and Hort. the nineteenth century mystical editors of the Greek text that provides the foundation for what some are calling the "modern perversions of the Bible". About these men's work, Dr. Panin had nothing but praise! Here is what he had to say about the value of their work: "Without the aid of Wescott and Hort I could not have really done my work, because the text of the Authorized Version from my point of view -- not from the point of view of salvation or doctrine even, but from the textual point of view -- the text of the Authorized Version was useless to me, and for this reason: it has too many inaccuracies for my special purpose. Erasmus, for example, who was the Editor of the first Greek text in print was very anxious to get ahead of the Roman Catholic scholars who were issuing a Bible of their own; and he was in such a hurry that he used one MS. [manuscript] for the Book of Revelation and the last page of Revelation was missing in that MS. So what do you suppose Erasmus did? He simply concocted his own Greek for that page; he took the Latin Vulgate and translated it into his own Greek! So that the last page of the Authorized Version is a translation of Erasmus into Greek of a Latin inaccurate translation itself! Now, you and I wish to have an inspired page of the Bible, not one man's mere guessage. The Received Text has a great many suspicious readings of that kind. They do not affect doctrine or conduct seriously, because the great blessing of the Word of God is like the Lord Himself; if you only touch the hem of His garment, you can be made whole. God has seen to it that His blessed Book, no matter how distorted it is in any language sometimes the missionaries are at their wits end to know how to translate the word "God" nevertheless, the Word of God is so full of spiritual power, that if we only get the fringe of it to them, those dear heathen can be converted by it. But you and I wish to have the last page of Revelation as it was truly the inspired Word of God. Wescott and Hort based all their work largely on the Vatican and Sinai MSS., and decided that wherever the two MSS. agreed, that should generally settle the reading. Well, you know, there has been some doubt cast upon the Sinai MSS., because a very shrewd Greek copied a great many MSS. and tried to foist his own MSS. on the folk, so that has left a cloud on the Sinai MSS., and some people see fit to cast doubt on it even now, when there is the question as to whether the British Government did wisely to take part in its acquisition ... I have analyzed the Greek words for the Sinai and Vatican Codexes. I have here page after page of the numerics of those words in Greek. Whenever we wish to study numerics relating to our own affairs or life or anything else, we must always remember that the language in which God wishes us to count is Greek, because He left the name of the anti-christ in Greek. You and I will have to stand the test when anti-christ comes. The Holy Spirit has given us warning. "Be sure not to receive this mark of the beast upon you," because it will be the number of the beast upon ourselves. The Holy Spirit warns us that he is 666, that is, in Greek. You and I have to go to numerics in Greek when we wish to prove the correctness of a passage. The three words show striking numerics. There is a system there of sevens and nines at once on the blackboard. I have here page after page of the numerics of those three words. The Sinai Codex has a separate scheme of its own and the Vatican Codex has a separate scheme of its own." "That is how God has set His seal on His book; so that by the aid of the text presented to us by Wescott and Hort, I was able to verify everything they stated, and verify all the doubtful readings, so that those two great MSS. can be established in such a way that no one can attack their authenticity. This is the testimony of numerics as to any aspersion on the Sinai Codex." "My prayer is simply this. That God may make that blessed Book of His as precious to you as He has made it to me. It has been an inexpressible joy in my life to work these things out, simply because of the testimony of the majesty and the marvel of the loving-kindness of God vouchsafed in this Book unto our charge. Pray for me, and may the Lord bless you." (Ivan Panin, "Bible Numerics", pp.25-27, emphasis in the original). From these statements made by Dr. Panin himself, he expresses an indebtedness to Messrs. Wescott and Hort for their work in editing a Greek text that, for the most part, stands up to the test of Bible numerics. However guilty these two men may have been in their involvement with the occult, that involvement should not. in and of itself. mean that the Greek texts they edited were thus rendered unacceptable. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating" and Dr. Panin testifies that their work stands the numeric test! A diamond is still a diamond even if it is found in a mud-hole. *NOTE**: A year or so ago I was seeking more information on Ivan Panin, and uncovered the above article while doing a ?Google Search?. It wasn't till yesterday, January 21, 2011, that I discovered the article came from a Baptist group in South Caroline, of which David Bay of ?Cutting Edge Ministries? is the Director. I have not reproduced the entire article, but you will have no difficulty doing so yourself.* *I have read the books mentioned in the article, and can verify that the research of the author is accurate, though he is not named. I assume , however, that it is probably the the Director himself. I have had this article on our Website under Archives, dated 2009-10-19.* *As many of you are aware, I believe that God has placed the completion of an ?Outlined, Bible Numeric Interlinear Greek NT for these last days. It is complete on our Website - www.2rbetter.org under ?Interlinear?, as of December 31, 2010.* *I will follow this article up with ?Bible Numerics and Evangelism? shortly, including the 7 Component parts of ?God's Automated Laser-Telescope?, allowing the Lord to use a City Presbytery to eliminate Satan's principalities and powers over cities, regions and nations - in a ?Spiritual Star Wars? effect. The first and key component part to this activation - is ?God's Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek NT?. Dr. Ivan Panin prepared the Greek and English texts prior to his death in 1942. The placing of these into an Interlinear format started in 1944 by the introduction of Panin to me by a Russian Jew. The two texts remain substantially as prepared by Panin, except for the transliteration of his Greek text. The sentence, subdivision, paragraph and section outlines are mine, and are not inspired. Please substitute your own summaries at any point you wish. You will gain more from the NT by doing so,* *Likewise the NOTES on the Website are mine, and will not be present when the NT is printed.* *Oswald Chambers came to the Lord as a lad following a meeting in London. Charles Haddon Spurgeon was speaking in the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Chamber's life dramatically changed in Dunoon, Scotland on his 27th year. >From then until his home-going in 1917 during his 43rd year, it was a focusupon Jesus. ?My Utmost for His Highest? was indeed the theme of his life. ?Personal, Passionate Devotion to Jesus? further expressed this theme. This is the seventh component part of ?God's Laser Telescope? - and was revealed December 7, 2009. A man from Minnesota with his prayer group, released this insight on this date. - Jim Watt* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Jan 24 20:29:28 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:29:28 -0800 Subject: Reaching Unbelievers Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* January 24, 2011 REACHING UNBELIEVERS THROUGH BIBLE NUMERICS Does a mathematical design exist in the text of the Bible, and if so, would it convince unbelievers that the Bible is divinely inspired? An early 20th century mathematician believed it could. by Jim and Marie Watt Marie and I pastored the Messianic Congregation Beth Chesed in Federal Way, Washington. For some time we had felt a prayer burden for a Russian Jewish couple. They had been looking for prayer support and help to reach Russian Jews in Israel, America and in Russia. We believed we could help them to fulfill the vision and call God had given them, and to put tools in their hands that could bring to fruition all their hopes and dreams. Why were we so confident? In the spring of 1944, as a new believer in Jesus, I was approached by a Russian Jew, Dr. Jewell. He challenged me. "You are called to the ministry, no?" [image: Reaching Unbelievers Through Bible Numerics] Dr. Ivan Panin "Yes," I replied. "You would like to know Greek, no?" "Yes?, I again responded. "If I teach you Greek, would you study the works of the great Ivan Panin?" I had not heard of the great Ivan Panin,but I quickly perceived that this would be a bargain for me, so I said, "Yes." "Here are two pamphlets by Dr. Panin," he said. "Take and read, and next week we have our first lesson." The following week, Dr. Jewell did not show up at our church in Victoria, B.C., of approximately 400 members. Not only that, but no one in the congregation could recall him at all! I wondered if I had met an angel! When I was discharged from the Canadian Navy in 1945, I attended Bible college in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for one year. During that time I often took out Panin's two pamphlets and pondered them. I decided to order all 20 or so books and pamphlets listed on the back cover. Soon I received a package from Ontario containing my order. When I read Panin's introduction to his *Greek Numeric New Testament*, I was "bit." He demonstrated that Bible Numerics show the original Greek reading of the New Testament, reveal copyists errors among the seven major manuscripts and 3000 New Testament fragments, and more than that, Bible Numerics clearly settle accurate contexts by sentence, paragraph and chapter equivalent. I immediately outlined the book of Ephesians by giving each sentence a title, and then summarizing these titles into paragraphs and chapters. I was so impressed with the clarity that came to this book, that in time I did the same for the entire New Testament. In the process I copied out the Greek text by hand twice, and worked back Panin's English translation into a literal format, so that individual English words lined up under the Greek words. I then inserted my sentence titles and summaries into paragraphs and chapters. Next I put *Strong's Concordance* numbers above each significant Greek word. It was also for the sake of Panin that I prepared the outline of Ephesians as a model for the rest of the New Testament. By working his translation back into a literal form, preserving it as closely as possible to his original, the desire of his heart for his Russian compatriots would be fulfilled. On Saturday morning March 18, 1967 I was preparing for our Sunday services at Broadway Tabernacle, Seattle. Totally unexpectedly?in a split second I saw how to use the works of *Englishman's Greek Concordance*, John Stegenga's *Greek Concordance*, and Panin's *New Testament* numeric Greek and English texts to produce Greek word studies in a new format, but easily usable by lay leaders. It took me two hours to write up the insights given to me at that time by the Holy Spirit. While the *Interlinear Greek and English New Testaments* give perspective and context, the word studies provide accurate definitions that can quickly be converted into preaching and teaching outlines. I have sought to provide "tentative evaluations" of each Greek word, as much as possible void of personal doctrinal convictions, by letting God's Word mean what it wants to mean so that God alone can say what He wants to say. In a few months I hope to have the book of Ephesians in this format on my website. And added to this, as it is finished, each significant Greek word as a new type of word study based on the above mentioned texts. I am currently transliterating the Greek text into English letters along the Berlitz method of learning foreign languages. In this way a layman with no knowledge of Greek or Hebrew can pronounce the Greek text understandably with the correct accent, while seeing Panin's translation right below. Panin himself had both his *Greek* and *English Numeric New Testaments*printed in Oxford, England in a most scholarly way, devoid of typos and personal choice of words. Preceding the production of his *Greek Numeric New Testament*, he spent ten years providing a scientific and mathematically checked *Greek Concordance* as an accurate guide to accompany his New Testament. It also proved to be a great help in providing an English translation. He was a mathematical genius who died a Harvard scholar ? It was Panin's hope and conviction that his countrymen, among whom were many mathematicians and scientists, would through this tool find God's plan of redemption in Jesus. Jehovah's Witnesses offered to use his two texts to form an interlinear Greek New Testament in a parallel manner to their *Emphatic Diaglott*. Panin turned down this offer, because he considered them to be a cult. For 63 years since his death in 1942, his hope has languished. Here is a brief bio of Panin by Keith Newman, titled, "God Is a Mathematician" . *"The authenticity of the Holy Bible has been attacked at regular intervals by atheists and theologians alike but none have explained away the mathematical seal beneath its surface.* *"It would seem the divine hand has moved to prevent counterfeiting in the pages of the Bible in a similar manner to the line that runs through paper money. Bible Numerics appear to be God's watermark of authenticity .* *"Vital research on this numeric seal was completed by a native of the world's most renowned atheistic nation, Russia. Ivan Panin was born in Russia on December 12, 1855. As a young man he was an active nihilist and participated in plots against the Czar and his government. He was a mathematical genius who died a Harvard scholar and a citizen of the United States in 1942.* *"Panin was exiled from Russia. And after spending a number of years studying in Germany, he went to the United States where he became an outstanding lecturer on literary criticism.* *"Panin was known as a firm agnostic?so well known that when he discarded his agnosticism and accepted the Christian faith, the newspapers carried headlines telling of his conversion.* *"It was in 1890 that Panin made the discovery of the mathematical structure underlining the vocabulary of the Greek New Testament. ? * *"This article is in truth an oversimplification of the work of Panin and others who followed in his footsteps. Panin's work initially involved some 40,000 pages of material on which he had written millions of small neat calculations. It involved volumes.* *"He often labored up to 18 hours a day exploring the vast numeric structure. By and large it was a thankless task. Panin said 'When I first made the discovery I was of course, taken off my feet?I was in the same condition as our friend Archimedes who when he solved a great mathematical problem while in the bath, rushed into the street naked, crying "I have found it". I thought people would be delighted to embrace the new discovery but I found human nature is always the same. So I quietly withdrew and did my work all by myself.'* *"Although it would appear that his work has been largely lost from popular reading today?Panin did accomplish several outstanding works. He published Structure in the Bible through the 'Numeric Greek New Testament' and the 'Numeric English New Testament.'* *"The works of Ivan Panin have been put before the experts many times. Panin once challenged nine noted rationalists and Bible critics through the medium of the *New York Sun *newspaper November 9, 1899. He dared them to publicly refute or give explanation for a few of his presented facts. Four made lame excuses. The rest were silent.* *"Panin issued a challenge throughout leading newspapers of the world asking for a natural explanation or rebuttal of the facts. Not a single person accepted. He died at Aldershot, Ontario Canada on October 30th, 1942, age 87."* If you want to investigate the reliability and accuracy of Panin's 100,000 hours and 50 years of research, do a Google search on "Bible Numerics" as it relates to Ivan Panin. Check him out with men like Dr. Jowett, David duPlessis, Winkey Pratney, Dr. Keith L. Brooks,Karl G. Sabiers and many others. These men have researched the reliability of Panin's work and have come to believe that Bible Numerics is a God-given tool that could sweep millions of Russians into the Kingdom of God. They in turn could win many Russian Jews to the Messiah, and these then could win more Russian and fellow Jews to faith in Jesus, who at his first coming worked out redemption for the whole human race. You will find in your Bible Numerics Google search strong opponents to the research work of Ivan Panin. Take the opposition of the critics to Ivan Panin with a grain of salt. I have experienced his work draw unbelievers to Christ on several occasions. I presented to a Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the University of Illinois in Chicago a portion of Panin's Greek text of John 1, with the numerical equivalents. He checked it out, and in less than two weeks, was completely satisfied. He asked me what he should do about his own spiritual life. I gave him John 7:17, and encouraged him to seek water baptism, which he immediately did. He then left his humanistic, modernistic, Unitarian type church, and found an Evangelical church that honoured God the Father, Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit, and God's infallible Word. Also, the Bible students to whom I taught Panin's material in a Seattle Bible college, went to the campus of the University of Washington and literally won dozens of students to Christ not only as their Saviour, but also as their Lord. These students wanted to be discipled in all Christ's teachings. Imagine translating the word "baptism," as "washings"! One caution. Many cannot withstand the temptation to use Panin's findings for their own greed, power and personal prestige. Paul said, "All have forsaken me but Timothy." His disciple Demas went back to the world, and others left him for various reasons. I always hoped that the students I trained according to Panin's material would help realize his vision. But four of them left for various reasons and prostituted the vision, goal, spirit and example that Panin set. I had to withdraw my name from the writings of one of my former associates who would have proverbially caused Panin to turn over in the grave at the extent to which he had corrupted Panin's vision. Imagine translating the word "baptism," as "washings"! I encountered so many errors in this man's interlinear text that I couldn't touch his work for two years because of the grief it caused me to think of the travesty it wrought upon Panin's work. But, I take heart. God is great! His servant Panin was humble and faithful and the task is still worthwhile. With the above tools, I believe that our Russian Jewish friends in the Seattle/Tacoma area will effectively enter into the ministry to which God has called them. *In your Google search you will find an order form for both of Panin's texts. They sell for $25.00 each plus shipping and handling. Write to: J. W. Irwin, 81 Bayview Ridge, Toronto ON M2L 1E3, Canada. Fax: (416) 445-4060. Email: **Jirwinc617 at rogers.com* *. A further search on this subject will yield an order form for Dr. Keith L. Brooks book at $1.00, as well as Karl Sabiers book for $5.00.* Jim Watt, formerly a Canadian resident, now lives with his wife Marie in Federal Way, Washington. They pastored the Beth Chesed Congregation. Website: www.2rbetter.org/, www.2rbetter.org. The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada published this article on ?Canada's Christian Online?. It was originally published in "Two Are Better Than One" Ministries Newsletter, November 2, 2005. Used with permission of the author. Copyright ? 2005 Christianity.ca. *A SIMPLE FORMULA TO ACTIVATE ?SPIRITUAL STAR WARS?* *(THROUGH AN ORGANIC AUTOMATED 7-FOLD LASER-TELESCOPE -* *8-FOLD ?PILOT PRAYER TEAMS? MAKE THIS WORK)* *1. Ivan Panin's **Interlinear Greek Bible Numeric New Testament**. Go to our Website <**www.2rbetter.org* *> and click on ?Interlinear?; make use of our ?postings? there. God revealed in a vision that this is the **Key* *and **First* *of the 7 above components! **God* *is behind **all* *that Panin discovered!* *2. ?The City Church Concept?. God sees but one church per city, with all local churches moving as one for His purposes. However, believe for a ?Remnant? of individuals from any church in each city to man ?City Halls? for prayer. This is the ?Pedestal? to uphold the Interlinear NT. The books written by John Dawson of YWAM are very significant at this point.* *3. The 12 Embryonic Revival Principles of 1948. Click on ?Embryonics? on our website. Believe to bring these 12 Embryonic Revival Principles to ? Maturity?. They will be parameters of safety for the last great Visitation prior to the Return of Jesus. God used George Hawtin of Saskatchewan to bring these together.* *4. Prayer Multiplication. Deuteronomy: 32:30; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Matthew 18:19; and especially Zechariah 12:8. Each City Hall Prayer Group should claim that 2 will start out driving 10,000 to flight; but go on to Zechariah 12:8 and believe for each couple to drive 10 million; and 4 couples 1 billion! Why not? Ern Baxter brought out this principle solidly based on ?Covenant? understanding.* *5. Meditation. As George Muller used this from George Whitefield; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; and Psalm 19:14 - Let us learn this amazing Spiritual Secret! Ben Franklin was powerfully influenced by Whitefield also, and our Constitution reflects his influence through these two friends.* *6. Possessed by the Holy Spirit. As Rees Howells experienced this with a team of 120 and defeated Hitler in World War II, let us multiply this effectively with 200 to 300 teams! H.A. Baker in ?Visions Beyond the Veil? shows how he too moved in this same spirit. Angels were released through such intercession.* *7. Personal, Passionate Devotion to Jesus as Oswald Chambers experienced and laid out in ?My Utmost for His Highest?. Jesus is the Key, and by His Spirit must always be pre-eminent. Our focus on Him is God's desire for each of us.* *NOTE**: Rees Howells of Wales during World War II and preceding, gathered together 120 intercessors. He sensed the evil of Hitler, and called him ?The Beast?; but proved that **greater** is He that is in us than he (Satan) that is in the world. He sensed the year (1936) and the day that Satan entered Hitler because of his Occult dabbling. But through Intercession, Hitler had to confess that for the first time he had disobeyed ?his Voice? - Satan, and also 5 more significant times - until his 1000 year Third Reich ceased in 12 years, and he became a suicide! Howells walked in a similar manner to the above 7 proponent parts of the Laser-Telescope. Of these, God's Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek New Testament is the first and key prerequisite. We too can cause Satan's soon-coming Antichrist to also disobey ?his Voice? - fail like Hitler, and at Jesus' Second coming with the False Prophet be cast into the Lake of Fire, and see Satan cast into the bottomless pit! J.A.W.* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Jan 25 15:48:10 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:48:10 -0800 Subject: Bible Numerics Testimony Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* January 25, 2011 ?*Testimony? of James A. Watt* *Relating to Bible Numerics and Dr. Ivan Panin* *One**. Dr. Oliver, former President of the University of Saskatchewan at Saskatoon, and then of St. Andrews College of that same city. He felt his life would count more in training ministers for the United Church of Canada, than for the general education of secular students.* *I was one of 5 leaders at a Boys' Camp in Saskatchewan in 1947. As morning teacher, I chose the parables of Jesus, and gathered stones and thistles for a ?Show and Tell? demonstration. My 4 fellow minister leaders were almost more interested than the boys! One told me of Dr. Oliver and a specific parable. One of his Seminary officers asked him if he was not aware that perhaps 60% of the boys training for the ministry expected to be taught how to use the Bible to make disciples for Jesus? Don't you fear they will graduate as ministers with this spirit?* *Yes, he replied, I am aware. But our Master was very wise in His use of the Parable of the Mystery of Growth: first the blade; then the ear; then the full corn in the ear. The application as he saw it was that they had these boys 6-7 years. In the first two years they could remove these old-fashioned views. Then in the next 4-5 years, they could build into their minds a more up-to-date church outlook; - and if one out of 100 slipped through their hands, they could afford to take that chance.* *I** am that **one out of 100. Because of my grounding in Bible Numerics as discovered by Ivan Panin and produced in his Greek and English New Testaments based on this discovery, I was able to pick up 2 ? years of University and Seminary, graduate from University with Honors - and withstand 1 ? years of Seminary without being transformed into a Modernist!* *Two**. My Introduction to Panin and Bible Numerics. I completed my second year of University in 1943 at the University of British Columbia prior to joining the Canadian Navy. Though I did not then know God, yet He spoke to me from Psalm 107:23-24 in the Fall of 1942, and intimated that if I would join the Navy, He would reveal Himself to me.* *I did so in June of 1943, and 9 months later at Passover He powerfully revealed Himself to me in Victoria, BC, and ushered me into the New Birth. In the summer of 1944, I was invited by a Russian Dr. Jewell to take Greek from him freely - in exchange on my part to study the works of the great Dr. Ivan Panin. I agreed to his proposal. He gave me 2 pamphlets on Panin, and arranged to meet with me the following week for our first lesson. He didn't show up, but I got Classical Greek freely in Saskatoon in the Fall of 1945 through Dr. Leddy, Rhodes Scholar and head of the Department of Classical Greek at the University of Saskatchewan, without obligation to study Dr. Panin.* *But I still had the 2 pamphlets on Panin from Dr. Jewell, listing some 20 publication ?on? or ?by? Panin. Out of curiosity I ordered all 20 on the basis of a naval discharge grant in September 1945. When I read the Introduction to Panin's Greek New Testament - and discovered that Bible Numerics even establishes the sentence, paragraph-subdivision, paragraph and section (or chapter equivalent) structure of the entire New Testament, I was hooked. I love to outline. I started with Ephesians, and was so amazed at the clarity this outlining brought, that I completed the entire New Testament in an Interlinary format. I typed up the English text, and wrote in by hand the Greek text - in a clausal, not a word by word equivalent. I felt this would be easier for Laymen to grasp.* *Three**. Our Family Descent. During the Great Depression days we were living on a farm in Langley, BC. When I was about 12, my father received genealogical papers showing his direct descent from James Watt of Greenock, Scotland, and of steam engine fame. 5 brothers came over from Scotland to Canada in the 1850's, of which my grandfather, James Alexander Watt, was one. He settled in Gananoque, Ontario, and apprenticed my father in his machine shop for 7 years, and launched him as a chief engineer for power houses.* *People would ask me because of my name if I had any relationship to the Greenock inventor. Because all the Watt genes had passed me by, and because I could hardly fix a bicycle, I was reluctant to confirm the relationship. But in the mid 60's, a relative of mine in Anacortes, Washington said to me, ?Jim - don't feel badly about your status. You may not have the genes for steam and electrical power - but you do have the genes for spiritual power.? I have felt better ever since!* *Four**. Parallels between James Watt of Greenock and myself. The inventor was born in the 1730's, and graduated in a London Engineering College. He then took up in Glasgow, Scotland as resident engineer. When a steam engine in the University mine broke down, he was sent to repair it, which he easily did. But he was shocked to see that it was only 5% efficient. On his own time he worked out 6 improvements on this engine, the chief of which was the ?condenser?. This with the other 5, brought it up to over 40% efficient. This eventuated in the Industrial Revolution, when Robert Fulton put Watt's Steam Engine on a scow and started the first Steam Ship, and Robert Stephenson put Watt's engine on a rail car and started the first steam locomotive.* *Watt did not invent the steam engine. Archimedes had done so in 300 BC. But the 6 improvements Watt put upon it has changed the world ever since.* *Ivan Panin produced a Greek and English New Testament on the basis of his discovery of Bible Numerics in 1890. But he died in 1942 without seeing his discovery received and acted upon.* *I have taken his two texts, and put them together in a Greek Interlinear format, but with a number of improvements upon it, that hopefully will do for our time in our spiritual world - what James Watt's improvements did for the steam engine in his day.* *a. An Outlined Interlinear Greek New Testament. I have taken the discovery of sentence and paragraph structures by Panin, and outlined each sentence with a brief title with lower case letters. I have gathered these under ?Arabic? number summaries - these into paragraph summaries under Capital Letters; these into section or chapter equivalent summaries under Roman Numerals; and these into the 27 New Testament Book Summaries. I can scarcely believe the unusual spin-offs that have come to me through this exercise!* *b. A transliterated Greek text into English letters. Most Bible teachers are laymen who have not had the opportunity to take classes in Greek and Hebrew. Such can be somewhat formidable - so for their sakes I have made this complete transliteration. I have used the ?Berlitz? method of transliteration, which capitalizes the accented syllable (whether acute, grave or circumflex) and hyphenated all syllables that are not directly connected with the accented syllable. So if you go to Greece, you can pronounce Greek words to your guide. As one did to me, she told me my pronunciation was terrible, but she did understand me!* *c. Winston Churchill wrote up all his famous Wartime speeches like ?blank verse? instead of prose. Peter Marshall did the same with his sermons. I have taken a leaf out of their books, and done the same for easier understanding* *d. Spaces between sentences and at the sides. My titles and summaries are not inspired. You can't change Panin's Bible Numeric Greek text - and even very little with his English text. But you can with my titles and summaries. Where you think you can improve upon them, please do so. You will get much more from this exercise, and making notes at the sides will further this!* *e. Strong's numbers follow all significant Greek words, to make it easy to do Greek word studies, and to ensure you are relating with the correct English translation.* *f. On our Website, under Interlinear, you will find a NOTE attached, that will not appear on the printed copy to come. They will primarily point up the significance that comes from the Bible Numeric sentence and paragraph structure.* *g. Notes will also point up the significance of the Bible Numeric inclusion of such passages as Mark 16:9-20 and John 8:1-11. There are also some interesting omissions. Check them out.* *h. This is not a normal Interlinear Greek New Testament. English words do not appear word by word under the Greek. This means that the English text is readable on its own merits. This is really a ?clause by clause? interlinear, much like a Ken Taylor paraphrase in the Living Bible. Simplicity is the goal.* *i. The English translation appears in heavy black type to give ease in reading for those not desirous of checking out the Greek.* *j. I have worked backwards from the English punctuation, letting the punctuation of the Greek conform to it. This again is to make it easier for laymen to utilize this Interlinear.* *Five** Visions of 1967. In answer to prayer, God gave 2 visions in one night. The first was the Lord appearing as an Observatory Director. In front of the eyes of 3 of us, he assembled 7 component parts of an automated laser-telescope. The key of 7 parts was the Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek New Testament, with complementary Greek Word Studies. * *The second was 70 Prayer Pilot Teams of 8 men each in 70 cities across Canada, and 70 more across the line in the United States. The Lord again directed the vision, and said that these teams would share what they had successfully demonstrated as 5-fold elderships in the gates of the cities.* *The other 5 component parts to make this Spiritual Star Wars effective are given in a previous article dated 2011-01-24.* *Six**. Arne Bryan is Founder and Director of ?Prayer Canada?. There are now some 250 City, Town and Village Prayer Groups across the Dominion of Canada to undergird their mayors and their councils. They are interested in seeing this 2-fold 1967 vision realized effectively across their country, in the US, and throughout the nations and cities of the world. This could be a worthy Prayer Project for all of us. The prayer - ?Lord, plant my feet on higher ground,? could expedite this.* *Seven**. in 1948 in Northern Saskatchewan, a Visitation from God took place in February of that year. 12 Embryonic Revival Principles came together at that time. In July of 1992, God by vision indicated that it was His purpose to see these 12 Embryonic Principles **matured! They would then become parameters of safety for His last move prior to the Return of His Glorious Son. These principles can also be found on our Website ( www.2rbetter.org) under ?Embryonics.? This is the third of the 7 Component parts of God's Automated Laser-Telescope. Notice that Reuben on the green emerald stone worn by the High Priest on the Breastplate of Judgment - represents the Judeo Roots for the Christian Church, into which we have been grafted. Antisemitism in the light of this is a ?No-no,? as is Replacement Theology. Romans 11 makes this abundantly clear.* *Conclusion**: This testimony is designed to help actuate Presbytery of Eldership Concept in the Gate of each city. See how it worked for Boaz at Bethlehem. The tribe of Naphtali under Embryonics is lined up with this concept. We are trusting in the very near future to see all of these operating in the 12 major regions of Washington State, in the 4 major cities of Cascadia, and in Moses Lake and the Washington Okanogan.* *At the end of May last year, a conference in the Seattle area set aside 3 leaders for this purpose, representing the ?City Presbytery?, the ?5-fold Ministry? and a return to the ?Heavenly Choir.? Nine more are awaiting God's indication for readiness. Perhaps like Acts 13:1-3, the Holy Spirit this year will indicate His choice for these remaining 9.* *Jim Watt* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Feb 2 20:24:25 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 20:24:25 -0800 Subject: Moses Lake Report Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* February 2, 2011 *Moses Lake Conference Report - January 26-29, 2011* *February 2, 2011* *These days I don't attend too many conferences or meetings. At age 87, it's easy to say ?No?. But because I am the Lord's - if He says attend, then there's no problem. And if those wanting to get me can get through to Him, then like Samson's uncut hair - they've got me.* *So when Timothy Johnson through Elvin Gladney asked if on the first Wednesday evening I would briefly outline the significance of Panin's Outlined Interlinear Greek New Testament - as it relates to effective intercession by a group of elders in the Gate of the City Church, I heard from the Lord that it was of Him - so I went.* *The worship the first night was quite long - 7-10 pm - so they turned me on about 11:30. I took it to be pretty late, so only shared for about 7 minutes.* *But on Thursday afternoon I had an hour to share with some 200 pastors and leaders, followed by a Talk-show type of questioning from Timothy, and some others. This sparked considerable interest of leaders from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, BC, and Saskatchewan. Numbers asked if this could continue the next morning. So on Friday at 9 am some 36 met again. Leaders from some 4 or 5 cities asked if we could come to their cities and help activate these visions and concepts.* *On Saturday morning I asked for a brief time to share on the significance of the ?Lion's Roar? that hadn't seemed to come out in the meetings. At sundown, when the animals of Africa come to water to drink, Papa Lion puts his head in a hole and roars. The ground literally shakes for a long distance around. The drink-seeking animals freeze; then the pride of lionesses each jump on an animal and bring them home. Papa gets first choice - then the mamas and cubs.* *Bob Jones had shared some significant insights the previous evening. One was concerning the necessity of each disciple ensuring that not only his mind and soul be renewed - but that his spirit, conscience and subconscious also be purified. There are some who teach that at conversion the spirit is perfected, and only the soul needs sanctifying. Wrong! 2 Corinthians 7:1 says - ?Having therefore these :promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves(not God doing it, but us) from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.? If we let God say what He wants to say, and the Bible mean what itwants to mean - then this verse alone settles all controversy. The human spirit needs constant cleansing like our blood. There is the life!* *I felt that what Bob Jones said the preceding night would be strengthened by this confirmation.* *John Sandford of Idaho gave a serious warning concerning the increase of arising heresies in these last day. I confirm this revelation.* *Others shared - worship and release came through an unusual team garnered from many parts!* *I believe that what God wanted for the conference came to pass. Some of the challenges came out of the 1948 Renewal and Restoration from Northern Canada of that year. At that time 12 Revival Principles were but Embryonic - scarcely born. Now God is bringing these 12 to maturity, to serve His purposes for the Last Day Visitation preceding the return of His Son! Bob Jones felt that the wells of 1948 needed to be redug, and that as the last of the 7 elders of the 1948 Summer Camp Meeting at North Battleford, I would have insights that would be helpful.* *Elvin Gladney and family brought me home Saturday afternoon, and then 6 of the Pilot Prayer Team met that night to evaluate what took place at Moses Lake, and what God plans to do in helping Arnie Bryan and the 250 Prayer Teams of Prayer Canada.* *We are in the last days. The end of the present church age is at hand. According to George Muller, it has been a 2000 year time of God bringing out His elect number from the Gentile nations. The One New Man of Jew and Gentile is at hand. The appearance and then the soon demise of the Antichrist and False Prophet is also at hand. Soon the angels' message to the 500 in Acts 1 is about to be fulfilled. That same Jesus who has just been taken from you in clouds, is about to return with clouds and multitudes of angels to resurrect His saints and judge the earth. What a day! May we be as the 5 wise virgins with oil in our lamps - ready to go in at the call - Come in - the Bridegroom has arrived. And then the door will be shut to all foolish virgins, whom the Lord will avow - ?I never knew you! Depart from me you who work iniquity!? J.A.W.* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Feb 4 15:31:28 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 15:31:28 -0800 Subject: Connecting the Dots Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* February 4, 2011* * *Dear Friends - It is not easy to get a clear picture and perspective for the Middle East. Ron Cantrell has spent many years there, and has written a number of books on that area, the most helpful one being ?The Mahdi?. He does careful research, and has traveled widely in many of these countries, as well as in Europe. His chief time has been spent in Israel, where he set up the format for the weekly publication of ?Bridges for Peace?. Marie and I have counted Ron and Carol Cantrell as close friends since 1990, and have spent quality time with them in Israel a number of times. We both felt that Ron's last article was so helpful, that you on our mailing list would appreciate it as much as us. Jim & Marie Watt* The Muslim Brotherhood?s Poster of notables from Hassan Al-Bana (1926) is inclusive of nations like Lebanon, Israel, Gaza, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and more. *Connecting the Dots ? It is so much more than just Egypt ** *Western media is careful not to draw conclusions prematurely about Middle East unrest. Simple logic, however, demands connecting the dots. A national crisis of job inequality, unemployment, and heavy-handed government tactics should have no reason to spill over into neighboring nations. Egypt?s complaints should stay within Egypt?s borders ? unless there is more than meets the eye. There is always more than meets the eye when it comes to the Middle East. A virulent strain of Islamofascism races through the bloodstream of the Islamic world. It is a threatening dormant virus in almost every Islamic nation today. The powers that be fear it. Saudi Arabia is terrified of the day that their fascist Wahabi undercurrent garners enough strength to do away with the royal family and institute a Taliban-like regime as in Afghanistan (*see article link below ? Wahabi). Syria fears those who do not like the religious leanings of their Alawi government. It is a minority ruling the majority (**See Wikipedia ? Alawite State). Jordan fears those who were placed under the umbrella of the Hashamite foreign monarchy by the League of Nations after WWI, albeit an Arab, Islamic monarchy (***see wikipedia - Hashemite Kingdom [note: the hashemites were actually Saudi princes awarded a mandate over Transjordan by the British for helping them defeat the Ottoman Empire in 1917 ? the populace of Jordan resents the intrusion and drawing of national border by the League of Nations). There are nations where a weak governmental system allows the Islamofascism to break through and take control. Sudan is the model, only after Lebanon. Ethnic cleansing in Sudan by Arab Muslims was missed by Western media. Arab occupation of black African Sudan resulted in the massacre of blacks, both Christian in the south and Muslim in the west (Arabic Islamic government was the goal). Sudan?s Arab Islamic leader spearheaded an assassination attempt on Hosni Mubarak already in 1995 (****see Wikipedia ? Hassan al-Turabi). Lebanon is the poster child of Islamofascist victory. After the failure of Yassir Arafat?s PLO in Lebanon, Hassan Nasrallah and a small band of militants set up camp in the weak areas of Lebanon and like a cancer, grew. Now, Lebanon has fallen to Hezbollah, Nasrallah?s Iranian and Syrian supported Islamic government. (*Wahabism ? a deadly scripture: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/wahhabism-a-deadly-scripture-398516.html) ?The focus of violent Islamic radicalism has shifted from Wahhabis in Saudi to anti-Saudi Wahabis in Iraq and other conflict zones where jihadists have learnt the heady lesson that if you are brutal and narrow-minded enough you can defeat the most powerful army the world has ever seen.? (**Alawite State: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alawite_State) (*** Hashemite Kingdom: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashemite) (**** Hassan al-Turabi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashemite) The king pin in the whole game is Egypt?s Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood had its beginning in 1929 in Cairo. The prominent figure in the Brotherhood is Ayman Al-Zawahiri, the Dr. who became Osama bin Laden?s right hand man (seen in all his videos). The Brotherhood was responsible for the assassination of Egypt?s President Anwar Sadat some 30 years ago. His assassination was due to making peace with Israel. This week, the Brotherhood has called for Egypt?s populace to prepare themselves for war with Israel. Back to connecting the dots ? there is no connection with Egypt?s downtrodden masses by Mubarak and Israel. However, logic is not necessary in Islam. It is easy to see that it is time for prayer on behalf of Egypt and her Christian population. Just today (February 2, 2011), we heard from friends in a key Egyptian city that has been erupting. It seems the internet blockade has been hacked. Our friends there are calling for three days of prayer and fasting for the situation. The Christian populations of the other mentioned nations need prayer as well. It is during times like these that militant Islamists turn on those they consider to be enemies of the ?pure religion.? Jews are first on the list, and Christians close second. An effective method of prayer is first for God?s love and mercy to be shown through His servants. Stories of miracles in Egypt have been circulating for some time already and those miraculous healings have been in the Muslim camp. So many Muslims are converting that the government has threatened the ministers who are responsible with deportation. The second wave of prayer should be confusion in the camp of the enemy. This prayer has been very effective in the past, not only biblically, but in modern times too. Israel was saved from the wrath of Saddam Hussein during his reign of terror by an eight-year conflagration with Iran. The loss of lives was tragic, but God?s hand of protection was more than evident. Of almost 900 rockets launched against Israel only one man died and he died of a heart attack. It is impressive to me that Reece Howells, Britain?s great intecessor called for prayer and fasting in 1947 when the United Nations voted on the existence of the modern State of Israel. The initial vote was defeated. Howell?s call for prayer and fasting changed the course of the United Nations. He reported in the book, ?Reece Howells ? Intercessor? that the praying students and staff actually saw angels leave their compound and head for the UN. The next vote was historic; Israel became a nation and the War of Independence erupted. So, let?s intercede in earnest for the situation. Ron ------------------------------ I have included two videos with information on the Brotherhood and the spread of trouble in Jordan, Sudan and possibly Syria. I can only pray that we are not looking at a spreading rise of an Islamofascist tidal wave. The two short articles following the video links are excerpts from DEBKAfile?s assessment of the present situation. * **Shawn Hannity interview with Walid Shoebat on the Muslim Brotherhood: * * http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/transcript/what-would-muslim-brotherhood-takeover-mean-egypt * *Trouble in Jordan, Sudan, and possibly Syria: * * http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/02/01/jordan.government/index.html?hpt=T1 * *The Common Thread ? the Muslim Brotherhood * Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip are taking advantage of the unrest in Egypt to take control of Sinai territory. Hamas, the Palestinian wing of the Muslim Brotherhood have opened a second, Palestinian, front against the Mubarak regime on orders from Hamas' parent organization, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, confirmed by its bosses in Damascus. The Muslim Brotherhood is therefore more aggressively involved in the uprising than it would seem. The Muslim Brotherhood initially stayed in the shadows for fear the uprising would be labeled a militant uprising and scare away demonstrators. Battling the Brotherhood has always been sanctioned by the secular Egyptian populace. The Brotherhood is biding their time until the situation has passed the point of no return. At that point, there will be no reason for them to remain in the shadows. They will come out in full view. The Sinai towns of Rafah, the port of El Arish are targest. Saturday, Bedouin tribesmen and local Palestinians exploited the mayhem in Cairo to clash with Egyptian forces at both northern Sinai key points, ransack their gun stores and free prisoners from the local jail. Officials in Gaza City confirmed Sunday, that Hamas's most notorious smuggling experts, including Muhammad Shaar, had broken out of the El Arish jail and reached Gaza City. The Multinational Force and Observers are on high alert in the dangerous situation and await U.S. Military transports out of the region to U.S. Bases. This move would end a 30-year mission of peace keeping between Egypt and Israel. Hamas means to bring that to an end. The mere presence of Egyptian troops in the Sinai violates the terms of the peace treaty. However, in light of the dire situation, Netanyahu?s government may have approved it. Excerpts from DEBKAfile Exclusive Report, January 31, 2011. *Egyptian Unrest Turning into a Popular Revolution* The Mubarak regime was badly shaken Thursday night, Jan. 27, when Egypt's most powerful opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, ordered its teeming membership to join the protest movement raging in Cairo and other cities since Tuesday after Friday (Jan. 28) prayers. *DEBKAfile*'s Cairo sources report that the capital's poor districts, like Shubra which houses four million inhabitants, were bustling Thursday night with preparations for street action the next day. The question on all lips now is: Can the security forces control the many millions of protesters expected to suddenly pour into city streets across the land as of Friday and defend the regime against them. The police, almost a million security officers and units of the Interior Ministry's special units, have been on their feet for three days quelling outbreaks. They are exhausted and demoralized. They managed to keep the demonstrations from getting out of hand, but not to suppress them. Now that millions of Muslim Brotherhood loyalists have been told to throw in their lot with the protest movement, the beleaguered 82-year old President Hosni Mubarak can no longer avoid sending the army in to stem the unrest, which looks increasingly like turning into a popular revolution. The trouble is that no one can be sure of the army's total loyalty to the regime. The president cannot be sure that officers will agree to order their men to shoot demonstrators if need be, or whether the soldiers will obey such orders. Even after three days, *DEBKAfile*'s sources report signs that the president and his immediate circle of advisers and ministers have not grasped the extent of their peril. For hours, security forces commanders begged the president to sign curfew decrees for the most troubled cities, but he refused. In the end, they clamped curfews down on their own initiative in Suez and Ismailia on the banks of the Suez Canal and across the canal in the northern Sinai town of El Arish close to the Israeli and Gaza borders. During the day, violent clashes between police and rioters occurred in all three towns, whose combined population is 1.7 million, eaving casualties whose numbers are unknown. Thursday night, their streets of the three towns were deserted except for heavy security patrols. No one was allowed to leave without a special permit. The ministry responsible for mosques and preachers Thursday night issued directives to the imams who are state employees to focus their sermons Friday on calls to keep the peace and not participate in the anti-government demonstrations. But those preachers, although their pay checks come from the public purse, are unlikely to go against the popular mood or dare defy the Muslim Brotherhood. Later Thursday, rumors were floating around Cairo that President Mubarak was about to sack the government and promise early parliamentary elections. Neither was confirmed. EXCERPTS FROM DEBKAfile Exclusive Report, January 27, 2011 *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 234348 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Feb 5 15:51:10 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 15:51:10 -0800 Subject: From a Spanish Newspaper Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* February 5, 2011 You may have seen this a while back, but it?needs revisiting in consideration of the present world events taking place! ? ? ALL EUROPEAN LIFE DIED IN AUSCHWITZ The following is a copy of an article written by Spanish writer Sebastian Vilar Rodriguez and published in a Spanish newspaper on Jan. 15, 2008.? It doesn't take much imagination to extrapolate the message to the rest of Europe - and possibly to the rest of the world. REMEMBER AS YOU READ -- IT WAS IN A SPANISH PAPER Date: Tue. 15 January 2008 14:30 ALL EUROPEAN LIFE DIED IN AUSCHWITZ By Sebastian Vilar Rodrigez I walked down the street in Barcelona , and suddenly discovered a terrible truth - Europe died in Auschwitz ... We killed six million Jews and replaced them with 20 million Muslims. In Auschwitz we burned a culture, thought, creativity, talent. We destroyed the chosen people, truly chosen, because they produced great and wonderful people who changed the world. The contribution of this people is felt in all areas of life: science, art, international trade, and above all, as the conscience of the world. These are the people we burned. And under the pretence of tolerance, and because we wanted to prove to ourselves that we were cured of the disease of racism, we opened our gates to 20 million Muslims, who brought us stupidity and ignorance, religious extremism and lack of tolerance, crime and poverty, due to an unwillingness to work and support their families with pride. They have blown up our trains and turned our beautiful Spanish cities into the third world, drowning in filth and crime. Shut up in the apartments they receive free from the government, they plan the murder and destruction of their naive hosts. And thus, in our misery, we have exchanged culture for fanatical hatred, creative skill for destructive skill, intelligence for backwardness and superstition. We have exchanged the pursuit of peace of the Jews of Europe and their talent for a better future for their children, their determined clinging to life because life is holy, for those who pursue death, for people consumed by the desire for death for themselves and others, for our children and theirs. What a terrible mistake was made by miserable Europe .. The Global Islamic population is approximately 1,200,000,000; that is ONE BILLION TWO HUNDRED MILLION or 20% of the world's population. They have received the following Nobel Prizes: Literature: 1988 - Najib Mahfooz Peace: 1978 - Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat 1990 - Elias James Corey 1994 - Yaser Arafat: 1999 - Ahmed Zewai Economics: (zero) Physics: (zero) Medicine: 1960 - Peter Brian Medawar 1998 - Ferid Mourad TOTAL: 7 SEVEN The Global Jewish population is approximately 14,000,000; that is FOURTEEN MILLION or about 0.02% of the world's population. They have received the following Nobel Prizes: Literature: 1910 - Paul Heyse 1927 - Henri Bergson 1958 - Boris Pasternak 1966 - Shmuel Yosef Agnon 1966 - Nelly Sachs 1976 - Saul Bellow 1978 - Isaac Bashevis Singer 1981 - Elias Canetti 1987 - Joseph Brodsky 1991 - Nadine Gordimer World Peace: 1911 - Alfred Fried 1911 - Tobias Michael Carel Asser 1968 - Rene Cassin 1973 - Henry Kissinger 1978 - Menachem Begin 1986 - Elie Wiesel 1994 - Shimon Peres 1994 - Yitzhak Rabin Physics: 1905 - Adolph Von Baeyer 1906 - Henri Moissan 1907 - Albert Abraham Michelson 1908 - Gabriel Lippmann 1910 - Otto Wallach 1915 - Richard Willstaetter 1918 - Fritz Haber 1921 - Albert Einstein 1922 - Niels Bohr 1925 - James Franck 1925 - Gustav Hertz 1943 - Gustav Stern 1943 - George Charles de Hevesy 1944 - Isidor Issac Rabi 1952 - Felix Bloch 1954 - Max Born 1958 - Igor Tamm 1959 - Emilio Segre 1960 - Donald A. Glaser 1961 - Robert Hofstadter 1961 - Melvin Calvin 1962 - Lev Davidovich Landau 1962 - Max Ferdinand Perutz 1965 - Richard Phillips Feynman 1965 - Julian Schwinger 1969 - Murray Gell-Mann 1971 - Dennis Gabor 1972 - William Howard Stein 1973 - Brian David Josephson 1975 - Benjamin Mottleson 1976 - Burton Richter 1977 - Ilya Prigogine 1978 - Arno Allan Penzias 1978 - Peter L Kapitza 1979 - Stephen Weinberg 1979 - Sheldon Glashow 1979 - Herbert Charles Brown 1980 - Paul Berg 1980 - Walter Gilbert 1981 - Roald Hoffmann 1982 - Aaron Klug 1985 - Albert A. Hauptman 1985 - Jerome Karle 1986 - Dudley R. Herschbach 1988 - Robert Huber 1988 - Leon Lederman 1988 - Melvin Schwartz 1988 - Jack Steinberger 1989 - Sidney Altman 1990 - Jerome Friedman 1992 - Rudolph Marcus 1995 - Martin Perl 2000 - Alan J. Heeger Economics: 1970 - Paul Anthony Samuelson 1971 - Simon Kuznets 1972 - Kenneth Joseph Arrow 1975 - Leonid Kantorovich 1976 - Milton Friedman 1978 - Herbert A. Simon 1980 - Lawrence Robert Klein 1985 - Franco Modigliani 1987 - Robert M. Solow 1990 - Harry Markowitz 1990 - Merton Miller 1992 - Gary Becker 1993 - Robert Fogel Medicine: 1908 - Elie Metchnikoff 1908 - Paul Erlich 1914 - Robert Barany 1922 - Otto Meyerhof 1930 - Karl Landsteiner 1931 - Otto Warburg 1936 - Otto Loewi 1944 - Joseph Erlanger 1944 - Herbert Spencer Gasser 1945 - Ernst Boris Chain 1946 - Hermann Joseph Muller 1950 - Tadeus Reichstein 1952 - Selman Abraham Waksman 1953 - Hans Krebs 1953 - Fritz Albert Lipmann 1958 - Joshua Lederberg 1959 - Arthur Kornberg 1964 - Konrad Bloch 1965 - Francois Jacob 1965 - Andre Lwoff 1967 - George Wald 1968 - Marshall W. Nirenberg 1969 - Salvador Luria 1970 - Julius Axelrod 1970 - Sir Bernard Katz 1972 - Gerald Maurice Edelman 1975 - Howard Martin Temin 1976 - Baruch S. Blumberg 1977 - Roselyn Sussman Yalow 1978 - Dan iel Nathans 1980 - Baruj Benacerraf 1984 - Cesar Milstein 1985 - Michael Stuart Brown 1985 - Joseph L. Goldstein 1986 - Stanley Cohen [& Rita Levi-Montalcini] 1988 - Gertrude Elion 1989 - Harold Varmus 1991 - Erwin Neher 1991 - Bert Sakmann 1993 - Richard J. Roberts 1993 - Phillip Sharp 1994 - Alfred Gilman 1995 - Edward B. Lewis 1996- Lu RoseIacovino TOTAL: 129! ? ****? and the Jews creative contributions to the Arts is unparalleled.?? The Jews are NOT promoting brain washing children in military training camps, teaching them how to blow themselves up and cause maximum deaths of non Jews and other non Muslims. The Jews don't hijack planes, nor kill athletes at the Olympics, or blow themselves up in German restaurants. There is NOT one single Jew who has destroyed a church. There is NOT a single Jew who protests by killing people. The Jews don't traffic slaves, nor have leaders calling for Jihad and death to all the Infidels. Perhaps the world's Muslims should consider investing more in standard education and less in blaming the Jews for all their problems. Muslims must ask 'what can they do for humankind' before they demand that humankind respects them. Regardless of your feelings about the crisis between Israel and the Palestinians and Arab neighbors, even if you believe there is more culpability on Israel 's part, the following two sentences really say it all: 'If the Arabs put down their weapons today there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel ." Benjamin Netanyahu General Eisenhower Warned Us It is a matter of history that when the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Dwight Eisenhower, found the victims of the death camps he ordered all possible photographs to be taken, and for the German people from surrounding villages to be ushered through the camps and even made to bury the dead. He did this because he said in words to this effect: 'Get it all on record now - get the films - get the witnesses - because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened' Recently, the UK debated whether to remove The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it 'offends' the Muslim population which claims it never occurred. It is not removed as yet. However, this is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily each country is giving into it. It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the, 6 million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians, and 1,900 Catholic priests who were 'murdered, raped, burned, starved, beaten, experimented on and humiliated' while the German people looked the other way. Now, more than ever, with Iran , among others, claiming the Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets. This e-mail is intended to reach 400 million people. Be a link in the memorial chain and help distribute this around the world. How many years will it be before the attack on the World Trade Center 'NEVER HAPPENED' because it offends some Muslim in the United States ? *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Feb 6 14:49:30 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2011 14:49:30 -0800 Subject: Another slant on Egypt Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* February 6, 2011 Dear Friends - This is a letter that we have received twice from some folks in Egypt with their perspective on what is happening there. *Totally different* story from what the press is presenting. An interesting read. Dear friends, I am writing this to you as a witness to what is going on from the streets of Cairo over the last few days. Rania and I have been following the developments since January 25th, which started with a large group of Egyptian youth taking to Tahrir square in an anti-government protest with specific demands. I know some of these people who were in that group and I talked with them. What is happening now has nothing to do with this original protest! What is happening right now is a conspiracy to topple Mubarak from outside the country!! I am not a conspiracy theorist, but let me tell you what I have personally witnessed on the streets of Cairo. I want to share first what the LORD told me on Friday morning. I went to the LORD in prayer on Thursday evening, praying like many others for protection and for the restoration of peace and security in my land. I told the LORD: "Father, answer my prayers with rain", which He has several times before. I went to sleep. I woke up on Friday morning and went directly to prayer. Immediately, I sensed a strong urgency from the LORD saying: "As the people of Egypt presented their requests to Mubarak, I am calling on My people to rise up before me and present their requests to me for their nation". I went on to hear the LORD: "Let the Holy Council assemble". I didn't understand who this Council was, but I knew in my heart that the LORD meant that there are people in my land that are called by the LORD to stand before him as His Holy Council with authority to make declaration over the land, to establish the Kingdom in the land. My demands to the LORD were not political by nature. I prayed for "good news to the poor, freedom for the oppressed, healing for the brokenhearted, and the acceptable year of the LORD" as the Holy Spirit gave guidance. The LORD spoke to me the words "JUSTICE" and "TRUTH". As I went to talk with Rania afterwards, she told me that she had been awake all through the night, and that IT RAINED around 12:45 am. It was very strong, but not for a very long time (a few minutes). I knew then that it was the LORD. The LORD spoke Psalm 97:1-2: The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Indeed, there had been unusual clouds and very thick fog in December over Cairo, unprecedented in frequency and intensity. Again, the words TRUTH (or righteousness in the English translation) and JUSTICE resounded. As Rania and I followed the unfolding of events including the announced change in government and president Mubarak's speech, we wondered why the international news media is focusing only on the thousands in Tahrir square who are escalating their demands and refusing dialogue. The news media is reporting this as "the people of Egypt" wanting Mubarak to leave immediately. Did they ask the "people of Egypt?". For one, they did not ask me! Where are those, like myself, that want change and reform, but accept the changes that Mubarak is proposing, and want a peaceful transition through elections in September? We decided to take to the streets to voice our opinion. On Tuesday February 1st we went to Mustafa Mahmoud square in Mohandessin. There were about one thousand people there around 3:30 pm. (yes, we broke the curfew). the crowd grew to about 2500 by 5:00 pm. People were calling their friends over the phone telling them to come. We left at about 6:30 pm and returned yesterday, Wednesday, starting at 11:00 am. The small group had swelled to TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE standing together with banners saying things like: - yes to stability, yes to Mubarak - give change a chance - we are sorry Mr. president - we accept dialogue, we trust you - no to ElBaradei, no to the Muslim brotherhood (many like this one) - we are the Egyptians, where is Al-Jazeera, let them come and see - no to corruption, no to vandalism - we got what we asked the president for, so why are people still in Tahrir? Who are they? What do they want? etc., etc., etc. By 2:00 pm, the crowd had grown to SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, maybe up to a million, stretching from Sphinx square to Sudan street. We had a great sense of unity and victory. We met with people who were in the original protest in Tahrir square who decided to join us saying: we got what we asked for, and now we accept Mubarak's changes and proposals". We left around 4:15 pm. The numbers had grown even more, POSSIBLY OVER A MILLION. As we drove home we saw the same slogans on banners all over the city, on cars, on walls, on shop windows. We learned that similar demonstrations are taking place ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, IN MAY DIFFERENT CITIES. THIS IS THE CRY OF THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT THAT IS BEING TOTALLY IGNORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS MEDIA. Is this on purpose??!!! I am perplexed!!! I am wondering: How come CNN, the BBC, and others are reporting ONLY the anti-government protests as the voice of the people? This is not JUSTICE, this is not TRUTH. There have been reports that these people are being paid by the government. NOT TRUE! I was there with many many others. I SAW THE STREETS. Now to the situation in Tahrir square. Only a few people (hundreds?) are still there from the original protesters. They have been slowly replaced by other HIGHLY ORGANIZED GROUPS. They all have the same model of cell phones. They all have the same blankets (eye witnesses). THESE ARE NOT THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT. Some witnesses claim that they don't look Egyptians, and don't sound Egyptians (different accent, different dialect). THIS IS A BIG ORGANIZED COUP TO TRY TO CONVINCE THE WORLD THROUGH THE MEDIA THAT EGYPT WANTS MUBARAK TO GO, AND THE MEDIA IS PART OF THE DECEPTION. People in Tahrir square are escalating the situation on purpose to topple President Mubarak FOR THEIR OWN HIDDEN AGENDAS. This is TYPICAL OF THE MUSLIM BROTHERS, AND EVERYBODY IN THE STREETS OF CAIRO KNOWS THIS. We heard people on the streets saying that the plot to take over the country is now clear. THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS. The escalation of violence in Tahrir square is because of this. Egyptians who love Egypt, the millions that took to the streets yesterday, want this to end. They fully understand that president Mubarak is between a rock and a hard place, that he cannot quench the unrest in Tahrir through the army, so the people want to go to Tahrir to disperse the crowds there by themselves. People in Tahrir are vastly outnumbered. If Egyptians go the Tahrir square to take control of the situation, more chaos will erupt, giving a chance to the international media to blame the President even more. If Egypt falls, then neighbouring countries are going to fall one after the other. WE NEED PRAYER, WE ASK FOR TRUTH, WE ASK FOR JUSTICE, and above all LORD, in wrath, REMEMBER MERCY. Stand with us. The Lord calls Egypt "My people". He is calling on His HOLY COUNCIL in the land of Egypt to stand before Him, to make declarations in the heavenlies to establish a new 'constitution' in the land based on the principles of the Word of God, to establish a 'new foundation' for His kingdom to come. Pray for the schemes of the enemy to be annulled and voided. Pray for deception to be exposed. We humble ourselves and pray. We seek the Face of the LORD. We turn from our wicked ways. LISTEN TO US LORD, FORGIVE US, HEAL OUR LAND. In the Name of Jesus. In Him, standing for God's purposes in Egypt, *R and R (Names omitted for safety) * *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Feb 10 09:27:58 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:27:58 -0800 Subject: Revival Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* February 10, 2011 ?*REVIVAL? - 2011-02-09* *Its Present Relevance & Coming Role at the End of the Age* *by Dr. Wes Adams & Rhonda Hughey* *What is God's purpose for revival in the 21st Century and can we know it? Our world is headed toward catastrophic climax. The forces of evil are becoming more united in their sinister aggression against God. At the same time there are increasing signs of an unprecedented spiritual awakening worldwide.* *How can we know there will be a final great revival at the end of the age? What is the biblical evidence that points to such a revival before Christ returns? As the Lord brings redemptive history to a grand culmination, a final global revival is promised in Scripture. This end-time revival will make possible a vast spiritual harvest of souls, restore widespread awareness of God and His glory, magnify the name of Jesus in the earth, and prepare a pure and spotless Bride for the Bridegroom.* *The great revival is still ahead of us! We have the privilege of partnering with God the Father in the final preparation of the ages for great revival and the return of His Son!* *A confirmation to the above by Mike Bickle, Director, Int'l House of Prayer - ?An unprecedented great revival is coming to the earth! Flowing from decades of study, personal experience and fervent intercession, Wes Adams and Rhonda Hughey provide solid Biblical evidence and prophetic insight that gives clear perspective and hope to contend for the revival that is coming!?* *John Wesley Adams (Ph.D., Baylor), a biblical scholar, is co-author and chief revision editor of the internationally translated Life in the Spirit Study Bible (Zondervan) and author of The Fire of God's Presence. His pursuit of revival includes extensive study, teaching and intercession for over 40 years. God's fire burns in his heart for great revival in this generation. Wes resides in Grandview, MO.* *Rhonda Hughey, author of Desperate For His Presence (Bethany House) is the Director of Fusion Ministries, Inc. Rhonda has served as a leader in the transforming revival movement for over 16 year. A fiery leader with a revolutionary spirit, Rhonda has committed her life to contending for God's presence and glory in our generation. Rhonda makes her home in Kansas City, MO.* *NOTE*: A Korean friend of mine felt impressed to give me a gift of the above volume. I have been intensely interested in *Revival* since my conversion in 1944. ?Times of Refreshing? by Dr. J. Edwin Orr - his account on a trip across Canada in the 1930's - especially gripped my attention. The authors of the above ?Revival? make Dr. Orr one of their chief proponents for this which is so close to the heart of God. In the above book, the chapter on ?Transformational Revival? especially captured my attention. The last decade has seen 100's of cities worldwide impacted by this. Not only individuals, churches and cities have been affected, but also governments, economics, social interests, education and ?the land?. The reigns of King Hezekiah and Josiah in the OT exemplify the same features. All those of you who have a like-heart for this complete type of revival, will not wish to miss reading not just once, but a number of times - this challenging and informative word. It has been Published by ?Fusion Ministries, Inc.? 2010, 721 Main St., Ste. 105, Grandview, MO 64030, and can also be obtained through *< www.fusionministry.com> .* I have personally met and heard both the authors, and have no hesitancy in warmly recommending this volume. *MOSES LAKE CONFERENCE - January 26-29, 2011* I was invited to attend and serve as one of the speakers at this conference, and sent out a report February 2 concerning my impressions. Here is a word on my report: Jim - This letter is one of the best you have ever sent out. I can see the REVOLUTION on the horizon and today's Nazarite youth are realizing that the generations that have had a 'gap' are seeing that gap close up in the exercise of honor. We honor you as a forerunner that built a foundation upon which we all stand. And that foundation will be the springboard for the coming outpouring. Blessings in the highest degree that can be given. This time, the outpouring will be with God's chosen hand in hand with us Gentiles. Past dates bear that out, i.e., '67 Six Day War and the Jesus People Revolution, British Mandate over Israel in the early 1900s and the 1906 outpouring, 1948 Modern Israel and the revivalists that burst forth on the scene at that time, Kathryn Kulman, Gordon Lindsay, Charles Parham, etc. So, my brother and sister. We honor you for the highway you paved that we can run on. And we are running. We see Egypt soon on our calendar probably in June. With all that is happening there they need encouragement. We are in contact with a pastor there in Alexandria who had planted churches in that city as well as others. They are on the cutting edge of revival and are opening a 24/7 prayer room in their Alexandria congregation. We are watching closely now and praying against the Muslim Brotherhood who are like a virus in all the Islamic countries. Findland wants us back again this Summer. There were several healings there last year and evidently the message of the coming revival changed some lives. Keep us in your prayers and we too keep you in ours. Keep up your vigil to see this move loosed upon the earth. The woodpiles are in place and all that has to happen is the Holy Spirit to come in fire. Ron & Carol Cantrell *NOTE**: * I quote the above chiefly that you might join in prayer with Marie and me for Ron and Carol as they tentatively plan to be in Egypt in June, and later on in Finland. They have together had a most fruitful ministry in Israel and neighboring countries - for 2 terms of over 20 years. Ron is author of ?The Mahdi? - a most significant book in the light of the times in which we live. Their Web: ** - and Ron's Blog: The New Nazarite - *< http://thenewnazarite.wordpress.com>* We have walked with Ron & Carol Cantrell since 1990 through Congregation Beth Simcha of Federal Way initially - but have followed through closely since then in the last 20 years, visiting them in Israel on two occasions. They are worthy of our prayers - Jim & Marie Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Feb 12 17:51:25 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:51:25 -0800 Subject: Interlinear "Tweaking" Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* February 12, 2011 *INTERLINEAR ?TWEAKING? - February 12, 2011* *Friends - This is a Progress Report on the Interlinear Printing. * *On January 8th our printers met with 3 of us in the Seattle area - who are working together on the Printing Preparation.* *Our page format needs some ?tweaking? according to our printers: - too much white space on either side of the text, which takes up to 40% of each page.* *I have given myself the project to double up the shorter lines, and to use the English text for the Title when the sentence is but one line long. This reduces that sentence by 3 lines, and definitely helps.* *Then the Associate helps the Printer by taking the larger titles of Sections, Paragraphs and subdivision - putting them together and changing them from 11 point to 8 point fonts, but still in ?caps?. * *I believe the shortening of the complete Interlinear Greek NT will be so considerable from these two ?tweakings?, that printing this year is definitely in sight.* *Since January 8th, I have completed my part of the above for the 4 Gospels, the Book of James and Acts 1-8. With the Gospels, Acts and the 7 General Epistles, 140 of the 260 NT chapters will be complete for my part, leaving only 40% of the NT to go. This work does take strong concentration on my part, so I will appreciate your prayers.* *I am including John 1:1-18 in this revised format for this mailing, but not the ?tweaking? of the Associate Printer. You can compare this with the first format on our Website under ?Interlinear?. * *Some 20 have already made reservations for the first printed copies, which can be made from our Homepage on our Website.* *In the Spring of 1948 I traveled throughout the Province of Saskatchewan as Speaker with a Male * *Quartet from the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. They knew of my vision for this project plus my NOTES, and asked to be put down for first copies. I fear they all may be in heaven now. The delay was necessary for the Computer Age - and for my grandson to prepare a revised Website. My picture appears with the Quartet 4 in the ?Greystone? - the 1948 Edition of the University of Saskatchewan, from which I graduated with a B.A. * *It is not planned for my ?NOTES? to be included in the printing, but they already appear on our Website in the complete Outlined Interlinear Greek NT under ?Interlinear?. * *Any thoughts or suggestions you might have will be appreciated.* *Your friend - Jim Watt* *(From: JOHN #1 - 1:1-18)* *JOHN'S SUMMARY: THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, SON OF THE LIVING GOD* *I. 1:1-2:11 JESUS COMMENCES HIS MIRACULOUS MINISTRY* *A. 1:1-18 PURPOSE OF JESUS: TO REVEAL GOD TO MAN* *1. 1:1 In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with :God, and the Word was God.* En arCH*E* [746] *e*n ho LOgos [3056], kai ho LOgos *e*n pros ton TheON, kai TheOS *e*n ho LOgos. *2. 1:2-13 PURPOSE OF WORD: LIGHT AND LIFE FOR MEN* *a. 1:2 The same was in the beginning with :God.* HOUtos *e*n en arCH*E* pros ton TheON. *b. 1:3 All things became through him; and without him nothing became that had become.* PANta di' auTOU eGEne-to [1096]; kai ch*o*RIS auTOU eGEne-to ouDE hen ho GEgo-nen. *c. 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of :men.* en auT*O* z*o*-*E* [2222] *e*n; kai h*e* z*o*-*E* *e*n to ph*o*s [5457] t*o*n anTHR*O*p*o*n. *d. 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.* kai to ph*o*s en t*e* skoTIa [4653] PHAInei [5316]; kai h*e* skoTIa auTO ou kaTEla-ben [2638]. *e. 1:6 There came to be a man, sent from God, his name was John.* eGEne-to ANthr*o*-pos, a-pe-stalMEnos [649] paRA TheOU, Ono-ma auT*O* 'I*o* An*e*s. *f. 1:7 PURPOSE OF JOHN: A WITNESS UNTO BELIEF* HOUtos *E*Lthen eis mar-tuRIan [3141], *The same came for a witness,* HIna mar-tuR*E*s*e* peRI tou ph*o*TOS, HIna PANtes piSTEUs*o*-sin [4100] di' auTOU. *that he might witness of the light, that all might believe through him.* *g. 1:8 HE was not the light, but came that he might witness of the light.* ouk *e*n eKEInos to ph*o*s, all' HIna mar-tuR*E*s*e* peRI tou ph*o*TOS. *h. 1:9 The true :light was which coming into the world lights every man.* *E*n to ph*o*s to a-l*e*-thiNON ho ph*o*TIzei [5461] PANta ANthr*o*-pon erCHOme-non eis ton KOSmon [2889]. *i. 1:10 He was in the world, and the world became through him, and the world knew him not.* en t*o* KOSm*o* *e*n, kai ho KOSmos di' auTOU eGEne-to, kai ho KOSmos auTON ouk EGn*o*. *j. 1:11 He came unto his :own possessions, and his :own received him not.* eis ta Idi-a *E*Lthen, kai hoi Idi-oi auTON ou paREla-ben [3880]. *k. 1:12-13 A NEW BIRTH - RESULT OF ACCEPTING THE WORD* HOsoi de Ela-bon auTON, Ed*o*-ken auTOIS e-xouSIan [1849] TEKna TheOU geNESthai, *But as many as received him, to them gave he authority to become children of God,* tois piSTEUou-sin eis to Ono-ma auTOU: *even** to them that believe unto his :name:* hoi ouk ex haiMAt*o*n [129], ouDE ek theL*E*ma-tos sarKOS*,* *13 who were begotten, not of bloods, nor of the will of flesh,* OUde ek theL*E*ma-tos [2307] anDROS, all' ek TheOU e-genN*E*th*e*-san [1080] . *nor of man's will, but of God.* *3. 1:14-18 PURPOSE OF JESUS: REVEAL GOD IN FLESH* *a. 1:14 INCARNATION AND CHARACTER OF CHRIST* Kai ho LOgos sarx eGEne-to, kai eSK*E*n*o*-sen [4637] en h*e*MIN, *And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us,* kai e-the-aSAme-tha [2300] t*e*n DOxan [1391] auTOU, DOxan h*o*s mo-no-geNOUS [3439] paRA paTROS, *and we beheld his :glory, glory as of an only begotten with a father,* PL*E*r*e*s CHAri-tos [5485] kai a-l*e*THEIas [225]. *full of grace and truth.* *b. 1:15 WHAT JOHN WITNESSED OF JESUS* ('I*o*An*e*s mar-tuREI peRI auTOU, kai KEkra-gen, LEg*o*n, - *(John witnessed of him, and cried, saying, -* HOUtos *e*n ho eiP*O*N - Ho oPIs*o* mou erCHOme-nos EMprosTHEN mou GEgo-nen: *This was he who said - Who comes after me is become before me:* HOti PR*O*-TOS [4413] mou *e*n.) *for he was first in regard of me.)* *c. 1:16 Because of his :fullness we all received, and grace upon grace.* HOti ek tou pl*e*R*O*ma-tos [4128] auTOU h*e*MEIS PANtes eLAbo-men, kai CHArin anTI CHAri-tos. *d. 1:17 CONTRAST OF MOSES AND JESUS* HOti ho NOmos [3551] diA M*o*-uSE*o*s eDOth*e*; *Because the law was given through Moses;* h*e* CHAris kai h*e* aL*E*thei-a diA 'I*e*SOU ChrisTOU eGEne-to. *the grace and the truth came to be through Jesus Christ.* *e. 1:18 THE MANIFESTATION THAT CHRIST HAS GIVEN OF THE FATHER* TheON ouDEIS he*O*ra-ken [3708] P*O*po-te; mo-no-geN*E*S, TheOS, *God no one has ever seen; an only begotten, himself God,* ho *o*n eis ton KOLpon [3859] tou paTROS, eKEInos e-x*e*G*E*sa-to [1834]. *who is unto the bosom of the Father, HE has declared him.* *NOTE**: *John 1:1-18 is called the ?Prologue? to the whole Gospel of John, and in theological circles, the ?Prolegomena?. It is unique in the entire Bible, and gives the relationship of Jesus to the Father and to us, in a manner that is indeed unique. Jehovah's Witnesses have made a big deal out of 1:1, where it states that Jesus the ?Word? was ?God?, but without being preceded by the definite article ?the?. They say that he was but ?a God?, while the Father was ?the God.? I challenged one young Jehovah's Witness leader in charge of a group - ?If I could show you a passage, even from your own Interlinear Greek NT, the ?Emphatic Diaglott?, where Jesus is called ?the? God, would you acknowledge that your doctrine of making Jesus less the the Father is false? ?Yes?, he said, ?but you can't do that.? ?Turn to John 20:28,? I said, ?and read to me.? Here Thomas, when he saw the resurrected Christ with the nail-prints in His hands and feet, and the mark of the sword-thrust in His side, fell at His feet and said to Him, My ?the? Lord, and my ?*the*? God. This young man was immediately chagrined and at a loss before a home group of some 20 that he was seeking to disciple. One of our church members had been invited to attend this group, but told the leader she didn't think her pastor would approve of the teaching. ?Invite him to come,? he challenged, ?and tell him he can challenge me in any area where he has a problem. Following my challenge he said, ?I have had a dozen or so pastors challenge me in the past, but you are the first one that has put me into a losing situation.? I did not do this to embarrass this young leader, but to save our church member from falling into heresy and error. This took place in 1955 in Chicago through the Kostner Avenue Baptist Church, of which I was pastor. 1:1-2 throws light against the Gnostic error that took place, even starting in the first century of the church. It is interesting to note in 1:4, that the ?life? of Jesus is the ?light? of men - and His Life is the Life of the Holy Spirit, also called Eternal Life! 1:12-13 has been memorized by many, and is part of the 108 verses in the ?Topical Memory System? put out by the Navigators years ago. I love 1:14, telling how Jesus took on our human form to tabernacle among us, like Moses' Tabernacle in the Wilderness. For those with eyes to see, they could see the glory of the Father shining through the body of Jesus in His three year ministry amongst us. It was following the Holy Spirit descending on Him as a Dove that this manifestation with the Signs and Wonders commenced. Jesus did not perform a miracle prior to that time, in spite of some of the statements in apocryphal books. The contrast between the ministry of Moses and Jesus cannot be more clearly stated than in 1:17. And 1:18 makes it clear that all we know or can know of the Father, is only through Jesus Christ. God has chosen *Him* to manifest the fullness of the invisible God. Oswald Chambers in his writings, makes this point abundantly clear. People who love to memorize portions of Scripture, not just verses - are rewarded greatly through the memorization of this passage. Then as they meditate upon it, great reward becomes theirs. Lance Latham of Chicago raised up the ?AWANA? Clubs for boys and later also for girls. It stands for ?Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed?. He had the members memorize chapters and even books of the New Testament. The Book of Romans was one he strongly encouraged for complete memorization. Over 50% of the boys in one Club ended up as pastors or missionaries because of this strong challenge! - J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Feb 14 13:20:43 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:20:43 -0800 Subject: City Church & Presbytery Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* February 14, 2011 *CITY CHURCH & PRESBYTERY Concept - 2011-02-14* *For God's Organic Laser-Telescope: The Second Component Part - The City Church Concept with Eldership in Gate of the City.* *Question**: Which is easier - to build a house from scratch - or - to ** remodel a house? With the latter, one never knows what complications he will run into! * *Paul - built 14 city churches from scratch - much easier. Today - denominations and sub-denominations - are so numerous - and each - a unit and law unto itself.* *Many local churches pay lip-service to city church unity - but - in reality - the denomination usually has a controlling influence on their local churches in a city - sufficient to guide strongly in doctrine and loyalty - so that true city unity and functioning elderships in the Gate of Cities - never truly happens.* *But - it does happen in the 100 million members of the home church movement in China! See the biography of Brother Yun - The Heavenly Man.* *History**: How I received the City Church Concept with an Eldership or Presbytery in the Gate. In 1949 I was enrolled in the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago. Once a week Marie and I organized a street meeting, and brought some fellow students with us to preach and give our testimonies and win souls and disciple them to Jesus. Harry Conn was intrigued with these outreaches, and whenever he could, would join us, and share his vision on ?missions? with us. Harry was Chief Engineer of Scully-Jones, the 2**nd largest tooling manufacturing company for ?automation? in the country. He had several hundred men working under him. Through his lectures on both automation and optimation, he sold more tools for his company that all their salesmen combined. * *He also introduced us to Roland Allen and his books - Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours - and The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church - and the Causes which Hinder. Mr. Allen was an Anglican from England, but felt there was something sadly lacking in the world church situation. These two books set forth his solution. He tried it out first in Northern China, and then in East Africa; but not with the success he hoped for.* *Then in 1963 I came across Watchman Nee's The Glorious Church. Here the author set forth his concept for the City Church - One church per city, encompassing all local churches. Unfortunately, he saw only his type of church as being the city church, and ignored all others. So that didn't work either.* *Then in 1989 John Dawson wrote Taking Our Cities for God - How to Break Spiritual Strongholds. He wrote this on the basis of what he observed in a western city in the Argentine. This comes closest to what I see in the New Testament. But it did not clearly point out a functioning Eldership or Presbytery in the Gate of each City Church; though there did take place unusual prayer results from the pastors in their meetings.* *But on December 7, 2009, there was a break-through in prayer in Minnesota north of Minneapolis, and at the same time God revealed to me the last 5 component parts of His Organic Laser-Telescope, which He had showed me in 1967, and confirmed in 1985. He said to me - ?What I have revealed to you in the past concerning My goals for the City Church and Presbytery - I am about to activate.? I shared this with the ?Pilot Prayer Team? that I had inaugurated in October of that year, but later turned over to Elvin Gladney for leadership. At the close of this paper, I will list again these 7 parts, with short revised notes on each.* *Sometime in the late '70's in Portland, Oregon - one of the local pastors asked - ?Why can't we through our local church bring unity to the city church of Portland?? My answer was - because of your faulty concept of the Presbytery. Stop bringing outside elders into your church as a presbytery - and start encouraging and using local Senior pastors to function as a city Eldership in the gate of your city. Have outsiders come in to help in the beginning - but don't call them your presbytery. Your own City Elders are your City Presbytery. The outsiders are but scaffolding until the local elders of your city are enabled to function as a presbytery. Then - the scaffolding can be removed.* *He said he couldn't do that - his local congregation wouldn't stand for this restructuring and time lapse. Then I told him - ?Don't expect then to see city unity in your locale.?* *Next - see that the restored Presbytery Concept in 1948 was severely limited. It is much more than laying on of hands and prophecy over the 5-fold ministries. It is more than 1 Timothy 1:18 and 4:14 - ?*This :charge I commit to you, Timothy child, according to the *prophecies* which led the way to you, that *by them* you war the good warfare: having faith and a good conscience? - and ?*Neglect not* the gift in you, which was *given you through prophecy, with laying on of the hands of the presbytery*.? *This was good for Timothy, and valuable for all ministries. But it doesn't clearly spell out that the Presbytery or 5-fold Eldership in the Gate of each City, had the privilege and responsibility of commissioning and sending out all that the Holy Spirit should call. See Acts 13:1-3 - here 5 prophets and teachers from the City Church of Antioch were meeting in a NT Levitical sense of ?lei-tourGIa - spiritual ministry? to the Lord! One time as they were so occupied, the Holy Spirit took over and called Barnabas and Saul out for missionary service. The 5 continued to fast and pray and worship, and when they had confirmation that this was indeed the will of God - they thencommissioned these two, and sent them forth. When they returned it was now Paul and Barnabas - and they returned as apostles. To read concerning their first missionary trip, it is easy to see the reason for these two changes.* *Then the 12 apostles from the City Church of Jerusalem had the people there choose 7 from among them to serve as deacons. The apostles then commissioned these 7 to serve the entire City Church of Jerusalem in waiting on tables, and other deacon responsibilities, freeing the apostles for the ministry of the Word and prayer. There were probably 100's of churches in the home from which to choose the 7. This is another Presbytery function.* *To solve doctrinal problems in Acts 15, such as occasioned by the Jerusalem Judaizers, who were disrupting the city churches raised up for Gentiles. Paul stood for a ?One New Man? concept for Gentiles, who could fellowship with Messianic Jews, but did not have to be Torah observant as did the Jews. No circumcision for Gentiles, etc. The Judaizers contended that Gentiles had to become as Jews, be circumcised etc., to become acceptable to God and them. Peter and James, the apostolic Jerusalem pastor, sided with Paul against the Judaizers. This was a city Presbytery or Eldership function in a most important doctrinal matter!* *In the Book of Ruth, a city Eldership or Presbytery solved an inheritance problem for Boaz and a nearer kinsman-redeemer.* *These - and others - are all functions of a city Presbytery or Eldership in the Gate of each City Church. No ?traveling? outside Presbytery coming into to a city church, or functioning only for one local church here; - causing even deeper divisions between the various local churches within that city. Such is a violation of Protocol, and is not Warfare by Honor.* *Early in my new Christian life, I did a Greek word study on ?church - ek-kleSIa?. It appears 114 times in God's Bible Numeric Greek NT: once in Acts 7 it refers to Israel as the church in the Wilderness through Stephen; 3 times it refers to the secular city citizens of Ephesus, Acts 19; 14 times it refers to a local church in a house such as for Aquila and Priscilla; 15 times it refers to the universal church or called out believers - Jew and Gentile - past, present and future; but - 81 times it refers to the City Church! 14 of these references appear in Revelation 2 & 3 for the 7 churches named by Jesus. God invariably places His emphasis of importance on a teaching or doctrine by the number of references.* *So - what is our present day emphasis? The local church of 14 references! And what of those 81 City Church references? Largely ignored. So - local pastors by and large take all the city church concept teaching, and try to make it all function in a local church context! Impossible! One Baptist church in California of some 400 to 500 members had 4 pastor; 24 deacons; 7 elders; 7 trustees; 20 committee chairmen, plus a Christian School and its officers! The original church of Jerusalem had but 7 deacons for an entireCity Church! An Eldership composed of an elder representing each of the 100's of local churches in the home. * *So - there is a Remodeling Problem for the City Church for us today. Paul was fortunate in his day that he could start from scratch - no denominations - just Jewish and Gentile believers and the Judaizing Controversy. Perhaps that was not only enough, but an equivalent! * *I see by vision 70 cities in Canada functioning in this ?Remodeled Concept? - each with a typical group of 8 of the 5-fold ministries sitting in the Gate of each city, and functioning as a City Presbytery or Eldership. I see 70 more US cities functioning in a parallel manner. Where Americans can't go because of the Vietnam debacle, which produced a lack of confidence in us in Third World nations; it can be hands-across-the-border - and American city churches can ?hold the ropes? for Canadian City churches to go to the ends of the earth, spear-heading in evangelism and missions. Dr. David Yonggi Cho of Korea 3 times prophesied this for Canada: in 1975 in Kelowna, BC; in 1979 in Toronto; and in 1984 in Halifax.* *This City Church and Presbytery concept is the ?Stand? or ?Pedestal? to support the other 6 component parts of God's organic Laser-Telescope - to make the functioning of His Spiritual Star Wars a Reality!* *In conclusion, look at the 7 component parts of this concept: 1) God's Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Transliterated Greek New Testament for Laymen as prepared by Russian Ivan Panin. 2) City Churches with a Presbyter or Eldership in the City Gates. 3) Prayer Multiplication based on the Covenant concept as outlined by Ern Baxter. 4) The 12 Embryonic Revival Principles restored and brought together in the 1948 Visitation at North Battleford, Saskatchewan - and now to be brought to maturity as parameters of safety for the coming world Revival preceding the Return of King Jesus! 5) A return to Bible Meditation as commanded to Joshua in 1:8 by Moses - and picked up by George Whitefield and passed on to George Muller with prayer and faith. 6) Full Discipleship under the supreme control of the Holy Spirit as demonstrated by Rees Howells and H.A. Baker. 7) And lastly - a supreme, continual focus upon our Lord Jesus Christ - as set forth by Oswald Chambers in his My Utmost for His Highest. This is personal, passionate devotion to Jesus!* *The above 7, functioning together like a Pilot Prayer Team - can be used by God to do anything He wants - in cities, regions, nations and the world. This is the end of Satan's machinations through ?Antichrist?, the false prophet, wicked angels, demons, beasts, etc.* *Read the last chapter of the Book of Revelation. Jesus is Victor, notsatan and evil! Rejoice, O earth, for your deliverance and salvation draws nigh! J.A.W* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Feb 18 19:38:49 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:38:49 -0800 Subject: Panin's Bible Chronology Message-ID: *PANIN'S BIBLE CHRONOLOGY - 2011-02-18* *Dr. Panin published his first edition of Bible Chronology in 1923.* *He discovered that there were 245 deducible dates in the Bible from Adam to Calvary - on the basis of Bible evidence alone.* *He then applied Bible Numerics to all the relevant verses in the Hebrew text, and found that this operation confirmed all that he had discovered from his original deductions.* *He also discovered that Bible Numerics divided these 245 dates into 8 periods, 7 of which ended in covenants. Because Judah forfeited God's protection that led to her 70 year captivity, no covenant appeared at this point of their history. Instead - much of their own blood was shed because of their idolatry and disobedience.* *Bible Numerics also marked out 21 significant dates in this 4000 year plus Chronology; 3 of these 21 are especially significant: the Abrahamic Covenant; the Temple of Solomon; and Calvary, and the associated events of that year. On these 3 dates, all Bible History can hang - just as Jesus said that the whole Torah could hang on the 1st and 2nd Commandment.* *I am providing you with this one page abbreviation of the 245 dates. Once the Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek New Testament is printed, we will then put on our Archives the full Bible Chronology outlining all 245 dates.* *I have personally made excellent use of this one page summary, and trust that it may be a blessing to you also. - Jim Watt* *You can click hereto get a PDF copy of Panin's Bible Chronology. * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Feb 22 19:16:10 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:16:10 -0800 Subject: Covenant & Oaths Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* February 22, 2011 *COVENANT AND OATHS - 2011-02-22* In the Bible Numeric confirmed Chronology by Ivan Panin, there are 245 deducible dates from Bible evidence - which are then confirmed by the discovered Bible phenomenon in 1890. Three of these dates stand out unusually - upon which all of Bible History hangs as it were - and which makes unusual sense in the understanding of this History. The first of these three is the Abrahamic Covenant of 1896 B.C. It is in Genesis 17, not Genesis 12 or 15, that the actual Covenant that God makes with Abraham takes place. ?*And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty (El Shaddai); walk before me, and be perfect. **2** **And I will **make my covenant between me and you**, and will multiply you exceedingly.? *Circumcision is the sign God required to make His covenant with the Hebrew people - to become effective. And - Abram was accepted in the ?righteousness which is by faith? *prior* to circumcision. Abraham was 99 after his Covenant name change, when this, the Abrahamic Covenant, was made between God and man, and accepted by Abraham. Isaac was born the following year to Abraham and Sarah. So in Genesis 17:1-2, this most significant covenant was enacted. But in Genesis 22:9-18, the LORD swore by *His oath* that what He had initiated with Abraham by Covenant, He *now* is confirming with His oath. *?And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. **10** **And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. **11** and the angel of Jehovah called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. **12* * And he said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do anything unto him; for **now I know** that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me. **13** **And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, behind **him** a ram caught in the thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh (He will see and provide): as it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be provided.** **15** And the angel of Jehovah called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven, **16** **and said, By **myself have I sworn, says Jehovah**, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, **17** **that in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; **18** **and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice.? (ASV '01)* To understand the deep significance of these 2 sovereign actions initiated by God, it is important to see Hebrews 6:13-20. *?For when :God made promise to :Abraham, since he had none greater to swear by, **he swore by himself**, **14** **saying, Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you. **15 * *And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. **16** **For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. **17** **Wherein :God, intending to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise **the **immutability of his :counsel**, mediated with an oath**;** **18** that by **two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie**, we may have strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before * *us**: **19** **which we have as the soul's anchor, **a hope** both sure and firm and entering into what is within the veil; **20** **where as forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest unto the age after the order of Melchizedek.? (NNT)* This passage by the apostle Paul - ties together the Abrahamic Covenant and the Oath of God in a manner that cannot be misunderstood or mistaken. And notice: Though God had Abraham spare Isaac from sacrifice by providing a ram - yet in the case of *His* Only Begotten Son - for *our sakes* - He spared Him not - but through the sacrificial death of the Son of Man - the Second Adam - all the human race has the opportunity and privilege of forgiveness of sin, from which there is no other source for such forgiveness. But the Second great date in Bible History is the Temple of Solomon in 986 B.C., 480 years following the Exodus. It is the *beginning* of the Temple that God marks out as especially significant, not its completion. God calls the things that are not, as if they already were! The Temple in His sight is as good as done once it has its beginning! See 1 Kings 6:1 for this documentation: *?And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, **that he began to build the house of Jehovah**.? (ASV '01)* For me, the two significant aspects of the Temple were the two pillars at its entrance, Jachin and Boaz. See 1 Kings 7:21 (13-22) for the history behind these two pillars. *?And he set up the pillars at the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name of it Jachin; and he set up the left pillar, and called the name of it Boaz. **22** **And upon the top of the pillars** was lily-work: so was the work of the pillars finished.? *These pillars were not on the porch of the Temple as *supporting pillars* - they were there as ?witnessing? pillars. They hearken back to the Abrahamic Covenant as Boaz (It is strength) - and to the oath in Jachin (He shall establish). Every time the priests entered the Temple, they passed between these two huge ?witnessing? pillars, looking back 1000 years to the Abrahamic Covenant. They also by faith looked forward to *Jesus*, who is God's Living Covenant to us, and *our* Covenant from God. ?Boaz? spells this out, and ?Jachin? established the New Covenant in Jesus by the oath of God. The Lily-work bowls at the top of these two pillars contain oil. First the blood through sacrifice - then the oil of the Holy Spirit. The Third great date, and the last of the 245 deducible Bible dates - is 4032 A.D. - *Calvary* and the Resurrection supremely - followed up by the Ascension and the Giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, 50 days after the Resurrection. These 3 dates are intertwined. The Abrahamic Covenant is fulfilled in the New Covenant which is Jesus! The Temple Pillars are an illustration or Parable of both - looking back 1000 years to the Abrahamic Covenant, and looking forward 1000 years to the New Covenant. There are 21 significant dates including these 3 most significant ones - all multiples of ?7?. They too shed light on these 3. And all 245 deducible dates and the 8 deducible periods - throw light on God's historic unfolding of His purposes to completely offset Satan's machinations, and prepare His Son's return as King of kings and Lord of lords. Nebuchadnezzar's first dream, as supernaturally interpreted by Daniel, comes next in importance to the above 3. It unfolds history from the 4 great empires seen in the dream Image - and leads us to see the final Kingdom-empire of God, led by His Son, that will obliterate all memory as it were - of the preceding 4 empires. I have preached sermons on the 21 significant dates referred to above. In the beginning I pondered why God would mark the Temple of Solomon out so significantly. But as I let Him unfold *His thinking* on this event, I wound up with over a dozen messages on the Temple of Solomon. One day I returned to a church in Portland where I had previously introduced to them this great event. As I walked up the aisle to the pulpit to continue, I heard a little boy say to his mother, ?Mother, look! There's the Temple-man!? I challenge each of us to look into these 3 great events. Let us read up on them; meditate upon them. God will open our eyes to *His thinking* behind them. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Feb 25 16:08:09 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:08:09 -0800 Subject: Laser Empowerment Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* February 25, 2011 *EMPOWERING THE LASER-TELESCOPE - 2011-02-25* *(Activation Dependent upon empowerment)* *There are 7 major Component Parts for a Laser-Telescope. These 7 constitute a Parable. Each part must be understood as a preliminary step towards Activation.* *In 1967 in answer to prayer - God gave a vision for my wife Marie and myself. Through it God was saying - ?For this reason I brought you together into marriage. Through your prayers and gifts, I will bring together these 7 component parts, especially the Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek NT based on the two texts prepared by Ivan Panin.* *The City Church with an Eldership functioning in the Gate of each city, will also be a prayer project.* *These two are especially your prayer project responsibilities. The 12 embryonic Revival Principles from the 1948 Northern Canada Visitation, will come to Maturity through prayer also, and become parameters of safety for the last visitation prior to the return of My Son.* *But when all of this is in place, the Laser Effect is still dependent upon the 9-fold Power effect to bombard spiritual atoms and molecules. This will release photons into the Laser chamber, from which the Laser beam will move out to destroy Satanic principalities and powers over cities, regions and nations.* *Because ?The Universe is organized in Powers of Ten: both natural and spiritual? - then the Spiritual Star Wars Effect based on the Electromagnetic Spectrum - can take place.* *A March National Geographic edition - I believe in 1983 - details the above. Over one-third of that edition majors on the laser-telescope, which the Holy Spirit directed me to consider in 1985. The laser effect however can be so delicate, that it can stitch a loosened eye retina back to its original location at the back of an eyeball.* *Now let us consider in sequence the 9-fold subjects that release power to bombard spiritual atoms and molecules to produce the Spiritual Star Wars Effect.* *One. Prayer Multiplication. Marie and I have named our Ministry - Two Are Better than One? Ministries in the light of this effect. Deuteronomy 32:30; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Matthew 18:19 and Zechariah 12:8 give undergirding to this concept. It is a concept based on ?Covenant?. God initiates Covenant with us. He is as it were at the top of a triangle or pyramid, as ?A?. I am part way down one side as ?B?. God's di-a-THEke is one made by a ?Greater? with a lesser (me). I can accept or reject this Covenant, but I cannot modify it. Once I accept it I move from a 10-fold child stage - to a 100-fold youth stage; to a 1000-fold father stage. But - according to Zechariah 12:8, as one grafted into the roots of Israel, I can claim the David effect of 10,000 fold, and then as an ?Overcomer?, the million-fold effect of Galatians 2:20, by letting Christ live His life through me, by me being possessed by the Holy Spirit.* *Then Marie on the other side of the triangle (?C?), can move through these same stages.* *But** - when we married - we entered not into a vertical, but a horizontal covenant with each other called a ?SUNth**e-ke Covenant - a covenant between two equals. the ?di-a? in God's covenant, means He unilaterally as a greater with a lesser, establishes a vertical agreement with us as individuals. The ?sun? expresses a covenant union established between two equals. So as in Deuteronomy 32:30, I can drive 1000 to flight - then through Prayer Multiplication - two can drive 10,000! But as full overcomers as in the household of David, we each become like God, like the angel of the LORD, a million-fold; together, 10 million-fold. 4 such couples in prayer multiplication, one billion-fold. It is at this point, that power is released to activate the Spiritual Star Wars effect!* *Two**. ?LOgos to R**Ema.? In the beginning, all of the Bible was a Living Word - a REma word. But over time it settled into a written word - a LOgos word. But again, as we devotionally read on our knees and meditate over this written word - by the Spirit it suddenly reverts back again to a Living REma word. This transformation releases a Power Effect similar to that of Prayer Multiplication.* *Three. Dreams and Visions. Some 40 dreams are recorded in the Bible, besides visions. The release of the word for this Gift - power through dreams - can be seen in Job 33:13-18. ?Why do you strive against him, For that he gives not account of any of his matters? 14 For God speaks once, Yes twice, though man regards it not. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, in slumberings upon the bed; 16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction. 17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, And hide pride from man; 18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.?* *If the above 4-fold effect can be released through dreams from God at night, He can also direct dreams and visions to release power to activate the Laser effect. Two Australian brothers have recently published a book on dreams along this line. Following is information should you wish to procure this helpful text: ?The Divinity Code - The Keys to Decoding your Dreams and Visions? by Adrian Beale and Adam F. Thompson, * *Four. Incubation. In Hebrews 11:1 we read, ?Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, conviction of things unseen.? Once we start to pursue this faith, our faith increases. We are as it were, incubating our faith. It soon causes materialization of that for which we are by the Word of God - believing. The process releases another area from which ?Power? can be directed towards the Laser effect.* *Five. Gift of the Spirit. ?do-reA? is the word for this Gift - 11 times in the NT. John 4:10 denotes this Gift as an artesian well. Its effect is ?DUna-mis? - power - which enables us to become an effective witness. Acts 1:8 ?But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon (Epi) you: and you shall be my witnesses.? This same power is also available to work the Laser effect.* *Six. Presbytery. This was the first Restoration concept that took place in February 1948 in Northern Canada. See the power it released for Timothy as recorded in 1 Timothy 1:18 & 4:14 - ?This :charge I commit to you, Timothy child, according to the prophecies which led the way to you, that by them you war a good warfare. - 4:14 Neglect not the gift in you, which was given you through prophecy, with laying on of the hands of the presbytery.? Who is enabled to ?war a good warfare? like Timothy - has also a release of power for the above enablement.* *Seven. Hands. Habakkuk 3:3-4 ?God came from Teman, And the Holy One from mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of his praise. 4 And his brightness was as the light; He had rays coming forth from his hand; And there was the hiding of his power.? This is a Messianic promise, but with Christ the Messiah indwelling and possessing us - the same release of power can come through our hands! Hebrews 6:1-2 lists the ?laying on of hands? as one of the 6 basic foundation doctrines.* *Eight. Joy. Nehemiah 8:10 - ?neither be grieved; for the joy of the LORD Jehovah is your strength.? Joy is the second fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Joy is an overcoming manifestation of the Spirit, that is the right of every believer. He who walks not in this Joy - walks not in the normal release of power which is his right. It is not God's fault if one is not walking in the strength of joy! Lack of joy is a sign of a need of revival. One has fallen away from the normal Christian standard. Whenever revival comes, ?signs following?, gifts of the Spirit, apostles and prophets, the joy of the Lord - all return in function! The power released by joy is also a necessary ingredient for the Laser effect.* *Nine. Beatitudes. There is an 8-fold gradation in the Beatitudes, that give the believer walking this upward pathway - a blessedness and happiness that is born from heaven! At the last, we can become persecuted for ?righteousness? sake - but if we go on to be persecuted for our relationship with Jesus - this bring unusual joy. When we are so persecuted for Jesus' sake, we are to rejoice and be exceeding glad. The Greek word for the latter is to leap for joy?! (a-gal-liASthe). It is a word for extreme joy! It is the ninth and last of this list that produces the power that contributes to making the Laser potential effective!* *So - it is insufficient to know and walk in the 7 Component parts of God's spiritual Laser-Telescope. We need also to walk in the 9-fold areas that release ?power? to activate this possibility.* *May the Lord bless us each one individually, and for Prayer Groups and Elderships in the Gate of each City - as we earnestly pursue the paths that lead to such unusual results. Think - Satan cannot release his Antichrist or Global World Government as long as believers in the church walk in the above overcoming state. When that ceases to be effective - then read in the NT what Satan intends to do. J.A.W.* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Mar 4 10:16:18 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 10:16:18 -0800 Subject: Revival Bibliography Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* March 4, 2011 *AN UNDERGIRDING BIBLIOGRAPHY - 2011-02-28* *- for Seven Component Laser Telescope Parts* *( to produce the ?Spiritual Star Wars? Effect)* *- Plus the Twelve 1948 Embryonic Revival Principles* *Plus the Nine Power-Enablements for the Laser Telescope* *Plus Miscellaneous ?Revival Books?* *I. THE COMPONENT PARTS FOR THE LASER-TELESCOPE -* *One. God's Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek NT - Greek & English texts prepared by I. Panin.* *- This complete text with Notes - appears on our Website under ?Interlinear?.* *A printed text will hopefully appear this year. Both of Panin's texts can be obtained for $25.00 each from Canada. Click on ?Archives? on our Website, and then under 2011-01-20, Interlinear - #1 of 7, Reaching Unbelievers through Bible Numerics, you will find a link under Dr. Keith L. Brooks. Click on this, and you will find a list of present available books ?by? or ?on? Ivan Panin, and where they can be obtained. * *We trust this year that the Interlinear copy on our Website will be available as a printed copy, hopefully for as low as $25.00. This would be an extraordinary low price if our printers can swing it.* *Two. A functioning Presbytery or Eldership in the Gate of 70 City Churches in Canada, and 70 more in the US. See Roland Allen's Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours - and The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church, and the Causes which Hinder. These books are possibly out of print, but often can be obtained * *through ?www.amazon.com? or through ?www.Alibris.com?; also Watchman Nee The Glorious Church, and John Dawson, Taking Our Cities for God - How to break Spiritual Strongholds - a YWAM publication, based on observations from a city in Western Argentina. See City Church Presbytery Concept on our Archives (www.2rbetter.org) under date 2011-02-14.* *Three. Prayer Multiplication - based on Covenant. See our Archives dated 2008-11-03; also our article there - Spiritual Star Wars? dated 2008-04-09. See here also - ?Canada's Remnant, Awake? - 11-3-1995 for two of Pastor Cho's prophecies for Canada. See also ?Share with me My Burden for Canada? - dated 2001-01-01.* *Four. 12 Embryonic Revival Principles of 1948 to Maturity. See our Website under ?Embryonics?. This Commission was given to me July, 1992, following our 3rd trip to Israel. There is a release of power in this maturation process - to empower the functioning of God's Spiritual Laser Telescope. Already God has raised up leaders for this purpose in perhaps half of these revival principles.* *Five. Meditation, Prayer and Faith. See ?George Muller of Bristol? by Dr. A.T. Pierson. Out of the many biographies written on this man famous for his orphanage - this in my estimation is the chief and best. As a believer of ten years, his life took true direction as he read the biography of George Whitefield. There is an excellent biography on him available today by Arnold A. Wallimore - with a sub-title - ?God's Anointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century?. It was written 1990, and I found it on ?Amazon?. See Joshua 1:8 for a relevant verse on Bible Meditation, and also Psalm 1.* *Six. Holy Spirit Possession. The ungodly and pagan surrender themselves to demon possession. Why shouldn't we voluntarily do so for the Holy Spirit? At the age of 26 ?Rees Howells, Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb - a Christian Literature Crusade publication of 1951 - and still in print - did so! This book has had a profound influence on my life.* *Seven. A Major Focus on our Lord Jesus Christ. Oswald Chambers in ?My Utmost for His Highest? has done yeoman's duty in making this vision clear. ?Personal Passionate Devotion to Jesus?, is a key recurring phrase. His biography in 1993 by David McCasland is a classic - ?Oswald Chambers - Abandoned to God?, Discovery House Publishers, Grand Rapids, Mich. This is one of the few but transforming books in my life.* *For those serious about being an integral part of God's Laser Telescope for their City, Town or Village, an understanding of the above 7 points - both individually and corporately - cannot be passed over. With ?Eternity's Values in view? - it is a small price to pay. It seems the Lord places #1 priority on the ?Interlinear Outlined Greek New Testament? - check it out on our Website under ?Interlinear?.* *II. Biographical helps for THE 12 EMBRYONIC REVIVAL PRINCIPLES OF 1948. First of all, check out ?Embryonics? on our Website . At the strong pressure of Richard Long of Ottawa, I wrote them up in 2000 AD, and then added to them the 12 Prayer Outlines. They need up-to-date editing, but they will still be a help. Here are a few Helps for Each, in order of the 12 stones on the Breastplate worn by Israel's High Priest.* *One. Judah. Jesus is the ?Lion of the Tribe of Judah?, and is represented by the gospel of Matthew. It is especially designed to be a witness to Jewish believers, and quotes the OT regularly. Dr. Daniel Juster has books that will be a great help. He is a leader of one of the main Messianic Jewish Movements, and resides in Israel. See Tikkun Ministries Int'l - < www.tikkunministries.org>. Judah means praise. ?The Heavenly Choir? as first experienced by Mrs. Maria Woodworth Etter, and then restored in Edmonton, Alberta in the 1948 Visitation in October, can be associated with Judah. African-Americans have a way of leading us back into intimate worship with God. ?We now overcome? - is one of these choruses.* *Two. Issachar. - link this with ?Sensitivity, faithfulness and obedience?. It was a key in the 1948 Visitation. The First Nations People exhibit these truths admirably. Like Benjamin who brought forth Paul - we need this culture group and the Revival Principle they share.* *Richard Twiss - One church, Many Tribes plus Dancing Our Prayers - < www.wiconi.com> * *Suuqiina & Quamaniq - Warfare by Honor - a walk in Protocol - is extremely helpful - * *Three. Zebulun - means dwelling - God would have us learn how to abide in Him as in John 15:1-16. ?J. Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret? - was just this! See ?Brother Yun, The Heavenly Man? with Paul Hattaway, 2002, < www.backtoJerusalem.com >* *Four. Reuben. - Our Jewish Roots by Dr. Daniel Juster - insightful - See Tikkun Ministries under Judah.* *Five. Simeon - means ?hearing?. As Jesus spoke and did only what he heardfrom His Father, so the Holy Spirit speaks and does what He hears from Jesus. And we too are to be intimate with Him, that we hear and do, like Rees Howells, Intercessor - See Point six under Laser Telescope.* *Six. Gad. Means Troop. Associated with Fasting - one of the key principles restored in 1948. It is also associated with warfare, Elijah and the Armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-20. See ?God's Shield of Protection? by Pastor Mike Servello - - God put a hedge about Job and was a shield unto him. Because He is no respecter of persons, you and I can press in for Him to do for us likewise.* *Derek Prince - God's Chosen Fast - is one of the most helpful of books on this subject of fasting. See what Mahatma Gandhi accomplished through fasting, though an unbeliever.* *Seven. Ephraim - Double Fruitfulness - through Joshua 1:8 and meditation. This is a powerful verse, linked with Ephraim's father Joseph.* *Eight. Manasseh - Inner Healing - See Nouthetic Counseling. Means ?forgetfulness? - helped his father Joseph to forget the evil of his 10 brothers, and became for them a Deliverer, as well as for Egypt. The new nation of Israel through Jacob was made possible through Joseph and Manasseh.* *Nine. Benjamin - Benjamin means - Son of my right hand - and many have seen him as associated with ?Team spirit?. How we need this principle restored in 1948, but with a need to be brought to maturity in our day.* *Ten. Dan - Quick and forthright judgment - seen in the US and Canada - means judge - Jesus will return as Judge - King of kings and Lord of lords. * *Eleven. Asher - Blessed - Beatitudes - Healing following casting out of demons. William Branham was a demonstration of this - a ?sign-post? as it were. Pray that each of the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles will have a leader raised up like a sign-post - to demonstrate the maturity and importance of this principle.* *Some Latin American countries have demonstrated this remarkably.* *Twelve. Naphtali - a ?wrestler? - It takes this spirit to perfect the Presbytery and Eldership functioning in the Gate of each city. Kenya, where Derek Prince labored for a time, is beginning to demonstrate this principle. Nicolas Bhengu, a Zulu that brought blessing to 20 South African nations, demonstrated by 3000 churches of 600 members each raised up, plus one of 6000.* *Levi - not counted with the 12, yet through Aaron bound all 12 together - the glue holding the 12 together by covenant. Tabernacle and Temple Liturgy came from Levi. Moses as the apostle, Aaron as the prophet, and the 3 clans of Levites represent the 5-fold ministry of Ephesians 4:11-12. Next to the restored Presbytery concept in 1948, this was a continued emphasis.* *A book has recently been written on this: ?Are these the Missing Pieces? to Sustaining a Move of God - by Russell J. & Bonnie J. Snyder - < www.rusbonresources.com> - It can be helpful these last days. I am believing for Japan to manifest these principles before Jesus' return.* *III. Undergirding Empowerment for the Laser Telescope. See ?Empowering the Laser Telescope? under Archives on on Website dated 2011.02.25.* *One. Prayer Multiplication. See ?Archives? under our Website dated 2008-11-03. I believe this will prove helpful.* *Two. LOgos to REma - I received this insight by personal word studies on LOgos (321 references in Strong's Concordance) and 69 for REma - 4 ? to one. Keep a steady hand on LOgos, especially John 1:1 with Jesus as the LOgos. Under REma, especially Mary to Gabriel in Luke 2:38b - ?Be it unto me according to your REma word!? There is a release of power when we meditate on the written LOgos word - and see it transformed to a REma-spoken Word.* *Three. Dreams and Visions. Please see our Archives dated 2009-06-12 - The Website for the book from Australia referred to is * *Four. Incubation. Dr. David Yonggi Cho has a book referring to this, based on Hebrews 11:1 - ?Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.? In the process of bringing this faith to reality, there is power released aiding in this empowerment.* *Five. Gift (do-reA) of the Spirit. ?Rees Howells, Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb clearly lets us see how such empowerment came to Mr. Howells when he allowed the Holy Spirit to possess him.* *Six. Presbytery. Read the notes on this in the article referred to at the beginning of the 9-fold list.* *Seven. Hands. Habakkuk 3:3-4. For those like Jesus called into this ministry, there is an unusual release of empowerment for those obeying their calling.* *Eight. Joy - Again- rather than repeat the notes on the article above, kindly refer to it there.* *Nine. Beatitudes. (the same)* *Ten. Embryonics to Maturity. This is not listed as one of these, but well could be. As each of these 12 Embryonic Revival Principles is brought to maturity, the empowerment release becomes 12-fold. A group of 5-8 praying in the Gate of their city, will see the effective use of them as His organic Laser Telescope for ?Spiritual Star Wars?.* *Conclusion - one can easily find 2 more power-enablements, to bring the total here to 12.* *IV. MISCELLANEOUS REVIVAL VOLUMES.* *One. ?Revival? - Its Present Relevance & coming Role at the End of the Age - by Dr. Wes Adams & Rhonda Hughey. John Wesley Adams (Ph.D., Baylor), a biblical scholar, is co-author and chief revision editor or the internationally translated Life in the Spirit Study Bible (Zondervan) and author of The Fire of God's Presence. His pursuit of revival includes extensive study, teaching and intercession for over 40 years. God's fire burns in his heart for great revival in this generation. Wes resides in Grandview, MO. Rhonda Hughey served as leader in the transforming revival movement for over 16 years. Dr. J. Edwin Orr is one of the chief authorities on revival they constantly quote. Dr. Orr is one of my mentors starting in 1944, and I highly recommend the above volume. See for further information.* *Two. Jim Ray - The Tabernacle Tour?: Face to Face with God - < http://www.thetabernacletour.com>* *In 1944 I sat under the ministry of Lee Ellenwood of California. He visited Vancouver Island, BC, both in Victoria and Port Alberni. His lectures on the Tabernacle still stand with me to this day. Now my friend Jim Ray has taken it a step further. You will find his tabernacle devotional tour one which will help you daily to walk in increasing intimacy with God.* *A FINAL WORD OF BALANCE & SAFETY** -* *Very early on Tuesday March 1, 2011 - 4:00 am to be exact - I received a visitation from the Lord - a very clear word to me personally.* ?*Watch your studies?, He said. ?Without care, you can be in the flesh - they can become an idol, instead of a word in the Spirit. Even the above Bibliography - if not guarded - can lead this way. * ?*However, there **is an effective solution, that if walked in by you and your hearers, will protect you from this danger. Then there is the other ditch: if you walk in the Spirit without the clear balance of the Word, you can end up in heresy as did George Hawtin with Ultimate Reconciliation, British Israel, Replacement Theology, and extreme manifestation of the sons of God.? See - here Dr. John Roddam as Talk-host - interviews my wife Marie and myself on Documenting the pros and cons of the 1948 Visitation. We need the balance of both positive and negatives in every move of God.* ?*There are 7 men, that if followed corporately, will completely save you from falling into either ditch. You can then maintain a walk of balance on the safe roadway.?* *One.** Jesus, the Son of :God and the Son of man. See His answers and questions in the Temple at the age of 12 for His bar-mitzah. Many Jewish boys memorized the entire Torah, the Pentateuch, the 5 books of Moses - at this time. By the age of 18, numbers had memorized the entire 39 books of the OT (24 in the Hebrew Bible). It seems most likely that Jesus did so. By the age of 30, a Jewish man like Jesus was considered mature. He entered his ministry at this age, just as Joseph did in Egypt at this same age. Jesus gave to Paul by revelation the insight concerning the 27 NT ?mysteries? following his conversion, in his 3 year time in the Arabian desert.* *Jesus was always early in prayer with His Father, and not one word He spoke, or one miracle He performed - but was under the oversight of His Father. He was a perfect servant as the Son of man! Three times from Heaven His Father audibly witnessed, ?This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased. Hear Him!? * *And Jesus said in Mark 8:34, If any man would follow Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me!?* *Two**. Paul. Paul said, Follow **me, as I follow Christ. Clearer words couldn't be spoken. Also, Paul mastered the Word in a spiritual manner following his conversion. Much time he spent over the Word in prayer and meditation. Devotionally, he prayed in the spirit, in tongues, more than any of the disciples he won to Jesus - or his fellow-workers. Dr. Cho of Korea believed this was a critical key to his usefulness in the hands of Jesus. Praying in tongues to the Father in Jesus' Name builds one up in the spirit - enables one to pray mysteries - and maintains one in intimacy with God.* *All 14 books of the NT authored by Paul, are the words of Christ, notPaul's words (1 Corinthians 14:37) except for a few verses in 1 Corinthians 7, where he received permission from the Lord to insert his personal thoughts.* *Three**. Smith Wigglesworth of Bradford, England. This man with but a grade 3 education, literally memorized the entire NT. He told Dr. David duPlessis of S. Africa - that if he were put in prison with only paper and pen, ?I daresay I could reproduce the entire NT, even to the correct punctuation marks!?* *After 20 years of ministry, in which some believe 2 million souls came to Christ, and tens of thousands were healed - he felt at liberty to tell the secret why God used him. He reported that he prayed in the spirit - in tongues - at least 4 hours every day - over the Word. Secondly - whenever God spoke to him concerning an act of obedience - he did not immediately obey. Always, he withdrew if possible, and let the entire Word of God swiftly pass through his mind. If one Biblical truth did not agree with the word of the Spirit, he would leave it. If both the Spirit and the Word agreed - he immediately obeyed! He knew God could trust him to do His will at any time because of this practice!* *In 1944 his book, ?Ever Increasing Faith? was given to me. It had a profound effect upon me at the year of my conversion - and still has to this day.* *Four**. ?Brother Yun, the Heavenly Man? of China, co-authored with Paul Hattaway. Brother Yun memorized many complete books of both OT and NT. He put much of it to music and song, and taught his Chinese converts to sing the Word of God by chapter and books. He slipped in his intimacy with God 3 times, by putting his ministry ahead of his intimacy with the Lord. Each time God let him be imprisoned. There by suffering and witnessing to fellow prisoners, he was **each time restored to intimacy with God again.* *Five**. George Muller of Bristol. He arose at 4:30 am for his devotional time with God. The last 10 years or so of his life he read the complete Bible 4-5 times each year on his knees, praying over it, and meditating upon it. The first 10 years of his life was like a yo-yo. But when he read the biography of George Whitefield, he too commenced reading the Bible on his knees and meditating upon it. **This transformed his life, and led in 50,000 prayers answered exactly according as was prayed, bringing in $8 million before 1900, supporting 10,000 orphans plus much more, and never onceletting a single human being know of the needs! He prayed much both individually and corporately.* *Six**. Rees Howells. At 26, 2 years following his conversion, he acceded to the request of the Holy Spirit, and permitted Him to **possess him. Following that decision and transaction, his life becomes a legend. He raised up 120 fellow intercessors during World War II days, and 6 unusual answers to prayer brought the defeat of Hitler and Nazism. Don't take my word for it. Read ?Rees Howells, Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb, 1951, Christian Literature Crusade, and like me - you'll never be the same again!* *Seven**. Oswald Chambers. At 26 he fully surrendered his life to Christ at Dunoon, Scotland. From this, an amazing fruitfulness came by Christ through his life. He died at 43, having produced 50 books, 47 published posthumously by his widow, Biddy. In his ?My Utmost for His Highest,? close to the beginning, appears a daily devotional entitled ?Have you had a White Funeral?? OC did. He balanced the Word and the Spirit, up every day at 5:30 for his time with God.* *All seven of the above**, did **not make ?Studies? an idol. For OC, Jesus and the Father were his continual focus.* *So - yes- See the above Bibliography list - OC would approve. But - keep the balance, and focus on intimacy. Than both you and I will be safe from becoming in the flesh. Jim Watt* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Mar 8 13:27:39 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 13:27:39 -0800 Subject: Pilot Prayer Team Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* March 8, 2011 *BENEFITTING FROM THE ?PILOT PRAYER TEAM? - 2011-03-08* *On Saturday October 21, 2009, a group of us in the Seattle area met to inaugurate the beginning of ?The Pilot Prayer Team? - ideally to number 8.* *On December 7, 2009, a prayer group of some 40 north of Minneapolis sensed God saying - ?As this date in 1941 went down in history as a ?Day in Infamy? - now 68 years later, I am going to bring a break-through - that will greatly enhance My Kingdom.?* *In 1967 in answer to prayer, God gave me a vision on an ?Organic Laser Telescope? with 7 component parts. The Lord revealed only the first two parts at that time: Panin's Interlinear Outlined Greek NT, and 70 city teams of 8 across Canada as Presbytery-Elderships in the Gates of these cities, plus 70 more such supporting teams in the US.* *The remaining 5 component parts He did not reveal till the above ?break-through? date. It requires all 7 component parts working in understanding and unison, plus 9 undergirding power-enablements to cause the Laser-telescope to function. I felt the Lord saying - ?What I showed you in 1967, now I am about to activate. Call it 'Spiritual Star Wars', for through this I will remove Satanic principalities and powers over cities, areas and nations, and like David of old, you will be able then to go in and 'mop-up' - and see revival come to these areas.?* *There are 250 prayer groups across Canada in cities, towns and villages. How wonderful if God should plant them all on Higher Ground, and enable them to function in this new dimension.* *On February 28 of this year, I mailed out an article entitled - an ?Undergirding Bibliography? for Pilot Prayer Teams. You can print it out by going to our Website under ?Archives?.* *One. **God's Bible Numerics**. There it tells of ?Russia's Gift to Christianity? through Ivan Panin. God revealed to him in 1890 the Bible Numerics that undergird the Hebrew OT and the Greek NT - the only two languages in the world with no numerical equivalents. Both these people use number equivalents for each letter of their alphabets. So in Revelation 13, we learn that the Antichrist will have for his name the number equivalent of ?666? when he is manifested - and Jesus' number equivalent is ?888?! This revelation led Panin to give 50 years of 100,000 hours to produce a Greek NT with no alternate readings, and an English translation that shows a numeric undergirding for every sentence, paragraph-subdivision, paragraph and section (chapter equivalent) for each of the 27 books of the NT.* *He died in 1942, without seeing these 2 texts put together in an interlinear Greek format. In 1944 a Russian Jew introduced me to Panin's discovery and amazing contribution, and in 1945 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - God challenged me to produce this Interlinear. I completed the outlined interlinear text in 1967, but had to await the computer discovery to produce this Interlinear. I started the last stage in 2007, and finished a first preliminary product December 31, 2010. With the suggestion of printers, I have made two complete adjustments and proof-readings of this product, with one more to go. The printers feel they can have it in book-form this year.* *This** is ?God's Bible Numeric Interlinear Outlined Greek NT? for Laymen, not Panin's or mine. Panin was not the first to discover this phenomenon, but he was the first to bring to fruition a practical outworking of his discovery. My part is small in the light of his, but I trust it will indeed fulfill the vision of Panin. He saw it as reaching the 6 million Russian Scientists and Mathematicians of his day, and bringing countless numbers of them into the Kingdom of God!* *My vision is to see this chief component part of God's Laser Telescope released to activate His ?Spiritual Star Wars?.* *Two. **City Church and Presbytery**. In 1948 at North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, God restored the Presbytery Concept composed of the 5-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11-12: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. At the close of World War II in 1945, I was stationed with Arne Bryan - Founder and Director of Prayer Canada, at HMCS Cornwallis, Digby, Nova Scotia. To be discharged from the Navy, I needed a School to attend. In answer to a night of fasting and prayer, God revealed that I would have to stay in the Navy an extra year, except I made right a bicycle transaction I made as an unbeliever. As soon as I submitted, He said, ?Write George Hawtin, Bethel Bible Institute of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and apply as a student.* *In October of that year I arrived for my discharge in Esquimalt, BC. and on to Bethel Bible Institute, Saskatoon, 2 hours before Registration closed, and saved a $5.00 late registration fee. A Scotsman's bargain!* *Three. **Printing of the Interlinear Greek NT**. Through Elvin Gladney, contact was made with a printer in Moses Lake, who felt God commissioning him to put this Interlinear Outlined Greek NT into print. My grandson Keelan Long produced a revived Website for me, to put various articles I have written in an ?Archive? section, and this Interlinear Outlined Greek NT in the ?Interlinear? section of the Website.* *The Undergirding Bibliography for all of this, will help one navigate through this challenge, and successfully bring him into the activation of God's vision. * *This morning, besides my Bible reading, my devotional part was from Oswald Chambers ?My Utmost for His Highest.? I am enclosing it for you, because I found it appropriate for the above challenge. J.A.W.* *THE SURRENDERED LIFE* ?*I have been crucified with Christ ...? (Galatians 2:20)* *To become one with Jesus Christ, a person must be willing not only to give up sin, but also to surrender his whole way of looking at things. Being born again by the Spirit of God means that we must first be willing to let go before we can grasp something else. The first thing we must surrender is all of our pretense or deceit. What our Lord wants us to present to Him is not our goodness, honesty, or our efforts to do better, but real solid sin. Actually, that is all He can take from us. And what He gives us in exchange for our sin is real solid righteousness. But we must surrender all pretense that we are anything, and give up all our claims of even being worthy of God's consideration.* *Once we have done that, the Spirit of God will show us what we need to surrender next. Along each step of this process, we will have to give up our claims to our rights to ourselves. Are we willing to surrender our grasp on all that we possess, our desires, and everything else in our lives? Are we ready to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ?* *We will suffer a sharp painful disillusionment before we fully surrender. When people really see themselves as the Lord sees them, it is not the terribly offensive sins of the flesh that shock them, but the awful nature of the pride of their own hearts opposing Jesus Christ. When they see themselves in the light of the Lord, the shame, horror, and desperate conviction hit home for them.* *If you are faced with the question of whether or not to surrender, make a determination to go on through the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you.* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Mar 13 10:20:53 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 10:20:53 -0700 Subject: Clan & Household Salvation Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* March 13, 2011 *CLAN & HOUSEHOLD SALVATION** - 2010-03-16* *CLAN SALVATION FIRST INTRODUCED* On the first Wednesday of August 1982, our Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Arcata, California invited Pastor Jack Hayford to speak at our prayer service. We normally had 13 or so present. Some 500 to 600 crowded into our auditorium, and 150 more in a basement room with Closed circuit television. He told us how his mother in June of that year recounted how her husband and Jack's father of Oakland, California - in 1969 - was reading Exodus 28 for his devotions. The Holy Spirit took over and said to him, ?My son, if you take Judah's name off the red Sardius stone on Aaron's Breastplate of Judgment, and replace it with your Clan name of 'Hayford'; and if you take Issachar's name off the Sardius stone next to it, and replace it with your wife's maiden name of 'Smith'; and if you and your wife will agree to pray twice a day for your two clans, *I** *will make an effective witness to every member of these two clans throughout the world, and those of open heart, I will bring into My Kingdom!? His wife agreed, and within 6 months 4 Hayfords and 2 Smiths, of whom they had no previous acquaintanceship - contacted them as new converts! Then for the next year, - no contacts. When queried, God said - ?I confirm every word in the mouth of 2-3 witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1); I have given you six! How can you walk by faith if I keep confirming this word? Keep praying and believing; when you get to heaven, you'll see what I have done.? Pastor Jack confirmed what his father and mother had done until the former's death in 1979. His mother continued with this prayer challenge until June of 1982, when she informed their son of this. He asked, ?Why didn't Dad tell me this years ago?? ?You know your Dad,? his mother answered; ?If God showed this to a layman, how much more would every pastor know of it? Why waste your time, son?? Pastor Jack was astounded. He researched this out, and found it entirely scriptural. He then said, ?Whenever I have a one service stand, and unless the host pastor or the Holy Spirit says otherwise, I will *always* speak on Clan Salvation!? Thursday morning after he had spoken, my wife Marie and I knelt in prayer for our devotions. I presented the ?Watt? clan to God, and the ?Gaudet? Clan representing Marie's maiden name. But I am a Canadian Scot in my background, and it seemed a shame to do nothing with the other 10 stones on the breastplate! So I added my mother's maiden name of Mosher; and Marie's maternal grandfather's name ?Chartrand?; Next the names of the spouses of our 3 children - and the names of the spouses of the brothers and sisters of Marie and myself. I had to add 6 more stones to the breastplate of judgment to contain them all! Within 16 months, God in Manitoba opened the door for Marie to discover the family tree of the Lacerts going back 6 generations - her maternal grandmother's name. 16 months later he opened the door for her Chartrand heritage. Soon she discovered that she is related to one half of French Canadian Manitoba. Then in 1996 she was led to seek her unknown and older half brother in Quebec. God miraculously led her and a younger brother to him at the age of 75. He gave all the glory to God, and witnessed for 20 minutes of this miracle to a Pentecostal church in Quebec. As a Catholic, his life was transformed, and many of the lives of his 5 children and their families were affected. A few weeks after Jack Hayford shared this ?find? with us in Arcata, I read in the San Francisco Chronicle of a Chinese clan by the name of ?Hu?, that met annually, 500 of them, to celebrate their clanship in that city. But the newspaper article added that there are 60 million ?Hu's? on mainland China! I prayed, ?O God - lead me to a 'Hu' to win to you, and get him praying for his 60 million clan members.? Later in Vancouver BC, I was preaching near the UBC campus, and at the close of the service, a lovely Chinese lady told me - ?I am Monica Hu, and this morning I started praying for my 60 million clan members in China! *HOUSEHOLD SALVATION* But the above is only half the story. In 1944 in Victoria BC, God had just saved me as a Canadian sailor. Somebody gave me a copy of ?Herald of His Coming?, and the lead article was ?Household Salvation?. As soon as one member of a household is saved, he can claim the rest of his household! Noah in Genesis 7:4 and Hebrews 11:7 built an ark to the saving of his *household *; God said concerning Abraham in Genesis 18:19 - ?I know him that he will bring up his *household* to serve me; Abraham used this faith to reach out to his nephew Lot (Genesis 19:12-13), and saved him out of Sodom and their enemies; Exodus 12 let Israel know that God saves by *households*, if the blood of the Lamb is on the lintel and doorposts of their homes; Rahab the harlot saw her whole *household* saved by Joshua at Jericho: her father, mother, brothers and sisters and all their kids (Joshua 2 & 6); Joshua believed God for the saving of his entire *household* (Joshua 24:15); Cornelius believed God for all his relatives plus close friends (Acts 10 & 11)! The Philippian jailer saw his entire *household* saved and baptized before breakfast (Acts 16:3l); Lydia believed God for her entire *household*(Acts 16:15); and Crispus the same (Acts 18:18). All these are *most* encouraging for us. Charles Haddan Spurgeon wouldn't let God alone until all 300 of his * household* were saved; Jonathan Edwards claimed God's covenant promise to the 3rd and 4th generation of all his family tree. A check after his death found over 1600 saved, while another family of unbelievers had some 1400 costing tax payers money through all their crimes and jail sentences. A pastor friend of mine told how his mother in Alberta wouldn't let God alone till all 12 of her sons were saved! In February 1946 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, at 3:00 am, and 38 degrees below zero outside, God awoke me and said, ?Ask me for *your family*, and I will give them to you.? I leaped out of bed on a very cold cement floor, and said, ?My father, my mother and my brother!? God's answer: ?You've got them!? If it hadn't been so cold I might have thought of all my aunts and uncles and other relatives. Within a few years all 3 of the above were gloriously saved! A lady in Chicago (originally from Georgia) - attended our Baptist church. She pestered me to get her husband C.B. Caple saved, - a most ungodly man. She wouldn't set a right example, but loved him and didn't want him to go to hell. God in mercy to get her off my back, gave me a tract, ?How I Learned to Pray for the Lost.? As a missionary in China, the author wanted help from God to win 40 unsaved relatives back in England. God gave her 3 verses: Mark 10:27 - the *strong* Possibility; 1 Timothy 4:10 - Jesus' complete *Purchase price*; and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - How to *possess* the promises. All 40 were then saved. We had Pearl come over the following Monday, and went over these 3 verses for Household salvation. In 5 minutes we got off our knees, because we had the witness that God had heard. C.B. Caple got glomular nephritis from over-drinking during his army days, went into a coma, had visions of heaven and hell, and was *soundly saved* by the time he came out of the coma! J. A. MacMillan - who wrote the article on ?Household Salvation became missionary supervisor for the Philippines, as a representative of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Their publication society in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has reprinted this article in pamphlet form. It was still available the last time I recommended it. At the close of presenting the above two messages, we have a closing Anglican/Episcopal type of prayer, mentioning each of our unsaved loved ones by their relationship and Christians name. Example, ?My mother Sue; my brother George; my son Peter; my sister Anna; my grandfather John; my great grandson Luke. - Nothing more. Then write them down with 3 dates. Date written; date witness given that God has heard; date now in God's Kingdom. We stand and name each softly but vocally, followed by the clan names connected with us. One church in one year had its members report to the pastor 100 new in the Kingdom - because of the above challenge! Some 20-30 years ago, my wife Marie and I had recorded 3000 such converts. We stopped recording them after this point. We are not evangelists, but possibly have seen as many converts as many evangelists, through faithfully presenting Clan and Household Salvation over the years. May this challenge be as profitable for you! Jim and Marie Watt P.S. You can thank an unknown Canadian friend who found my Website by ?surfing the Net? for information on J. A. MacMillan and his article ?Household Salvation? in ?Herald of His Coming?. She could not find back copies of this publication containing this article, and contacted me for help. The above is my answer as best as I could give it. But it took sufficient time and effort - that I felt you on my mailing list might like to receive it also. J. & M. W. P.P.S. - It is now 2011-03-13. - The above message is so important for families and clans - that even though it is but a year since we last sent it out - we are repeating this mailing. Many new ones have subscribed themselves on our mailing list since then, and no doubt will appreciate receiving this most helpful and successful means of bringing loved ones into the Kingdom of God. J. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Mar 16 10:37:47 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:37:47 -0700 Subject: God's Gift to Christianity Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* March 16, 2011 *GOD'S GIFT TO CHRISTIANITY THROUGH RUSSIA - 2011-03-15* *God is the Master Chess-Player. He plans His moves to defeat Satan years and centuries ahead of time.* *In 1890 He brought into His Kingdom at the age of 35 - a Russian Nihilist by the name of Ivan Nikolayevitsh Panin (12 December 1855 - 30 October 1942). In that very year God enabled Dr. Panin to discover the Bible Numeric Phenomenon of both the Hebrew OT and the Greek NT.* *Upon his conversion, Mr. Panin immediately started reading and studying the Bible as the means to grow in this new Christian dimension. He was reading in Revelation 13:16-18 concerning the coming Antichrist - the Beast - and was confused concerning his name being a number - namely 666. He had made friends with a Presbyterian minister in Boston, and sought out his help.* ?*Well, Mr. Panin?, the minister replied, ?you have come across something God has put into His Bible, that is unique over and above any other writing. God chose the Hebrew and Greek languages for its 66 books to be written by 33 known writers. These are the only two languages in the world with no numerical equivalents. When Hebrews and Greeks wished to count, they put numbers representing their alphabets - so that in Hebrew, aleph, bet, gimel, dalet - become 1, 2, 3, 4 with Tov - 400; in Greek, alpha, beta, gamma, delta become 1, 2, 3, 4 with Omega - 800. When the man of sin is manifested, his name in Greek will be 666.?* *Panin found this made sense, so out of curiosity he asked, ?Well, what is the numerical equivalent of Jesus in Greek?? The minister did not know off-hand - but he had the numerical equivalent for IeSOUS - namely Iota 10; eta 8; sigma 200; omicron 70; upsilon 400; and again sigma 200 = 888!* *Poor Panin was ?bit!? for the next 50 years he spent 100,000 hours researching God's Bible Numerics, chiefly in Greek, but also in Hebrew to perfect a Bible Chronology.* *27 years following the beginning of this research, Lenin returned to Russia from England in 1917, and initiated the Communist Revolution - using the works of Karl Marx and Engels. Also while in England, Lenin researched the ?Class Meetings? developed by John Wesley. He discovered that 70,000 class meeting members had such an effect in England in 1789, that the French Revolution with its guillotine was unable to jump the English Channel with its devastating effects.* *So Lenin brought back to Russia this concept also, but adapted it into the Communist ?Cell Meetings?. Satan used Lenin to bring through Russia - a philosophy both unphilosophical, and socially speaking a complete failure - though its effects still exist to this day. God - through a fellow-Russian to Lenin 27 years previously - laid the foundation for what will prove to be the key ingredient to bring about the Return of His Son!* *In 1940, two years before his death, Panin completed his 50 year project of producing a Bible Numeric Greek NT, plus a translation of it, demonstrating the unusual sentence, sub-paragraph, paragraph and section or chapter equivalent structure. During 1941-42 he devoted the last year of his life in sharing with Karl Sabiers his own mature reflections on his 50 years of Bible Numeric labors. Unfortunately, just recently Sabiers book has become unavailable. But if you turn to our Website and click on ?Archives? - under 2010-10-16 there is an article ?Reaching Unbelievers Through Bible Numerics?, and added information is available here under ?links?. * *27 years following the completion in 1940 of Panin's prodigious labors - I received a clear mandate from God - ?Get My New Testament done!? In 1944, 2 years following the death of :Panin, God led me into the Canadian Navy with a promise that He would there reveal Himself to me in my conversion. I obeyed Him in July of 1943, and at Passover of 1944, God fulfilled His promise. Then in July of that year, a fellow countryman to Panin by the name of Dr. Jewell, introduced me to Panin through 2 booklets he gave me as a gift. Following my discharge from the Navy after the conclusion of World War II, I ordered all the books listed on these 2 pamphlets - either ?by? or ?on? Ivan Panin. When I read the introduction to Panin's Bible Numeric Greek NT, I there read of his discovery of the very sentence structure of this work. I was hooked. I love to summarize. I chose the book of Ephesians to test this; I gathered sentence summaries into sub-paragraphs; sub-paragraph summaries into paragraphs; and paragraph summaries into the Book. I don't know if my feet touched the ground for a week. In 1946 as speaker for the IVCF chapter of the University of Saskatchewan, I shared with the male quartet of that group my desire to summarize the entire NT, plus adding my notes arising from a spin-off from this task. All 4 quartet members said, ?Count us in for a copy when completed!? I fear many if not all of them are now in heaven - but you reading this can make up for them in their desire.* *So in 1967, with the above powerful incentive from God, I completed the initial MS for His Bible Numeric Interlinear Outlined Greek NT. Jehovah's Witnesses had offered to do this for Panin in line with their ?Emphatic Diaglott.? But Panin had to refuse their offer because they were a cult. I had typed up Panin's Bible Numeric English NT in its entirety, in a format like a Winston Churchill speech or a Peter Marshall sermon. Then by hand I had copied out the entire Bible Numeric Greek NT corresponding to the English clauses rather than word by word, in the traditional Interlinear custom.* *40 years later, 2007, my grandson Keelan Long worked out a format with me to type the Interlinear MS on computer. In 2008 my wife Marie provided me with an HP Laptop, and my grandson set it up on Linux, so that at a distance he could help solve all of my problems - over my shoulder as it were.* *December 31, 2010 I completed putting on our Website the entire Bible Numeric Interlinear Outlined Greek NT. In typing up the Greek, some 40 years previously I had mastered the Berlitz method of transliterating the Greek text for laymen and tourists. I have used this process of again making this work easier for laymen to use. Also - following significant Greek words, I have put Strong's numbers in brackets.* *On January 8, 2011 I met with our printers, and to keep printing costs within reason, they suggested that I tighten up the Interlinear text, by doubling lines where possible; letting the English text double as the Title for one line sentences; and letting the English and Greek text stand in one line for short sentences.* *I am on the third proof-reading and text tightening as of this moment. Probably several hundred pages will be saved, and costs your way will be reduced. Hopefully, this text can be in your hands at a reasonable cost this year.* *Many other writers more scholarly than myself - have written excellent articles on Panin. Go to Google and do an ?Ivan Panin search?. I recommend ?Bible Numerics Examined? - Part 2. Click on . The unnamed author has done careful research with original sources, and will answer many of your questions. Chuck Missler has valuable information also.* *Just like Jesus, Paul and other Bible writers in their day - they had their critics as well as their disciples.* *My recommendation: Jeremiah 15:19 - ?If you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth.? Paraphrase - ?Don't throw the baby out with the bath-water.? Critics - like the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day - are a dime a dozen. I have read ?pro and con? on Panin for 67 years. Most critics raise up a ?straw-man? for what they think Panin says - knock it down - wipe their hands - and say, It's all over! Hardly! You, the reader, will have to look the field over like I have done, and come to your own conclusions.* *Back to 1967, 27 years following the completion of Panin's 50 years labor. Numbers have noted the unusual events in dating between Israel and the Church. 1948 - Israel back in their land after 1900 years. The Church: Restoration of 12 Embryonic Revival Principles in Northern Canada, including the Presbytery or Eldership in the Gate of each City Church; plus the 5-fold ministry of Ephesians 4:11-12 functioning again through the recognition of apostles and prophets.* *1967 - Jerusalem again in the hands of Israel through the 6-Days War. Jesus said that the generation alive for this event - would not pass away until He returns. A generation with God is 100 years (Israel would be in Egypt for 400 years of 4 generations). That gives a certain amount of leeway. For the Church: the Charismatic Renewal hit national proportions in the Historic Churches of that time, and the Jesus' People Movement concomitant with it. It also is the year God gave a vision of the ?Organic Laser-Telescope? producing the Spiritual Star Wars effect. The first and keyComponent part of the Laser Telescope is God's Bible Numeric Interlinear Outlined Greek NT - with the discovery of Ivan Panin. See Archives on our Website - An Undergirding Bibliography - 2011-2-28. See also under 2011-03-08 - ?Benefits from the Pilot Prayer Team? and 2011-01-25 - ?My Testimony re Panin & Bible Numerics?.* *The 12 Embryonic Revival Principles from the 1948 Visitation of God in Saskatchewan is the 4th Component part of the Spiritual Laser Telescope. It ties in closely with God's Bible Numeric Interlinear Outlined Greek NT. In 1992 God commissioned that these 12 be brought to Maturity. They would be parameters of safety to safeguard the last revival visitation prior to the Return of Jesus as Lord of lords and King of kings. Already over half of these principles have leaders working on their individual projects.* *So from my viewpoint, we are close to the end. Those called by God to be members of an Eldership in the Gate of the Major City Churches of Canada and the US and the rest of the world - are being alerted. This Introduction to the key Component Part of ?God's Laser Telescope - is really an introduction to the understanding and knowledge for a prayer team on the level with that which God raised up through Rees Howells for the destruction of Hitler and Nazism during World War II days. Now such a prayer team is needed for the destruction of the coming Beast-Antichrist and False Prophet. J.A.W.* *PS. Supposing the above becomes the basis for an ?Introduction? to God's Bible Numeric Interlinear Outlined Greek NT - what changes, omissions or additions, would you recommend? J.* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Mar 17 12:38:26 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:38:26 -0700 Subject: George Muller's Nuggets Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* March 17, 2011 GOLDEN NUGGETS FROM GEORGE MULLER - 2001-01-13 HOW TO ASCERTAIN THE WILL OF GOD One. *Have no preconceived ideas, *Proverbs 3:5-6. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. None-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord?s will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is. Two. Having done this I do *not *leave the result to *feeling or simple impression.* If so, I make myself liable to great delusions, Genesis 27. Three. *I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the word of God, *Romans 8:14. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them. Four. Next, *I take into account providential circumstances, *Revelation 3:7-8. These often plainly indicate God?s Will in connection with His Word and Spirit. Five. I *ask *God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright, Matthew 7:7. Six. Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and *if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, *I proceed accordingly, Colossians 3:15. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective. FIVE CONDITIONS OF PREVAILING PRAYER ? George Muller It would be most frustrating to know God?s will with certainty, but not have the faith and power to bring it to pass. An Old Testament prophet said it is like a woman coming to the time of birth of her child, and not having strength to deliver. Just as you can surely know the will of God from the above, you can see God bring it to pass through the following. One. *Atonement.* Entire dependence upon the merits and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only ground of any claim for blessing, Ephesians 1:3; John 14:13-14; 15:16. Two. *No unconfessed sin. *Separation from all known sin. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us, for it would be sanctioning sin, Psalm 66:18. Three. *Covenant. *Faith in God?s word of promise as confirmed by His oath. Not to believe Him is to make Him both a liar and a perjurer, John 15:7; Hebrews 11:6: 6:13-20. Four. *God?s will. *Asking in accordance with His will. Our motives must be godly: we must not seek any gift of God to consume it upon our lust, 1 John 5:14-15; James 4:3. Five. *Importunity. *Importunity in supplication. There must be waiting on God and waiting for God, as the husbandman has long patience to wait for the harvest, James 5:7; Luke 11:5-13; 18:1-8; Daniel 10:1-21. SEVEN MOTIVES FOR GEORGE MULLER?S TOURS Mr. Muller traveled over 200,000 miles when he was over 70, to make known the secrets and principles of faith that God had taught him through the Orphanage in Bristol, and 8 other endeavors of faith. He felt a divine compulsion to share these truths near and far. One. To *preach the gospel *in its simplicity, especially to show how salvation is based, not upon feelings or even upon faith, but upon the finished work of Christ; that justification is ours the moment we believe, and we are to accept and claim our place as accepted in the Beloved with regard to our inward states of feeling or emotion. Two. To *lead believers to know their saved state, *and to realize their standing in Christ. Great numbers not only of disciples, but even preachers and pastors are themselves destitute of any real peace and joy in the Lord, and hence unable to lead others into joy and peace. Three. To *bring believers back to the Scriptures, *to search the Word and find its hidden treasures; to test everything by this divine touchstone and hold fast only what will stand this test; to make it the daily subject of *meditative (vocal) *and prayerful examination in order to translate it into daily obedience. Four. To *promote among all true believers, brotherly love; *to lead them to make less of those non-essentials in which disciples differ, and to make more of those great essential and foundation truths in which all true believers are united; to help all who love and trust one Lord to rise above narrow sectarian prejudices, and barriers to fellowship. Five. To *strengthen the faith of believers, *encouraging a simpler trust, and a more real and unwavering confidence in God, and particularly in the sure answers to believing prayer, based upon His definite promises. Six. To *promote separation from the world *and deadness to it, and so to increase heavenly-mindedness in children of God; at the same time warning against fanatical extremes and extravagances, such as sinless perfection while in the flesh. Seven. And finally to *fix the hope of disciples on the blessed coming of our Lord Jesus; *and, in connection therewith, to instruct them as to the true character and object of the present dispensation, and the relation of the church to the world in this period of the outgathering of the Bride of Christ. *Summary: *These seven objects may be briefly epitomized thus: Mr. Muller?s aim was to lead sinners to believe on the Name of the Son of God, and so to have* eternal life; *to help those who have thus believed, to *know *that they have this life; to teach them so to *build up* themselves on their most holy faith, by diligent searching into the word of God, and praying in the Holy Ghost, so that this life shall be more and more a real possession and a conscious possession; to promote among all disciples the *unity of the Spirit *and the *charity *which is the bond of perfectness, and to help them to exhibit that life before the world; to incite them to cultivate an *unworldly and spiritual type of character *such as conforms to the life of God in them; to lead them to the *prayer of faith *which is both the expression and the expansion of the life of faith; and to direct their hope to the *final appearance of the Lord, *so that they should purify themselves even as He is pure, and occupy till He comes. Mr. Muller was thus giving himself to the double work of evangelization and edification, on a scale commensurate with his love for a dying world, as opportunity afforded doing good unto all men, and especially to them who are of the household of faith. (Taken from ?George Muller of Bristol,? p. 246, by A. T. Pierson, Revell, 1899 *NOTE: In the Spring of 1944 some unremembered person gave me a copy of ?Answers to Prayer? by George Muller, a 29 cent book at that time from the Moody Colportage Publishers of Chicago.* *I immediately memorized his 6 points ?How to Ascertain the Will of God? and also his ?Five Conditions of Prevailing Prayer?.* *For the past 67 years, Mr. Muller has been one of my chief mentors - he being dead - yet speaks.* *50,000 exact answers to prayer came to pass in his life and ministry, specifically supplying food, clothing, shelter, education and job training for 10,000 orphans in Bristol, England, all before 1900 AD. Eight million dollars came in for this and other projects, all without even once letting any one know of the needs, - except God Himself! This is indeed a true faith ministry. Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur, India; Pandita Ramabai of the Mukti Mission in Poona, India; and Lillian Trasher, the Nile Mother of Egypt - each of these 3 women had orphanages of over 1000 children - all inspired by the example of George Muller.* *Mr. Muller carefully applied the 6 methods of ascertaining God's will for every possibility before engaging in prayer. He then pursued the 5 conditions of Prevailing Prayer, and testified that he never failed to obtain - as long as he followed these two outlines.* *I have like George Muller carefully followed these two steps since 1944, and can honestly testify that God is indeed no respecter of persons: What He did for Muller for over 60 years, he likewise has done for my wife Marie and myself.* *At 70 years of age, Mr. Muller traveled over 200,000 miles to over 40 countries, sharing the 7 motives for this time of 17 years. He had wanted to be a missionary following his conversion at the age of 20. But God in His wisdom delayed answering the desire of his heart for 50 years. He was then able to engage in the double work of evangelization and edification. The biography on George Muller by Dr. A.T. Pierson provided the above, and is one of the dozen or so biographies I have read on him - easily the best for me.* *May the above 3 outlines be as great a help and inspiration to you as they been to me. - Jim Watt* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Mar 18 12:08:07 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:08:07 -0700 Subject: Mind & Body Relationship Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* March 18, 2011 A SOUND MIND IN A SOUND BODY - 2001-06-23 Mrs. Maryann Bilton from Yorkshire, England was my Elementary school principal in Murrayville, BC from 1933-1937, and my teacher in Grade 7 & 8. She delighted in giving us Latin proverbs and maxims to encourage us to do our best. The above title in Latin is, ?*mens sana en corpore sano.* * * >From this we should understand that the two impinge upon one another. If we look after our bodies with proper diet, exercise, rest etc., then our mind is sharper. Conversely when we look after our mind and pay attention to read good wholesome things, and talk along the same line, -- then our body also profits. Today we call it ?psycho-somatic? medicine. But the above philosophy or psychology is viewing man as a ?dichotomy,? a person of but two parts. This accords well with Behavioral Psychology and Evolution, but does not accord at all with God?s thinking in the Bible. After all, God is the Creator of all things, and who should understand us better that the One who made us? The Spirit of our Creator speaks these words through the apostle Paul, ?May the God of *shalom *make you completely holy ? may your entire *spirit, soul and body *be kept blameless for the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah? (1 Thessalonians 5:23). God is called the Father of the *spirits *of all men. Man is essentially spirit, has a soul and lives in a body. God is also a spirit, and has made us in His image. Man is therefore a Trichotomy, not a dichotomy. When man ever since Adam is born into this world, his spirit is dead unto God. He is dead in trespasses and sins. When Adam sinned, his spirit died to relationship with God, and his progeny has inherited his fall. But when man receives the birth from above, his spirit is resurrected, and immediately communion with God is restored. At this point the mind now must be renewed and brought up to the level of the recreated spirit. (Romans 12:2). This is both immediate and progressive. One man upon receiving this experience of the new birth was asked to give his testimony. He said, ?I feel damn good!? His mind was not yet renewed. Three weeks later when asked to give his testimony he said, ?I thank God for saving me and giving me His Holy Spirit on the basis of Jesus Atoning work!? Perhaps the following will help you to see the difference between soul and spirit. In the universe we find 5 Kingdoms. The Plant kingdom reaches down into the Mineral kingdom and by osmosis converts mineral life into plant life. Then the cow from the Animal kingdom reaches down and eats grass and converts it into the animal kingdom. Man then eats hamburger and drinks milk, and converts the animal kingdom into the Human kingdom. Finally God reaches down on the basis of the Atoning work of Jesus at Calvary, and converts man into the Kingdom of God. Now separate the Animal kingdom from the kingdom of man, and you will see the unique gift of God to man, his spirit. Animals do not worship God ? just look at the adoring eyes of a dog as he is with his master. But God has made man for Himself, and he is restless until he finds his rest in God (St. Augustine). Until man experiences the new birth he is not much better than the animals. But once his spirit is alive unto God ? what a difference there is between man and animal or bird life. Notice: it is the higher kingdom in each case which initiates conversion unto a higher level. Unless God enlightens the eyes of man and opens the door of the Outer Court of the Tabernacle, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. He must be born from above by the grace of God to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3; 5). Then He can see Jesus as His Savior at the Brazen altar, and the necessity of baptism and sanctification through the laver. It is here that man becomes an evangelical Christian. But unless God again enlightens man in a higher level to see through the door of the Holy Place, he cannot understand the filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit. He will not understand the 7 spirits of God at the Menorah, nor the 9 gifts of the Spirit and the 9-fold fruit of the Spirit. He will not know how by the help of the Holy Spirit to feed on Christ at the Table of the Bread of God?s presence, nor how to worship in spirit and in truth at the Altar of Incense. When God opens his eyes and man opens this second stage of the 60-fold believer, he then understands the Feast of Pentecost or Shavuot, and the testimony of Charismatic and Pentecostal believers. But don?t stop here! Ask God to open your eyes so you can see through the riven veil into the Holy of Holies. Like David enter in to sit before the Ark of the Covenant, and worship God as one possessed of Him. Here, having passed through the Feast of Passover with justification by faith, and then the Feast of Pentecost in the Holy Place ? now enter into the Feast of Tabernacles, the GREAT feast of the Jews. Here be possessed by the Holy Spirit and lose yourself in Him. Here understand full intimacy with Jesus in the spirit and be unto Him as He was unto the Father. Here understand chapter 5 and 32 of ?Rees Howells, Intercessor,? by Norman P. Grubb, the autobiography of Madam Guyon, the life of Amy Carmichael, J. Hudson Taylor, George Muller, Andrew Murray and many others. Don?t sell yourself short at any time of the initial states. Press on into the Holiest of all, and there find the satisfaction of St. Augustine. It is only when God opens your eyes, and with great hungering and thirsting you press into the Holies of all, that you will find true rest unto your soul. One other word needs to be said. God speaks to us through His word. Rees Howells spent two hours a day letting God speak to him through the written Word. Then he waited on God in prayer, not just speaking to God, but letting God now speak to him by the word of the Spirit, the Rhema word. The written word in Greek is ?Logos;? in Hebrew, ?Davar.? The living word of the Spirit in Greek is ?Rhema;? in Hebrew, ?Amar.? Learn from these saints who have gone before us how to be with God on His throne in heaven by knowing and walking in the written word ? but just as importantly, know God on the throne of your heart and hear the 7-fold Spirit speaking and leading you from this place of intimacy. Remember the word spoken to Madam Guyon by the Franciscan monk. He showed her why her life was a failure. ?It is, madam, because you seek without what is within; accustom yourself to seek God in your heart, and you will there find Him.? God is no respecter of persons ? and what saints of yore have experienced, you too can enjoy in God today. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you! It was the above word that led Madam Guyon into an interior relationship with God so deep and real, that men like Archbishop Fenelon came from across Europe for her to mentor them. They knew she had found the secret of intimacy and overcoming life in God. St. John of the Cross thoroughly understood this same secret shortly after the days of Christopher Columbus. He taught how to purge oneself of the 7 capital sins of the flesh under the title, ?The Ascent to Mt. Carmel.? Then under its sequel, ?The Dark Night of the Soul,? he led believers into the second stage of purging their spirit of these same 7 capital sins. Finally in his Song of Songs, he showed how to enter into the Holy of Holies, and experience union and communion with the Beloved of our souls. It is a 3-fold path, paralleling the teaching of the Tabernacle of Moses. Notice how truth so often comes in a 3-fold manner. Too many believers stop at stage one ? and even too many at stage two! No, don?t rob yourself of the blessing of realizing the overcoming life in this life. Press on for *all *that God has for you. The Feast of Pentecost is not the acme and final goal, but the Feast of Tabernacles. There is the potential of an experience in this today, not just tomorrow. Don?t short-change yourself by settling for either step one or two. Possess and be possessed by all of God. E. Stanley Jones saw this same truth in his day. On the following page, I am enclosing one of his readings. It concerns the possibility of overcoming through the Holy Spirit those deep problems that lie in our subconscious. Have you ever said, ?I can?t understand whatever made me do that?? Well, there is a hidden part of us that is not subject to our full control. But when we let the Holy Spirit loose in our lives, He is able to tame all the wild animals within us. Try Him! Invite Him in to take full charge. Turn every compartment of your life over to Him. He understands you, and He is able to do within you abundantly above all you can ask or think according to His power that works in you! J.A.W. Taken from ?Abundant Living,? p. 15 *THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS IN THE SUBCONSCIOUS* *John 14:25-26; 15:26; 16:7-14* * We come now to the question: Can the **whole **nature be changed ? conscious and subconscious? If so, how? The answer is that Christianity provides for this deeper cleansing in its teaching and provision for receiving of the Holy Spirit. The area of the work of the Holy Spirit is largely, though not entirely, in the realm of the subconscious. There the Holy Spirit works ? purifying, redirecting, and dedicating age-long driving instincts. The wild horses of nature roaming in all directions are tamed and harnessed to the purposes of the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is tamer and redeemer, for only He can work at those depths. ?For the Spirit fathoms everything, even the depths of God? (1 Corinthians 2:10, Moffatt) ? and man. But the Holy Spirit not only fathoms the depths of man; He refashions the depths of man and unifies man at the center, so that the conscious and the subconscious speak the same language, understand each other, drive for the same goals, and own a common Lord.* * But here is where the Christian Church is weakest. It believes in and teaches the Holy spirit ? partly. The disciples were at this stage when Jesus said to them: ?He [the Holy Spirit] remains with you and will be within you.? (John 14:17, Moffatt.) The Holy Spirit was with them, but not within them. The same is true today. Most Christians know the Holy Spirit is with them ? He disturbs them by momentary touches, by flashes of nearness, by illuminations and insights, by saving here and saving there. But all this is ?with,? and not ?within.? He goads us rather than guides us, illuminates rather than invigorates, prods us into activity rather than penetrates all activities ? it is from without in, instead of from within out. The capital and government is on the outside, rather than on the inside. The sense of outsideness will persist in religion until we enter into what the disciples entered into at Pentecost. There they passed over from the ?with? stage to the ?within? stage. Their religion was no longer a prodding, but a penetration; no longer a restriction, but a release.* * O Spirit of God, I, too, long for this withinness ? I would be every whit whole. I would have the seat of Thy authority within me. For I cannot conceive that Thou has come so far in Thy redemption and wilt not come the full way. Thou wilt not stop on the threshold ? Thou wilt move within. Come, Spirit, come ? within, within, entirely within. Amen* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Mar 21 15:44:10 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:44:10 -0700 Subject: A Secret Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* March 21, 2011 ?*A SECRET? - March 21, 2011* * ?It is, Madame, because you seek without what you have within. Accustom yourself to seek God in your heart, and you will there find Him.? * *The above words were given to Madame Guyon at a time when she was at the end of herself - in the depths of frustration. Her life was futility and failure from her point of view. But from the day of the above insight, she started upwards in understanding, victory and success! - though through many dangers, toils and snares.* *Should you wish to review a bit of the autobiography of Madame Guyon, you can turn to our ?Archives?, 2001-05-19 - on our Website . * *350 years ago Madame Guyon painfully picked up these words, and within time had people throughout Europe beating a path to her door, to learn her secret of victorious Christian living. Archbishop Fenelon of France was one of these.* *But, centuries ago, the apostle Paul spelled out this same ?secret?. In Galatians 2:20 he tells of his secret - ?I have been crucified with Christ; and no longer I live, but Christ lives in me: and what I now live in theflesh I live by faith which is in the Son of :God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.? Death to self-ways through crucifixion with Christ explains it. Baptism was an analogy making this concept clear. And the literal coming into his life with the very faith of the Son of God Himself, explains the extraordinary fruitfulness of the life of this apostle. What else could explain such a transformed life?* *Oswald Chambers after six years of struggle nearly leading to loss of mind - parallels what Paul the apostle discovered and experienced.* *Perhaps this word from James 1:17-18 will shed further light on this secret. Every good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom is no variation, neither shadow cast by turning. 18 With intent he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we be a kind of firstfruits of his :creatures.? Just as Gabriel informed Mary of how physical conception would miraculously take place prior to marriage - so the Father here is seen as initiating the same on a spiritual level in the life of every member of Christ's spiritual body! Jesus is the LOgos according to John 1:1. The Father of lights initiates each one of us into His Kingdom through ?the word of truth? (LOgo a-leTHEIas). Just as Jesus came as the babe of Bethlehem through heavenly conception, so each one of us come through heavenly conception into God's Kingdom by having Christ born in us! * *But - do we feed Him in the Word, prayer, devotion and obedience? Jesus as the Son of man met regularly early each morning to commune with His Heavenly Father! We should be doing the same with the Father and the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul did. Oswald Chambers did. Madame Guyon did.* *See again the word Madame Guyon received from the Franciscan monk that started her on her way. ?It is, Madame, because you seek without what you have within. Accustom yourself to seek God in your heart, and you will there find Him.?* *And is He also in heaven? Assuredly! But when we invite Jesus into our hearts for salvation, He comes! The Father initiates this. The Holy Spirit enables it. Christ comes with His faith at our disposal. Are these truths realities in our lives? Is Madame Guyon's secret our secret too? Are people trekking to our spiritual doorstep to discover Christ in our spiritual heart? It can happen!* *In 1967 the Lord gave me a vision of an organic Laser-Telescope composed of 7 component parts. The first part was ?God's Bible Numeric OutlinedInterlinear Greek NT, whose two texts were prepared in a life time work of 50 years following Ivan Panin's discovery of Bible Numerics in 1890 in Boston.* *And what is inherently the nature of this Interlinear NT? It is the LOgos of God (John 1:1) - Jesus is the Living LOgos - and the Bible is His writtenLOgos. When like George Muller we daily kneel before this written Word - and read and pray it aloud back to God - the Holy Spirit takes hold of it and transforms it back to a REma word, a Living Word - and God in our heart starts to commune with us - speak to us - just like spiritual Urim and Thummim. He also guides us and protects us. See Proverbs 6:20-22, for a 3-fold description of what the spiritual Urim and Thummim does for us! This revelation was given to me in 1944 as a new convert - by a Jewish missionary to her own people. She had literally memorized the entire Bible in English, and much in Hebrew too. She was my first true mentor.* *So - Jesus is the Alpha of the spiritual Laser-Telescope. But as the 7thComponent - He is also the Omega. ?Focus on the Word? was the victorious secret of Oswald Chambers, and for the last 16 years of his short life, he fruitfully proved the secret of sharing Christ through his life.* *So those who hear the Word of the Lord concerning the 7-fold Component Parts of God's Organic Laser-Telescope, will also find Christ as the Alpha and Omega of this creation - the Interlinear LOgos of the NT - as well as the 7th Part - the Focal Point of Christ as Oswald Chamber's Secret. See the very title of his ?My Utmost for His Highest! - and - Personal, Passionate devotion to Jesus!? These two statements alone show what Oswald found in Jesus! He was his all in all!* *So - I invite you with me - find in reality the presence of the Abiding Christ in your heart, as I have discovered Him in mine! Yes - He is in heaven too! But God is in our hearts also. As we meditate vocally on God's Word - and obey what the Spirit quickens to us - then Christ grows in our hearts - just as in the flesh He advanced in wisdom and stature, and favor with God and man? (Luke 2:52). * *A prerequisite to all of this to simplify it all, is to see our lives in the picture of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. Let us advance from the Outer Court with its Brazen Altar representing Christ's Finished Atoning Work on Calvary - followed by the Laver - where we are buried with Christ unto death through baptism.* *Then in the Holy Place, we find the Menorah representing Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit - the Table of Bread representing the 12 loaves for the 12 tribes of Israel; and the Table of Incense, where we worship in Spirit and in Truth.* *The Outer Court represents our body, in which the the Holy Spirit dwells. The Holy Place represents our soul, for whom Christ died. Here - our Mind, Emotions and Will figure largely.* *But when we pass on through the Riven Veil into the Holy of Holies, there like David we kneel in awe before the Ark of the Covenant, and above the Mercy Seat and between the Cherubim, commune with our Heavenly Father Himself. Here our human spirit finds union with the Spirit of God Himself.* *But even all of this is insufficient. David in Psalm 86:11b fervently prays - ?Unite my heart to fear your Name!? When our human spirit is resurrected through the new birth, it needs to be united with the ?mind? of the soul! See Romans 12:2 - ?And be not fashioned according to this age: but be transformed (metamorphosized) by the renewing of the mind -? Then the resurrected spirit can unite with the renewed mind to form a UNITED HEART. This is what God longs for in each of us. This is what David longed for.* *And lastly - the blessing that flows from Madame Guyon's spiritual secret - so that we embrace Mark 8:34 - ?And Jesus called to him the crowd with his :disciples, and said to them, If any would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his :cross, and follow me.? This is the secret of discipleship. It is not being discipled unto a man, a movement or a denomination. It is being discipled to Jesus only! He didn't in the Great Commission tell us top make converts, but to make disciples, and Mark 8:34 clearly and succinctly sets out the three conditions: Denial of self, so that our will is yielded completely to His will; taking up our cross - which is the will of God, especially as it cuts across our will! Remember Jesus in the Garden - ?Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me - nevertheless - not my will, but Yours be done! There it is as an example for us in a nutshell! * *And lastly - ?Follow Me.? We will follow Him in the Gospels. And we will follow Him in the epistles - for in the Epistles it is not James, Peter, John, Jude or Paul talking - but our Lord Jesus! See Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:37 and Peter in 2 Peter 1:21. There are some in evangelical churches today who feel that ?custom? takes precedence over what Jesus taught through His eight NT apostles! Wrong! Doubly wrong! The weakness of the church today is that we have watered down the Word of God to the level of the mere word of man! Not so! We all have to answer to Christ at the BEma throne of Judgment upon His return! How will we answer for our deeds done in the body if we have to confess that we watered Christ's word through apostles down according to ?custom?. God have mercy on our souls! J.A.W* * * *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Mar 29 14:11:49 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:11:49 -0700 Subject: Spiritual Smorgasbord Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* March 29, 2011 RULES FOR CASTING OUT DEMONS *Rev. Jim White, April 1963* 1. *Only do what God says ? and when He says to.* 2. *You must have dominion over demons to move in this realm.* 3. *You must know where to tell them to go (Jesus dismissed them into swine).* 4. *Dominion means ? straitjackets can be taken off when patients come from asylums.* 5. *Demons can be bound temporarily.* 6. *A good rule: fast two half days ? 2 meals each day prior to engaging in exorcism.* 7. *Don?t pray aloud with your understanding when fasting.* 8. *Don?t pray publicly for the demon-possessed ? use a side room.* 9. *Don?t SHOUT at demons ? this is a sign of defeat.* 10. *Say softly: In the Name of Jesus, Come out.* 11. *Don?t touch the demon-possessed.* 12. *To prevent disrobing, hold the candidate?s hands behind his back.* 13. *Certain demons only go into humans ? others into animals.* 14. *A demon-possessed person usually doesn?t know it.* 15. *The person?s mouth purses out when the demons start out.* 16. *Ask how many demons are present, and count them on the way out.* 17. *Say, if ten, How about the eleventh?* 18. *Religious demons speak in tongues, lust and envy.* 19. *The candidate can?t say, Thank You, Jesus ? till all the demons are out. * 20. *There is a sign of shame and humility when the candidate is delivered.* 21. *What about a Christian who interprets a demon tongue?* 22. *You can retain demons, and not let them out till God?s time.* 23. *Learn from converted mediums, who have white angels.* 24. *Gold Hill, WA ? a stronghold of demons, which cause difficulty for churches.* *White angels of the medium are the most powerful ? they are the angels of light.* *They primarily work in churches.* 1. *White angels can interrupt services in physical ways.* 2. *White angels can materialize. The possessed have at least one of these. They torment and cause DIVISIONS and dissension. They are very contentious. * 3. *Religious spirits cause people to be out of order in services. Those with them can?t help themselves from interrupting. They appear to be very gracious as they oppose.* *The ringleader hides behind others ? very smart.* 1. *Judge demons by the fruit of what happens in a service. Pray for the ?discerning of * *spirits,? and develop what you have.* 1. *This gift is resident in the Spirit, with all 9 gifts. God gives the right gift at the right * *time. (This is in line with the teaching of Dr. David duPlessis of South Africa.)* 1. *Demons back from you or dodge you when discerned or recognized.* 2. *Cast out demons in tongues, quietly.* 3. *Walk through the church before a service, looking for them.* 4. *Temporarily bind a demon and deal with it after the service.* 5. *This doesn?t work by just doing it. God must set it up, like an anointing to preach.* *(Rees Howells found this to be very true, and walked in this insight.)* 1. *Pentecostal churches attract the emotionally unstable, but this is not necessarily a * *demon.* 1. *Don?t let demons spoil meetings. (Dr. D. N. Buntain of Winnipeg, Canada found this out the hard way ? he and many other leaders.)* 2. *We allow many services to be killed! On the third time of an interrupter, deal with the person being used ? Wigglesworth did!* 3. *Go on deeper in tongues ? get new tongues.* 4. *The unknown tongue is known only to God, and is devotional. Satan does not understand devotional tongues. Keep the Lord?s secrets and leadings this way. Only known tongues are known to satan.* *EDITORIAL NOTE: Jim White says that we can learn much through converted mediums. Raphael Gasson in his book ?The Challenging Counterfeit,? unveils satan and his demonic minions as clearly as any book that has been written. He is the one that following his conversion found that the ?white spirit,? is as evil as the black spirit. It is truly ?the angel of light.? Jim White wholeheartedly concurs.* * Raphael Gasson was an Englishmen and perfected the art of mediumship to the highest degree. He spent up to 16 hours a day for 10 years to perfect the manifestation of ectoplasm. How many Christian believers would give such devotion like Rees Howells to be possessed by the Holy Spirit ? and spend such a time to perfect oneself as a selfless channel to allow the Spirit to have His complete and wonderful way?* * The above 39 points come directly from the experience of Jim White. As an evangelist he had great results both in Ireland and the Pacific Northwest. The reader must be like Jeremiah in all such cases when God told him, ?If you take the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth.?* * In other words ? don?t be gullible. Prove ALL things ? hold fast that which is good. Many have found the insights of Jim White to be far above average. They have helped many engaged in the ministry of deliverance to become far more effective.* *The blessings of the Lord be upon you as you pursue this important ? yet dangerous pursuit. Don?t be na?ve. This is NOT for novices (See the 7 sons of Sceva in the book of Acts.) Make sure you have my article on ?Discernings of Spirits? to go with Jim White?s outline.* *Jim Watt* HARMONY OF ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH: APOSTLES AND TRIBES Our Lord Jesus linked Israel and the church for post resurrection events in a most lucid manner. In Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:30 Jesus promised the twelve apostles that in the regeneration or ?restitution of all things,? they would sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. This indeed will finally bring Israel and the church into harmony. In another section of this paper we see that the qualities of human character in the tribes of Israel correspond to the key doctrinal series in the New Testament church epistles. In Revelation 21:12 we read that each tribe in the New Jerusalem is represented by a Pearly Gate, upon which the corresponding name is inscribed. In the same City each apostle is a foundation stone and a pillar of witness concerning the death and resurrection of our Lord, the chief corner stone. Now, see this wonderful correspondence between each apostle and the tribe over which he will rule. We should walk in the light that each represents. Note: no pretense of absolute dogmatism is to be assumed in this attempt to link the apostles with their corresponding tribe. This also applies to the linkage of each tribe with a corresponding New Testament series. However, some unusual insight does appear in these guided linkages. *One. **John Zebedee **will reign over JUDAH. * This apostle is the dove, formerly a son of thunder. He was the beloved disciple. Unto him the Lord was gracious. *Two. **Nathanael** (or Bartholomew) over ISSACHAR. *In this man our Lord found no guile. He was a true gift of God. He served with Philip as a partner. *Three. **Philip **over ZEBULUN.* His name means lover of horses. Like Zebulun, he also was interested in other nations and missions. It was Philip that brought Greeks to our Lord Jesus just preceding His passion. *Four. **Peter** over REUBEN. *Peter is a ?little rock? built upon our Lord Jesus, the chief cornerstone. Both these men had weaknesses, but Peter overcame by practicing the steps of 2 Peter 1:5-7. These lessons he will give Reuben in the resurrection. *Five. **Andrew** (of the tribe of Reuben) over SIMEON. * He labored in Scythia and became the patron saint of Russia. This brother of Peter was noted for his MANLINESS. Like Andrew, we should become a MAN in our witness by entering into the service of the foundations. *Six. **Matthew** over GAD.* The name of this son of Levi means ?Gift of Jehovah.? He labored in Ethiopia, and died there a martyr, a real witness. *Seven. **Simon **the Canaanite over JOSEPH (stands for Ephraim and Manasseh). *His name means hearing. He was a man of zeal, Zelotes. This brother of James, Matthew and Judas labored in Syria; even Israel?s most bitter enemy has a witness. *Eight. **James** Zebedee over LEVI. *Another son of thunder, and the first martyr for witness among the apostles. His name means Jacob, usurper. His father was of Judah, his mother of Levi. With Peter he labored in Babylon, and then later in Spain. *Nine. **Matthias** over BENJAMIN. *An endorser of God?s redemption, a witness of the resurrection. A gift of God. Paul?s witness agrees with that of all twelve apostles. *Ten. **Thomas** over DAN.* This man who was a twin, labored in India. *Eleven. **James **Alphaeus over ASHER. *His name means successor; the cousin of Jesus through Cleopas. *Twelve. Labbaeus **Judas **over NAPHTALI. *His name is a form of JUDAH meaning praise. A brother of James, son of Alphaeus. Note: Judas Iscariot was replaced by Matthias, according to Peter?s interpretation of the prophetic scripture (Acts 1:15-26). ? The above and what follows is NOT a ?Thus saith the Lord! A HARMONY OF ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH This fourteen-lesson survey constitutes a crash program for training lay eldership. The twelve sons of Jacob plus the two sons of Joseph each represent a dominant truth that finds a parallel in the natural series represented in fourteen of the New Testament Epistles. Just as there are seven churches of Revelation, so there are seven churches of Paul. The first nine of the surveys are the keys to Paul?s seven churches: Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse and Thesssalonica. Ephesus is the fulcrum of these seven, and is the church containing more than one of these natural series. Colosse finds its series in John, and Thessalonica in Revelation. * One. BENJAMIN* is the wolf-man, desperately needing conversion. King Saul and Saul of Tarsus were of this tribe. Hebrews 6:1-2 (the Gospel for Jews) and Romans (the Gospel for Gentiles) provide the steps that lead to a true conversion experience. Study these twin presentations carefully, for they are foundations for all that follows. A vital experience in the Holy Spirit following water baptism leads naturally into all further truth. *Two. ZEBULUN *represents Missions. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, the gifts of the Spirit, make Missions powerful and apostolic. Christians are to manifest gifts as soon as saved. Missionary Paul justified his apostleship on the bases of powerful gifts (1 Corinthians 12:12). Note that the Church of Corinth, though a carnal church, yet manifested all the gifts of the Spirit! Note also that in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11, God ?set? (Aorist tense) and ?gave? (Aorist tense) gifts and ministries to the church for as long as there would be a church. God did not intend them to cease with the apostolic age. *Three. ISSACHAR* represents the soul winner. Qualification for the soul winner is the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit is also a guard against returning to legalism, man?s traditions, natural man?s way of doing things and walking in lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Sow to the Spirit that which you received after water baptism, and you will reap the nature of Christ, and He being lifted up in you will draw souls to Himself! *Four. JOSEPH *is the man of fruitfulness and revelation: the two go together. See Daniel also. Joseph united all the sons of Jacob for preservation in Egypt. The spirit of Joseph is the spirit of Ephesians 4:3-6, which will unite Israel and the church in the Millennium. These seven unities bind together the whole body of Christ. If we are clear on the definitions of this survey, we can fellowship together as Christians in these great essentials, until 1 Corinthians 1:10 and Isaiah 29:24 are fulfilled. *Five. EPHRAIM *is also a Fruitful one. He is a type of the church even in her backsliding. The ministry-gifts of Christ in Ephesians 4:11, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Titus 1:5 and 1 Timothy 3:12 lead individual members into obedience and faith unto baptism, and all the glories of Kingdom privileges. This Ephraim ministry will bring forth the goal of Ephesians 4:12-16 for the church. *Six. GAD*, a lion, a troop, is he who is overcome, -- but overcomes at last (Revelation 12: 11)! He does so through the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). Like God, we should recognize that we overcome satan when properly defended and guarded. We may lose a battle, but we shall surely win the war (Ephesians 6:12 and Revelation 12:11). *Seven. NAPHTALI* is the wRESTling hind. He enters REST through overcoming the trials of life. Self-denial and reckoning oneself dead, allows the restful beauty of Christ to shine through. The self-denying mind of Christ on behalf of others is seen in Philippians 4:8. *Eight. JUDAH *means Praise! From him descends the Lion of the Tribe of Judah; Colossians sets forth this same truth in the Pre-eminence of Christ! Just as Judah was first among the tribes in order of the march (Numbers 2), so Christ is pre-eminent in all of God?s creation. John, the spiritual gospel, whose emblem is the eagle, sets forth this same pre-eminency through the seven ?I Ams.? Through Christ and Judah, the shout of a king is in the midst of Israel and the Church (Numbers 23:21). Like Wigglesworth, we should challenge one another, ?Can you shout the shout of joy and faith?? *Nine. DAN *means Judge. Dan finds his New Testament parallel in Thessalonians and the Second Coming. We must through the Holy Spirit have a sanctified and holy work done in our lives, so that as overcomers we might have part in the first resurrection! All God?s promises are to overcomers! to disciples! To those who deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Christ. The words of the Lord Jesus to the seven churches of Revelation form a composite picture of the conditions for the overcoming life. *Ten. LEVI* means Joined. Though Levi shared a curse of scattering with Simeon, yet in Numbers 27:7-13 we read that the zeal of Phinehas caused God to modify this curse and turn it into a blessing. Through his scattering Levi became a blessing through teaching the twelve tribes, and leading them in true guidance and worship. Ironically, it was a member of Simeon?s tribe that Phinehas slew! The wisdom of the priesthood has its counterpart in the spirit of wisdom of James 3:17. Clyde Narramore sets froth this passage as the guide for all counselors! ?Competent to Counsel? by Jay Adams parallels this. *Eleven. MANASSEH* means Forgetfulness. Ephraim was set before Manasseh just as the church presently has pre-eminence over Israel. The greater spiritual blessing came to the church, composed of Jew and Gentile; yet Israel, like Manasseh, has not been FORGOTTEN. 1948 witnessed the return of Israel to her homeland as a nation. June 1967 witnessed the occupancy of Jerusalem by Israel: Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles or non-Jews until the end. Soon the time of Jacob?s trouble will commence under a worldwide ruler called the Syrian. 1 Peter 4:7-11 reveals the changes that ought to take place in our lives in the light of the end times, when consummation for both Israel and the Church takes place. Romans 9-11 reveals this coming union. *Twelve. REUBEN*, a man of weakness and indecision, could have prevailed had he availed himself of spiritual resources. Sin, disgrace and great loss came to him because he did not lay a good foundation, could not curb his lust and weakness. Fasting helps to overcome weakness and lust of the flesh. 2 Peter 1:6-8 reveals eight virtues, which if diligently built into our lives, cause us to abound and be fruitful. Blindness and lack of purging from old sins come upon us if we neglect them. Judah gained the Kingship of Reuben ? Levi gained the Priesthood of Reuben ? Joseph gained the double blessing of the firstborn due to Reuben. What a threefold loss, all because lust was not curbed. *Thirteen. SIMEON,* cruel, vindictive and unrestrained, suffered loss in Israel, and eventually became swallowed up in Judah. We have modern counter-parts like Simeon, who fiercely resisted his father?s rebuke, and justified himself in a lawless act. He who is truly repentant and believes the gospel, will show a different type of evidence of God?s working in his life. 1 John reveals six evidences of a truly converted, born again man. The new birth reveals itself in unmistakable changes, which should be studied carefully. Those who mistake profession and intellectual assent for true possession and transformation will profit from such a study. By their fruits ye shall know them! *Fourteen. ASHER *is the happy man of true heart religion. The Lord?s Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15) leads to the truly blessed life. Only a man of union with God through the true pattern of prayer can evidence the Beatitudes, the true fruit of the blessed man. *Prepared by Jim Watt, October 29, 1990.* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Mar 30 13:08:40 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:08:40 -0700 Subject: King Hezekiah Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* March 30, 2011 *JAN 1 - 2 CHRONICLES 29-32 - HEZEKIAH: A BRIGHT AND SHINING LIGHT* *1. 29:2-3 (29:1-19) HEZEKIAH: RESTORES THE TEMPLE. ?And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that David his father had done. 3 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of Jehovah, and repaired them? (ASV 1901). How can man hallow Your Name, Father? Here in Psalm 1 You have laid out the way. Hallowed be Your :name.* *2. 29:27 (29:20-36) HEZEKIAH: RESTORES THE SACRIFICES. ?And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt-offering upon the altar. And when the burnt-offering began, the song of Jehovah began also, and the trumpets, together with the instruments of David king of Israel.? Father, we Your community are Your temple, the Body of Messiah. We welcome Your Kingdom like Hezekiah, by cleansing it when it becomes defiled (2 COR 7:1). Your :kingdom come.* *3. 30:1 (30) HEZEKIAH: RESTORES THE PASSOVER. ?And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto Jehovah, the God of Israel.? Your will Father, is that we see Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 31:1a (31:1) HEZEKIAH: DESTROYS IDOLATRY IN ISRAEL. ?Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all.? Idolatry is abominable sin! Father, we would remove anything in our lives coming between us. Our :daily bread Give us this day.* *5. 31:21 (31:2-21) HEZEKIAH: RESTORES LEVITICAL ORDER. ?And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.? Like the four lepers who feared evil if they declared not good tidings, so Hezekiah shared with Israel and restored Jehovah worship. And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 32:7-8a (32:1-23) HEZEKIAH: TRUSTS ADONAI AGAINST ASSYRIA. ?Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him; for there is a greater with us than with him: 8 with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is Jehovah our God to help us, and to fight our battles.? Much testing is unnecessary when we seek You with all of our heart, Father. Yet, you did uncover the heart of Hezekiah through this testing. For us - And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 32:31 (32:24-33) HEZEKIAH: FAILS THE TEST OF PRIDE. ?Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.? Yes, we let You be true, O God, but every man a liar. We would justify You always in Your words, and acknowledge all your acts as being righteous! But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: on Hezekiah! - *Larry Lea some years ago laid out a weekly prayer based on 7 of the compound Jehovah names. However - after several months of praying through these on a weekly basis, one wife told her husband - ?If you read again that God will make us like Israel the head, and our enemies the tail - I'll scream!? I thought - ?What if we had a Through the Bible in a Year daily devotional, with 7 verses to read each day from the daily reading - and What if each verse were related to the 7 major points of the Lord's Prayer - wouldn't that give such variety that it would solve the problem?? So in the late 90's I completed a Manuscript based on this thought. However in the interval, I could see how to improves on this idea; so I am editing the 366 readings. The 52 weeks of the year have 7 readings each, making a total of 364 readings. To make up the two missing readings, I have selected the life of Hezekiah and Josiah for this purpose. Out of the 20 kings of Judah following David, only 9 were good; but of the 9, only two were very good: Hezekiah and Josiah: they *alone* removed the high places, which God looked down upon. These high places of Israel are types or shadows in the OT, representing our human thoughts in the NT not brought under the control of Christ. See 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 to understand more clearly God's thinking in this direction: *?For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to theflesh 4 (for the weapons of our :warfare are not of flesh, but mighty before :God unto casting down of strongholds); 5 casting down reasonings, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of :God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of the Christ;? * Yet, though these 2 kings removed these high places; just like us, they were *not* perfect. God uncovered the area of Hezekiah's life where his pride appeared. And for all of us - only at the resurrection when we are transformed and lifted completely into the image of Jesus, will we be what we long to be. In many revivals, some have thought we could be lifted into sinless perfection *prior* to the resurrection! False! Deception! The best of us will still be like Hezekiah and Josiah - falling short in *this* life. See 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 & 2 Thessalonians for clear insights on the necessity of the resurrection upon Jesus' return - to accomplish this! An extreme view of the ?manifestation of the sons of God? is but another example of falling into this trap of Satan! He is always about to get us into an extreme position. In the natural, one father said, ?If one aspirin is good - four are better!? - Wrong! Just as it is also wrong to take from Satan an extreme theological position! One Chicago pastor in the early '50's gave a challenge in his sermon: ?I doubt if there is any one here (of some 600) who would testify to sinless perfection.? It was a rhetorical question. But one man stood. The pastor thought - ?Surely he has a 'charlie horse'. But he asked him - ?Did you have a comment sir?? ?Yes?, he responded. ?In reply to your challenge, I stand to profess sinless perfection!? The pastor thought: ?Lord, if you get me out of this spot, I'll never put my big mouth in anything like this again.? The Lord dropped a word of wisdom into the pastor's mind. He asked the challenger - ?Could I ask you a question?? The man agreed. The pastor's question was, ?Is that your wife sitting beside you, and if so, could I ask her a question?? But before the pastor could proceed, *the man sat down!* So - bless you each one - and may these daily readings of ?Through the Bible in a Year? be a blessing and means to keep us all in balance unto the Return of our Lord! J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Mar 31 13:27:51 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:27:51 -0700 Subject: JAN 2 - JOSIAH'S REVIVAL Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* March 31, 2011 *JAN 2 - 2 KINGS 22-23 - JOSIAH'S REVIVAL* *1. 22:2 (22:1-2) JOSIAH: EIGHTH AND LAST GOOD KING OF JUDAH. ?And Josiah did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.? *What a bright and shining light! How favorably Josiah compared with his father David, and the plumbline he gave. Father, we too would honor you by seeking to walk in such an honorable way. *Hallowed be Your :name.* *2. 22:8 (22:3-10) JOSIAH: REPAIRS TEMPLE AND DISCOVERS LAW. ?And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Jehovah. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.? *What Manasseh buried, Josiah revived. O how he loved Your word, Father! Like Moses, Joshua, Ezra, Nehemiah: he *honored* Your Word, and so honored You. We too would follow his example. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 22:11 (22:11:14) JOSIAH: DISCOVERS SIN AND REPENTS. ?And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he ripped his clothes.? *Josiah was right in being alarmed at what he had heard. His heart was broken at the enormity of the sin that had been committed. But never during this time did he ever doubt Your goodness, Father. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 22:16 (22:15-20) JOSIAH: HEARS JUDGMENT FROM HULDAH. ?Thus says Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of it, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read.? *May we too like Josiah perceive the enormity of Your wrath against deliberate sin! The sin of Manasseh as a leader is affecting his progeny. Except for Jesus, and His propitiatory sacrifice to You, where would any of us be? *Our :daily bread Give us this day.* *5. 23:3 (23:1-3) JOSIAH: INFORMS PEOPLE AND MAKES A COVENANT. ?And the king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before Jehovah, to walk after Jehovah, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book: and all the people stood to the covenant.? *May we like Josiah see the importance of *covenant* in both Old and New Covenant times! To fail here is extremely serious. * And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 23:25 (23:4-25) JOSIAH: HIS MANIFOLD REFORMATIONS. ?And like unto Josiah was there no king before him, that turned to Jehovah with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.? *It would seem that Josiah surpassed even David, in his zeal for You, O great Jehovah Father! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 23:26 (23:26-30a) JOSIAH: REFORMATION CANNOT AVERT JUDGMENT! ?Notwithstanding, Jehovah did not turn from the fierceness of his great wrath, with which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations which which Manasseh had provoked him.? *In spite of Josiah, because of Manasseh the die was cast: judgment was inevitable. *Righteous*are You in Your judgments, Father. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**:* Josiah had a very tender heart unto the Lord. See these words that Huldah the prophetess sent unto him - ?*But unto the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Jehovah, thus shall you say to him, Thus says Jehovah, the God of Israel: As touching the words which you have heard, 19because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself before Jehovah, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants of it, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have ripped your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you, says Jehovah. 20Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again? (22:18-20). * There are lessons in this reading, however, that we cannot afford to miss! Even though Manasseh repented following God's judgment upon his life - yet sin had progressed too far! But God in mercy removed Josiah before Babylon took him into its 70 year captivity. In a very real sense, it is appropriate to enter each year's reading with the lives of these two exemplary kings: Hezekiah and Josiah. Not only did they remove the high places both in the Kingdom of Judah - but also in some of the tribes of the northern kingdom Israel. In 1960 I came across the Bible teaching series of Dr. J. Vernon McGee. I felt it was a wise decision on his part to teach through one book of the Bible at a time - alternating them between Old and New Testaments. So that it was Genesis - Matthew; Exodus - Mark; Leviticus - Luke. I added an extra innovation, by taking Psalms and Proverbs out of context so that we have a Psalm a day for the first 5 months followed by Proverbs for the sixth; and repeating these two for the second half of the year. I preached and taught through the Bible in a year 3 times a week in Round Lake, Illinois in 1960. I found it an extremely demanding schedule. Then in 1963 outside of Leavenworth, Washington, a lady challenged me to write this into a Reading Guide. Our goal is to place this on our Website. We use the Hebrew order for OT books, and God's Bible Numeric Order for the NT. In 1954 we led the Kostner Avenue Baptist Church of Chicago to read through the Bible in a year, for the first time for well over 90% of the congregation. We added to this Bible reading - up to 13 prayer meetings a week! God heard, and in- + 1957 we saw l00 souls come to the Lord, and retained each one! Our missionary giving grew to 51% a year, and the average was $150 a year back then, even including the babies. It takes the balance of the Word and the Spirit through prayer to see true revival, and the blessing of the Lord. I have chosen the ASV 1901 (American Standard Version) for the Old Testament quotations, and God's Bible Numeric translation by Ivan Panin for the New Testament. Panin in his day found the ASV to be the closest of all translations to the Bible Numeric Phenomenon. See 2 Timothy 3:16 in the latter: ?*Every scripture** **is** **God breathed **, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for discipline **which is **:in righteousness:? *Note the construction ?*every scripture* * is* *God breathed*.? In many other translations, this particular Greek construction is correctly translated - *except* in this instance; where with full understanding of the unscholarliness they exhibit, they deliberately and inconsistently put it - ?every scripture *that is* God breathed? - putting doubt upon parts of the Bible that *may not be* God- breathed! The fact that they correctly translate this construction in *all other* places but *this* - reveals their wickedness in this instance. So - check other translations for 2 Timothy 3:16 - and those that do *not*render it in the light of 2 Peter 1:21 and 1 Corinthians 14:37 - *rightly* have the gravest suspicion of other areas of their translation. J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Apr 1 12:45:03 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 12:45:03 -0700 Subject: Genesis 1-2 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 1, 2011 *JAN 3 - GENESIS 1-2 - GOD AND CREATION* *1. 1:1, 3 (1:1-5) CREATION: FIRST DAY, LIGHT. ?In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.? (ASV '01) *Father, You have given us light in the face of Jesus. We who know Jesus, know You; for You were in Christ reconciling the world to Yourself. So in the words of Jesus - to you we pray - *Hallowed be Your Name.* *2. 1:6 (1:6-8) SECOND DAY: THE DIVIDING FIRMAMENT. ?And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.? *Father, You are a God Who divides between the waters, between flesh and spirit, between clean and unclean, between holy and unholy. By Your Word You divide between soul and spirit. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 1:9, 11a (1:9-13) THIRD DAY: EARTH AND VEGETATION. ?And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 11a And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind.? *In Your work of restoration, Father, You provided for man by vegetation before You created him. How we can trust You! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* 4. 1:14-15 (1:14-19) FOURTH DAY: LIGHTS. ?And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years: *15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.? *Father, we marvel at Your power. We worship You in Your wisdom and love. You provide all of our needs. *Our :daily bread Give us this day.* *5. 1:20 (1:20-23) FIFTH DAY: FISH AND FOWL. ?And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.? *And still You ready earth for man! Before we ask, You have already anticipated our every need! How truly You are God alone! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 1:24, 26a (1:24-31) SIXTH DAY: CATTLE AND MAN. ?And God said, Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind, cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth after their kind: and it was so. 26a And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion...? *Here You have set forth Your eternal purpose, Father. You are bringing many sons into Glory! In Christ You are now perfecting Your character likeness into Your created beings. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 2:2 (2:1-25) SEVENTH DAY: REST AND RECAPITULATION. ?And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.? *Now Father, You are teaching us to enter into Your eternal Sabbath of rest. You desire us to rest as Christ perfects through us Your perfect will. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *Notice that God starts out His Bible in Genesis by portraying Himself as the Mighty Numberer! He has seven days in creation. And these 7 days link up with many other combinations of seven throughout Scripture. And even underneath the surface in the original Hebrew and Greek languages - yet many more *hidden* sevens lie. We could even call this - God's Bible Numerics! This so protects His Name, that through such numbers - neither His Name - nor His Bible - can be counterfeited. No other god or bible in the world can match this! There are seven pieces of furniture in the tabernacle in the Wilderness; seven pieces of clothing for Aaron the High Priest; seven steps of preparation for Solomon's Temple by his father David - and many, many more. How favored God has made man. And when man fell, which God in His foreknowledge knew he would do - yet in previous ages He had already planned His Redemption, Reconciliation and Restoration - through the coming sacrificial death of His only begotten Son. And though this restored earth as recorded in Genesis 1 - fell through the sin and disobedience of the first Adam - God's second Adam would not only provide restoration for the human race - whosoever will - but also restoration for the physical creation! Do not all of these truths cause you to glorify God - as it does me? What a wonderful God we serve: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And yet God is also * one*! The word one in Hebrew is ?*eCHAD* - the same word used of husband and wife becoming *one* flesh. Are they not still two? Yes - but they are *one*in unity as is our triune God. Can we mentally understand this? No - but we *can* receive it by faith. Billy Graham sets us an example here. He confessed that much in the Bible he did not understand - but at one time, by an act of obedience and faith - he accepted it *all* by faith - and in his preaching from then on could boldly say - *The Bible says*! This is also my stance. I accept the whole of God and the whole of His Bible by faith - and in the same example as of Billy Graham I say - ?*The Bible says*!? J.A.W. * SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Apr 2 11:12:33 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2011 11:12:33 -0700 Subject: Genesis 3 - Adam & the Fall Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 2, 2011 *JAN 4 - GENESIS 3 - ADAM AND THE FALL* *1. 3:4-5 (3:1-5) THE TEMPTATION. ?And the serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die: 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil.? (ASV '01) *What a lie! What deception and delusion! What a murderer! To eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is to bring immediate spiritual death. God can give us discernment in this area. *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 3:7 (3:6-7) THE FALL. ?And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves girdles.? *What a tragedy! O the tragic result of deception and sin! Ichabod: Your Glory Father, immediately departed! Revelation from a source apart from You, even though appearing *good*, is a snare. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 3:11 (3:8-13) THE TRIAL. ?And Jehovah God said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you that you should not eat?? Innocence* is *not* enough. We must be tested Father, at the point where You gave commandment. Character in true personality only slays carnal individuality when we choose aright in the midst of testing. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 3:16 (3:14-19) THE SENTENCE. ?Unto the woman God said, I will greatly multiply your pain and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you.? * O the tragedy of deception, disobedience and sin! To this day Eve experiences in her sex the bitterness and difficulty of this judgment. And Adam even more shared judgment because of his clearer awareness in his sin. We should never doubt the integrity of God's word! Yet - *Our :daily bread Give us this day.* *5. 3:20 EVE. ?And the man called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.? *Though Adam's image was marred, yet remnants of what he lost remained. We bear this marred image also, but thanks to You Father, we are now *new creations* in formation in Christ Jesus! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 3:21 CLOTHING. ?And Jehovah God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them.? *It took the shedding of blood to provide covering for Adam and Eve. It took Christ's blood to provide a robe of righteousness for New Covenant saints. Thanks be unto God for this Redemptive Act! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 3:24 (3:22-24) SENTENCE ENACTED. ?So God drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.? *What mercy is this, Father! Until Christ came, the true Tree of Life, You dared not allow us to eat of Eden's tree of life. How wise and marvelous are Your ways! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *Genesis 3 is one of the saddest chapters of the Bible from our point of view. ?But from God's insight, we as members of Adam's race - *in the end* turn out better than even if Adam had *not* sinned. From the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus, we now through identification with His death, burial and resurrection - end up in His image, *far above* what Adam in a sinless state would have become. See Romans 8:31-39. Here we discover the tremendous blessings on our behalf, because of the ?Finished Work? of Christ Jesus our Lord. It behooves us to maintain our *gaze* upon Him, not just a glance! Our *focus* upon Jesus is the secret of an overcoming life. We start out this way like the church of Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) - but apart from our focus upon Him, we like Ephesus can soon depart from our first love! On April 2nd I was reading ?My Utmost for His Highest? by Oswald Chambers - for part of my daily devotions. He entitles this reading ?The Glory That's Unsurpassed,? linked with Acts 9:17 - ?the Lord Jesus ... has sent me that you may receive your sight ... ? When Paul received his sight, he also received spiritual insight into the Person of Jesus Christ. His entire life and preaching from that point on were totally consumed with nothing but Jesus Christ - ?For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified: (1 Corinthians 2:2). Paul never again allowed anything to attract and hold the attention of his mind and soul except the face of Jesus Christ. We must learn to maintain a strong degree of character in our lives, even to the level that has been revealed in our vision of Jesus Christ. The lasting characteristic of a spiritual man is the ability to understand correctly the meaning of the Lord Jesus Christ in his life, and the ability to explain the purposes of God to others. The overruling passion of his life is Jesus Christ. Whenever you see this quality in a person, you get the feeling that he is truly a man after God's own heart (see Acts 13:22). Never allow anything to divert you from your insight into Jesus Christ. It is the true test of whether you are spiritual or not. To be unspiritual means that other things have a growing fascination for you. *Since mine eyes have looked on Jesus,* *I've lost sight of all beside;* *So enchained my spirit's vision,* *Gazing on the Crucified.* (I put a concluding note years ago to the above - Madame Jeanne Guyon and Oswald Chambers are of the same spirit. J.A.W.) *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Apr 3 15:22:42 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2011 15:22:42 -0700 Subject: Genesis 4 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 3, 2011 *JAN 5 - GENESIS 4 - CAIN & ABEL* *1. 4:1-2a (4:1-2) CAIN AND ABEL. ?And the man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have borne a man with the help ofJehovah. 2a And again she bore his brother Abel.? *Birth is a Kingdom principle. But we as the members of Christ's bride would rather spiritually conceive for Him, and be a Nazareth and then a Bethlehem. * **Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 4:7 (4:3-7) THEIR OFFERINGS. ?If you do well, shall it not be lifted up? and if you do not do well, sin couches at the door: and unto you shall be its desire; but do you rule over it.? *There is always a sin offering for us in Jesus, Father. We may and can receive Him, and come into right relationship with You! You and Jesus have made an unconditional covenant for whoever will! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 4.8 DEATH OF ABEL. ?And Cain talked to Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and killed him.? *O Father, how terrible the consequences of the fall of Adam and Eve! Their fallen nature has been passed on to Cain and all his progeny! Thank God this has been reversed through Christ the second Adam. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 4:11-12 (4:9-15) JUDGMENT. ?And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand; 12 when you till the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto you its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shall you be in the earth.? * Violence, murder, the shedding of blood: these bring a curse on the ground. When we obey 2 Chronicles 7:14, then you will heal our land. And - *Our :daily bread Give us this day!* *5. 4:17 (4:16-18) CAIN'S DESCENDANTS ?And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bore Enoch: and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.? *Our hearts grieve over the seed of Cain, and its fruit. Tares and wheat are still in the earth today. Where we can, may we protect Your godly seed. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 4:23a, 24 (4:19-24) LAMECH'S PARABLE. ?And Lamech said unto his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice, listen to my words: For I have slain a man for wounding me - 24 If Cain shall be avenged seven-fold, Truly Lamech seventy and seven-fold.? *The ungodly seed of Cain deepens in its perversity and disregard for Your ways, O Father. Satan makes use of this rebellion, self-will and perversity. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 4:25 (425-26) SETH AND ENOSH. ?And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: For she said, God has appointed me another seed instead of Abel: for Cain killed him.? *Thank You Father, for this godly seed. What a contrast to that of Cain! One feeds on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil: the other feeds on the Tree of Life. We choose the latter. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *A famous author wrote a novel on this chapter entitled - ?East of Jordan.? From a non-evangelical viewpoint, he tried to explain what God meant when He gave this word to Cain. I'm not sure that he really hit it. Many people try to explain and interpret the Bible. Oswald Chambers believed that *only* those fully surrendered to Christ and open to the Holy Spirit could obtain a true understanding of what God intends readers to receive. Every rubby-dub in taverns knows of Paul's word to Timothy - to take a little wine for his stomach's sake and often infirmities! I believe Chambers has the true key to scriptural understanding, and without this, it is mere guessage. It is also good like George Muller to read the Bible through at least once a year. Muller his last 10 years, did so 4-5 times annually. It's also good to outline it, or have a good outlined Bible. See our ?God's Numeric *Outlined* Interlinear Greek New Testament. With notes, it can be referred to on our Website ** , and soon will be in print also. Good Word Studies give accurate definitions to remove further guessage. ?The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible? by Spiros Zodhiates is thorough and sound, and will lead any earnest student to a correct understanding and appreciation for the Bible. The Book of Genesis is the ?Seed-Plot? of the Bible. All major doctrines or teachings have their embryonic beginnings here. Genesis 4 is rich in insights that follow through in all the rest of Scriptures. The first five books written by Moses - called the Torah by Hebrews - and the Pentateuch by Christians, is a firm foundation for all that follows. Our New Testament is in the *Old* contained - and the *Old* is by the New explained. As a matter of fact, for the first decades of the early church, all they had to preach from were the books of the OT or Old Covenant. Old Testament history is full of ?types and shadows? that shed necessary light on the NT for our understanding. It is *not* a case of either/or - but both/and! From God's vantage point - *He* sees the NT equal in authority to the the OT, and in Hebrews 8:6 tells us that He has constituted the NT as Torah! In this light, Jews who do not use the NT as Torah, are selling themselves short. In the light of Hebrews 8:6, a Jew *cannot* be ?Torah Observant?, except he walks in the light of the *complete* Bible, all 66 books! It is important to note that God made choice, and accepted Abel's sacrifice over against Cain's. No doubt both knew that because of their father's fall, and what befell the human race as a result - that only *blood* sacrifice could atone for sin. The ?Finished Sacrifice? of Christ completely confirms this! J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Apr 4 11:09:46 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 11:09:46 -0700 Subject: Genesis 5 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 4, 2011 *JAN 6 - GENESIS 5 - ENOCH AND ADAM'S DESCENDANTS* *1. 5:1-2 (5:1-5) GENERATIONS OF ADAM: SETH. ?This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God he made him; 2 male and female he created them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.? *How accurate are Your accounts with Adam, Father. How well Moses wrote them down. However, we especially bless You for the *last* Adam. We welcome Your rule in Christ. *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 5:6, 8 (5:6-11) ENOS AND CAINAN. ?And Seth lived a hundred and five years, and begot Enosh: 8 and all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.? *Come Holy Spirit, and convince the world of sin, righteousness and judgment following death. Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 5:12, 14 (5:12-17) MAHALALEEL AND JARED. ?And Kenan lived seventy years, and begot Mahalalel: 14 and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.? *The godly line gets better; but the ungodly seed *worse*. The path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 5:21, 22a, 24 (5:18-24) ENOCH. ?And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begot Methuselah: 22a and Enoch walked with God after he begot Methuselah three hundred years: 24 and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.? *Enoch is the most significant event up to this time in Bible Chronology! Father, we would glean all we can from this man and passage. We would know the Kingdom principles involved behind his translation. *Our :daily bread Give us this day!* *5. 5:25, 27 (5:25-27) METHUSELAH AND LAMECH. ?And Methuselah lived a hundred eighty and seven years, and begot Lamech: 27 and all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.? *There was an ungodly Lamech in Cain's ungodly seed; but there is this godly Lamech, the father of Noah. And there are peculiar lessons from the life of Methuselah! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 5:29 (5:28-31) NOAH. ?And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, which comesbecause of the ground which Jehovah has cursed.? *What a comforting word from a perceptive father! Heavenly Father, we know that it is from You that Lamech received this comforting word. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 5:32 SHEM, HAM AND JAPHETH. ?And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.? *Only these four with their four wives survived the watery holocaust destined to come in 120 years. Methuselah had a prophetic connection with this event, and You Father orchestrated it all! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: Genealogies are placed by God in His Bible for a purpose. One member for a long time tried to have a friend come to his church to hear his pastor preach. Finally the friend came. But to the dismay of the inviting one, his pastor chose this Sunday night Genesis 5 to read and preach from. Then to his utter surprise, when an invitation to accept Christ came, his friend walked forward. At the close of the service, he incredulously asked him - ?How come?? ?Well,? was the reply, ?I couldn't help but notice that every person your pastor mentioned in that chapter, died! And I thought, I'm going to die too! And I'm not prepared. So I responded!?* *Have you ever wondered why all those listed in this chapter lived so long? Especially Methuselah?* *Careful scientists have discovered that before the great flood in Noah's day, there was an icy shield between the sun and close to the earth. This protected life on earth from the harmful ultra violet rays. So life up to that time was longer because of this protection. This shield fell to earth during the flood. Harmful rays from then on caused life on earth to shorten. * *And what of Enoch? Out of 245 dates from Adam to Christ that are deducible from Bible evidence, 21 are multiples of seven - and Enoch is the first of these 21. God by this wanted to point out that the translation of Enoch in His sight - draws special attention to him for us. He knew we would notice that Enoch's close walk with God was the prime reason for his translation, so that he did not see death in the normal way. He and Elijah both share this unusual exit from earthly life.* *And there is no doubt that God wanted us to notice Noah. Much more will be said about him before the Genesis account proceeds much further. J.A.W.* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Apr 6 16:47:09 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2011 16:47:09 -0700 Subject: Genesis 6-9 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 6, 2011 *JAN 7 - GENESIS 6-9 - NOAH: FLOOD AND COVENANT* *1. 6:13 (6:1-13) THE FLOOD: ITS CAUSE. ?And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.? *Father, You do nothing except You reveal it unto Your servants the prophets. You revealed unto Noah Your decision to destroy the wicked element of man. This is a Kingdom principle! We will take heed to Your outlook concerning these things. * Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 6:17-18a (6:14-22) THE FLOOD: THE ARK. ?And I, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, in which is the breath of life, from under the heaven; everything that is in the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you.? *This Kingdom principle is exemplified here through the life of Noah. He believed and obeyed You Father, and walked in the promise of Your covenant. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 7:4-5 (7:1-24) THE FLOOD: ITS DURATION. ?For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground. 5 And Noah did according unto all that Jehovah commanded him.? *We thank You Father for the example and obedience of Noah. Yes, and we thank You for Your provision on His behalf. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 8:1 (8:1-14) THE FLOOD RECEDES. ?And God remembered Noah, and all the beasts, and all the cattle that were with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.? *Great is Your faithfulness, O God our Father! Here we see it manifested to Noah and his family. We too can trust you that all our necessary needs will always be met. *Our :daily bread Give us this day!* *5. 8:21 (8:15-22) THE FLOOD: ITS ALTAR. ?And Jehovah smelled the sweet savor; and Jehovah said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake, for that the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again strike any more everything living as I have done.? *What a blessed promise is this, O Father! *Rest* comes from the offering of sacrifice. Our rest is in Your Son, Jesus! * And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 9:16 (9:1-17) THE FLOOD: RAINBOW COVENANT. ?And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.? *We bless you Father that to this day we the sons of Adam do see the sign of this faithful Covenant, this *Everlasting Covenant**. **And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 9:23 (9:18-29) THE FLOOD: IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH. ?And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.? *What a sober judgment is this upon Canaan, and what a tribute to Ham and Japheth. We acknowledge Your righteousness in this, Father. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *Bible believers have no problem receiving this flood account. They do not see it as a local flood, but a world-wide flood, just as reads the Biblical account. They see the waters as 15 feet above the highest mountains of that day. With tides ripping across the face of the watery earth 4 times a day for 150 days - the tiny clam fossils on the tops of our highest mountain peaks today - are then easily explained. With the finding of mammoth flesh with grass in their mouths, buried in ice, and their flesh able to be eaten today - this too finds reasonable explanation because of this Bible flood account. For the modernists, humanists and unbelievers - they have an impossible task to reasonably explain earth's present condition apart from this flood account. Darwinian Evolution can't even begin to raise up reasonable answers for honest inquiring young minds. Looking at all of this from another angle - just consider this three-story ark the size of a football field! It's pattern all came from God to Noah. And - it took 120 years to build! Quite possibly unbelievers helped Noah build what was safety for him, but destruction for them. I preached through the Bible in a year in 1960 in Illinois. At the end of the year, I quizzed our congregation as to their favorite Bible characters. Abraham? Moses? Joshua? I had no takers from our women. I asked them, How come? They replied that a man like Abraham who asked his wife to tell Pharaoh's servants that she was his sister - and risked being raped - could certainly not be their favorite Bible character. In surprise I asked - Then who would be your favorite? *Noah* - they replied. How could you choose him? I asked. Any man who built for 120 years an ark to save his wife and family, is a most worthy husband and father, they replied. Why, I would never have thought of such a first choice, I replied. That's because you're a man - was their answer that set me effectively in my place. But perhaps the outstanding lesson of this day's devotional is the rainbow covenant God gave, ensuring that not again would earth be destroyed by a flood of waters. Some count this as the second Bible covenant. When God covered the nakedness of Adam and Eve with skins in the Garden of Eden following their sin - it was as it were a blood covenant looking forward to the full caring for sin through the Atoning work of His Son to come. Following Period 1 of Bible Chronology - Adam to Flood: 1656 years - 4003 to 2347 BC, God make the Noahic Covenant. Notice that ?blood? consummated each of these covenants. The Abraham Covenant, 451 years, 2346 to 1896 BC - is one of the *three* greatest of all landmarks in Bible History. Calvary in 30 AD is the third of these three significant landmarks, and brings consummation to all previous blood covenants. There are 8 great Bible Periods, each ending with blood, seven ending with covenants. The Noahic Flood ends Period 1 - and commences Period 2. J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Apr 8 15:38:38 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2011 15:38:38 -0700 Subject: Genesis 11 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 8, 2011 *JAN 9 - GENESIS 11 - THE BABEL CRISIS* *1. 11:1, 4 (11:1-4) BABEL. ?And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 4 And they said, Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.? *This is the seed of Cain, the seed of the serpent, they who have eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We reject man's high place, Father. *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 11:9 (11:5-9) CONFUSION OF TONGUES. ?Therefore was its name called Babel; because Jehovah did there confound the language of all the earth: and from there did Jehovah scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.? *What better way to stop man in his pride and arrogance? Father, we have perfect confidence in You to handle any breaking out of man to his own hurt. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 11:10-11 GENERATION OF SHEM. ?These are the generations of Shem. Shem was a hundred years old, and fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood: 11 and Shem lived after he fathered Arpachshad five hundred years, and fathered sons and daughters.? *With the seed of Cain and Nimrod handled, now Father You continue on with building the godly seed of Shem. How wise You are in Your dealings! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 11:16-17 (11:12-17) ARPHAXAD, SALAH, EBER. ?And Eber lived four and thirty years, and fathered Reu: 17 And Eber lived after he fathered Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and fathered sons and daughters.? *Here You give us the significant line and members of that line: Eber and Peleg. May we not pass over so lightly some of these names of significance from Your point of view! The earth divided in the the days of Peleg: this is significant in the light of Nimrod! *Our :daily bread Give us this day.* *5. 11:24-25 (11:18-25) PELEG, REU, SERUG, NAHOR. ?And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and fathered Terah: 25 and Nahor lived after he fathered Terah a hundred and nineteen years, and fathered sons and daughters.? *Now we are getting down to the beginnings of the Hebrew race, and the chosen man to be the seed of this beginning. Man's endless genealogies are a waste of time, but Yours Father, are not to be passed over lightly. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 11:26-27a (11:26-30) TERAH. ?And Terah lived seventy years, and fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 27a Now these are the generations of Terah.? *How majestically You work Your purposes out through the human race Father! Like a mighty river, man may temporarily slow You up; but soon You break through in Your continuing purposes. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 11:31-32 FROM UR TO HARAN. ?And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his son's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and lived there. 32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.? *This was not really what You Father, had in mind. It was a place of delay until Your purposes through Abram could more clearly come to him. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *Until God dealt with the Babel Crisis through Nimrod, He did not see fit to proceed with the founding of the Hebrew nation through Abram. For this time, the seed of Cain was dealt with, and through Ham the seed of Nimrod. God came down to see what Nimrod and his cohorts had planned. By confusing their tongues at this time, He put an end to their aims. But 2000 years later He reversed this process and all tongues for a day once again understood one another. The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 (Shavuot in Hebrew) - picked up through the church a new dimension. However even this only initially started a new covenant entity on earth for God's purposes. Maturity and fulfillment of this won't take place until our Lord Jesus returns and sets up His Millennial Kingdom. Like Seth, now Shem follows through with a godly line for God's purposes. Eber started the Hebrew line. Then came Terah the father of Abram. But once again the call of God came through Abram the son, not Terah the father. When Abram left Ur of the Chaldees, he had to wait in Haran (meaning delay) until his father Terah died. Genesis 11 then consummates God's preparation for the founding of the Hebrew nation through Abram. Though it was actually through Jacob and his 12 sons in Egypt that backed the fulfillment of the promise God gave to Abram. Can you see the care of the Master-chess-player in all of these moves? Can man foresee the wisdom of God in there moves? Absolutely not. But then neither can Satan - else he would not have led through Judas in the crucifixion of the Lord of Glory. How he must have rued the day of this calamitous mistake on his part! Day 9 concludes this 2000 year foundation. The next 500 year segment lays the founding of the nation Israel, which takes precedence in history from God's point of view from then on. Do the nations see it this way? Not at all. But Satan sees a bit more than man, and through Haman and Hitler among others sought to eradicate God's chosen nation. J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Apr 9 15:21:17 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2011 15:21:17 -0700 Subject: Genesis 12-15 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 9, 2011 *JAN 10 - GENESIS 12-15 - ABRAM AND GOD* *1. 12:1-2 (12:1-3) ABRAM: PROPHETICALLY BLESSED BY GOD. ?Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house, unto the land that I will show you: 2 and I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you be a blessing? (ASV, '01) *Before blessing must first come separation! Abram had seven of these! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 12:7 (12:4-9) ABRAM IN CANAAN: PROMISED LAND. ?And Jehovah appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto your seed will I give this land: and there he built an altar unto Jehovah, who appeared unto him.? *Abram's life: one altar after another to You, O Father! O may we all have worship to You as a foundation of our life! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 12:10 (12:10-20) ABRAM'S LAPSE IN EGYPT. ?And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was severe in the land.? *This was a violation of the obedience of faith; for Your blessing, Father, was in remaining in the land. Yet, You still looked after Abram in his disobedience! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 13:14-15 (13) ABRAM AND LOT. ?And Jehovah said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward: 15 for all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever.?* We see Your promise Father, after another separation. *Our :daily bread Give us this day.* *5. 14:18-20 (14) ABRAM: SODOM, MAMRE AND MELCHIZEDEK. ?And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. **19** And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: **20** and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And Abram gave him a tenth of all.? *Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Father, when we are tempted to doubt You, may we remember that You are greater than Melchizedek! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 15:1, 6 (15:1-6) ABRAM: PROMISE OF THE SEED. ?After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear Not, Abram: I am your shield, **and** your exceeding great reward. **6** And Abram believed in Jehovah; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.? *This is one of the most significant statements in the Bible! Write it deep on our hearts, Father! Show us the true perception of these things. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 15:7, 18 (15:7-21) ABRAM: COVENANT CONFIRMED. ?And he said unto him, I am Jehovah that brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it. **18** In that day Jehovah made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto your seed have I given this land from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.? *You Father brought Abram from Ur; You called him from Haran, and You began a nation from him in Canaan. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *God through His Bible Numerics as revealed to Ivan Panin and others - makes Genesis 12-20 on Abraham, one of the three or four most significant readings in all of Scripture. It will pay any of us to master this section of the Bible. Notice that before God could use Abraham according to His purposes, that first He had to lead him in making a 3-fold separation. And - there are applicable lessons in this for you and me. Once Abram had obeyed and arrived in Canaanland, God revealed to him the importance and extent of the land: from the river Nile to the Euphrates. David and Solomon saw this promise fulfilled, but not till the return of the Lord Jesus will its final fulfillment take place. Then, look at the tithe Abram gave to Melchizedek. Again - rich lessons lie in this segment of history. We as Gentiles are grafted into Israel through Abraham. If our father Abraham tithed to the type of Jesus - should not we also? George Muller and LeTourneau each gave over 90% of their income to God. They lived on the bare necessities, and directed all else into the Kingdom of God. We have many testimonies for both those who obey as well as those who disobey this example. My wife Marie and I have consistently been on the former side, having but one lapse on my part - but which we soon made up. When a nation like Sodom and Gomorrah slip into pride and homosexuality, we soon see God's thinking on this. Our nation - the United States - is fast falling into the dangerous syndrome of Sodom! And God is no respecter of nations. Our nation is playing foot-loose-and-fancy-free - and for such there is always pay-day some day! It is important to note however, that Genesis 12 and 15 are *not* the covenant chapter. That awaits chapter 17 in the next reading. And yet, it is important to see in chapter 15 that God reveals Himself to Abram as His * shield* and exceeding great reward. God is for each one of us a 7-fold shield and a 7-fold hedge. Pastor Mike Servello has written a book on this - ?God's Shield of Protection - Learning to Pray Seven Powerful Shields of Protection Around Your Life? - * *. My wife Marie has helped scores to receive this most helpful volume. May the Lord use the life of Abraham for each one of us to move into a higher realm of faith. J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Apr 11 11:49:56 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:49:56 -0700 Subject: Genesis 16 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 11, 2011 *JAN 11 - GENESIS 16 - ABRAM AND ISHMAEL* *1. 16:1. ABRAM AND SARAI ?Now Sarai, Abram's wife bore him no children; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.? *Hagar probably came because of Abram's lapse in going down to Egypt. Ishmael then is the fruit of that lapse. Father, reveal to us the fruit of the disobedience of faith, and teach us to walk in Your obedience. *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 16:2 (16:2-3) ABRAM AND HAGAR. ?And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, Jehovah has restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray you, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her. And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.? *Right father - wrong mother! Father, You promised Your chosen seed through Sarai, and our manipulations will not do the job. Teach us to listen and follow your commands only. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 16:4 (16:4-6) HAGAR FLEES. ?And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.? *Abram did what his wife suggested, and then got into trouble for listening to her, for he knew better. And what of Sarai? She hadn't really thought the thing through. Yet You still remained faithful to them, Father! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 16:9 (16:7-9) HAGAR AND THE ANGEL. ?And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.? *This was Your will, Father, for now You had a purpose for Ishmael too, as a contrast to Isaac. Our deviations with Ishmaels shall ever arise to haunt us. *Our :daily bread Give us this day.* *5. 16:11 (16:10-12) HAGAR: HER SON ISHMAEL PRENAMED. ?And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Behold, you are with child, and shall bear a son: and you shall call his name Ishmael, because Jehovah has heard your affliction.? *Ishmael is the first of eight men named before their birth! You have a purpose in all of this, Father. May we learn from this not to fall in disobedience, as did Abram. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 16:13 (16:13-14) HAGAR: YOU GOD SEE ME. ?And she called the name of Jehovah that spoke unto her, You are a God that sees: for she said, Have I even here looked after him that sees me?? *What a grievous scene. Here Father You show Yourself merciful to the needy: the orphan and the widow. Yes, You are a God of great deliverance! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 16:15-16. HAGAR: BARES ISHMAEL TO ABRAM. ?And Hagar bore Abram a son: and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 And Abram was 86 years old, when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.? *Evidently Hagar told Abram of the angelic visitation, and Abram obeyed the word of Jehovah in naming his firstborn. All of this is so much of You, Father! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: Dr. J. Vernon McGee initiated a five year cycle on Thru the Bible some time ago. He is now commencing the 9**th of these cycles.* *I ran across his plan in 1960 when it was then on a yearly basis. We had in various churches led out people in 3 plans for this project, but I was intrigued with a major difference in Dr. McGee's plan. He alternated an OT book with a NT book in his plan.* *I made a few adjustments in his plan by using the Hebrew order of OT books. Jesus used this same order as a Jew, and referred to it in the Gospel of Luke when He joined the two on the road to Emmaus and proved from the Law (Torah), Prophets (Neviim) and Writings (Kethuvim) the references to Himself as Messiah coming to die for our sins and be resurrected.* *Perhaps in 325 AD during the reign of Constantine - they changed this order to the present King James order - to try and rid themselves of the Jewishness of the Torah order. Replacement Theology!* *In the NT, I use the order of God's Bible Numerics as He allowed Russian Ivan Panin to discover this 3-fold field.* *To add a further devotional touch, I have removed Psalms and Proverbs from their normal order, planning a psalm a day for the first 5 months, Proverbs for the 6th, and repeating these two books for the second half of the year.* *One can't help but be amazed that Dr. McGee's Thru the Bible is heard in over 100 languages and dialects, and broadcast to over 200 countries. It is without a doubt one of the most listened to Christian radio programs in history.* *A further note on our JAN 11 Genesis 16 lesson on Abram and Ishmael. Much of the seven above points are self-explanatory. However, it is significant that Ishmael is the first of 8 individuals named prior to birth! * *In 2005 my wife Marie and I attended a two week Bible Conference on the top of Mt. Carmel conducted by David and Karen Davis. This was easily the outstanding Conference we have attended in Israel. By all means consider attending one of these conferences if you to desire to take in an outstanding conference in Israel. Dr. Davis, a Shakespearian actor and professor in New York - was converted to the Lord there, and mentored for 2 years by David Wilkerson. They have built a Messianic Jewish building on Mt. Carmel seating 1000, with Jews, Arabs and many other nations represented.* *They point out that when God chose Isaac, (the second of 8 prenamed Bible individuals) - to be the inheritor of His land and covenant - not Ishmael - that this has set up enmity between these two, that 4000 years later is still existent. One can understand why. This very chapter begins to lay the foundation for this understanding. J.A.W.* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Apr 12 11:49:15 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:49:15 -0700 Subject: Genesis 17-20 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 12, 2011 *JAN 12 - GENESIS 17-20 - THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT* *1. 17:5-6 (17:1-8) ABRAHAMIC COVENANT: CHANGE OF NAME. ?Neither shall your name any more be called Abram (exalted father), but your name shall be Abraham (father of a multitude); for the father of a multitude of nations have I made you. 6 And I will make you exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come out of you.? *How minutely and perfectly You brought to pass Your Word to Abraham Father. And one day Your invisible Kingdom, the New Jerusalem, will come down from heaven to earth! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 17:10 (17:9-17) ABRAHAMIC COVENANT: CIRCUMCISION. ?This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.? *A sign always marks the covenant: the sign of circumcision to this day marks the Abrahamic Covenant, though the Promise came prior to the law of circumcision. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 17:20 (17:18-27) ABRAHAM AND ISHMAEL. ?And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he father, and I will make him a great nation.? *How You honored Abraham, Father, though perhaps it was not for his own best good that he made this strong request. May we learn to be careful for what we ask. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 18:19 (18) ABRAHAM AND INTERCESSION. ?For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he has spoken of him.? *What confidence You had in Abraham, Father! It sounds like Your boast to Satan concerning Job! You knew that You had an intercessor in Abraham! *Our :daily bread Give us this day.* *5. 19:24 (19:1-25) SODOM DESTROYED. ?Then Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven.? *Sexual perversion is not inherited, but chosen: it is called ?*Abomination *before*Jehovah.? *Strengthen us in the face of such temptation. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 19:29 (19:26-38) LOT RESCUED. ?And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.? *Here is the fruit and power of intercession. Reveal to us Father, the importance of this ministry. Help us through a man like Rees Howells (Intercessor, by Norman P. Grubb). *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 20:9 (20) ABRAHAM: LAPSE WITH ABIMELECH. ?Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What have you done unto us? and in what have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? you have done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.? *After all of the preceding, Abraham still lapsed again! O show us Father, the frailty of flesh, and that only abiding in You can we find safety! * But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *Genesis 17 is the key chapter relating to the Abrahamic Covenant. Covenant proper has several ingredients connected with it that certifies the above, and eliminates both Genesis 12 and 15 as being contenders. First, Proper Covenant requires a change of name, which took place in Genesis 17 for Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah. The Hebrew letter ?Chet?, the letter of ?life? - was added to their names, and Isaac was conceived on this miraculous addition. Secondly, a *sign* accompanies true covenant, which is met in circumcision. Blood is also required, which also takes place through this sign. Gifts are normally exchanged at this time. God's gift to Abraham in promise at this time is extraordinary: fruitfulness in nations; the land of Canaan in perpetuity; Isaac's supernatural birth, when both parents were barren. Abraham's gift to God was a perfect walk. E.W. Kenyon in his ?Blood Covenant? spells out these conditions admirably. A curse normally accompanies the making of a covenant, spelling out the judgment should either side break the conditions. The very fact that the entire OT is a Covenant; and also the NT; speaks to us that God deals with both Israel and the Church in an everlasting covenant relationship. How can one walk then in relationship with God apart from full understanding of *Covenant* from God's point of view? 1896 BC is the year of the Abrahamic Covenant according to to God's Bible Numeric Chronology, and is here revealed as one of the three foremost dates in all of Bible history as God sees it. Immediately following the establishment of this extremely important Covenant, God leads Abraham into an Intercessory Mode - which is a model for both Israel and the Church for all time. Oswald Chambers counts * Intercession* as *the work* of both the individual and Corporate Bodies. Rees Howells exemplified this in an extraordinary way. George Muller saw prayer as our chief privilege and obligation before God. But though God spared Lot and his two daughters from the destruction of Sodom on the basis of Abraham's Intercession - yet Sodom and its pride and perverse homosexuality experienced a fiery judgment that *should* speak to cities, nations and individuals yet today. True marriage is established by God between male and female, *not* ?like? sexes, which is an abomination from God's point of view. Was Abraham perfect because he was now in Covenant relationship with God? Absolutely not! and neither are we - until the time of our Resurrection following the return of our Lord. At this point, many have entered into theological error. What Abraham did to Abimelech should be a serious warning to all of us. And 1 John 1:10 clearly spells out that if we deny sin in our lives, we make God a liar! God forbid that we enter into such error! J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Apr 13 09:34:52 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:34:52 -0700 Subject: Genesis 21-26 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 13, 2011 *JAN 13 -GENESIS 21-26 - ABRAHAM AND ISAAC* *1. 21:10 (21:1-21) ISAAC VERSUS ISHMAEL. ?Therefore Sarah said to Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son: for the son of this handmaid shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.?* This is one of the most serious pronouncements in the entire Bible. Not only did it grieve Abraham who fell into this trap because of listening to Sarah - but it was the beginning of the enmity that exists yet to this very day 4000 years later, between Jews and Arabs. Nevertheless, God Himself chose Isaac before Ishmael! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 21:33 (21:22-34) ABRAHAM: COVENANT WITH ABIMELECH. ?And Abraham planted a tamarind tree in Beersheba, and called there on the name of Jehovah, the Everlasting God.? *This planting of the grove followed the making of a covenant between Abimelech and Abraham, initiated by the latter because of the division between their respective servants over wells. This is a good way to settle divisions. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 22:14 (22:1-24) ABRAHAM: TRIAL OF HIS FAITH. ?And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh (Jehovah will see, or provide): as it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be provided.? **This* is one of the great compound names of Jehovah. At the angel's voice to spare Isaac, he then *saw* God's *provision* in the place of his son! Then see the extraordinary promise of God to Abraham for not sparing his son! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 23:19 (23:1-20) ABRAHAM: BURIES SARAH. ?And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (the same is Hebron, in the land of Canaan.? *Abraham purchased this field for this purpose. Notice the ?protocol? that took place between Abraham and Ephraim the Hittite in this purchase. We all could learn much in extending honor through protocol. It opens many doors. *Our :daily bread give us this day.* *5. 24:26-27 (24:1-67) ABRAHAM: ARRANGES ISAAC'S MARRIAGE. ?And the man bowed his head, and worshiped Jehovah. 27 And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his lovingkindness and his truth toward my master: and for me. Jehovah has led me in the way to the house of my master's brethren.? *The lessons of this chapter are rich indeed. Here we see the wisdom and faith of Abraham, plus the faith and faithfulness of his servant Eliezer. Rebekah is a true type of the bride of Christ; Isaac a type of Christ; and Eliezer a type of the Holy Spirit. See if you can spot the various examples of these types. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 25:21 (25:1-34) ABRAHAM'S DEATH: ESAU AND JACOB. And Isaac entreated Jehovah for his wife, because she was barren: and Jehovah was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.? *Isaac is a good example for husbands when a wife needs understanding. Jacob is a bad example when Rachel faced the same need as Rebekah. Let us as husbands be open to the needs of our wives, and seek the Lord on their behalf. *And bring us not into temptation. * *7. 26:2-3 (26:1-35) THE COVENANT: CONFIRMED WITH ISAAC. ?And Jehovah appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; live in the land which I shall tell you of: 3 sojourn in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for unto you and unto your seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore unto Abraham your father.? *What God promised unto Abraham, now unto his son Isaac the Lord confirms the same. Later he passes unto Jacob this same covenant. Then through Jacob's 12 sons came the 12 tribes and nation of Israel. So - this section, plus the whole book of Genesis is indeed a seed-plot laying out in germinal form all that follows in the rest of the Bible. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *When I looked for the Manuscript for this lesson which I had prepared in 1987, it was missing. Fortunately, I still had the Bible in which I had made a choice of the verses and Titles for the 52 weeks of lessons, plus the 366 daily devotions for this ?Through the Bible in a Year?. So I was enabled to reproduce the above lesson prepared some 24 years ago. It was a blessing to me as I reproduced it. I have already commented twice on the seriousness of God's choice of Isaac through Sarah over against Ishmael through Hagar. God never makes mistakes. The test for us as individual members of Adam's race - Will *we* * acknowledge* and *accept* the Sovereign right of our Sovereign God to make His Sovereign *choices* according to His own will? Or will the clay say to the Potter, What are you doing with me? Does not the Potter (God) have the Sovereign right to make and shape each one of us exactly according to *His*desire and will? He has chosen Israel as His special nation through Isaac. He has given her the right of His land from the Nile to the Euphrates. Does this bother the descendants of Ishmael, the nations, the Untied Nations and the United States? Evidently, Yes! Will this judgment change the will and purposes of God? Absolutely not! And when His Son - our Lord Jesus returns - we will see all the will and purposes of God brought to pass! Happy the man who has learned to say - Whatever pleases You, Lord - concerning me or anyone else - pleases *me*! I don't ask *anything* for myself except what *He* desires for me. I am continually amazed at what He chooses to put me into, and with whom He chooses to link me! It would never enter into my mind to ask or desire for His Sovereign choice on my behalf. There is a peace in this. Jesus as Son of Man walked this way for 33 years on earth. My prayer is that each of us may learn this same way of peace. An added note on ?Protocol?. I would like to recommend the book ?Warfare by Honor - The Restoration of Honor ... A Protocol Handbook? by Suuqiina and Quamaniq - ** . For what it's worth, in my estimation this is one of the most important books written in the last decade. One last note - There is much controversy over the right approach to the name of our God. Ivan Panin in his day believed that the version ASV '01 was the closest to God's Bible Numerics. C.T. Studd used this as his favorite translation in his day. In the Introduction to this version, the American translators give a lengthy explanation why they chose the name ?Jehovah? above all others. I tend to side with them. However, this is one of those choices that fit the Moravian Proverb: ?In essentials, *unity*; in non-essentials, *tolerance*; in all things, *charity* or love. I count this choice in the second category, so can fellowship with others who prefer another choice. J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Apr 14 10:20:55 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2011 10:20:55 -0700 Subject: Genesis 27-36 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 14, 2011 *JAN 14 - GENESIS 27-36 - JACOB AND ESAU* *1. 27:35-36a (27:1-28:9) JACOB: STEALS A BLESSING. ?And he said, Your brother came with guile, and has taken away your blessing. 36a And he said, Is he not rightly named Jacob for he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he has taken away my blessing.? *This is not an example of Kingdom principles: this is the heritage of Adam at work before Jabbok and a change of nature and name! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 29:20, 23 (28:10-29:30) JACOB: MEETS HIS MATCH. ?And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.? *Poetic justice! The boomerang returns! Cheat a brother and it will return upon your own head. Father, we would be as Israel, after Jacob was transformed. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 30:22-24 (29:31-30:26) JACOB'S FAMILY. ?And God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her, and opened her womb. 23 and she conceived, and bore a son: and said, God has taken away my reproach: 24 and she called his name Joseph, saying, Jehovah add to me another son.? *Now comes the son of the right mother! Not Ishmael, but Isaac; not Esau, but Jacob; not the ten half brothers, but Joseph. Father, we bless You for Your Sovereign choices. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 31:13 (30:27-31:55) JACOB: LOOKED AFTER BY GOD. ?I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow unto me: now arise, get out from this land, and return unto the land of your nativity.? *We have not because we ask not. But if our ways please You Father, and we ask, then You meet our needs abundantly above all we can ask or think. We need to come to You with *all* our needs. *Our :daily bread give us this day.* *5. 32:28 (32-33) JACOB: RECONCILED TO ESAU. ?And he said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.? *Through the temptation of Esau upon Jacob, which Your arranged Father, You pressured Jacob into a situation which transformed him into an Israel! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 34:30 (34-35) JACOB'S TROUBLES IN CANAAN. ?And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, You have troubled me, to make me odious to the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and strike me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.? *Jacob heard a word from the desire of Satan from the second heaven; but You Father, overturned it, and confirmed Your will from the third heaven! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 36:9-10a (36) SONS OF EDOM. ?And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir: 10a these are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau.? *Could this be the chief of Job's comforters? Esau became strong in Edom and Petra, but through Israel, You Father, demonstrated Your power! * But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *The life of Jacob is quite revealing. Until he wrestled with the angel of Jehovah and received a change of name - we see a somewhat conniving type of person. He had to flee from his brother Esau for twice cheating him out of what normally would have been the portion of the firstborn. Had you realized that Jacob was 77 years of age when he set out to find for himself a wife? The Bible records that the 7 years Jacob worked for Laban to receive his daughter Rachel as his wife - were as but a few days for the great love he had for her! Then through the trickery of Laban his relative, he had to work 14 years for his two wives, plus six more years for his wages. And - Laban changed his wages 10 times during these 6 years! God by a dream showed Jacob how to come out fairly. So - what Jacob did to Esau - Laban more than requited Jacob! Naphtali, one of Jacob's 12 sons, means ?wrestling.? The life of this son illustrates his name, and reveals that ?rest? comes in the midst of w*rest*ling! But when his father Jacob wrestled with the angel - and prevailed unto the changing of his name from ?cheat - Jacob? to Israel - ?Prince with God? - this indeed shows the necessity of putting our best foot forward if we are to prevail and enter into the fullness of the blessings of God. An apathetic posture will *never* prevail. The Kingdom of God suffers violence - and the violent take it be force! So though we have the promises of God, it takes ?importunity? to bring these promises to pass. Luke 11, 18 and Daniel 10, are 3 chapters that illustrate most clearly the necessity of an importunate spirit. Like a bull-dog, don't let go till you obtain! *This* was the spirit of Winston Churchill concerning Hitler and Nazism. When William Carey sought cooperation from Christian leaders of England concerning India, they told him that if God wanted to do something for India, He wouldn't need the help of a William Carey seeking to do his part - He would do it *all* by Himself! Wrong! - God moves into partnership with each one of us - and what He promises - he expects *us* to do our part in pressing in to realize such promises. We can ?go to seed? concerning the Sovereignty of God! We must not at the same time neglect ?the responsibility? of man. One Negro pastor put it this way - ?I just go ahead and believe as if everything depended on the Lord - and then I just go ahead and work as if everything depended on me!? This may not fit every person's theology, but in essence it is solidly rooted in the teachings of the Bible. Many other lessons are available in these 10 chapters of Genesis. God's Bible to us through 33 writers is a rich source of hidden ore or oil. In Texas at one time - it took wise men who could tell where this hidden treasure might be found. Then it took persistence in drilling until such treasures could be retrieved. Just so it is with the treasures in the Word of God. Full discipleship and meditation are two of the necessary conditions to successful spiritual mining. J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Apr 15 10:12:52 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:12:52 -0700 Subject: Genesis 37-47 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 15, 2011 *JAN 15 - GENESIS 37-47 - JACOB AND JOSEPH* *1. 37:28 (37) JOSEPH: SOLD INTO EGYPT. ?And there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt.?* Jacob *petted* Joseph; his 10 half-brothers out of jealousy *pitted* him; Potiphar because of his wife's lies, *potted* him; but Pharaoh by revelation *putted* him next to him on the throne. This was of Your Sovereign doing, Father. (The above alliteration is by Kelley Varner, and though perhaps not euphonious, it still is theologically sound!) *Hallowed be Your Name.* *2. 38:10 (38) JUDAH: HIS SHAME. ?And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and he slew him also.? *And yet Father, it was through this line that Christ was born! You make all things work together for good, even out of that which is from man's weakness in the flesh! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 41:41, 44b (39-41) JOSEPH: TESTED AND EXALTED. ?And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt. 44b I am Pharaoh, and without you shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.? *Father, for seven years You met all the needs of Egypt through Joseph. You did it through visions and dreams for Egypt. You are no respecter of persons, and will do it for us today! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 43:30-31 (42:1-44:17) JOSEPH: HOLDS SELF INCOGNITO FROM BROTHERS. ?And Joseph made haste; for his heart yearned over his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. 31 And he washed his face, and came out; and he refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.? *The heart of Joseph to Benjamin - is the heart of Jesus towards us! O forgive us for not exhibiting this heart to enemies and to one another. *Our :daily bread give us this day.* *5. 45:5 (44:18-45:28) JOSEPH: BRINGS BROTHERS TO FULL REPENTANCE. ?And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here: for God did send me before you to preserve life.? *Father, You did not tempt Joseph and his brothers above what they were able to bear, but through it worked out great salvation! How we do bless You for being such a great God as You are! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 46:2-4 (46:1-47:26) JOSEPH: SAVIOR FOR ISRAEL AND EGYPT. ?And God spoke unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. 3 And he said, I am God, the God of your father: do not fear to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation: 4 I will go down with you into Egypt; and I will also surely bring you up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon your eyes.? *In all of Jacob's trials, You were present, Father! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 47:29 (47:27-31) JACOB AND JOSEPH. ?And the time drew near that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found favor in your sight, put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh, and deal! kindly and truly with me: bury me not, I pray you, in Egypt.? *Jacob trusted the oath of his son Joseph. Father, we trust Your word the same way! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *There is seldom a dry eye when one reads this portion of Scripture relating to Joseph making himself known to his 11 brothers. But just think when Jesus upon His return makes Himself known to His former rejecting brothers the Jews! Zechariah 12:10-14. There is a distinct parallel between these two occurrences. And Joseph as a strong type of Jesus - has so many parallels with the One coming as his Antitype! Imagine the shock of his brethren, when they found the little brother who they sold into Egypt - had *now become* second only to Pharaoh himself in this great land! They had little hope for the future. But just as Joseph forgave them, so our Lord Jesus will forgive Israel upon His return, and they with Him will become the leading nation over the whole face of the earth! What an embarrassment that day will be to all remaining nations on earth! And - just as Joseph led his 10 half brothers to full repentance, so our Lord Jesus will bring the remnant of Israel to a similar full repentance! For - this is the first of the necessary foundation truths listed in Hebrews 6:-2. And without a *full* and sincere repentance - a ?change of mind,? all the blessings of the Gospel cannot flow. Look again at the 6 conditional steps of the above two verses - and then note that the seventh step is ?going on? to perfection. The preliminary foundations are but the prerequisite for the rearing up of the edifice. And - as Joseph was Savior not only of the new-forming nation of Israel - but *also* of Egypt and neighboring nations who came down to Egypt for help in the 7 years of famine - so - our Lord Jesus is not only coming as a blessing to restore Israel at His Second Coming - but also as a blessing to all nations of the earth who like Israel repent and receive Him as God's appointed King of kings and Lord of lords for the whole earth. And lastly, though Joseph was as Pharaoh himself, yet as son of Jacob, he humbled himself to promise and fulfill his father's dying wishes - so Jesus at His Cross honored His mother by turning her over to the care of John - and will continue at His return to honor His Heavenly Father in all His wishes - just as He did as a perfect servant to His Father during His 33 years upon earth as the Son of :man. So *much* in these eleven chapters! So rich in lessons and insights! See how much more the Holy Spirit will quicken to you as you meditate upon this Scripture portion. J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Apr 16 17:01:52 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:01:52 -0700 Subject: Genesis 48-50 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 16, 2011 *JAN 16 - GENESIS 48-50 - JACOB'S BLESSINGS* *1. 48:1 (48:1-2) JOSEPH: VISITS JACOB. ?And it came to pass after these things, that one said to Joseph, Behold, your father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim? (ASV '01). *What filial devotion Joseph had to his father Jacob, even though he was lord of the land of Egypt! Father, we give ourselves to You with this same spirit of devotion. * Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 48:5 (48:3-7) EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH. ?And now your two sons, who were born unto you in the land of Egypt, before I came unto you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, shall be mine.? *Here comes the double blessing of the firstborn upon Joseph instead of Reuben. O may we not like Reuben forfeit our blessing, but walk a walk that will retain what You Father, have properly given us! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 48:14 (48:8-20) JACOB: BLESSES JOSEPH'S SONS. ?And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, crossing his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the first-born.? *Your provisions, Father are always right! In Your Sovereignty, You may place our younger above our elder! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 48:21-22 JOSEPH'S PORTION. ?And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God will be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.? *See the promise of the land yet to be fulfilled! See the blessing of God upon faithfulness in persecution and suffering! *Our :daily* *bread give us this day.* *5. 49:28 (49:1-28) ISRAEL: BLESSES HIS SONS AND TRIBES. ?All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spoke unto them and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.? *The 12 sons became 12 tribes, each one representing one of the 12 gates of the New Jerusalem. The 12 apostles will one day sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes. They could be the 24 elders in the book of Revelation. In Christ, neither Jew nor Gentile! O Father, hold us steady in Your truth! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 49:33 (49:29-50:13) JACOB: HIS END. ?And when Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the spirit, and was gathered unto his people.? *This is the fitting honor due to a passing patriarch, a father in Israel. His dying wishes were observed. Egypt participated in honoring his death. Father, in this You were honored in Your servant. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 50:25 (50:14-26) JOSEPH: HIS END. ?And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.? *Now the patriarch and prophet Joseph speaks, and his wishes too were fulfilled. When our ways please You Father, You make even our enemies to be at peace with us! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *The forgiveness of Joseph towards his 10 sinning half brothers - brings us forward to Jesus on the Cross forgiving His own people the Jews, who through their leaders, led in His crucifixion. And what prepared Joesph's heart to be such a type in forgiveness for his coming Lord? One clue is through the birth of his firstborn Manasseh, which means ?forgetfulness?. The joy of the coming of this little son helped him to * forget* the bitterness of his past, as he dandled him upon his knee. Just think of his reception for his brothers - had they arrived prior to the birth of Manasseh! Manasseh also stands for the reality of inner healing, which likewise took place at this time of *forgetfulness*. Then it was proper for Ephraim - fruitfulness - to arrive. But we cannot be fruitful until *first* we deal with the bitterness of the past! Then we cannot fail to notice how Jacob in his sightlessness was led to cross his hands and put the blessing of the firstborn upon Ephraim, the second born! And when the father Joseph remonstrated - Jacob soothed him by revealing that he was aware of what he was doing - but that his action was initiated by *God*, not himself.! This immediately calmed the upset of Joseph, so that he could accept the will of God in this instance, even as the same was revealed concerning his father Jacob the youngest and his uncle Esau, the elder. God is God! We must *all* be prepared to understand and accept the Sovereignty of God in our circumstances - to upset such circumstances from * our* point of view - and to do instead what lines up with *His* hidden wisdom! Then Jacob reveals to his son Joseph the deep understanding God had for him in his rejection and suffering! To bring to reality God's purposes of blessing on Joseph's behalf, Jacob adopts as his own sons Ephraim and Manasseh, giving Joseph a *double-portion* in Israel! Jacob then called his 12 sons together, and prophetically proclaims over them God's projected pattern for each one according to the Sovereign will of God. These in turn line up with the prophetic words of Moses over the 12 tribes of Israel in Deuteronomy 33. And *now* Jacob nears his end. He leads Joseph to promise to bury him in his own promised land by his covenant God, which Joseph and Egypt did. Then Joseph drew from the people of Israel their promise to bring his bones with them when God delivers them from Egypt - and bury him in the land of his fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So - Genesis starts out with creation and life in the Garden of Eden, and ends up with an embalmed body in the land of Egypt! J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Apr 17 16:33:31 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:33:31 -0700 Subject: Portland, Oregon report Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 17, 2011 *Pilot Prayer Team News - 2011-04-17* *Portland, Oregon Report from 2011-04-17* *Elvin Gladney and I had an interesting meeting in Portland. Good results - helpful insights. Glenn & Cynthia Palmatier of Portland hosted a one day conference with Elvin and myself as speakers and expediters to see the City Church and Presbytery in the Gate - take place in Portland.* *Moses Lake Conference earlier in the year sparked the vision for this to take place.* *Some 50 or so met in the afternoon from Portland and regions about - and it seemed some 80-100 at night.* *The 7 Component Parts of God's Laser Telescope to operate in His Spiritual Star Wars was a significant emphasis, plus the 9-power enablements to make the above operate. Also the significance and importance of all the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles to be brought to maturity as a key ingredient, plus Prayer Multiplication based on Covenant. Look at our Website: < www.2rbetter.org> and click on ?Archives? to find articles containing these outlines.* *The Outlined Interlinear Greek New Testament for Laymen seemed to be a strong target that the Holy Spirit emphasized* *Then the Lord led Elvin to close with the same format we used at Cultus Lake, BC, for the ?Prayer Canada? National Conference in March. All those desiring to be a part of God's goal for Portland and surrounding cities and towns were all prayed for. We had 2 lines led by Elvin and me to pass through, and be prayed for with laying on of hands. A strong sense of the presence of the Lord was there, and a sense also that God had made break-through, and that fruit would come from this day.* *However, Elvin felt strongly that just as our Pilot Prayer Team of 8 here in Metropolitan Seattle/Tacoma is a strong necessity for God's goals to be achieved - so in other cities like Portland - first a Pilot Prayer Team with a nucleus of 8 to represent the same number of local churches in that city - would be needed to pray into being a functioning city church with a functioning Eldership in the Gate - as in Acts 13:1-3 for the City Church of Antioch.* *If all of us who read this undergird this insight, I believe with Eldon that we can see the multiplication of Pilot Prayer Teamls in cities, followed by functioning City Churches with Elderships (Presbyteries) in the Gate of each of these cities.* *Easy? Not at all. It will take a Romans 6 experience for all of us - baptized with Jesus into His death - but also risen with Him in Holy Spirit Resurrection Power! This is the key to God's strategy.* *I will be sharing this spiritual warfare concept in June in Abbotsford and Courtney BC. We will again be depending on the undergirding of Intercessory believers praying according to the above concepts - to see the fruit that God desires, and that we can allow Him to produce through us! It is not what we do for Him! It is what we allow Him to do through us! J.A.W.* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Apr 19 18:49:51 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:49:51 -0700 Subject: Psalm 1-41 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 19, 2011 *JAN 17 - PSALM 1-41 - MAN AND GENESIS* *1. 1:2 (1) GOD'S BLESSING UPON MAN. ?But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; and on his law does he meditate day and night? (ASV - '01). *Father, You have blessed us in a special way by the gift of Your Word. O may we treasure it, count it as precious, and draw prosperity and success from it, as did Joshua (1:8)! *Hallowed be Your Name.* *2. 5:11 (2-7) GOD APPRAISES MAN'S FALLEN ESTATE. ?But let all those that take refuge in you rejoice, Let them ever shout for joy, because you defend them: Let them also that love your name be joyful in you.? *We will rejoice, we will shout for joy, we will be joyful in You. We take the Holy Spirit's words through David, and appropriate them for ourselves. You correctly know our estate, therefore we safely rest in You. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 12:6 (8-15) GOD POINTS THE WAY OUT. ?The words of Jehovah are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, Purified seven times.? *Yes, by Your Word, O Father. You speak to us. As George Muller of old, we will praise-pray it back to You. We know full well that You are in Your Word, and this is the way out. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 16:7 (16-21) GOD PRAISED FOR DELIVERANCE. ?I will bless Jehovah, who has given me counsel; Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.? *Father, it is You Who holds us back from evil, and delivers us from danger. You do it by dreams in the night season. Your faithfulness is past finding out. We are humbled by Your insights and we lean hard on You! * **Our :daily bread Give us this day.* *5. 22:28 (22-24) GOD PROVIDES A SAVIOR. ?For the kingdom is Jehovah's; And he is the ruler over the nations.? *And why, Father, do You rule so widely? You have worked plenteous redemption, and taken upon Yourself the right to rule, for You are Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and Lover of our souls! You are our Shield, and Armor, and the Preserver from all unnecessary testing! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 34:1 (25-34) GOD'S REDEMPTION IN MESSIAH (CHRIST). ?I will bless Jehovah at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.? *This shall become habitual with us: for You Father, inhabit the praises of Israel. Lord Jesus - we enthrone you! We proclaim You our King! Standing here in the midst of us, We lift You up with our praise. And as we worship, build a throne; Come Lord Jesus, and take Your place! * And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 41:1 (35-41) GOD CAUSES TRIUMPH OVER OUR ENEMIES. ?Blessed is he that considers the poor: Jehovah will deliver him in the day of evil.? * Father, those who are merciful shall obtain mercy. Those who harden their hearts against the cry of the needy; shall not be heard in the day of trouble. How just You are in all Your ways! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *These first 41 Psalms are linked by the Jews with the book of Genesis, the first book of Moses, and connected with the Torah or Teaching. Just as Genesis lays a foundation for the rest of the Bible as its Seed-plot - so these 41 Psalms lay the foundation for the rest of the Book of Psalms and the Old Covenant: Law (Torah) - Prophets (Neviim) - and Writings (Kethuvim). This is the Hebrew order; this is the order in which our Lord Jesus as a Jew read them. See the end of Luke and how He used this order in revealing Himself to the two on the road to Emmaus. There first 41 psalms are primarily written by David, and many prophetically are Messianic - that is - they point forward to Jesus, David's Greater Son! David is called by God - ?A man after My own heart!? David had a heart completely after God! Was he perfect? no more than you or I! He like us awaits the Resurrection at the time of the return of our Lord, when we too with him receive our resurrected body. Jesus alone at this time is the first fruits from the dead - in the sense that He has the Resurrection Body of the One New Man. But as He as Head is first to partake of the New Creation - then we in turn as members of His body will receive a body like His at that time. *This* is the *Blessed Hope*. From the time the Spirit of God came upon David after leaving King Saul, he started writing and singing half the Psalms of this Book. Samuel by the Word of the Lord anointed David as king as the eighth son of Jesse, while he was yet a shepherd boy. It was while yet a lad that he killed Goliath, before he had reached full manhood. Look at Psalm 22, and see how David foresaw our Suffering Savior at His first coming. He came *then* to die redemptively for your sins and mine. He will return triumphantly as Judge for both the righteous to apportion out awards - and for the wicked to righteously consign them to hell with the Satan whom they have chosen. One third of the angels fell from heaven with Satan for choosing him, and shall *further* fall to the lake of fire prepared for them with Satan. It was *not* prepared for man - but when man * chooses* to side with Satan, then they with him share his fate! Paul the apostle so effectively set these truths forth, that Governor Felix of Rome trembled! In these 41 Psalms David recounts the wonders of creation, the fall of man, and the beginnings of God's Redemptive processes. Because of this, these Psalms accord with the book of Genesis, and mightily glorify You, O Father! We will use these Psalms to lead us into spontaneous praise and prayer! J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Apr 20 08:46:34 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:46:34 -0700 Subject: Genesis 1-11 - Overview Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 20, 2011 *JAN 3-9 - GENESIS 1-11 - OVERVIEW * ?*THE SEED-PLOT OF THE BIBLE?* *JAN 3. 1:1; 2:2 (1-2, ASV '01) GOD AND CREATION. ?In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2:2 And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.? *How great You are, O great Jehovah! There is no God like You. In Messiah and His Church, Your fullness dwells. *Hallowed be your :name.* *JAN 4. 3:17 (3) ADAM AND THE FALL. ?And unto Adam he (God) said, Because you have hearkened unto the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for you sake; in toil shall you eat of it all the days of your life.? * The last Adam, Jesus, did not fail this way - tempted, but without sin. *Your :kingdom come.* *JAN 5. 4:8 (4) CAIN AND ABEL. ?And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.? *We too can permit a murderous rising within us. We choose to identify these lusts with Messiah on His cross, and look to You Father, for deliverance. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *JAN 6. 5:3; 22a; 24b (5) ENOCH AND ADAM'S DESCENDANTS. ?And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: 22a and Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, 24b And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.? *Let this spirit of Enoch motivate us each one, O Lord! Our walk will be as his walk. *Our :daily :bread, Give us this day.* *JAN 7. 6:17-18a (6-9) NOAH: FLOOD AND COVENANT. ?And I, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is in the earth shall die. 18a But I will establish my covenant with you.? *O Father, it is through Your *covenant* that we prevail. We put upon ourselves Your armor, Christ Jesus (Ephesians 6:10-20). *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *JAN 8. 10:25 (10) PELEG AND GENEALOGIES. ?And unto Ever were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.? *Thank You Father, for protecting us from the Nimrods! Thank You for raising up the Pelegs to offset Babel. *And bring us not into temptation.* *JAN 9. 11:9 (11) THE BABEL CRISIS. ?Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because Jehovah did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did Jehovah scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.? *There is no God like You, Father, and Your Name is Jehovah. Man's rebellion is puny in Your sight. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *Genesis is one of the most important portions of the Bible. Good pedagogy states that because of the law of first reference, we usually find the key definition here. Do we want to understand God's thinking and His mind on a matter? Then we need to consider the law of first reference. The seven days of creation stated here, unfold God's mind on this subject. ?The Case for a Creator? by Lee Strobel, Zondervan, 2004 - is an account of one man's journey from atheism and Darwinian Evolution to a marvelous balance of understanding between Science and God. Though the Bible is not a text book on science - yet when it touches upon science - then it and true science do not disagree. Unfortunately, many scientists are so caught up on their theories, that they are unable to clearly understand *true* science. It is much in a parallel sense how liberals, modernists and humanists are so caught up in secularism and whatever is against God and the Bible and His Son, that they are unable to receive truth when it is positively and rationally presented. Lee Strobel had a shock when his wife became a believer in God, His Bible and His Son. He made an honest search as an attorney and a Journalist to reevaluate his teen-age secular decision. He contacted 100 leading scientists who found a harmony between science and the Bible. At the end of his pilgrimage, he received the truth that the God of the Bible and true science are in harmony. Note that it is important for so-called scientists to recognize that there is a *true* science, and a science falsely so-called! Honest searchers after truth must be prepared to receive truth when it is clearly and cogently presented - and then make necessary adjustments. Many have done so like Lee Strobel. Many are too caught up in man-made theories to be able to recognize truth when it is honestly presented. It is amazing how much of Biblical unfolding of truth all begins here in Genesis. All true Judaeo-Christian revelation begins here. The Jews see the 5 books of Moses (not the Documentary Hypothesis as set forth by unbelieving Modernists) as the basis for all true humanitarian teaching and understanding of God. They divide this portion they call ?Torah? - or teaching - into 54 portions, and annually according to the lunar year starting at the Feast of Tabernacles, fully follow it through. A number of Gentile believers who wish to understand their Jewish Roots more accurately, attend for a while Messianic Jewish Congregations. Over 15,000 Jews in Israel have returned to this faith of their fathers. Many orthodox Jews are of the same spirit as the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus day, and severely persecute them. These ?Outlines? on our Website follow the order of the Torah readings. It is in the grace and mercy of God that He raised up Ivan Panin and Bible Numerics Discovery. It too fully accords with true science, and is the basis for our Website. We invite you to explore his Interlinear Greek Numeric Outlined New Testament, and the Greek Word Studies also based on his discoveries. Finally, in Chapter 3 of Strobel, ?Doubts About Darwinism,? he quotes Larry Hatfield in Science Digest - ?Scientists who utterly reject evolution may be one of our fastest-growing controversial minorities. ... Many of the scientists supporting this position hold impressive credentials in science.? There were one hundred of them that Lee Strobel interviewed: biologists, chemists, zoologists, physicists, anthropologists, molecular and cell biologists, bioengineers, organic chemists, geologists, astro-physicists, and other scientists. Their doctorates came from such prestigious universities as Cambridge, Stanford, Cornell, Yale, Rutgers, Chicago, Princeton, Purdue, Duke, Michigan, Syracuse, Temple, and Berkeley. They included professors from Yale Graduate School, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tulane, Rice, Emory, George Mason, Lehigh, and the Universities of California, Washington, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Ohio, Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Georgia, New Mexico, Utah, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. Among them was the director of the Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry and scientists at the Plasma Physics Lab at Princeton, the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institute, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the Lawrence Livermore Laboratories. Their statement was direct and defiant. ?We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life,? they said. ?Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged.? These were not narrow-minded fundamentalists, backwoods West Virginia protesters, or rabid religious fanatics - just respected, world-class scientists like Nobel nominee Henry F. Schaefer, the third most-cited chemist in the world; James Tour of Rice University's Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology; and Fred Figworth, professor of cellular and molecular physiology at Yale Graduate School. Think how the above influenced Lee Strobel. Think how it could influence you and me and our friends. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Apr 21 09:16:48 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:16:48 -0700 Subject: Psalms - Overview Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 21, 2011 *JAN 17-23 - PSALMS - OVERVIEW - THE HYMN BOOK OF THE BIBLE* *JAN 17. 1:2-3 (1-41, ASV '01) MAN AND GENESIS. ?But his delight is in the teaching of Jehovah; And on his teaching does he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also does not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.? *By Your Spirit and through Your Word, Your Lordship comes through, Father. Be glorified in our lives! *Hallowed be your :name.* *JAN 18. 49:15 (42-72) DELIVERANCE AND EXODUS. ?But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol. For he will receive me. Selah.? *You, O Father, redeemed Israel from Egypt; You redeemed the Church from the world, Satan and the flesh. We will walk in Your Redemption. *Your :kingdom come.* *JAN 19. 77:13 (73-89) SANCTUARY AND LEVITICUS. ?Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary: Who is a great god like unto God?? *Yes, in your *Sanctuary* we learn Your thinking, and Your purposes, O Father. Here we see the end of the wicked and the transitoriness of our present pilgrim walk. We rest in Your Covenant and promises. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *JAN 20. 90:12 (90-106) WANDERING AND NUMBERS. ?So teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom.? *We are mortal, weak, and dependent upon You, Father. In Your mercy you remember our frame, that we are but dust. Because You have been so gracious to us in the Redemption in Christ, from You we find it in our hearts to extend mercy to our fellow man. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *JAN 21. 110:3 (107-150) THANKSGIVING AND DEUTERONOMY. ?Your people offer themselves willingly In the day of your power, in holy array: Out of the womb of the morning You have the dew of your youth.? *Daily Father, we put You as our armor upon our spirit and body. We daily present our bodies as living sacrifices and take up our cross, as an act of faith. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *JAN 22. 22:1 (22-24) THE LIFE OF MESSIAH. ?My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?? *Father, You delivered Jesus our Messiah from His enemies: Satan, death and evil men. Resurrection transcended crucifixion. You did it for our Head, and you will do it for us! *And bring us not into temptation.* *JAN 23. 119:14 (119:1-176) GLORY AND GOD'S WORD. ?I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, As much as in all riches.? *Yes, our hearts are full at Your marvelous workings on our behalf through Messiah, O Father! Your Word outlines Your mind and purpose concerning Your redemption on our behalf. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE*: Bible students through the years - both Jews and non Jews - have seen the correlation between the 5 books of Moses and the 5 sections of the Psalms as indicated above. It is both our enrichment and a joy to read a Psalm a day for five months, and a chapter of Proverbs a day for the sixth. And then to repeat this for the last half of the year. It is a marvelous way to start the day off early in the morning. Dr. J. Vernon McGee read and taught through the Bible in a year by alternating an Old Testament Book - reading it completely through, and then a New Testament Book. We have adapted his plan, with the innovation of taking Psalms and Proverbs out of the regular order, and inserting one each day as noted above. Our Reading Guide, ?Through the Bible in a Year? sets this forth, with approximately 3 chapter a day for the alternating books. David wrote approximately half of the book of Psalms, and Levites with Moses wrote the rest. Samuel and David led the Levites in using the Psalms for the worship of Israel in the Temple and for the great Feast Days Note how David sometimes started out a Psalm in a somewhat depressed mood - but invariably as he meditated on God and His great mercies - he ended up in victory and praise! May the Book of Psalms be so for us also! May it daily cause us to enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving - and into His Courts with Praise. May it lead us too to be thankful unto Him, and to bless His Name! J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Apr 22 09:25:11 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 09:25:11 -0700 Subject: Psalm 42-72 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 22, 2011 *JAN 18 - PSALM 42-72 - DELIVERANCE AND EXODUS* *1. 42:3 (42-43) PSALMS OF RUIN AND DESPAIR. ?Oh send out your light and your truth; let them lead me: Let them bring me unto your holy hill, And to your tabernacles? (ASV '01) *Except You, O Father, had rescued us from our hopeless estate, we would have been lost indeed. But by Your truth You have brought us to Zion, Your holy hill. Today and tomorrow, shine through us! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 49:15 (44-50) PSALMS OF MIGHTY DELIVERANCE. ?But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; For he will receive me. Selah.? *Who is a God like unto You, O Father? Hell has no terrors for us because of You! And You will be our God for all the ages. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 51:17 (51-55) PSALMS OF DEFEAT AND HARDSHIP. ?The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.? *The way of the transgressor is hard. The sinning saint, like David, is plunged into despair. But You, O Father, regard contrition and repentance! You grant forgiveness and restoration. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 62:8 (56-64) PSALMS OF PERSECUTION. ?Trust in him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.? *What an outpouring of love, devotion and praise You desire for us, O Father! And what good and joy it brings to our souls when we do so! *Our :daily bread give us this day.* *5. 66:18-19 (65-68) PSALMS OF PRAISE AND TRIUMPH. ?If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear: 19 But truly God has heard; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.? *God's word is actually God speaking to us. We highly regard You and Your Word, O Father! You have magnified Your word above all Your Name. Let us not as believers deceive ourselves and say, You hear when we deliberately sin! This is the enemy's lie contrary to You and Your Word! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 69:10 (69-71) PSALMS OF PRAYER AND PRAISE. ?When I wept, and chastenedmy soul with fasting, That was to my reproach.? *Fasting chastens our soul, O Father; humbles us and brings a contrite heart! Then we find a deeper cleansing and forgiveness, and move in higher joy and gladness! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 72:8 (72) PSALM FOR SOLOMON. ?He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River unto the ends of the earth.? *Father, You are a greater than Solomon. His literal dominion was limited; Your dominion will be unlimited: the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of You, Father, and Your Christ! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *As the deer pants after the water brooks, so pants our soul after You, O Father. Our youths will seek You, and our children too. Early in the morning we will seek You. You alone, O Father, satisfies our thirsty souls! It is in the Book of Exodus that we find the basis for the celebration of the Lord's Supper - even in the Passover Seder - for *Jesus* is our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7). Many Western churches celebrate with our Jewish friends this feast. The 7 Feasts of Leviticus 23 including Passover - are called the Feasts of the *Lord*! They are *His* Feasts primarily, which He gave to Israel to celebrate, and with the birth of the Church, The ?One New Man? composed of both Jew and Gentile. Then the latter who are grafted into their Jewish Roots, have all the benefits of Abraham also! And has the church replaced Israel? Not at all! In Romans 11 the apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Uncircumcision, we Gentiles - clearly points out the Wisdom of our God. Temporarily He has placed a Sovereign blindness upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes into His Kingdom. *Then* He will lift this blindness of His chosen nation, which under Christ our Jewish Messiah - will become head nation, of the earth during our Savior's Millennial Reign. So the great deliverance Israel experienced under Moses from Pharaoh and Egypt, is a picture - a type - of what God is doing for the Church - composed of Jew and Gentile. God in the 7 points below given to Dr. Daniel Juster - brings comfort and encouragement to our souls. Through the 10 plagues on Egypt, the Passover, and the Crossing of the Red sea, we find a 7 point key to place upon the book of Revelation. This opens this book with a clear understanding for us in these last days. 1. *Preparation for God's people* - Revelation 2-3 - Letters to the 7 churches! Jesus words to these 7 churches only are a help to those who have ears to hear what His Spirit is saying to these seven churches. These words will prepare God's people for His Revelation to follow. Just as Joseph protected Israel in Egypt while he was alive. 2. *God's People Protected*! Just as God protected Israel in *Goshen* from the plague of ?flies? to the end of the plagues, so He will raise up *little Goshens* for His people in these last days. See Revelation 4:7; 10-11 3. *Plagues - on World-wide Egypt* - a picture of our world - world-wide - Revelation 5-6; 8-9; 15-18 4. *Antichrist - the Last-day Pharaoh!* - Revelation 12-13 5. * Exodus through the Glory-cloud* - Revelation 14:14-16 - for us - just as God delivered Israel through the Red Sea by Moses, a picture of Christ, and His rescue of His people through this supernatural way. 6. *Antichrist - drowned in the wrath of God* - 19:11-21-20:3; 2l-22, just as Pharaoh and his hosts were drowned in the Red Sea. 7. *Entrance into the Promised Land* - 19:1-10; 20:4; 21-22; just as God through Moses, and then Joshua (another type of Christ) drove out the 7 Canaanite nations, and planted Israel there according to His faithful promise. This has been a help to me, and I share it with you that it might be a help in the midst of the welter of interpretations that surround this last Bible book. Still - difficult or not - it is the *only* book of the 66 books of the Bible - that God promises to the reader a blessing for reading! So Psalm 42-72 - linked with the Book of Exodus by our Jewish friends - stands before us today as the Revelation of Jesus Christ sent by His angel to the apostle John - to give us in the church - both Jew and Gentile - strong confidence in our God. He will cause all things to work out together for good to those of us who love Him, and called according to *His* purpose! J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Apr 23 09:24:29 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 09:24:29 -0700 Subject: Psalm 73-89 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 23, 2011 * DAY 19 - PSALM 73-89 - SANCTUARY AND LEVITICUS* *1. 73:21-22 (73) FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD: NOT FOR THE WICKED. ?For my soul was grieved, And I was pricked in my heart: 21 So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before you.? *How good it is for us to receive a correct appraisal of ourselves! If we walk in the flesh, and judge evil men according to our natural judgment, we are deceived. We choose to believe Your revelation about all things! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 77:13 (74-77) FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD: THROUGH JUDGMENT AND MERCY. ?Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary: Who is a great god like unto God?? *In Your house we find meaning to life. Here we find answers to our questions. Here the 5-fold ministry adjusts Your Body. You really do it through them (Matthew 16:18)! You alone are great! *Bend us*, O Father. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 78:72 (78) FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD: ILLUSTRATED BY ISRAEL. *?*So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.? *Father, this is Your wonderful service on our behalf, even when we are unworthy: especially when we are unworthy! We deserve not the least of Your mercies and lovingkindness. It is all of grace, even in our rebellion. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 80:19 (79-83) FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD: IN MIDST OF ENEMIES. ?Turn us again, O Jehovah God of hosts; Cause your face to shine, and we shall be saved.? *Your ways are all of grace. Your way is in the sea. Your ways are inscrutable, and past finding out. You prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies. You quicken us, and we come alive. Speak to us as You spoke to Lazarus. Command life out of death, and teach us to love our enemies. *Our :daily bread give us this day!* *5. 84:11 (84) OUR WALK: IN THE TABERNACLE. ?For Jehovah God is a sun and shield: Jehovah will give grace and glory; No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.? *Like David, O Father, we would rather be a doorkeeper, a porter in the house of our God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Your tabernacle is *the church*, Your Body. We do discern Your Body - and avoid sickness and premature death. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 86:11 (85-88) OUR WALK: THROUGH PRAYER AND PRAISE. ?Teach me Your way, O Jehovah; I will walk in Your truth: Unite my heart to fear Your name.? *We will *never* forget this truth, O Father! Help us always to walk in it! Let our spirit rule our soul. Let our heart rule our head. Let Your Spirit renew our mind. Let our body follow as a caboose. *Let our spirit and soul be as one*. Let our flesh be broken up. *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 89:34 (89) OUR WALK: THROUGH COVENANT. ?My covenant will I not break, Nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.? *O what a God You are! O what a wonder You are! How faithful You are to Your covenant word! You and Your word are one (John 1:1; 2 Peter 1:4). *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *Yes, Jehovah shall give that which is good; And our land shall yield her increase (85:12). But first, grant us wisdom, discernment and resolve to heal the land as did David (2 Samuel 21:1-14)! Revival, O Father, is dependent upon our obedience to 2 Chronicles 7:14. O let us arise and fulfill Your conditions, that You from heaven might smile upon us! It is in Your Sanctuary - in Your Tabernacle and Temple, where we realize unity within ourselves to worship You, O Father! In a sense, our body is linked with the Holy Spirit in the Outer Court. Here we enter into Your Gates with thanksgiving, and into Your Courts with * Praise*! Then in the Holy Place, we find that You, Christ Jesus our Lord, have worked out on our behalf *plenteous Redemption*! Here our soul finds unity with You! Here - our mind is *renewed*! Here we see You walking in the midst of the Menorah - the 7-fold Candlestick, where the gifts of the Spirit move (1 Corinthians 12:8-11). Here we feast on You at the Table of Your Presence. Here we find our Roots in Israel through her 12 tribes represented by the two piles of 6 loaves each. Here is the fruit of the vine representing Your Blood. Here John 6 comes alive. Then we approach the Altar of Incense in front of the Riven Veil. Here we offer up to You Father, worship in Spirit and in Truth - for *this* is Your desire, as laid out by Your Son in John 4. And now that at Calvary the veil between the Holy Place and the Holiest was *riven* - we enter in *with boldness*, and like David of old sat before the Ark of the Covenant and Mercy Seat, we see You Father enthroned above the Cherubim. What Majesty! What glory! There our recreated spirit is made one with Almighty God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit! There our recreated spirit is made one with our renewed mind and soul through the Holy Place. Then we find a *united heart* - spirit and soul moving as *one* to magnify You, Father, as You *desire* to be magnified. You have *united* our heart to fear Your Name! The Book of Leviticus - the Book of Jesus' Sanctuary - sets forth these marvelous truths through the priests and Levites. What could be for us a boring book - instead becomes the key and very heart of our effective worship! All praise and glory to Your Matchless and All-worthy Name! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Apr 24 09:22:57 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2011 09:22:57 -0700 Subject: Psalm 90-106 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 24, 2011 *JAN 20 - PSALM 90-106 - WANDERING AND NUMBERS* *1. 90:12 (90) ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS. ?So teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom? (ASV '01). *We bless You Father, for Moses, the servant of God; and for his prayer as the noble man of God. Write deep on our hearts the shortness of our days, and the wisdom of turning them over to You! We submit to You in obedience of faith! *Hallowed be Your Name! * *2. 91:14 (91) TRIUNITY OF THE GODHEAD SPEAKS. ?Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known my name.? *The Spirit's testimony: 91:1; Messiah's testimony: 91:2-13; testimony confirmed by God: 91:14-16. Father, we treasure the confirmation of Your words concerning Your Pre-incarnate Son! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 94:12 (92-94) BLESSEDNESS OF CORRECTION. ?Blessed is the man whom You do chasten, O Jehovah, and teaches out of Your law (Torah).? *We count it all joy Father, when we fall into many testings. We recognize that they come as discipline from Your hand, because You love us! Even so Father, for so it seems good in Your sight! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 95:7b-8 (95-100) REST ANTICIPATED. ?Today, oh that you would hear his voice! 8 Harden not your heart, as at Meribah (strife), As in the day of Massah (temptation) in the wilderness.? *O Father, let us profit in the fear of Jehovah from the rebellion of Israel of old. We would enter into Your full rest, sitting with You on Your throne in the Holy of Holies. Let Your words lead us into the spirit of forgiveness. We remember Corrie ten Boom. *Our :daily bread give us this day!* *5. 103:7 (101-104) GOD OF CREATION. ?Jehovah made known his ways unto Moses, His doings unto the children of Israel.? *Ah, Jehovah Father, You Who have created all things, may we know You not only by Your acts, but like Moses, may we know Your ways and purposes before they come to pass! We would call the things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17)! * And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 105:8 (105) GOD REMEMBERS HIS COVENANT. ?Jehovah has remembered his covenant for ever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations.? *You are a covenant-keeping God, O Father! You blessed Israel even whey they were stiff-necked and stubborn, because of Your word to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We as Gentiles grafted into the olive tree root, are also blessed in Abraham. *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 106:45 (106) WRATH TEMPERED WITH MERCY. ?And Jehovah remembered for them His covenant, And repented according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.? * The grace and covenant love of God on the behalf of His people is ?Chesed!? Father, we see such longsuffering from Your heart on our behalf. Again, Your Covenant accepted by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, binds You to us! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE: 106:13-15 (106) ?Israel soon forgot his works; They did not wait for His counsel, 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15 And he gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.? *O Father, teach us the foolishness of lusting after our own ways. May we profit from Israel's history. You have given us in the Church - the Old Testament - full of examples and lessons* - *especially what *not* to do! What a treasure-trove indeed are those 39 books! Fully two thirds of our New Covenant for the Church is either direct quotations or references to the Old Covenant. There is no way we can fully understand the New Testament, except we immerse ourselves in the preceding Covenant.* * Psalm 90 is one of the two psalms of Moses in this book. It is *rich* in practical lessons, not least of which is its exhortation for us to fix our attention on the *shortness* of our lives down here! Our 70-90 years are but a short prelude and preparation for *all* of Eternity. How foolish on our part to live in the light *only* of these few brief years, when all of eternity faces us. ?With Eternity's Values in View? should be our continual watch-word down here. For - as Agnes Springer has well put it in her book ?Intra Muros? - revised to ?Within Heaven's Gates? - our two lives are *one*! If we wisely make Jesus - God's only-begotten Son our Savior, Lord and Redeemer - then we step from this life directly into Heaven! No soul-sleep at all! But if we foolishly neglect life's wisest lessons - then like the rich man in Jesus' story with Lazarus - we face the unimaginable torment there described by our Lord. And when Jesus mentions names in a story - it is no longer a parable - *it is the truth*! And listen not to the modernists who claim Jesus was but a child of his times, and of course didn't really know what he was talking about! Imagine their fright and shock when they stand before Him at the Great White Throne Judgment - to answer for their crassly ignorant judgments in this life. Unfortunately, many foolish listeners - have listened and followed the blind teachings of the blind. The 17 Psalms of this day's devotional reading link up with the Book of Numbers - the Book recording the 40 year wandering of Israel in the Wilderness after their supernatural escape from Egypt. This book of Numbers was the favorite for one of my friends from Alberta, Canada. Perhaps it was because so many valuable lessons are contained in the fourth book of Moses. And think not to make the ?Documentary Hypothesis? of Modernistic so-called scholars a true interpretation! Jesus accorded Moses with the authorship of these first 5 books of the Torah - the Pentateuch in Christian circles. God's Bible Numerics as discovered by Russian Ivan Panin in 1890 - completely overrules such a false hypothesis. Blessings on each one of us as we glean rich insights from these 17 Psalms and the Book of Numbers. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: ** jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Apr 25 17:33:59 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:33:59 -0700 Subject: Psalm 107-150 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 25, 2011 *JAN 21 - PSALM 107-150 - THANKSGIVING AND DEUTERONOMY* *1. 107:23-24 (107-109) PSALMS OF DELIVERANCE ?They that go down to the sea in ships, That do business in great waters; 24 These see the works of Jehovah, And his wonders in the deep? (NIV '01). *Father, You quicken this truth to us, and reveal Yourself and Your Majesty through our obedience. How You reveal Yourself through nature, business, and creation! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 110:3 (110) PSALM OF NEW COVENANT SIGNIFICANCE. ?Your people offer themselves willingly In the day of your power, in holy array: Out of the womb of the morning You have the dew of your youth.? *When You pour out of Your Spirit, O Father - in times of great revival - as in the building of the wall of Nehemiah: the people had a mind to work! Your desire was uppermost in their mind. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 112:1-3 (111-118) PSALMS OF PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING. ?Praise Jehovah. Blessed is the man that fears Jehovah, That delights greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: The generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house; And his righteousness endures for ever.? *Father, what blessing You pronounce upon the righteous man and his seed! * Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 119:97-100 (119) PSALM OF GLORY AND GOD'S WORD. ?Oh how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; For your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept your precepts.? *With Your wisdom from Your Word, Father, we walk fully in all the above! *Our :daily bread give us this day!* *5. 122:6 (120-134) PSALMS OF ASCENTS: THE WAY OF REST. ?Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love you.? *We believe O Father, You will graft back the natural olive branch into its original root, and that a nation will be born in a day. Your ancient people will accept You as Messiah, Lord Jesus, in multitudes. This will bring resurrection to the nations in the church! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 139:14 (135-139) PSALMS OF INSIGHT. ?I will give thanks unto you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are your works; And that my soul knows right well.? *Yes Father, we marvel at our body, a gift from You; and at our soul: yet more intricate. And our spirit is the highest of all, for You are a Spirit, and we are made in Your image! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 141:2 (140-150) PSALMS OF PRAYER AND PRAISE. ?Let my prayer be set forth as incense before you; The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.? *Our praise is our evening and morning sacrifice to You, O Father! Let it fit in with our declaration with all that is great about You! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: * ?Jehovah continually sends forth His Word, and *healed them*, And delivered them from the destructions? (107:20). How great is Your Word, O Father, when spoken in faith! When used as the Keys of the Kingdom - nothing is impossible! ?Deuteronomy? comes from two Latin words meaning ?The Second Law?. In a sense, Moses here is summarizing God's preceding dealings with Israel through his writings. For many, this fifth Book of Moses is the favorite with the Torah. The Psalms here - 107-150 - linked with Deuteronomy, are indeed for the most part - Psalms of Thanksgiving. Thankful hearts are noted and appreciated by God. We can remember the Samaritan leper of 10, who alone returned to give thanks to our Lord Jesus for healing! Psalm 107 has been a favorite of mine, even before the Lord revealed Himself to me. In the Fall of 1942 as an unbeliever, I was reading this Psalm. All of a sudden for the first time in my life, God by His Spirit spoke to my spirit from verses 23-24. He said, ?I know you want to know Me. Join the Navy, and I?ll reveal Myself to you.? In July of 1943 I joined the Canadian Navy at Esquimalt, just outside of Victoria, BC, and in 9 months time on Passover of 1944, God did what He promised. I have never been the same since! And - it is far better today than it was even then. This July I turn 88, 68 years since this key water mark in my life. Many times since God has spoken to me from His Word - especially from the Psalms. Sometimes He spoke to me directly by His Spirit, but *never* contrary to any part of His written Word. A man I highly regard once said - ?As a drop of ocean water contains in trace form every constituent element of the ocean - *so* each verse of the Bible contains in trace form all constituent elements of the Bible.? That means - whoever teaches the Bible - must teach it so that the portion he teaches is in harmony with the revelation of *all* 66 books of the Bible! That is why in James 3:1 we read, ?Be *not* *many* *teachers*, my brethren, knowing that * we* shall receive greater condemnation!? I teach the Word of God in this spirit. This is why I have taken Ivan Panin's discovery of God's Bible Numerics and put his Greek and English NT texts into Interlinear Outlined format, so that I could thoroughly understand how to accurately teach the New Testament. And that's why in 1987 I outlined the entire Bible in a daily devotional format, selecting 7 key verses from each reading for the 366 days of the year. I still walk in the spirit of Isaiah 66:2 when I teach God's holy, eternal, living Word - *?But to this man will I look (says Jehovah), even to him that is poor and of a contrite heart, and that trembles at my word!?* I hear some teachers glibly handling God's word with little respect or carefulness. I *tremble* on their behalf! *All* teachers must one day appear before Christ's B*E*ma Judgment Seat, and answer for his teaching and handling of God's Holy Book! It is good for us to remember that *God* and *His Word* are *one*! See John 1:1 - *?In the beginning was the word (LOgos); and the Word was with God; and the Word (LOgos - Jesus) was God!?* There is no definite article ?the? before God here - and Jehovah's Witnesses claim that according to this, Jesus is only *a* God - not :(the) God like Jehovah Father. They are *wrong*! For in John 20:28, when Jesus revealed Himself to the apostle Thomas following His resurrection - Thomas wouldn't touch Him - but exclaimed - *?My :(the) Lord and my :(the) God!?* - *This* makes Jesus *one* with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He told Israel that they would not see Him again until they proclaimed - *?Blessed is He (Jesus) who comes in the Name of Jehovah? - i.e. as :God! * So beware of the ?cultic? teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses. Ivan Panin could not let them put his two Bible Numeric NT texts into Interlinear format - because he rightly judged them as cultic. But the year Ivan Panin died in Aldershot, Ontario at 86 years of age, 1942, God called me into the Navy - where in July 1944 He revealed to me the discovery of Ivan Panin in 1890 of the Bible Numeric undergirding of the 66 books of the Bible in Hebrew and Greek. He then commissioned me to put together Panin's two NT texts into an ?*Outlined*? Bible Numeric Interlinear format, which soon we trust will be in print. J.A.Watt. * * *TO SUBSCRIBE** - **mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - **mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** ** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Apr 26 09:46:20 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2011 09:46:20 -0700 Subject: Psalms 22-24 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *April 26, 2011* *JAN 22 - PSALMS 22-24 - LIFE OF MESSIAH* *1. 22:1 (22:1-5) CHRIST FORSAKEN. ?My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?? *Would we enter into the fellowship of Your suffering, Lord? Would we fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in our flesh for His body's sake, which is the church (Colossians 1:24)? We quail that You were made sin for us - became a propitiation that we might be reconciled to God! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 22:14 (22:6-21) CHRIST PERSECUTED. ?I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.? *Father, Your Spirit in David wrote this of Your Son at Calvary. This is suffering for us. This is for Adamic sin for which we could not make atonement. This was for our trespasses, for which likewise we could do nothing. All that we have; All that we are; All we shall ever be - Cannot repay the love-debt we owe: We surrender to Thee! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 22:28 (22:22-31) CHRIST TRIUMPHANT. ?For the kingdom is Jehovah's; And he is the ruler over the nations.? *And how did this happen, O Lord? Because You as Son of man made blood atonement for us. Therefore the Father has given You dominion, and Glory, and a Kingdom, that all the earth should serve You - an everlasting dominion, a Kingdom not to be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14). You, O Lamb of God, are Worthy. And You share Your Kingdom with us! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 23:3 (23) JEHOVAH OUR SHEPHERD. ?He restores my soul: He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.? *You are Jehovah Roi (my shepherd). You meet all our needs. Past, present and future have been looked after by You. Spiritually and naturally You meet our needs. Father, we are not worthy of such love and grace. Our hearts become broken and contrite at such love. You lead us to plead bitterly for our enemies. *Our :daily bread give us this day!* *5. 24:1 (24:1-2) JEHOVAH'S EARTH. ?The earth is Jehovah's, and the fullness of it; The world, and they that dwell in it.? *We are stewards of Your earth, O Father. We are also stewards of our bodies, our possessions, our talents, our gifts. We return them all to You. Use us and them as is fitting in Your sight, and for Your Glory. Keep back Your servants from presumptuous sin. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 24:3-4 (24:3-6) JEHOVAH'S HILL. ?Who shall ascend into the hill of Jehovah? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; Who has not lifted up his soul unto falsehood, And has not sworn deceitfully.? *O Jehovah Father, Covenant Lord, Great I AM, purge us so that we may fulfill these conditions. Through contrition and repentance we seek full reconciliation with You! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 24:8, 10 (24:7-10) JEHOVAH: KING OF GLORY! ?Who is the King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle. 10 Who is this King of glory? Jehovah of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.? *Yes Father, we will say Yes! We acknowledge You as the only One worthy of our praise and our life. Find Your habitation in us! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 22:3 (22) ?But you are holy, O You who inhabits the praises of Israel!? *What David saw in the Spirit concerning You, O Father! - we praise by lifting up holy hands to You! Let our prayer be set before You as incense; and the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. Evening and morning we Hallow Your Name through the Lambkin sacrifice! Father, we invite You to have full right of way in our life. We offer our bodies to You as living sacrifices. Renew our minds. Come as a burning, flaming fire to dwell in the hearts of Your people! Psalms 22-24 reveal 3 aspects of Jesus' ministry. Psalm 22 reveals His past ministry on our behalf on Calvary. In some aspects, more is revealed here prophetically on what Jesus endured on the Cross - than even what is revealed in the four Gospels. Psalm 23 reveals His present time ministry on our behalf through the indwelling Holy Spirit. But Psalm 24 reveals His future ministry through His Second Coming as Lord of lords and King of kings! When we look at Hebrews 13:8 and read, *?Jesus Christ the same yesterdayand today, and unto the ages?; *we find the 3-fold ministry of the Son of man and the Son of God from an eternal perspective. *?Before Abraham was, I AM?, * Jesus informed the Jewish leaders of His day - and brought upon Himself their bitter wrath. Nevertheless - *His* revelation was true, which they will learn to their chagrin at His Second Coming! E. Stanley Jones linked this with Hebrews 12:28 where we learn by revelation that Jesus receives an *?unshakable kingdom.?* So Dr. Jones entitled his extraordinary book, *?The Unshakable Kingdom and The Unchanging Person.?* Bob Mumford accounted this as one of the remarkable books of his generation. I agree. The *Gospel* is an account of ?The Kingdom of God?, which we often fail to emphathize, in the way God does so! In the Thomas Newberry Reference Bible's Introduction - we learn that ?Jehovah? - the Name of our Triune God - contains the 3 major tenses of the verb ?to be? - future, present and past. Ye-h*o*VAH is the Hebrew pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton: ?Ye? representing the future ministry of God; ?h*o*?, the present participle, representing God's present relationship with us; and ?VAH?, from the past tense of the verb ?to be?, representing Psalm 22, and what Christ Jesus our Lord accomplished on our behalf on Calvary! So - these 3 Psalms - set forth in an eternal perspective - the extraordinary life of our Messiah! J.A.Watt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Apr 27 09:39:01 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:39:01 -0700 Subject: Psalm 119 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 27, 2011 *JAN 23 - PSALM 119 - GLORY AND GOD'S WORD* *1. 119:14 (1-24) BLESSING AND ENLIGHTENMENT BY THE WORD. ?I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, As much as in all riches.? *(14; way = derek, S#1870, JESUS the way). *Jesus*, You are the way! Father You have given Christ the Kingdom! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 119:29 (25-48) SUSTAINING POWER AND SALVATION BY THE WORD. ?Remove from me the way of falsehood; And grant me your law graciously.? *(29; law = torah, S#8451, 25x). Father, in Your law is delight. We give ourselves in obedience of the faith to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:2). *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 119:59 (49-72) COMFORT AND CHASTENING FROM THE WORD. ?I thought on my ways, And turned my feet unto your testimonies.? *(59; testimony = edah, S#5713 + eduth, 23x). What You have testified concerning this, O Father, that would we hearken to and walk in! Yes, we would delight in them with our whole heart. Then we know we will not be confounded. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 119:78 (73-96) RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOPE AND ETERNITY IN THE WORD. ?Let the proud be put to shame; for they have overthrown me wrongfully: But I will meditate on your precepts.? *(78; precept = pikkudim, S#6490, 21x). How we love Your rules of life, Your precepts, Father! How we delight in Proverbs! For here You teach us how to walk humbly and forgive; how to love our enemies; how to live the Sermon on the Mount in You; how to be forgiven. *Our :daily bread give us this day!* *5. 119:112 (97-120) WISDOM, JOY AND SECURITY IN THE WORD. ?I have inclined my heart to perform your statutes For ever, even unto the end.? *(112; statute = chukkim, S#2706, 22x, to decree or ordain). By these You regulate our way of life. By these You teach us how to live. We find Your statutes in all books of the Bible. *Jesus* is our Statute! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 119:143 (121-144) CONFIDENCE, GUIDANCE AND CHARACTER IN THE WORD. ?Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me; Yet your commandments are my delight.? *(143; commandment = mitsvah, S#4687, 22x). We love Your commandments above gold, Father. Riches cannot deflect us from the way of keeping them. We honor those who speak and live according to Your commandments. *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 119:156 (145-176) STRENGTH AND PEACE FROM THE WORD. ?Great are your tender mercies, O Jehovah: Quicken me according to your ordinances ( judgments).? *(156; judgment = mishpat, S#4941, 18x). Your judgments, O Father, are Your regulations, Your sentence, Your verdict. We respect and honor whatever is Your judgment. You have the right to judge - for You are King and Judge of Your Kingdom! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: ?Seven times a day do I praise you, Because of your righteous ordinances? (119:164). *This O Father, is the way we would use Your word to praise You. 10 terms referring to God's Word are used in all but 3 of the 176 verses in Psalm 119. 7 of these terms appear above; following are the other three. 8. *Word* = davar, S#1198, 21x in this Psalm; = imrah, S#565, spoken word, 19x; (equivalent to LOgos and R*E*ma in the NT). 9. *Truth* = emunah, S#530, 1x; = emeth, S#571, 3x. 10. *Righteousness* = tsedaqah, S#6664, 6x. Psalm 119 is the Psalm of the *Word*! And - Jesus and the Word are *one*! See John 1:1 again - *?In the beginning was the Word; and the Word was with :God, and the Word was God! * It is true that the written word in itself does *not* give life. The old hymn rightly states it - *?Beyond the Sacred Page, I seek **Thee**, Lord!?* But in the beginning was the spoken Word - R*E*ma. Then after a time - it slipped into the written form, LOgos. But as we *meditate* upon it, even reverently on our knees speak it back to God - *then* the Holy Spirit lays hold of it and transforms it back to a R*E*ma - a Living Word! And then Christ Jesus the Living Word becomes fully formed within us. Then Galatians 2:20 becomes a reality to us as it was to the apostle Paul, and with him we can say, *?Christ lives **in** me!? *This was also the secret of George Muller and George Whitefield. The Book of Psalms, largely by David, is the hymn book of the Bible. That is why in our reading guide - ?Through the Bible in a Year? - we have taken Psalms and Proverbs out of context, and give a Psalm a day for the first 5 months of the year with Proverbs for June; and then we repeat them for the last half of the year. We hope to have this guide on our Website soon, so that you can read the Bible through in a Year in this interesting format. We follow J. Vernon McGee's alternation of OT and NT books for added variety and interest. Psalm 119 is not unique in that it uses the Hebrew alphabet as a memory device. Lamentations and other Psalms likewise use this same device. However, it is unique in the extent to which it is involved. The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letter, all consonants. Psalm 119 is composed of 22 sections of 8 verses each. The eight verses of these 22 sections all start in the Hebrew with the 22 succeeding letter of the alphabet. Psalm 119:1-8 with its 8 verses, each start with ?aleph?, the first letter of the alphabet; and closes with 119:169-176, each of the 8 verses commencing with ?tav?, the 22 nd letter of the alphabet. One of our grandsons with his father quoted over one half of this Psalm to us on one occasion for our family devotions. J.A.Watt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Apr 28 08:55:58 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:55:58 -0700 Subject: Matthew - Overview Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 28, 2011 *JAN 24-30 - MATTHEW - OVERVIEW - JESUS: THE MESSIAH KING* *JAN 24. 3:11 (1:1-4:16) PREPARATION FOR JESUS. ?I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but who comes after me is mightier that I: whose :shoes I am not fit to bear: HE shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.? *What a Kingdom! We praise You that You have made *Jesus* the Way, and that none comes to You except through Him, our Mediator. *Hallowed be Your** **:name. * *JAN 25. 7:28-29 (4:17-7:29) TEACHING OF JESUS. ?And it came to pass, when :Jesus ended these :words, the crowds were astonished at his :teaching: 29 for he was teaching them as having authority, and not as the scribes. *Father, we choose the Narrow Gate and the *straitened* way into Your Kingdom. *Your :kingdom come.* *JAN 26. 10:34-36 (8:1-11:1) MIRACLES OF JESUS. ?Think not that I came to bring peace on the earth: I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to set a man at variance against his :father, and a daughter against her :mother, and a bride against her :mother in law: 36 and the man's foes are they of his household.? *How many of us have not experienced this - upon our individual conversion? *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *JAN 27. 18:19-20 (11:2-18:35) CONTROVERSY OVER JESUS. ?Again, Amen, I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on :earth as touching anything they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my :Father who is in the heavens. 20 For where two or three are gathered unto my :name, there am I in their midst.? *Father, in Messiah You are present to help us handle all interpersonal problems according to Matthew 18:15-17. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *JAN 28. 23:37 (19-23) CHALLENGE OF JESUS IN JUDEA. ?Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those sent unto her! how oft would I have gathered your :children together, even as a hen gathers her :chicks under the wings, and you would not!? *Father, we receive and act upon the invitation of *Jesus*. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *JAN 29. 24:30 (24-25) COMING AGAIN OF JESUS. ?And then shall appear the sign of the Son of :man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and shall see the Son of :man coming on the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory.? *The Second Coming of Jesus has a two-fold effect: For believers - it is a time of great joy! For unbelievers - it is a time of great distress! *And bring us not into temptation.* *JAN 30. 27:51-53 (26-28) CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS. ?And lo, the veil of the temple was rent in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook; and the rocks were rent; 52 and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming forth from the tombs after his :resurrection entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.? *This is one of the many portions of he Bible which we can easily slip over. But the Holy Spirit causes no Bible writer to record * anything* from the mind of God, except He desires us to search out and understand its significance from *His* point of view! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE:* There are two portions in this Gospel that link together related Greek words: the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer. I link the Beatitudes with the tribe of ?Asher,? and the Lord's Prayer with the tribe of Ephraim. Asher means ?Blessed?, or ?Happy;? so the linkage is clear. Ephraim means ?double fruitfulness?, according to the prophecy over him by his grandfather Jacob. When one understands the prayer Jesus gave His disciples at their request, that one becomes *indeed** *a fruitful person. Rees Howells epitomizes such a one. Joshua, the servant of Moses, the man of God, was of this tribe. Consider his life as recounted in the book of Joshua. The Gospel of Matthew sets forth Jesus as *King*. He is the King of the Jews, Himself a Jew through his mother after the flesh, Mary. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah! This Gospel quotes portions from the Old Testament in such a manner that all open-hearted Jews can easily discern Him as the promised Messiah! Anna and Simeon were two who so recognized Him at the time of His birth, when Joseph and Mary presented Him at the Temple. The Holy Spirit alerted both of them to this significant time. Matthew, Mark and Luke are listed as synoptic gospels, as distinct from John, the Gospel setting Jesus forth in a special way as the Son of God. Some think God has not a Son! They are wrong! Jesus is God's only-begotten Son! Three times God voiced from heaven His approval of Jesus, the Son of God! He exhorted us to *hear* His Son, obey Him, and become exceedingly intimate with Him. Jesus is the God-man from God on our behalf. Redemption and Reconciliation come only through Him! There are mysteries here - but God has promised insight on our behalf as we meditate, *obey*, and walk in loving and joyous discipleship on His behalf. This is *all* voluntary on our part. We don't *have* to - but we have the privilege of doing so if we want to! J.A.Watt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Apr 29 09:16:34 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 09:16:34 -0700 Subject: Matthew 1:1-4:16 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 29, 2011 *JAN 24 - MATTHEW 1:1-4:16 - PREPARATION FOR JESUS* *1. 1:1 (1:1-17) FAMILY TREE OF JESUS. ?A genealogy of Jesus Christ, David's Son, Abraham's Son? (NNT). *Here the Holy Spirit gives the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph, His legal father. In Luke His lineage is traced through His mother Mary after the flesh. Here Father, You prove Your Son to be the true King of the Jews! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 1:18 (1:18-25) BIRTH OF JESUS. ?Now the birth of :Jesus Christ was thus: His :mother Mary, engaged to :Joseph, before they came together, was found with child of **the** Holy Spirit.? *Luke gives us the details of immaculate conception. What a miracle: human mother, but conceived by the Holy Spirit. *Come, Your Kingdom!* *3. 2:13 (2:1-23) SUPERNATURAL PROTECTION OF JESUS. ?Now when they withdrew lo, **the** Lord's angel appeared to :Joseph in a dream, saying , Arise ** and** take the little child and his :mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there till I tell you: for Herod is about to seek the little child to destroy him.? *What provision for the safety of Your Son Jesus, Father! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth! * *4. 3:11 (3:1-12) PREPARATION FOR JESUS. ?I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but who comes after me is mightier than I: whose :shoes I am not fit to bear: HE shall baptize you in **the** Holy Spirit and fire.? *John's baptism in water prefigured Jesus, the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. The contrast was so great in the eyes of John, that *humility* was his answer. We too need to tremble before Jesus and His Word! *Our :daily bread give us this day!* *5. 3:15 (3:13-17) DOUBLE BAPTISM FOR JESUS. ?But :Jesus answered **and **said to him, Permit **me** now: for so it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness.? *Father, how Your Son identified Himself with us in all things, apart from sin. We in turn would identify ourselves with Him in *His * death and resurrection! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 4:1 (4:1-11) TEMPTATION OF JESUS. ?Then was :Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.? *We are encouraged, Father, by the example of Your Son. Yet it is only by His Spirit and life bing lived out through us that we can triumph. But - just as You lived through Your Son by the Spirit - so He can live through us! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 4:15-16a (4:12-16) PROPHETIC FULFILMENT IN JESUS. ?Zebulun land and Naphtali land, By way of **the** sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations **16** The people that sit in darkness Saw **a** great light.? *How wisely by the Spirit the early apostles interpreted Old Testament scriptures! We tremble at Your Word, Father! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 1:21 (1:18-25). ?And she shall bear a son, and you shall call his :name :JESUS; for HE shall save his :people from their :sins.? *Joseph was appointed by You, Father, as a step-father, to give covering and protection to both Mary and Your only begotten Son! Each of the four Gospels give a unique ?window? into the Life of Jesus. His life is like a 4-faceted diamond in this respect. We need all *four* to see Him somewhat in His fullness. Matthew sets Him forth as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! Mark reveals Him as the ox of Ephraim. From Luke we see Jesus as the ?man? of Reuben and Israel; and He constantly referred to Himself as the Son of :man! But John reveals Him as the Eagle of the tribe of Dan. The 12 tribes of Israel were grouped around the Tabernacle in the Wilderness in this same order under these same four leading tribes: Judah on the east; Ephraim on the west; Reuben on the south; and Dan on the north. The 4 faces of Ezekiel on the cherubim reflect these same 4 tribes. And Jesus in both His humanity and His Deity as the only begotten Son of God, reflected these four pictures. And He so pleased His heavenly Father, that three times His voice was heard from Heaven: *This* is My beloved Son - in whom I am *well-pleased*! Hear Him! Matthew expertly appeals to Jews with its many quotations from the OT. Mark - with its dispatch - to the Romans; Luke with its humanity to the Greek mind; and John to those with spiritual appreciation. So we need all four Gospels to receive a full picture of our Lord Jesus in His 33 year earthly ministry as the Son of man. Jesus emptied Himself of the prerogatives of Deity when He came to earth, and functioned as 100% man of faith - so that He should be a perfect example for us, and not mock us. He did not function in His pre-incarnate deity. Peter walked on the water like Him, though briefly. But with Jesus he *did* walk back to the boat! So it is *good* to see Jesus through different eyes. Matthew portrays the preparatory ministry of John the Baptist on behalf of His cousin after the flesh. But John from the beginning knew Jesus as the eternal Son of God! Even in his mother's womb at six months, he leaped for joy at the greeting of Jesus' mother who had but just received conception by the Holy Spirit of God's Son after the flesh. It was Jesus in Hebrews who said to the Father in His pre-incarnate state - Prepare for me a body - and I will go to earth and become man to make reconciliation of the human race back to us through My blood-redemption! Blood comes genetically through the father, not the mother. It was not through Mary that Jesus' blood-atonement became efficacious - but the pure and sinless blood of God. And Jesus as son of man was tempted in *all* points just as we - yet - never yielding - was sinless! But being tempted as son of man - He can understand what we go through, even though *all* of us *have* yielded and sinned. What a Savior! What a Redeemer! And see how He was tempted by the devil 3 times immediately following His double baptism. But He successfully defeated Satan each time by relying on the Word of God and quoting it! It will be almost certainly necessary for us to go to Heaven before we can truly begin to understand and appreciate all that Christ has done for us in His tremendous death on Calvary - there becoming a curse for us - taking * our* place - that we might be redeemed and reconciled back to God! J.A.Watt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Apr 30 09:27:09 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2011 09:27:09 -0700 Subject: Matthew 4:17-7:29 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* April 30, 2011 *JAN 25 - MATTHEW 4:17-7:29 - TEACHING OF JESUS: SERMON ON THE MOUNT* *1. 4:23 (4:17-25) KINGDOM PATTERN. ?And Jesus went about in all :Galilee, teaching in their :synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every infirmity among the people.? *Father, what you started in Your Son Jesus, continue on through His Body the church. Now perfect it in us, Your last day saints. *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 5:9 (5:1-16) KINGDOM MATURITY. ?Blessed the peace-doers, for THEY shall be called sons of :God.? **Maturity* as in *sons*! Bringing many sons into glory! This is Your purpose and goal in us, Father. Yes, whatever it takes, we yield to help effect Your purpose. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 5:19 (5:17-48) KINGDOM HEART. ?Whoever therefore shall break one of these the least :commandments, and shall teach :men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of the heavens; but whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of the heavens.? *Provision comes to Your saints Father, as we walk in the words of Your Son Jesus, and teach them. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 6:14-15 (6:1-18) KINGDOM MOTIVATION. ?For if you forgive :men their :trespasses, your :heavenly :Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you forgive not :men their :trespasses, neither will your :Father forgive your :trespasses.? *O Father, we hear Your desire. We would be giving, praying and fasting saints. We would have Your purposes motivate us. Like Jesus on the Cross, and Stephen at his martyrdom, we would exhibit this same spirit should we be so called upon. *Our :daily bread give us this day.* *5. 6:33 (6:19-34) KINGDOM PROVISION. ?But seek you first his :kingdom, and :righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.? *Father, we bid anxious thought to flee! We welcome the renewal of our mind after Your word. We put on as our clothing You, Lord Jesus! * And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 7:12 (7:1-12) KINGDOM RELATIONSHIPS. ?All things therefore whatever you would that :men should do to you, so do you also to them: for this is the law and the prophets.? *Father, evermore let this spirit grip our hearts. And if all other religions have this maxim also, as Your believers by Your grace, we will exceed them. *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 7:13-14 (7:13-29) KINGDOM PATHWAY. ?Enter you by the narrow gate: for wide and spacious is the way that leads unto the destruction, and many are they that enter in by it. 14 Because narrow the gate, and straitened the way that leads unto the life, and few are that that find it.? *Father, we would not be deceived concerning the way of Your Kingdom! Help us to thoroughly understand these words of Your Son, our Lord Jesus! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 7:28-29 (7:13-29) ?And it came to pass, when :Jesus ended these :words, the crowds were astonished at his :teaching: **29 for he was teaching them as having authority, and not as the scribes.? *Like Oswald Chambers and E. Stanley Jones, let us master in our hearts these our Father's words through our Lord Jesus. Many books have been written on the Sermon on the Mount. The ones by Oswald Chambers and E. Stanley Jones are two of my favorites. Mahatma Gandhi of India is one of many who was so taken with this portion, that he memorized it. When in South Africa as an attorney, he would have converted to Christianity could he have found but one believer who lived according to these words of Jesus. But seeing he could not fine one, he concluded that he might as well stay with his Hindu faith. How sad! Is it possible to keep these words of Jesus? *Not* by man's self-efforts, even through a believer. *Only* one who like Paul walks in Galatians 2:20, is it possible to walk this way. *?I have been crucified with Christ; and no longer I live, but Christ lives in me: and what I now live in the flesh I live by faith which is in the Son of :God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.? *Christ living through us by His Holy Spirit, once we have met Gospel conditions of identifying ourselves with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection - enables one to do so! Rees Howells Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb spells out that two cannot live in the same body! If we wish to be possessed by the Holy Spirit - *we* must go out - and He takes over in calling the shots! This is the secret to the lives of all *overcoming*saints! They have met the condition of *full* discipleship to Jesus - and from then on their lives reflect the condition of true *overcomers*! The vast majority of professing believers know little of this high calling! *All* can qualify if they will - but few will count the cost and make this self-effacing decision! It is important to read *all* the teachings of Jesus both directly and through His NT apostles. Then to follow, we must walk in *all* of these teachings, not just those that appeal to our flesh. The Great Commission at the close of Matthew's Gospel spells out that Jesus expects disciples to teach *all* His commandments to those they are in turn discipling. Those who have met these conditions and paid this price - are few. Jesus said this would be so. Men like Oswald Chambers and H.A. Baker have confirmed this word. Let us pray for one another as professing Christians - that we each one will so qualify - and in turn lead all we are discipling to this same standard. It is important to note that salvation is not based on full discipleship, but believing the finished work of Christ! The overcoming life flows out of full discipleship. Jesus prefaces this latter with an ?If!? How far do we wish to press in? Beyond the Outer Court into the Holy Place? And beyond the Holy Place through the Riven Veil into the Holy of Holies? The choice is ours. Psalm 25:10 reads, ?*All** the paths of Jehovah are lovingkindness (CHEsed) and truth **Unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies!?* David by the Spirit wrote these words. Was he perfect? Indeed not - nor will we be even when walking in the above! But - like David - we *will* be overcomers - and men and women after God's own heart! Perfection awaits our resurrection! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun May 1 09:40:54 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 1 May 2011 09:40:54 -0700 Subject: Matthew 8:1-11:1 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 1, 2011 *JAN 26 - MATTHEW 8:1-11:1 - MIRACLES OF JESUS* 1. 8:16-17 (8:1-17) ISAIAH AND HEALING. ?And when even was come, they brought to him many demoniacs: and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were ill: 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our :infirmities, and bore our sicknesses.? Here is Your Kingdom in demonstration , Father. For the Kingdom of God is not in word only, but in power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit. *Hallowed be Your Name.* *2. 9:5-7 (8:18-9:8) TEACHING, MIRACLES AND HEALING. ?For which is easier, to say, Your :sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk? **6** But that you may know that the Son of :man has authority on the earth to forgive sins (then says he to the paralytic), Arise, and take up your :bed, and go to your :house. **7** And he arose, **and** went away to his :house.? *Father, we bless You that Jesus did Your will on earth in conformity with Your invisible Kingdom. We would follow in His footsteps! *Come, Your Kingdom!* *3. 9:17 (9:9-17) BOLD WORDS. ?Neither do **men** put new wine into old wine-skins: else the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins perish; but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved.? *Judaism, Pharisees: these are old wineskins, not renewed or reconstituted. The bacteria of the last move of God are man-made traditions holding back faith to enter the new move! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 9:22 (9:18-34) JESUS ON ATTITUDES AND HEALING. ?But :Jesus turning and seeing her said, Be of good cheer, daughter; your :faith has made you whole. And the woman became whole from that :hour.? *Here is a miracle in the midst of a miracle! No wonder the world couldn't contain the books recording all that Jesus did! We need to clearly apprehend the Almightiness of Your power Father, working through the faith of the Son of God! *Our :daily bread give us this day!* *5. 9:35 (9:35-10:5a) GOSPEL MULTIPLICATION. ?And :Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their :synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every infirmity.? *Jesus multiplied Himself tenfold through commissioning the 12 apostles to join Him in His works. Father, Your Son demonstrated Your Kingdom! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 10:16 (10:5b-42) POWER, PATTERN, PERSECUTION, PRESENCE! ?Lo, I send you forth as sheep amidst wolves: become therefore wise as the serpents, and harmless as the doves.? *This was Your spirit, Lord Jesus! Father, we see You in Your Son demonstrating the Kingdom of heaven on earth, in the visible. And how the demons cowed, and Satan himself departed! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 11:1. CONTINUANCE ?And it came to pass, when :Jesus **had** finished commanding his twelve :disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their :cities.? *Following instruction and training, came more demonstration through teaching and preaching. How simply and majestically does Your Kingdom unfold, Father! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 10:19-20 (10:5b-42) ?But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what you shall speak: for it shall be given you in that :hour what you shall speak. **20** For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your :Father that speaks in you.? *What comfort and assurance are in these words! Father we magnify You for Your Almighty power that Jesus has put within us! The Miracles of Jesus in His three years of ministry are so multitudinous - that as John reported - if they were all recorded, not even the world could contain all the books required! The Father led His only begotten Son in all of theses miracles, plus all of His Words. He did *not* speak or perform as the Son of :man - apart from the leading of His Father. He was the *perfect* servant to God. The four ?servant songs? of Isaiah by prophecy - foretold the type of ministry Messiah would have on earth. Jesus sought to have His Pharisaic accusers believe Him for the sake of His signs and miracles, if not for His words. The *two* backed each other up - for those open to receive them. He said, ?Which is easier - to say - Your sins are forgiven? or to say, Take up your bed and walk? For those with discernment, it could be seen that the two go together. But - not only did the Father have His Son perform many signs to corroborate His teaching: but Jesus promised to *all* true believers that ?signs? or miracles would accompany our ministries also. Mark 16:9-20 give a very clear account of this promise. And - no other portion of the NT has been more attacked by Satan through his henchmen - than *this* portion of Scripture! But - God through His Bible Numerics and Ivan Panin's discovery of this feature in 1890 - conclusively proves that if *any* portion of the NT could be omitted by the Textual Critics - *this* would be the last one to go! More Bible Numerics appear in these last verses of the Gospel of Mark than in any other portion of the NT. Look at the miracles performed by Peter and Paul! Do they not corroborate the promises of Jesus to His followers? So - this January 26th Bible Reading devotional sets before us *much* to ponder and meditate upon. David did not have these promises in his day of the Old Covenant, so miracles did not set forth proof of God's calling upon him in this manner. Yet - look at his testimony in Psalm 26:1! *?Judge me, O Jehovah, for I have walked in my integrity: I have trusted also in Jehovah without wavering.? *J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon May 2 10:02:23 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 10:02:23 -0700 Subject: Matthew 11:2-18:35 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 2, 2011 *JAN 27 - MATTHEW 11:2-18:35 - CONTROVERSY OVER JESUS* *1. 11:12; 12:28 (11:2-12:50) EVIL GENERATION CONDEMNED. ?And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens suffers violence, and men of violence take it by force. 12:28 But if I by God's Spirit cast out the demons, then is the kingdom of :God come upon you.? *Your Kingdom, O Father, is Good News! It is Jesus, the Pearl of great price! It is a Kingdom of Power! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 13:52 (13) KINGDOM PARABLES. ?Therefore every scribe discipled to the kingdom of the heavens is like a man a householder, who brings forth out of his :treasure things new and old.? *We would master the Kingdom principles of this chapter: it is a chapter to memorize. Father, help us to see the value of parables, and to use this principle. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 14:26-27 (14) THE CHURCH: ITS POWER BUILDER. ?And the disciples seeing him walking on the sea were troubled, saying [that] It is a ghost; and cried out for :fear. 27 But straightway :Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.? *We see Your Son Jesus here Father, as the One indwelt by all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. You by the Spirit worked through Him, as the Son of :man! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 15:3, 9 (15) TRADITION VERSUS FAITH AND COMPASSION. ?But he answered and said to them, Why do YOU also transgress the commandment of :God because of your :tradition? 9 But in vain worship they me, Teaching for doctrines precepts of men.? *We are old wineskins, full of tradition; we need a renewal, a scrubbing out with lye of the bacteria of man's thinking. We sell short Your Kingdom by failing to repent and seek renewal. *Our :daily bread give us this day.* *5. 16:18-19a (16:1-20) TRUE CHURCH AND ITS BUILDER. ?And I also say unto you, that you are Peter, and upon this :rock I will build my :church and thegates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19a I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens.? *What a powerful word and revelation! By Your Spirit Father, help us to plumb the depths of its meaning. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 16:24-25 (16:21-17:21) PATHWAY TO SPIRITUAL POWER. ?Then said :Jesus to his disciples, If any would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his :cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his :life shall lose it: and whoever shall lose his :life for my sake shall find it.? *It is in following this word Father, that we will not fall into temptation like Peter. *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 18:15, 17a (17:22-18:35) DISCIPLINE AND FORGIVENESS. ?And if your :brother sin, go, reprove him between you and him alone: if he hear you, you have gained your :brother. 17a And if he refuse to hear them, tell the church.? *Here is the cure of evil speaking. Here is the secret of power of the Methodist Class Meeting! This is what Lenin borrowed and adapted. But it is Your word of the Kingdom, Father. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 11:28-30 (11:2-18:35) ?Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. **29 Take my :yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in :heart: and you shall find rest to your :souls. 30 For my :yoke is easy and my :burden light.? *To accept the yoke of Your Kingdom in Jesus, Father, is to enter into true rest! Jesus said that we are *blessed* if we are treated like Him! And He said that following our conversion, problems and persecution would start in our own family! - for He did *not* come to bring peace on the earth at His first-coming - but a sword! I found this so! My brother and parents were * not* happy at my conversion! My brother was afraid to walk down town with me in Port Alberni in case I started a street-meeting! That was in 1944. But in February of 1946 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with temperature of 38 degrees below zero outside, God woke me at 3 am and said - ?Ask me for your family - and I'll give them to you.? I did - and *He* did! ?*Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved - and your house!? - *Acts 16:31. Truer words were never spoken! And one can add to them - ?Clan Salvation? according to Pastor Jack Hayford. Matthew 16:1-20 is one of the very important statements of Jesus in the NT - *?I will build my church - and the gates or counsels of hell shall notprevail against it!? * That is, Satan *can't stop* a revived church from knocking down hell's gates and setting the captives free! H.A. Baker in his ?Visions Beyond the Veil? sets his seal most effectively to this word of Jesus! Then note 16:24-25, and the word *?If!? *We can become a believer easily, for *Jesus paid it all*! But to become a disciple, *we* then must pay it all by *identifying* ourselves with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection. Romans 6 sets forth this truth of identification with Jesus in death through baptism - most effectively. Rees Howells illustrates this high cost of full discipleship in his biography by Norman P. Grubb. Discipleship is * conditional* following initial salvation. It is Jesus' desire that every believer be fully discipled - but the ?If? stops most of us from taking this extra and final step. Oswald Chambers biography by David McCasland effectively confirms this. Matthew 18:15-17 - ?The Cure of Evil Speaking? was one of the most important requirements for membership in John Wesley's Class Meetings. 70,000 heard, counted the cost, and met this condition. One secular sociologist of that day in the 1700's - said that apart from this potent group of disciples in the British Isles, The French Revolution in 1889 with its guillotine - would have swept across the English Channel and devastated Great Britain as it did France. Every church that has practically walked in Matthew 18:15-17 - has seen extraordinary revival and evangelism! King David had the type of spirit of a 100% disciple. See Psalm 27:1 - *?Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?? *David had a confidence in You, Father, that displaced the fear of man and circumstances. Jesus as the Son of man had that same relationship with You. We can have it too! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue May 3 10:18:29 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 3 May 2011 10:18:29 -0700 Subject: Matthew 19-23 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 3, 2011 *JAN 28 - MATTHEW 19-23 - CHALLENGE OF JESUS IN JUDEA* *1. 19:9 (19:1-12) JESUS ON DIVORCE. ?And I say unto you [that] Whoever shall put away his :wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery? (NNT). *We should not make more nor less of the words of Jesus, which are really Your Words, Father. We will walk in Kingdom Principles! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 19:14-15 (19:13-15) JESUS AND CHILDREN. ?But :Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of the heavens. 15 And he laid :hands on them, and departed from there.? *We should memorize and meditate on these words till they are part of the warp and woof of our being! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 19:28 (19:16-20:16) JESUS ON WEALTH. ?And :Jesus said to them, Amen I say unto you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of :man shall sit on a throne of his glory, YOU also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of :Israel.? *This follows a new heaven and a new earth; this follows Your coming in Glory, Lord Jesus. May we not water this saying down. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 20:26b-28 (20:17-21:11) JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM. ?But who would become great among you shall be your servant; 27 and who would be first among you shall be your bondman: 28 even as the Son of :man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his :life a ransom for many.? *O Father, write this Kingdom principle deep on our heart. Circumcise our hearts from all that is contrary to this spirit of :Jesus! Forgive us for having such a desire for recognition, pre-eminence and wealth. May we be willing to settle for what You appoint for us. *Our :daily bread give us this day!* *5. 21:13 (21:12-22:14) JESUS ON JEWRY. ?And Jesus said to them, It is written, My :house shall be called a house of prayer: but you make it a den of robbers.? *Prayer or Profit? Father, we have defiled Your house by putting the emphasis on the latter. Forgive us this sin and wrong priority. Wealth is neutral, but our attitude contaminates. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 22:22, 33, 46 (22:15-46) JESUS SILENCES ENEMIES. ?And when they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went away. 33 And the crowds heard andwere astonished at his :teaching. 46 And no one could answer him a word, neither dared any man from that :day question him any more.? *Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees, lawyers and multitudes: all marveled at Jesus' teaching. Yes, Satan too is silenced by the words of wisdom in Jesus. *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 23:23-24 (23) JESUS DENOUNCES LEADERS. ?Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you tithe :mint and :anise and :cummin, and have left the weightier* *matters of the law: :judgment and :mercy, and :faith; but these you ought to have done, and not to have left those. 24Blind guides, straining out the gnat, and swallowing the camel!? *What a denunciation: but You in Jesus have this right, Father! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *21:43-44 (21:12-22:14) *?Therefore I say unto you [that], The kingdom of :God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth its :fruits. 44 And who falls on this :stone shall be broken to pieces: but on whoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.? * We ponder well these words Father, for we who stand in pride shall surely fall. We here enter into the last week of Jesus! *This* is the real purpose of Jesus' coming as Son of :man - God's only-begotten Son - who in His pre-incarnate state was an integral part of the Tri-unity of the Godhead. For us to fully understand the magnitude of this, it seems that we of the redeemed part of the human race, will have to await our resurrection at the return of our Lord Jesus - or our departure from this life to join the redeemed and the angels and God in heaven! What Jesus taught in this last week leading up to His Passion, especially Matthew 23 - ensured that nothing could prevent our Redemption and Reconciliation by Jesus at Calvary. From one fifth to one third of the 4 Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - *major* on this last week. *This* shows what God thinks is the key part of the Gospels. The apostle Paul well understood the centrality of the Cross. He determined in his preaching and teaching to know as the core: Jesus Christ and *Him crucified*. We would do well to join Paul in this emphasis. *Jesus* is King David's *Greater Son*! As a prophet, David continually points forward to Jesus. He must have seen in vision much of what would take place in the coming Abraham's seed and his seed in the humanity of Jesus, the Son of :man. Both Joseph the step-father of Jesus and Mary His actual mother - were of the seed of David. Joseph gave to Jesus the legal right to the Throne of David; Mary gave Him the actual right. We should again and again read and meditate upon this last week of Jesus on earth leading up to the supreme purpose of His coming. It was *not*primarily as a great teacher; nor our prime example! It was to undo the damage wrought by Adam in yielding to Satan's temptation through Eve. If we take our gaze from this primary purpose - we miss the Father's primary thinking on the whole Bible. *Covenant* is the basis to give us understanding on this; and the *New Covenant* is based on Jesus' blood! For - the life is in the blood! In Psalm 28:6-7 David 1000 years before the coming of his Greater Son - voices the following words: *?Blessed be Jehovah, Because he has heard the voice of my supplications. 7 Jehovah is my strength and my shield; My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped: Therefore my heart greatly rejoices; And with my song will I praise him.?* David, Isaiah and the other Biblical prophets all spoke and wrote consistently on the theme of this last week of Jesus. Isaiah 53 is still rejected by those who cannot receive God Almighty's thinking on all of this! J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed May 4 09:34:26 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 4 May 2011 09:34:26 -0700 Subject: Matthew 26-28 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 4, 2011 *DAY 30 - MATTHEW 26-28 - CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS* *1. 26:14-16 (26:1-16) CRUCIFIXION PLOTTED. ?Then one of the twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 and said, What are you willing to give me, and I will deliver him to you. And they weighed him thirty silver-pieces. 16 And from then on he sought opportunity to deliver him? (NNT). *O deliver us from ever falling, when tempted to betray Jesus either by neglect, commission or example. * Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 26:27-28 (26:17-35) PASSOVER SUPPER. ?And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, All you drink of it; 28 for this is my :blood of the covenant, :poured out for many unto remission of sins.? *Father, You are the God who calls the things that are not as though they were! You were in Christ reconciling the world to Yourself - Calvary was here as good as already done! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 26:39 (26:36-56) GETHSEMANE. ?And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, praying, and saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this :cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.? *Nowhere Father, will we find a more poignant example of Your will being done on earth as it is in heaven. You and Your Son have made an everlasting covenant of salvation on our behalf. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 26:75 (26:57-75) PETER DENIES JESUS. ?And :Peter remembered the word Jesus had said [that], Before the cock crow, you shall deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.? *May we not like Peter trust in our flesh. But may we in You be faithful to You and Your Son! It is only Christ living in us the exchanged life, that any of us can overcome! *Our :daily bread give us this day!* *5. 27:46, 50 (27:1-56) DEATH OF JESUS. ?And about the ninth hour :Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthanei? that is, My God, my God, why did you forsake me? 50 And :Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and he yielded up his :spirit.? *This is Jesus' time of the Dark Night of the Soul. Father You turned Your back, as Your Son became sin for us. O what holiness as propitiation was made! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 27:64 (27:57-66) THE TOMB. ?Command therefore that the sepulcher be made secure until the third day, lest haply the disciples come and steal him, and say to the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first.? *What poetic justice! The presence of Roman soldiers gave even greater credence to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead! How You can turn the tables Father, and sitting in the heavens, laugh! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 28:5-6 (28) RESURRECTION AND COMMISSION. ?And the angel answered andsaid to the women, Fear not YOU; for I know that you seek Jesus the crucified one. 6 He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.? *What a message of joy! What a word of fulfillment! What a story of victory! Jesus is risen! Shout it abroad! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 28:18-20 (28) ?And :Jesus came to **them and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given me in heaven and on :earth. 19 Go therefore, and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to keep all things whatever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you all the days till the consummation of the age.? *The fullness of the Godhead bodily dwells in You, Lord Jesus! One world-known evangelical evangelist uses the following baptismal formula: ?I baptize you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.? Of all the occurrences within the last week of Jesus - the Cross and the Resurrection are the key points in the mind of God. It was for *this* that Jesus came! It was for this that He divested Himself of the prerogatives of Deity, humbled Himself to become man - and in the end made Redemption and Reconciliation through His blood on our behalf. To miss understanding on this key event, is to miss God's mind and thinking on the greatest event in all of history. The apostle Paul did *not* miss this understanding - nor Peter and the other apostles - nor the early church. It is *this* understanding that motivated and catapulted early believers from the Outer Court of the Tabernacle, into the Holy Place - and *then* right on into the Holy of Holies through the riven veil - into the very presence of God. A failure to understand this - is a failure for the majority of believers today - especially American believers - to press into full identification with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection. It is total death to our self-life - our will - all of this - just like Jesus in His humanity, was placed at God's full disposal; so by us as His perfect servants with Christ we should do the same! *Full* Discipleship! *Matthew 28:18-20*! Obedient to all the teaching and commandments of Christ which He gave to His disciples in His earthly life - and commissioned them to pass this along to *all* future believers. Mere conversion is *not* enough. Full discipleship is the clear mandate of our God and His Christ. Anything less is failing Him in His great sacrifice on our behalf. ?*My Utmost* for His Highest? must come to us with heavenly clarion call. ?Personal, Passionate Devotion to Jesus? - *this* is normal Christianity from heaven's view point. Your Will, Father, be done on earth - *as it is in heaven*. All heavenly angels and departed saints walk this way. *This* is the goal for us. *Now* is the time of preparation for a vast eternity versus the brief 70-90 years down here. So - Matthew 26-28 is really the focal point to which all the preceding 25 chapters of Matthew have laid the foundation. Jesus again and again said, *?He that has ears, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches!? *This was the insistent note of Pastor Bob Birch, the apostle of love and prayer of Canada. Perhaps this is an explanation for the astounding election results in Canada this early part of May, 2011. Dr. David Yonggi Cho of Seoul, South Korea 3 times prophesied that God has reserved Canada for a special role to play among the nations of the world just prior to the return of the Son of God as Lord of lords and King of kings. Let the evil-minded of both America and Canada tremble at the changes our Lord will make upon His return. Let the homosexuals, the evil educators, and abortionists etc. - tremble! Changes are about to come. Satan and witchcraft is about to end for 1000 years. Imagine! Psalm 30:11-12 exactly expresses the reaction of God's people in the light of this. *?You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to you, and not be silent. O Jehovah my God, I will give thanks unto you for ever.?* At the remembrance of these things Father, we honor You and Your Goodness and Righteous love! J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu May 5 09:23:53 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 5 May 2011 09:23:53 -0700 Subject: Matthew 24-25 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 5, 2011 *JAN 29 - MATTHEW 24-25 - COMING AGAIN OF JESUS* *1. 24:2 (24:1-2) DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE. ?But Jesus answered and said to them, Do you not see all these things? Amen I say unto you, In no wise shall one stone be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down? (NNT). *Father, You have no sentiment that is mawkish concerning things that sin and rebellion have corrupted. We thank You for Your integrity concerning things of principle in Your Kingdom! *Hallowed be Your Name!* *2. 24:14 (24:3-28) SIGNS OF HIS COMING. ?And this :gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a witness unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.? *It is *then* that the end shall come. This is a Kingdom principle! May we not Father, water it down by some extreme dispensational teaching born of man. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 24:30 (24:29-31) THE SECOND COMING. ?And then shall appear the sign of the Son of :man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and shall see the Son of :man coming on the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory.? *This is not just a prophecy: this is a prophetic *sign*! How powerful You are, Father, concerning Your Son! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 24:34-35 (24:32-51) PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE. ?Amen I say unto you, This race shall not pass away till all these things come to pass. 35 The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my :words shall not pass away.? *May we not let the traditions of man affect our interpretation of Scripture! Teach us a sound hermeneutic! Teach us to let the Word of God mean what it wants to mean! Teach us to let You say what *You* want to say! *Our :daily bread give us this day.* *5. 25:13 (25:1-13) PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS. ?Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour.? *Why should You wish to violate this precept, Father? What is in human nature, even of believers, that we so glibly offer our interpretations, and forget to *tremble* at Your Word (Isaiah 66:2)? *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 25:29 (25:14-30) PARABLE OF TALENTS. ?For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that has not, even what he has shall be taken away.? *May we learn to fear from this, Father, and recognize that the Fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom! May we not be so positive as to forget these are negative warnings! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 25:40 (25:31-46) JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS. ?And the King shall answer and say to them, Amen I say unto you, Inasmuch as you did it unto one of these my :brethren, these least, you did it unto me.? *Lord Jesus, You are our King! We acknowledge You as the Father's choice. You Who were with God - divested Yourself of the prerogatives of Deity, and as Son of man walked by faith like us; that satisfactory Atonement by a Mediator might be made! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 24:22 (24:3-28) ?And except those :days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect's sake those :days shall be shortened.? *What a solemn declaration! Father, we trust You; we lean hard upon You; we resign our eternal welfare completely into Your hands and the hands of Your Messiah! These two chapters are Jesus' direct reply to the questions of His 12 disciples. Because for 3 years they had been asking for clearer explanations for all of his public teachings - therefore His answer near the end of His 3 year ministry has special significance. It will behoove us to pay special attention to His answer here. In 70 AD under Emperor Titus of Rome, the destruction of Herod's Temple took place exactly as the Son of God foretold. Not *one* prophecy of our Lord failed in fulfillment in every detail. According to Deuteronomy 18:21-22, *any* who prophesies what does not come to pass, has spoken * presumptuously*, that which Jehovah has *not* spoken, and Moses by the Spirit enjoins us *not* to fear such presumptuous speakers. What Bible prophets have spoken in the Name of Jehovah, like those of our Lord Jesus - have *all* come to pass. I fear in our generation, too many glibly speak what the Lord has not spoken, and such should be challenged and taken to task - for their sake. For the day will come when all such must stand before our glorious Lord at His Second Coming before His B*E*ma Judgment seat, and *answer* for our deeds done in the body. Glib words of prophecy spoken in His Name that do *not* come to pass, will be counted as deeds done in the body - and in *that* day will be judged! It is proper and loving that we * warn* such careless prophets ahead of time. We all need to remember James 3:1 (3:1-18) - ?*Be not* *many teachers*, my brethren, knowing that *we* shall receive *greater condemnation*!? Will we listen to this warning of the Holy Spirit through James, our Lord's brother after the flesh? Probably many of us will not. But - we *will* remember this word when we stand before our Lord at His Judgment Seat! Matthew 24:14 is a most significant verse. Back in the late 1960's Marie and I led in a church of some 100 or so. We were preaching through the Bible in a Year, and for each week's reading we selected a key verse, and some in the congregation set it to music. The church children memorized it in song, and taught it to the congregation. The above verse was one of the 52 verses memorized for that year. I still sing it regularly. Do you think this verse espouses a condition prior to the end? I do. Would this position change the theology of many in these latter days? I believe it should. The tragedy of today is that we adjust the Bible to fit our theology - *not* our theology to fit the Bible! What do you think God expects? I have selected each of the key verses in this 7-fold context back in the 1980's. This involves 366x7 verses. God's Bible Numeric Greek and English NT was a great help for this New Testament, and Panin's Bible Chronology based on selected portions of the OT Hebrew text, helped in this selection. Also the contextual arrangement of the Thomas Newberry Reference Bible of 1890 has been a great help. He spent 100,000 hours perfecting this text with his careful notes. Many beside myself have found it a great help. It is still available today by ?Kregel Publications? of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Psalm 29:1-2 - *?Ascribe unto Jehovah, O you sons of the mighty, Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength. * *2** Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name; Worship Jehovah in holy array,.? *Help Father - Raise up Your mighty ones, Your men of Valor, Your* a*postles and prophets, Your Dread Champions! *Then* praise and worship will prosper! Psalm 29 accords with this 29th day of January. J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed May 11 11:17:10 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 11:17:10 -0700 Subject: Exodus 1-18 Overview Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 11, 2011 * JAN 31-FEB 6 - EXODUS 1-18 - OVERVIEW - REDEMPTION THROUGH BLOOD* *JAN 31. 2:10 (1-2) MOSES: HIS PREPARATION. ?And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, and said, Because I drew him out of the water? (ASV '01). *How great is Your provision for Your Kingdom, O Father! You can use a heathen king Cyrus, or a Pharaoh's daughter. *Hallowed be Your Name!* *FEB 1. 3:14 (3-4) MOSES: HIS CALL. ?And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM; and he said, Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me unto you.? *You have revealed Yourself unto us by Your Name, O great Jehovah Father. You have given Your Name unto Jesus (Jehovah saves). *Your :kingdom come!* *FEB 2. 5:17-18 (5:1-7:18) PHARAOH: HIS PERSECUTION. ?But Pharaoh said, You are idle, you are idle: therefore you say, Let us go and sacrifice to Jehovah. 18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall you deliver the number of bricks.? *Pharaoh and Satan may not give us our daily needs - but You do, O Father! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *FEB 3. 10:7 (7:19-11:10) PHARAOH: THE TEN PLAGUES. ?And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve Jehovah their God: do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed? *You Father, are able to bring Your enemies to repentance, and to bow before You! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *FEB 4. 12:11b-12 (12-13) JEHOVAH: THE PASSOVER. ?And you shall eat it in haste: it is Jehovah's passover. 12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am Jehovah.? *And while You test Egypt Father, You protect Your people in Goshen from these judgments! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *FEB 5. 16:4 (14-17) JEHOVAH: HIS PROVISION. ?Then said Jehovah unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.? *Satan can look upon Your provision for us Father, and gnash his teeth. For *You* prepare for us a table in the presence of our enemies! *And bring us not into temptation!* *FEB 6. 18:23 (18) JEHOVAH: CONFIRMS JETHRO'S COUNSEL. ?If you shall do this thing, and God command you so, then you shall be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.? *And You O Father, confirmed the words of Jethro to Moses, and peace crowned his counsel. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *The Exodus presents two distinct aspects of truth for us through Israel. Redemption through the Blood comes up as the apex to the 10 judgments of God upon the gods of Egypt. This culminates in the first of God's great Feasts given to Israel as a type and shadow. It lays the foundation for the Lord's Supper that came under the New Covenant through Jesus - some 1500 years later. The last half of this second book of God through Moses - lays the foundation for the proper method of approach to God through protocol - through the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, and later as the Temple of Solomon. In 1944 Lee Ellenwood from California brought up to Canada a series of messages based on Moses' Tabernacle. The Outer Court majors on the Feast of Passover at the Brazen Altar. The Holy Place brings us into union and communion with Jesus, the Savior of our souls. But the Holy of Holies represents the union of our spirit with the Spirit of God above the Mercy Seat - and through the Riven Veil. Then our recreated spirit can take precedence over our redeemed soul to form a *united heart* that David in Psalm 86:11 so longed for. For more insights on this latter, look into ?The Tabernacle Tour? - Face to Face with God - A Handbook on Heart Transformation - by Jim Ray - *< www.thetabernacletour.com>.* Probably Exodus 12-13 is a high water mark for the entire book of Exodus, for it lays out ?The Passover? by our great God ?Jehovah?! I also like Exodus 18 with Jethro's advice to Moses concerning the handling of interpersonal problems through cell groups. Some think this is merely a man's suggestion. *Not so*! Moses' father-in-law Jethro was most careful to say - ?If *God* confirms my counsel - *then* go ahead in implementing it! God did! And Moses did! When Jesus fed the 5000 and the 4000, he had his 12 disciples set them in groups of 50's and 100's - in line with the wise counsel of God through Jethro. And finally, look at the Psalm for February 6th - 36:5-6. *?Your lovingkindness (CHEsed), O Jehovah, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness ** reaches** unto the skies. **6** Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are a great deep: O Jehovah, you preserve man and beast.?* David by the Holy Spirit confirms the workings of God on behalf of His people in the days of the Exodus from Egypt. But He is just as faithful to His people - Jews and Gentiles - today. He changes not! J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu May 12 10:17:37 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 12 May 2011 10:17:37 -0700 Subject: Exodus 1-2 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 12, 2011 *JAN 31 - EXODUS 1-2 - MOSES: HIS PREPARATION* *1. 1:1, 5 (1:1-6) EGYPT: JACOB'S 70. ?Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob.) 5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: and Joseph was in Egypt already? (NNT '01). *Genesis ends with a coffin; Exodus begins the same way, but then moves into abundance plus persecution. All this abundance was based on the Sanhedrin of 70 souls from the loins of Jacob. From them came the twelve tribes of Israel. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 1:12 (1:7-14) EGYPT: HARSH BONDAGE UPON ISRAEL. ?But the more Egypt afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.? *Abundance brought persecution; persecution brought more abundance; greater abundance brought more bitter persecution. But all of this was but a prelude to the *Exodus*! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 1:17 (1:15-22) EGYPT: MALE CHILDREN DESTROYED. ?But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men-children alive.? *How marvelous the faith of these two women! Yet the bitterness of persecution took a new and frightening turn: repeated when Jesus was an infant; multiplied with today's abortions! It all reflects Satan's rage and hatred toward God and His people. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 2:10 (2:1-10) MOSES: HIS DELIVERANCE. ?And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, and said, Because I drew him out of the water.? *Let Satan rage: You Father, are well able to save Your Moses and Jesus in spite of his raging. Greater is our God in us that Satan in the world! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 2:15 (2:11-15) MOSES: HIS FLIGHT. ?Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.? *Your hand Father is with us, even though we understand not the path that we take. You are making Your purposes work together for good. You make a way to escape that we may be able to bear temptation. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 2:21-22 (2:16-22) MOSES: HIS PROVISION FROM GOD. ?And Moses was content to live with Jethro: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 22 And she bore a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.? *These were not easy days. They were as when Elijah dwelt by the brook Cherith with the widow. It was Your provision Father, until the time of Your deliverance came! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 2:24-25 (2:23-25) MOSES: HIS GOD. ?And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God saw the children of Israel, and God took knowledge of them.? *We see Psalm 107 here. How faithful You are Father! When we call unto You in our trouble, You incline Your ear unto us and with Your strong right arm You deliver us! * But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: 1:20-21 (1:15-22) ?And God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and grew mightily. **21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them households.? *There is a reward for fearing You Father, and doing that which is righteous in Your sight! Moses is highly regarded among the Orthodox Jews, probably even above Abraham. For Christians, we read of the contrast in the book of Hebrews between Moses and Christ. Jesus is placed far above Moses - but at the same time, just as Jesus built His church of Jew and Gentile in the One New Man - so Moses built the Old Covenant body of Israel, the 12 tribes of Jacob. And Israel is but a shadow of the church. Moses - according to history and Jesus - is the human author of the first 5 Old Covenant Books called the Torah by Jews - and the Pentateuch by the church. Forget the foolish ?Documentary Hypothesis? by the Modernistic so-called scholars, beginning in Germany. Those not born from above by the Spirit of God - have an innate hatred of God and His Word. Let them rage at the true evangelical position. At the B*E*ma Judgment Seat of Christ upon His Return - it will be abundantly clear that Psalm 2 is correct. He who dwells in the heavens is laughing now - and *will laugh* at the foolish theories of the unbelievers. Darwin is only one of many of these. Exodus chapters 1 & 2 set forth the true history of the times of Moses in which he was born and brought up. The selected views from these two chapters plus the 7-fold outline - lays the foundation explaining God's supernatural watch-care over Moses as a baby - and His subsequent choice of this man as the human deliverer in His hands - to bring Israel out of Egypt. Psalm 30 is the Psalm for January 30th and 31st. *30:1-2 ?I will extol you, O Jehovah; for you have raised me up, And has not made my foes to rejoice over me. 2 O Jehovah my God, I cried unto you, and you have healed me.? *See how in spirit it fits in with the unassailable ability of God to protect His people in the midst of their enemies. From our view-point He may at times seem slow in His deliverance - but from ?eternity's values in view? - it is always just right! See Hebrews 4:16 (4:14-16) *?Let us therefore with boldness approach the throne of :grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.? *Here Paul reveals God as the One who provides grace to help *in time of need*! Ern Baxter liked to phrase this - as the God who helps *in the nick of time*! Be assured - *our God* always does right: perhaps not too soon - but never too late! JAWatt* * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri May 13 11:06:10 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 13 May 2011 11:06:10 -0700 Subject: Exodus 3-4 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 13, 2011 *FEB 1 - EXODUS 3-4 - MOSES: HIS CALL* *1. 3:5, 10 (3:1-10) MOSES: CALL & COMMISSION. ?And God said, Do not draw nigh here: put off your shoes from off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 10 Come now therefore, and I will send you unto Pharaoh, that you may bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.? (NNT '01). *First You empower us Father through vision and revelation; then You commission us. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 3:12 (3:11-12) MOSES: FIRST COMPLAINT OVERCOME. ?And God said, Certainly I will be with you; and this shall be the token unto you, that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain.?* We bless You Father - that You confirm Your prophetic word with a sign! What an encouragement this is to us! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 3:14 (3:13-22) MOSES: SECOND COMPLAINT OVERCOME. ?And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me unto you.? *Father, you are I AM. You are saying by this - I continue to be and will be, what I continue to be and will be! What assurance in our soul comes from this! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 4:16-17 (4:1-17) MOSES: THREE MORE COMPLAINTS OVERCOME. ?And Aaron shall be your spokesman unto the people; and it shall come to pass, that he shall be to you a mouth, and you shall be to him as God. 17 And you shall take in you hand this rod, with which you shall do the signs.? *You understand Father, our reluctance to speak Your prophetic Word apart from the confirmation of signs. Here You give three signs through Moses' rod! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 4:22-23 (4:18-23) MOSES: CALL AND COMMISSION RENEWED. ?And you shall say unto Pharaoh, Thus says Jehovah, Israel is my son, my first-born: 23 and I have said unto you, Let my son go, that he may serve me; and you have refused to let him go: behold, I will slay your son, your first-born.? *What a terrible warning! O may we not refuse You Father, as did Pharaoh! May our flesh not refuse You. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 4:24 (4:24-26) MOSES: PERSECUTED FOR CIRCUMCISION. ?And it came to pass on the way at the lodging-place, that Jehovah met him, and sought to kill him.? *Father, only when we as leaders set the example of walking in Your laws and statutes, are we worthy to lead. Indeed, we jeopardize our lives if we fail to keep Your pattern. *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 4:31 (4:27-31) MOSES AND AARON: A TEAM. ?And the people believed: and when they heard that Jehovah had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.? *What a wonderful result that came from a confirmed prophetic word! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: 3:15 (3:13-22) ?And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, **Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.? *You are the everlasting Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We worship You in awe and reverential fear, in the beauty of holiness. Today's reading should be an encouragement to many of us. How many of us have received a commission or mandate from God - and then like Moses started making excuses, and asking Him to find someone else for His task? God patiently countered objection after objection by Moses, and finally won his obedience. Then consider 4:22-23, where God calls Israel His first-born son! This is a high calling indeed! And when we read Romans 11, we find that God's choice of Israel in the OT carries over to our NT times. Paul pleads with the Gentile church not to enter into ?Replacement Theology.? The church has *not * replaced Israel. She under Christ will be the chief nation upon earth under the benign rule of Christ! However, the One New Man - the Church - composed of Jew and Gentile - will have a role laid out in the NT epistles of great interest. Yet - the 12 apostles of Jesus *will rule* the 12 tribes of Israel in the Millennium according to the clear words and promise of Jesus. It is incumbent upon us - necessary - that we *do not slip* into Replacement Theology in the light of the above. I unconsciously absorbed this teaching from Old-line historic churches as a boy and a man - and not until 1990 under Messianic Rabbi Murray Silberling at Beth Simcha, were my eyes opened to the subtle error of the majority of churches in North America in this respect. This day's reading has another teaching of interest. Here God reveals to Moses His true name, Jehovah. I prefer this above Yahweh, and you can see why by reading the Introduction to the ASV '01. Here the American translators set forth their reasoning for this choice, which I side with. I do not believe that this choice is one of the Moravian essentials - but rather one of the non-essentials. Yet we all need to extend love to one another in this field of non-essential choice - like our Moravian friends. In the Thomas Newberry Reference Bible published by ?Kregel? of Michigan, one can find added justification for the above choice. Newberry back in 1890 printed that the Tetragrammaton of the 4 Hebrew letters - is a formation of the 3 parts of the verb ?to be?. It places ?Ye-h*o*VAH? in this formation, from which Jehovah comes in English transliteration. ?Ye? is the future tense; ?h*o*? is the *present* participle; and ?VAH? is the past tense. This lines up with Jesus in Hebrews 12:8 - the same yesterday (VAH); today (h*o*); and forever (Ye). This also lines up with Revelation 1:8 where Jesus in His resurrected state tells John *?I am the Alpha and the O, says the Lord :God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.?* Here again we find the three parts of the verb ?to be?. The Lord :God is indeed the *?I AM?! * Psalm 31:14-16, from our Psalm for the day reads *?But I trusted in you, O Jehovah: I said, You are my God. 15 My times are in your hand: Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from them that persecute me. 16 Make your face to shine upon your servant: Save me in your lovingkindness (CHEsed).? *Yes Father, our trust is in You and Your Name! * *JAWatt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat May 14 16:44:59 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 14 May 2011 16:44:59 -0700 Subject: Exodus 5:1-7:18 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 14, 2011 *FEB 2 - EXODUS 5:1-7:18 - PHARAOH: HIS PERSECUTION* *1. 5:17-18 (5:1-18) PHARAOH: HEART HARDENED. ?But he said, You are idle, you are idle: therefore you say, Let us go and sacrifice to Jehovah. 18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall you deliver the number of bricks.? *This is a terrible situation to be in; yet You designed it Father, that You could make all things work together for good! We submit to Your at times mysterious ways! *Hallowed be your name!* *2. 5:20-21 (5:19-21) MOSES: BLAMED FOR PHARAOH'S PERSECUTION. ?And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: 21 and they said unto them, Jehovah look upon you, and judge; because you have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.? *This is bad! Yet Father, we thank You that Moses obeyed You in spite of these temporary consequences! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 6:2-5 (5:22-6:8) MOSES: SIXTH COMPLAINT OVERCOME. ?And God spoke unto Moses, and said unto him, I am Jehovah: 3 and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Jehovah I was not known to them. 4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojournings, in which they sojourned. 5 Moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.? Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 6:9 (6:9-27) MOSES: SEVENTH COMPLAINT OVERCOME. ?And Moses spoke so unto the children of Israel: but they did not listen to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.? *We can understand the reaction of Israel at this juncture; yet it is still not justified in the light of Your spoken intent, Father! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 7:4 (6:28-7:5) MOSES: EIGHTH COMPLAINT OVERCOME. ?But Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I will lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.? *Father, You are a God Who is able to multiply signs and wonders to confirm Your Spoken Word! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.?* *6. 7:11-12 (7:6-13) PHARAOH: CONTEST BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN. ?Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers: and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.? *Satan too can work lying signs and wonders through his servants: but *they* are limited when compared with You, Father! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 7:17 (7:14-18) PHARAOH: PRECIPITATES JUDGMENT. ?Thus says Jehovah, In this you shall know that I am Jehovah: behold, I will strike with the rod that is in my hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.? *Only two of the ten plagues could Pharaoh's servants duplicate! From then on it was all of You, Father! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: 6:1 (5:22-6:8) ?And Jehovah said unto Moses, Now shall you see what I will do to Pharaoh: for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.? *The following seven verses are as powerful as anything in the Bible! Here there are five *indications of intent* applied to the church, and eight *unconditional prophetic futures *! There are amazing lessons for us in this portion of Exodus. Five times in 6:1-5 a peculiar tense in this Hebrew text appears. It is the *long tense*in the past, preceded by the consonant ?vav?. In the Introduction of the Thomas Newberry Reference Bible of 1890, on page xiii he places this as a Diagram with the the following notation: ?Permanency. An established fact. Or perfect tense.? No other language in the world but Hebrew contains this unique construction. No wonder God in 1890 let Ivan Panin discover His Bible Numerics, which only appear in the Hebrew and Greek languages - the two languages *He* chose to have His 33 known writers write their 66 books. Newberry calls the grammatical and numeric factors of the Hebrew language especially - ?*God's Urim and Thummim*?, or ?Lights and Perfections?. This is his exact notation on this - ?An action or event in the past, having this stamp upon it, ceases to be a mere historical circumstance, a point in the expanse of past time; it gives it a present value, marking it out as having a *spiritual present application*, and it may be, a prophetical future; and also it stamps on future predictions *the certainty of accomplished facts*.? Now to apply this insight, these five examples of the Hebrew perfect tense, which God uses here 5 times. Newberry has this further comment upon the extreme importance of this unique construction: ?This remarkable and important use of the ?vav? or conjunction ?and? is peculiar to the Hebrew Scriptures. The continuous character of the long tense is thus connected with transactions of the past, and *permanency* stamped upon them, so that what might otherwise have been regarded as temporary actions or events, are marked thereby as permanent facts, stereotyped, so to speak, *for future use *. ?By the use of the *vav* the decision of the short tense is *also* stamped on the present; and the certainty of accomplished facts on future predictions.? Note carefully the 5 examples of this unique construction: 1. 6:1 - ?Then Jehovah *said*? 2. 6:2 - ?And God *spoke* unto Moses? 3. 6:2b - ?And *said* unto him? 4. 6:3 - ?I *appeared* unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob? 5. 6:5 - ?I *have remembered* My covenant? Now God intends that we as Christian believers in the light of the above - should ask ourselves - *how* do these 5 unusual declarations by God have *present application* for us today? For by this construction God intends us to understand that *they do*! After these 5 significant declarations with present time application, God follows up with 8 ?short tenses? in the future. When this is accompanied with the Subjunctive aorist, it produces ?Decision in the future! Certainty!? Newberry went 5 times through the entire Hebrew OT, carefully examining each occurrence of the ?vav connective? in the above two examples. Again, no other language but Biblical Hebrew has this unique construction. God designed it, and God has utilized it to enable Him to express *exactly* what He desires. Then He follows it up in the Greek text of the NT with the amazing discoveries of Ivan Panin starting in 1890. Like Thomas Newberry - he *too* spent 100,000 hours perfecting his discovery. Now look at the 8 prophetic futures appearing here - with great relevancy in application for you and me! 1. 6:6 - ?*I will bring you out* from under the burdens of the Egyptians.? Because of the preceding 5 unique declarations of God for Israel - it also applies to us! - we can assuredly rest in the knowledge that through Christ, God has brought us out from the burdens of *the world*! 2. ?and *I will rid you* of this bondage!? Believe it! Apply it! Receive God's application for you and me! 3. ?And *I will redeem you* with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments!? And - *this* also applies to us! 4. 6:7 - ?and *I will take you to Me* for a people.? And this God *did* for Israel - and this He *has* done through Christ for the church in the One New Man!? 5. ?and *I will be to you* a God!? - and *how He was* to Israel as recounted in the 10 plagues that defeated Pharaoh, and the victories under Joshua, and the Judges, and the good kings of Judah. And how *much greater* through Christ has He allowed us to pass through the Riven Veil into intimacy with God. 6. ?And *you shall know* that I am Jehovah your God which brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.? And let us apply *this* to ourselves also! 7. 6:8 - ?And *I will bring you in* unto the land concerning which I did swear to give IT to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.? This land from the Nile to the Euphrates is for Israel by the fiat of God! Under Solomon it was so - and under Christ it *will* be fully restored. And for us - the *eternal rest* of the New Jerusalem and Paradise, as seen by Paul and John! 8. ?And *I will give IT* to you for a heritage: I am Jehovah!? And just as God's promise to Israel will come to pass as shown by Paul in Romans 11 - so will all of God's spiritual promises to the church be an eternal heritage. Psalm 32:1-2 - *?Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom Jehovah imputes not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile.? *Confession of sin and Your forgiveness, Father: what a blessing to the sons and daughters of men! And it is all because of Jesus and His Atonement! What a blessed covenant on our behalf is between You and Your Son! Our Psalm here for FEB 2, abundantly confirms this marvelous revelation from this portion of Exodus! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon May 16 14:29:22 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 14:29:22 -0700 Subject: Dreams Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 16, 2011 *DREAMS - 2011-05-16* Yesterday I received the following Email: - Greetings Dear Brother - This morning I was dozing, going in and out of sleep when I experienced a short vision. I was crossing over a bridge and saw, to my right, a group of five vultures attempting to eat a living, wildcat kitten. The kitten was at the edge of the bridge precipice and a sudden move away from her tormentors would be death as she would fatally fall. I immediately awakened and the Lord asked me how I would save the kitten. After pondering that question for a while the answer came to me. I would be interested to know what you would do? Bless you and Marie - Texas. At my age (87) and time of life, I rarely move into dream and vision interpretation anymore - even my own. I have felt the commission from the Lord to prepare for printing the ?Outlined Interlinear Greek NT for Laymen? - and the ?Through the Bible in a Year Daily Devotional? takes precedence over this. I was about to suggest to my friend in Texas that he contact Adrian Beale and Adam Thompson of Australia concerning this. Their book ?Dreams - The Divinity Code? - The Keys to Decoding Your Dreams and Visions - *< www.thedivinitycode.org>* with the help of their ?The Metaphor Dictionary? - could bring confirmation. But I sensed the Holy Spirit saying - ?In this case - would you like to ask Me for the interpretation your friend has requested?? Following is in line with the way I go about receiving dream and vision interpretation in which I have moved this way in the past. I use what I call the ?TTAQ? formula. For ?T? - I find a ?Title? for the dream. For the second ?T?, I seek its ?Theme?. For ?A? - I look for the ?feeling or emotion or affection? that accompanies the dream. And for ?Q? - I ask the Holy Spirit for His Insight on it. So in line with this 4-fold formula, I asked the Holy Spirit for His Insights. Immediately He reminded me of Joshua chapter 10. The Gibeonites had just tricked Joshua in making a covenant treaty with them. Three days later Israel discovered their trickery - but by then it was too late to reverse the covenant witnessed by God. Shortly afterwards 5 kings of that area turned against their former Gibeonite friends because of the Covenant they now had with Israel. The Gibeonites immediately sent messengers to Joshua - ?O great covenant brother - please come and help us. 5 kings - former friends of ours - are about to attack us.? Israel complained, ?Why did you have to make a covenant with those God had set for destruction?? Too late, Joshua said. We failed to consult Urim and Thummim in this case, just as with Ai - and were deceived. But covenant is covenant. We now have no recourse but to rescue the Gibeonites. Israel swiftly fell on the 5 kings and defeated them and saved the Gibeonites - now their covenant friends. Furthermore - God performed one of the greatest miracles in the Bible - at Joshua's command for the sun to stand still, God heard and honored the voice of man! For almost a day the sun stood still, until Joshua completed the full defeat of these 5 kings! This is what I heard the Holy Spirit say to me. The Gibeonites are the wildcat kitten. The 5 kings are the 5 vultures. Joshua is the Lord's representative in Israel to save the Gibeonites - the kitten. We are representatives of the Lord like Joshua, upon covenant basis - and can *also* deliver all those in covenant relationship with us, even Gibeonites by trickery - or wildcat kittens. Marie and I again and again have seen victory on behalf of covenant friends under attack of Satan, his angels, demons, and human cohorts. This is the interpretation of the Holy Spirit I believe God gave me for my friend. Whether it confirms what he felt came to him, I do not know. But in the light of dreams and visions - see Joseph and Daniel on behalf of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar. Both of their interpretations did not come from them, but from God. Nevertheless, the above 2 empire rulers highly honored Joseph and Daniel, because they were *true* interpreters on behalf of God. Most dreams and visions are symbolical. Of the 40 or so recorded in Scripture, this is true. The first 5 dreams of Matthew are literal - but this is the exception rather than the rule. Parables and books like Daniel and Revelation, are like dreams and visions, and require Holy Spirit insight for us to understand. And we must notice that such interpretations from God are heavily laced with Scripture. We need like George Muller to be *much* in the Word to be accurate interpreters of the above. I fear that many are too glib and light with dreams, visions, prophecy and scripture interpretation. The Holy Spirit through James said, *?Be **not** many teachers (or interpreters), my brethren, knowing that **we** (teachers and interpreters) shall receive **greater condemnation**? *James 3:1 (3:1-12). We will all appear before Christ one day following His return - to answer at His B*E*ma Judgment Seat for deeds like this done in the body! We need the ?fear of God? in us as we deal with His Word. Isaiah 66:2b (66:1-4) says, *?But to **this man** will I Jehovah look, even to him that is **poor** and of a **contrite spirit**, and that ** trembles** at my word.? *This was Ivan Panin's favorite verse to guide him in his attitude to God and the Bible. We need to remember Deuteronomy 18:20-22, *?But a prophet, that shall speak a word **presumptuously** in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. **21** And if you say in your heart, How shall we know the word which Jehovah has not spoken? **22** when a prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which Jehovah has **not** spoken: the prophet has spoken it **presumptuously**, you shall not be afraid of him.? * One leader of a Presbytery meeting who evidently missed the truth in his prophecy and was confronted by the pastor of the church responded, ?Well, you can't hit it all of the time!? How will this man answer the Lord at His Judgment Seat? Carefully look at prophecies of OT & NT - dreams and vision interpretations - and in the Bible you won't find a miss! These men walked in Isaiah 66:2b! God in Jeremiah, became very upset with dreamers and prophets who spoke of the ?Burden of the Lord?. God complained that He had not even *thought* of the things they claimed He had revealed to them. God then spoke a severe judgment upon all who spoke of the ?Burden of the Lord?, and lightly spoke in His Name what was false. I believe God is very soon in the Church about to take similar action against those who speak lightly in His Name, and fail to see such words come to pass. I noted down 40 such prophetic words that were accompanied with dates. *Not one came to pass*! This is *promiscuous* prophesying and dream interpretation. We are not to fear such! God's judgment upon such will be far more serious. Back to the dream-vision above from Texas. I witness that this was a true vision. Judge the interpretation I believe the Holy Spirit gave me on this. I invite *all* my teachings and interpretations to be judged down here. I would rather have errors pointed out so I can correct them now - than to appear before Christ at His Judgment Seat and answer Him then! Sorry humanly speaking to give such a sober word. But from God's point of view, I believe such is necessary. And for each of us who teach, prophesy and interpret -*better* to hear and adjust and correct *now* - than to ignorantly and innocently appear before Christ when it will be *then* too late. My guidance in all of this is - ?Let *God* say what *He* wants to say - and let the Bible mean what *it* wants to mean.? In conclusion - please do not send your dreams and visions to me for interpretation. God has given me a commission to finish and see printed the above two books. I scarcely interpret any of my own dreams in the light of this. Use the TTAQ formula, and the Holy Spirit, who is no respecter of persons, will answer you just as He does me. The Australian ?Dream Book? noted above can be a help also. Your sincere but careful friend - Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue May 17 09:16:48 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 09:16:48 -0700 Subject: Exodus 7:19-11:10 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 17, 2011 *FEB 3 - EXODUS 7:19-11:10 - PHARAOH: THE TEN PLAGUES* *1. 7:22 (7:19-25) FIRST PLAGUE: BLOOD. ?And the magicians of Egypt did in like manner with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he listened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.? *The Nile was the chief god of the Egyptians; and You Father, struck the Nile; it was almost adding insult to injury for Pharaoh's magicians to do the same! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 8:14-15 (8:1-15) SECOND PLAGUE: FROGS. ?And they gathered them together in heaps; and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and listened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.? *The frog was another god of the Egyptians; by this plague You again struck at their pride, Father. How amazing the hardness of the heart of Pharaoh! O that we might have pliable hearts before You, O our God! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 8:18-19 (8:16-19) THIRD PLAGUE: LICE. ?And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: and there were lice upon man, and upon beast. 19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he listened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.? *Father, we bless You that Your power of *signs* supersedes that of Satan! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 8:22-23 (8:20-32) FOURTH PLAGUE: FLIES. ?And I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people live, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end you may know that I am Jehovah in the midst of the earth. 23 And I will put a division between my people and your people: by tomorrow shall this sign be.? *How gracious You are to Your people, Father! Only three plagues fell upon them. Your increasing judgments are reserved for the ungodly only. What a miraculous division! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 9:7 (9) THREE PLAGUES: MURRAIN, BOILS AND HAIL. ?And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was stubborn, and he did not let the people go.? *Pharaoh could *see* Your Omnipotence Father, as manifested in the increasing severity of Your judgments. The hail and fire, the seventh plague was of outstanding severity; yet again it touched not Your people. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 10:7 (10) TWO PLAGUES: LOCUSTS AND DARKNESS. ?And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve Jehovah their God: do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?? *These were two dreadful plagues. By now the Egyptians and Pharaoh's leaders had a most healthy respect for you Father, Jehovah God of Israel! Through the plagues You became magnified above all enemies of Israel, man or Satan. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 11:4-5 (11) TENTH PLAGUE FORETOLD. ?And Moses said, Thus says Jehovah, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: 5 and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sits upon his throne, even unto the first-born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill; and all the first-born of cattle.? *How ironic! The firstborn of Pharaoh and his people - for their refusal to let *Your*firstborn go! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 11:7 (11) ?But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that you may know how that Jehovah does make a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel.? *Ezra and Nehemiah also show Your Omnipotence Father, between You and Israel's enemies! Areas to consider in Torah Observance: for Jews - plus adaptation for Gentiles. Here are some illustrations on God's wisdom in this area concerning ?diet?. In the summer of 1944, as a recently converted sailor, I was invited to attend meetings in Victoria BC conducted by Rabbi Nathan Cohen Beskin - then a believer in Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew). In his Bar Mitzvah, he had memorized the Torah - the 5 books of Moses. By age 18 he had memorized the entire Old Covenant. Following his conversion into the Kingdom of God, he then memorized the entire NT. He had been brought up in Russia, and thoroughly acquainted himself with their government and politics, plus that of the rest of the world also. At offering time, he invited people to put along with their offerings, any question on the Bible or the World situation of that time. Almost without exception, one question in each meeting would be: Now that you are a Christian, when you come to my home for a meal, can I offer you a ham sandwich? His answer: It is good to understand the wisdom of God when He gave His dietary laws to Israel in Leviticus 11 and 17. For instance - when Mrs. Cow eats her nice green grass - it takes her 4 stomachs and 30 feet of digestive tract some 20 hours to transform it into nice beef-steak and milk. But when you eat Mr. Pig, after he eats his slops, it takes but 6 hours for his 8 foot digestive tract to transform them into pork chops and bacon, in which no amount of heat can kill all the trichinosis problems. So - Dr. Beskin said - when your preacher comes to your house for a meal - feed him chicken! The unclean seafood of clams and oysters etc. feed on the filth of the ocean bottom. Scaleless fish like catfish do the same in rivers, and hook worms can easily penetrate them because they have no scales. The wisdom of God in clean and unclean birds of the air is just as wise. So - what is our take as Gentiles concerning the teaching of the Torah, our Pentateuch? Well, according to Acts 15, we do *not* have to be fully Torah Observant like Jews. Our males do not have to be circumcised. Yet all the * moral* laws of Torah are repeated in the NT for the One New Man of both Jew and Gentile, - and by the Spirit 4 very necessary conditions are laid down for Gentile believers, that enable Jews to sit down in fellowship with us at meals. Peter and Paul joined us because of this. See Acts 15:28-29 (15:6-29) - *?For it seemed good to the Holy :Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these :necessary things: 29 to abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood, and from thingsstrangled, and from fornication; from which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well.? *First of all pollutions of the idols are forbidden us. Those who have been saved out of idolatrous backgrounds - tell us the wisdom of this. It is *not* the idol we worship, but the *demon* behind the idol! In China the image of their ugly idols are representation of the demons the worshipers have actually seen. And the sacrifices offered to them, especially for new converts, can be very dangerous. And to help true fellowship with Jews, Gentiles must not drink the blood, for the life of the soul is in the blood. Furthermore, the blood not only brings food to cells of animal and man, but also removes waste from every cell. To drink the blood is to partake of body wastes before it goes to the kidneys and large intestine. What is strangled. God's rules for kosher killing for sacrifice is very wise. The two neck arteries going to the heart in clean animals join just at this point, making death quick and painless. If death is delayed prior to sacrifice, the fear of the animal causes toxicity to enter blood and meat. The user is then adversely affected. These two arteries are *not joined* at this point in swine - hence their squealing in pain and fear, and further infecting their already unclean meat. See how wise God is in His dietary rules in the Torah! And lastly - *fornication* in heathen religions is largely a part of their worship. ?PorNEIa? - fornication, is a sexual sin including adultery, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality and much more. Once converted, the body of the Christian becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. One can't use his body as God's temple, and then continue in the above sinful practices. ?Pornography? comes from this practice, and leads to it. It is a *part* of this family of words. These four guides by the Holy Spirit help us make healthy relationships for the One New Man under the New Covenant. Jew and Gentile because of this, can sit down in fellowship and eat together. Dietary laws are only one of many wise moral rulings given by God in Torah to profit Gentiles as much as Jews. ?God's Learning Channel? (GLC) from Midland TX, founded and directed by Al & Tommie Cooper - ** is a teaching based television station in the southern US exploring the Biblical Hebraic roots of Christianity. It is available 24 hours a day on its US Satellite Network. Teaching insights such as the above are brought forth in detail with much secular confirmation to the wisdom of God in the Bible. Our Psalm for the day is 33:10-11 - *?Jehovah brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect. 11 The counsel of Jehovah stands fast for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations.? *Even Satan is Your servant, Father; unable to move apart from the parameters You set for him, as we see in Job! There is *nothing*too difficult for You! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed May 18 13:24:08 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 13:24:08 -0700 Subject: Exodus 12-13 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 18, 2011 *FEB 4 - EXODUS 12-13 - JEHOVAH: THE PASSOVER* *1. 12:7 (12:1-11) PASSOVER INSTITUTED: FOR HOUSEHOLDS. ?And they shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side-posts and on the lintel, upon the houses in which they shall eat it? (ASV '01). *What strange instructions! And just as Pharaoh chased after Israel following their hasty departure, so Satan chases after those whom You, Father, have delivered from the authority of darkness, and have translated into the kingdom of the Son of Your love. *Hallowed be Your :Name.* *2. 12:13 (12:12-20) PASSOVER: SYMBOL OF MESSIAH'S SUPPER. ?And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.? *Israel's safety was implicit obedience to Your Word, Father; only the Egyptians and their gods suffered this last terrible judgment! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 12:23 (12:21-28) PASSOVER: INSTRUCTIONS OBEYED. ?For Jehovah will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, Jehovah will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to strike you.? *Yes Father, You regarded the obedience of Your firstborn, Israel: You passed over their blood-sprinkled homes. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 12:29 (12:29-37) PASSOVER: TENTH PLAGUE. ?And it came to pass at midnight, that Jehovah struck all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of the cattle.? *This is the most critical and devastating of all ten plagues! It culminates in a terrible manner the preceding nine. Let us take Your warning seriously when You foretell Your intentions. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 12:48 (12:38-51) PASSOVER: ITS LAW. ?And when a stranger shall sojourn with you, and will keep the passover to Jehovah, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: but no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.? *Your appointed covenant signs Father, are of great importance: circumcision and baptism! Forgive us for so often taking them lightly. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 13:1-2 (13:1-16) PASSOVER: LAW OF FIRSTBORN. ?And Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying, 2 Sanctify unto me all the first-born, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.? *The firstfruits and the firstborn are *Yours* Father. We would honor You by walking in this Kingdom principle. The tithe is Yours also. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 13:21-22 (13:17-22) GOD'S LEADINGS: THE CLOUD. ?And Jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day and by night: 22 the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people.? *Guidance, shade, warmth and light: all these came from the cloud and fire. We bless You for Your provision, Father. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE: 12:11b-12 (12:12-20) ?And you shall eat it in haste: it is Jehovah's passover. 12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am Jehovah.? *By this we tremble at Your Word, Father!* * * * The Passover is the first and great Feast of God for the Jews. God's theological year starts with Passover! It is the event of Christ's future Cross. It lays the foundation for all of God's future purposes. Paul tells us in the NT, 1 Corinthians 5:7 (5:1-8) that *Christ* is *our Passover*! This was1500 years after Moses instituted this Feast, as the 10 plagues on Pharaoh and Egypt opened the door for Israel's deliverance as a nation. The book of Romans in the NT is an outline of the significance of this event through ?Justification by Faith?. Look at Romans under ?Interlinear? on our Website, *www.2rbetter.org. *This is the book God used in 1944 at Passover to bring me into His Kingdom. Yearly - Observant Jews hold a Passover Supper (Seder) in their homes, to remember this great event, and to teach and train their children on its significance and the greatness of our God - who used Moses to effect this great deliverance. This feast is part of a 3-fold event: The Feast of Unleavened Bread, Passover, and the Feast of Firstfruits - which by type and shadow show the Resurrection of Christ. So - *Jesus* is our Passover. Jesus baptizes us into the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; and Jesus at His return will fulfill Tabernacles. To observe the Feast of the Lord in Leviticus 23 - will enable us to understand more clearly God's thinking in His progressive salvation. For - we *have been*saved - *are being** *saved - and *shall be* fully saved! God has three other significant events upon which to hang all Biblical Historical events upon - to give us yet fuller understanding of His thinking and purposes: The Abrahamic Covenant of 1896 BC is the first of these three significant events. The Temple of Solomon, 986 BC has a significance for us that we could easily miss. According to God's Bible Numeric Chronology as discovered by Ivan Panin, this is the second outstanding Biblical event marked out by God Himself. The third is 30 AD, the Cross, which is Passover fulfilled. The fourth significant date that follows up on these three is Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's first dream. Speaking of dreams - let me add a further note on the article on ?dreams? that I sent out 2011-05-16. Another interpretation to the dream forwarded to us from Texas - came yesterday, which my wife Marie felt was very good. This friend wrote: - ?I believe the wildcat kitten is Israel and the five vultures are five surrounding Arab countries. I believe the cliff is the Mediterranean Sea. The five vultures want to eliminate Israel and push her into the Mediterranean. The purpose of the dream is to show that Israel really needs our support so that this doesn't happen.? It is important to see God's perspective on dreams as He revealed to Jeremiah in 23:28-29 (23:23-32). *?The prophet that has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that has **my word**, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the **chaff** to the wheat? says Jehovah. **29** Is not my word like **fire**? says Jehovah; and like a **hammer** that breaks the rock in pieces?? * Dreams in God's sight are like chaff. Necessary for grain to ripen, but once ripe, the chaff can be burnt. For us to make *more* of dreams that *God's word* - is to elevate the gifts of the Spirit above the Word of God! Jeremiah *ate* the word of God - and it was the joy and rejoicing of his heart! *This* is the way to treat God's Word. In Jeremiah 23:33-40 God tells Jeremiah how upset He is with those who prophesy *falsely* in His Name! He says - ?They say things from Me as the ?Burden of the Lord? - which I have not even thought of!? God's judgment is upon those who lightly and glibly give out as the Word of the Lord what He has *not* thought of! And to place ?dreams and visions and prophecy? above the Word of the Lord - upsets God just as much. Are there dreams truly given of God? Of course - test and use them and thank God for them. But make sure they are *truly* of Him and not of human imagination! And even those of Him - let us make sure that we see them as but *chaff* to help ripen the wheat - *God's Word* - and are then to be disposed of! Because many of God's people have placed too high an emphasis on dreams and prophecy - some of the gifts of the Spirit - I have temporarily drawn back from speaking and teaching in this area. I am fully for them, for they are Biblical. But I am heart-sick over those who have little love or interest in God's Word, but feed on dreams and visions and prophecy to the exclusion of God's interest. That is why for the last 3 ? years I have been almost exclusively giving my time to finishing for printing ?God's Bible Numeric Outlined Greek Interlinear NT? as discovered by Ivan Panin. And now I am following up on this by preparing for printing the ?Through the Bible in a Year Daily Devotional? - most of which again is based on God's Bible Numeric discoveries. And finally - our Psalm for the day - 34:18, 22 - *?Jehovah is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart. and saves such as are of a contrite spirit. **22** Jehovah redeems the soul of his servants; and **none** of them that take refuge in him shall be condemned.? *Faithfulness to Your people is the very heart of this Psalm and passage, O Father! Yes, how faithful You are! How appropriate that we trust in *You*! J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu May 19 11:39:35 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 19 May 2011 11:39:35 -0700 Subject: Exodus 14-17 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 19, 2011 *FEB 5 - EXODUS 14-17 - JEHOVAH: HIS PROVISION* *1. 14:4 (14:1-12) PHARAOH: PURSUES ISRAEL. ?And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah. And they did so.? *The people did as ordered. This is Your capstone of judgment beginning, O Father! The delusion and deception of the human heart is deep. What we see in Pharaoh is the potential in each of us! O may we recognize our potential for evil, submit to you, and refuse the way of the flesh. *Hallowed be Your :Name!* *2. 14:13-14 (14:13-31) JEHOVAH: RED SEA DELIVERANCE. ?And Moses said unto the people, Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more for ever. 14 Jehovah will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.? *This reminds us of Jehoshaphat, Father. Stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah (2 Chronicles 20:17). You fight our battles for us! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 15:11 (15:1-21) MOSES: HIS SONG. ?Who is like unto you, O Jehovah, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?? *Our hearts are in awe O great Father, at Your Majesty and Power. Yes, You *are* fearful in praises, doing wonders! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 15:26 (15:22-27) JEHOVAH-ROPHEKA: ISRAEL'S HEALER! ?And he said, If you will diligently listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, and will do that which is right in his eyes, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you, which I have put upon the Egyptians: for I am Jehovah that heals you.? *O how compassionate You are to us Father, even in our unsanctified state! We thank You for calling the things (us) that are not - as though they were. *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. 16:4 (16) JEHOVAH'S PROVISION: MANNA! ?Then Jehovah said unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.? *This is incredible! And yet Father, Israel still refused to sanctify You by believing Your Word. And we as New Covenant saints can be just as stubborn and hard of heart! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 17:7 (17:1-7) MOSES: THREATENED BY ISRAEL. ?And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children of Israel, and because they tempted Jehovah, saying, Is Jehovah among us, or not?? *Our hearts almost quail in us for fear for Israel because of their murmuring against You, Father. How patient and long-suffering you are toward us! By Your grace You look after us even in our unsanctification and unworthiness! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 17:15-16 (17:8-16) MOSES: DEFEATS AMALEK. ?And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi; 16 and he said, Jehovah has sworn: Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.? *Your Kingdom Father, is an everlasting Kingdom of Victory! * But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 17:11-12 (17:8-16) ?And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. **12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.? **This* is what people can do for their leaders today - whenever they face unusual opposition of the enemy! The apostle Paul continually asked the people to uphold him this way! There are at least 7 compound Names of Jehovah, and two of them are in this passage: Jehovah-Ropheka - the Lord your Healer; and Jehovah Nissi - The Lord our Banner. Elohim is not the Name of our God, but a Title and a description. Jehovah is His Name. And it is in this Name that Jesus came, whose Name means Jehovah our Savior. Jesus as the Son of Man commenced His life at His birth from Mary, and as Son of Man sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven, and will not return until Israel acknowledges Him as the One who came in the Name of Jehovah. See Zechariah 12:1-14. One excellent Bible teacher in Israel acknowledges that neither Yahweh nor Jehovah exactly represent YHVH, the Tetragrammaton. However, he concluded that Jehovah probably came more closely to representing and translating it. My Hebrew professor in Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago held the same conclusion, as did the American translators of the ?American Standard Version '01?. Most modernistic teachers hold onto Yahweh - which is my background. It is possibly for this reason that I tend to ?Jehovah? rather than their choice. I do not personally hold that this decision is an * essential* decision, but rather *non-essential*. It is for this reason, like the Moravians - that I accept all my fellow-Christians who tend the other way. But Jesus in His pre-incarnate state as eternal Son of God, the Word of God, took upon Himself at His incarnation an earthly form like us; became identified with us; that as Son of Man He could fully redeem us from our Satanic state into which Adam brought us. Those who believe in God and His Word from their heart, have no problem accepting these truths. Those rejecting Him and His truth in the Word, have a hatred for Him and His ways. This hatred carries on to His people - you and me. Jesus said that it would be this way; for if, He said, they have persecuted Me - they will do the same for you! For the servant is *not* above His Master! The fullness of the Godhead bodily dwelt in Jesus as the Son of man as He lived on earth for 33 years.. That is why He could say to Philip in John 14 - He that has seen Me - has seen the Father also - for Jesus was in the Father, and the Father *in Him*! These truths are mysteries, and probably will not be fully understood until we enter the life to come. This portion of Scripture is rich in lessons for you and me. I have marked it in its 7-fold divisions in my Bible, paying special attention to the choice of memory verses, plus the extra verses in 17:11-12. I like to uphold regularly the hands of the pastor whose church I take out membership in. Charles Haddon Spurgeon of the Metropolitan Tabernacle of London, England, had 100 intercessor in the basement of this church, praying for him as he regularly preached to some 6000 people. Many were saved and discipled as a result. Oswald Chambers was one of these at the age of 15. His parents here entered the ministry because of the challenge of this church. When even a man like the apostle Paul requested prayer on his behalf from the Ephesian believers - then we know that *every* Christian leader is like Moses standing in the need of prayer. Finally, our Psalm for the day, Psalm 35:27-28 - *?Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: Yes, let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 28And my tongue shall talk of your righteousness And of your praise all the day long.? *Out of many tribulations Father, You bring us safely through them all! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri May 20 10:38:09 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 20 May 2011 10:38:09 -0700 Subject: Exodus 18 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 20, 2011 *FEB 6 - EXODUS 18 - JEHOVAH: CONFIRMS JETHRO'S COUNSEL* *1. 18:5-6 (18:1-6) JETHRO: RE-UNITES MOSES' FAMILY. ?And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God; 6 and he said unto Moses, I, your father-in-law Jethro, am come unto you, and your wife, and her two sons with her.? *Jethro knew it was not good for a husband to live alone. We thank You Father, for the sense of duty in Moses' father-in-law, and his obedience. *Hallowed be Your :Name!* *2. 18:10-11 (18:7-11) JETHRO: REJOICES OVER MOSES' REPORT. ?And Jethro said, Blessed be Jehovah, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; yes, in the thing in which they dealt proudly against them. *What a wonderful testimony to You, Father! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 18:12 JETHRO: AS PRIEST SACRIFICES TO GOD. ?And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.? *Jethro served here like Melchizedek as priest to You Father, the Most High God! We cannot honor you enough! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 18:17-18 (18:13-18) JETHRO: COUNSELS MOSES TO SAVE STRENGTH. ?And Moses' father-in-law said unto him, The thing that you do is not good. 18You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you: for the thing is too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it yourself alone.? *How strange that if often take a stranger to point out to us , Father the impracticality of our ways. May we like Moses be open to the wise counsel of others. *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. 18:19-20 JETHRO: COUNSELS MOSES TO SHARE TORAH. ?Listen now to my voice, I will give you counsel, and God be with you: you be for the people to Godward, and you bring the causes unto God: 20 and you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that you must do.? *Here is wise counsel indeed, which You Father, *later confirmed*. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 18:23 (18:21-23) JETHRO: COUNSELS MOSES TO TRAIN JUDGES. ?If you shall do this thing, and God command you so, then you shall be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.? *What a wise word. What deference to Your Father, from an outsider! Blessings come from walking in whatever source You choose to send us counsel! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 18:24 (18:24-27) JEHOVAH: CONFIRMS COUNSEL OF JETHRO. ?So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.? *You Father, *confirmed* that Jethro's word was *Your* Word! And this word acted upon, brought blessing to Moses and Israel. It is good for us to see Your wisdom in application, even though coming through another. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: 18:21 (18:21-23) FOUR QUALIFICATIONS FOR SMALL GROUP LEADERS. ?Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.? *We note these four qualifications. All four are need, but without * ability* the following three could not function. The early church met in homes, and were small groups not larger that 50-100 at the most. Many homes were larger in those days, and could accommodate a number of families. One elder assisted by the wife looked after these smaller groups. Each of these elders met regularly, representing the elders in the gate of the city, composed of the 5-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11. When Jesus fed the 4000 and 5000 as recorded in the Gospels, He had the disciples seat the men in groups of 50's and 100's, along with their families. There is a church in the Seattle/Tacoma Metroplex with 10,000 members - but there are 500 groups of some 8-10 in each group that meet weekly; and under a leader, study the sermon outline given by the pastor the preceding Sunday. Over 60% of the members have entered the Kingdom of God under the ministry of this church, and are discipled through the home groups. The Jethro concept as given to Moses is well-known, and adapted for our times. In John Wesley's day in the 1700's - some 70,000 converts met weekly in groups of 8, and followed a mutual-help time, following a few practical goals, plus 52 sermons outlining the basic theology of the early Methodists through ?Wesley's Doctrinal Standards?. One British Sociologist said that apart from Wesley's Class Meetings, the French Revolution of 1789 would have leaped the English Channel and brought its devastation and guillotine to Great Britain. Lenin was so impressed with the still functioning Class Meetings of the early 1900's, that he adapted them and incorporated them into the Cell Groups of Communism. Today - God is about to visit the Church again with Revival and Reformation. To achieve a safety net for these new ?fish? - churches must prepare to help one another disciple of ?clean? these fish! I was encouraged by an email that recently came commending my teaching on putting the ?Word of God in the Bible? ahead of ?dreams, visions and prophecies? - when considering God's view point on these issues. Here is that word : ?Hi - You needn't be sorry for speaking like this. Finally someone has the audacity to confront compromise. Too many people are walking around, saying, The Lord showed me this, and he spoke that, and this dream means this, etc. etc. When will we start teaching the young ones the Bible? The verse for my 11 year old daughter at school is, *?And you shall teach them diligently to your children; You shall talk about them when you travel, when you sit at home, when you get up and when you lie down.? * (Paraphrased it is a COMMAND, not a suggestion. I love that verse. It helps me as a parent to keep my focus on teaching my children the ways of the Lord!!! Thanks? - (A friend from Canada). J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat May 21 10:48:48 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 21 May 2011 10:48:48 -0700 Subject: Exodus 19-40 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 21, 2011 *FEB 7-13 - EXODUS 19-40 - OVERVIEW - LAW OF THE COVENANT* *FEB 7. 19:8 (19-20) THE MORAL LAW: ITS COMMANDMENTS. ?And all the people answered together, and said, All that Jehovah has spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah.? *O that Israel had had a heart to have continued in this response! *Hallowed be your :Name!* *FEB 8. 23:32-33 (21-23) THE SOCIAL LIFE: ITS JUDGMENTS. ?You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not live in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto you.? *Here You spell out Your will, O Father. As New Covenant believers - we would walk in Your will. *Your :kingdom come. * *FEB 9. 24:12 (24) THE RELIGIOUS LIFE: ITS ORDINANCES. ?And Jehovah said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give you the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, which I have written, that you may teach them.? *These Your words - are spiritual bread, O Father! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *FEB 10. 28:29 (25-31) THE TABERNACLE: ITS PLAN. ?And Aaron shall carry the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goes in unto the holy place, for a memorial before Jehovah continually.? *Yes Father, and we carry before You as a memorial the names of our clans and households, that you may forgive their sins and bring salvation. *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *FEB 11. 34:10 (32-34) THE TABERNACLE: ITS DELAY. ?And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among which you are shall see the work of Jehovah; for it is a terrible thing that I do with you.? *Yes Father, and You will put our Lord Jesus upon us as our armor at that time! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *FEB 12. 39:6-7 (35:1-39:31) THE TABERNACLE: ITS COMPLETION. ?And they worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, graven with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel. 7And he put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel; as Jehovah commanded Moses.? *In the strength of Jesus' shoulders, Father, You carry our names. He is now High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. *And bring us not into temptation!* *FEB 13. 40:14-15 (39:32-40:38) THE TABERNACLE: ITS CONFIRMATION. ?And you shall bring his sons, and put coats upon them; 15 and you shall anoint them, as you did anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office; and their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.? *Your Kingdom is an *everlasting*Kingdom, O Father! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: Psalm 43:5 - ?My soul, why are you so downcast? Why are you groaning inside me? Hope in God, since I will praise him again for being my Savior and God.? *You O Father, will not test us forever. Our troubles and testings will pass away as a sleep in the night, and we will awake with renewed strength in the morning! There are many types and shadows in the OT - which God in His wisdom designed as parables as it were for the NT church, the One New Man composed of Jews and Gentiles. Believers at the beginning of the church age were almost entirely Jews. Some Gentiles at that time became Jews through conversion, of whom Luke was probably one. By 320 AD under Emperor Constantine, the church was now predominantly Gentile - and the latter were now persecuting the Jewish believers, completely ignoring the stern warnings of the Holy Spirit through Paul in Romans 11. Early Christian teachers made excellent use of the types and shadows of the OT, for the NT was not completed until the end of the first century. And *how rich* is the source of teaching that lies before us today. So many books have been written on this portion of Scripture. One of the latest is ?The Tabernacle Tour - Face to Face with God? - A Handbook on Heart Transformation by Jim Ray - * * J. Sidlow Baxter wrote a text called ?Explore the Book.? The Titles in the Tabernacle Section come from his book. It is in the light of ?Protocol? that we give credit where credit is due. ?Warfare by Honor? by Suuqiina and Quamaniq - set a wonderful example for such carefulness. It is interesting to note how God confirms His most important leadings. When Moses completed the assignment of the Tabernacle - God signally came upon it in His Shekinah Glory, expressing His approval upon every detail. When Solomon completed the Temple following 7 ? years of construction - the Glory of God came down upon that temple, so that 120 priests were unable to stand to minister. When Jesus built His Church exactly according to His Father's commandment and plan - on the Day of Pentecost God signally expressed His approval on all His Son had performed! And when Elijah rebuilt the broken down altar of Jehovah on Mount Carmel, using the 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel - the fire of God fell upon his sacrifice, not only consuming it, but even the altar, stones and surrounding water. The prophets of Baal were completely defeated before the children of Israel! So - it is always good for us to remember God's unusual approval upon Tabernacle, Temple and Church! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun May 22 14:43:46 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 22 May 2011 14:43:46 -0700 Subject: Exodus 19-20 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 22, 2011 *FEB 7 - EXODUS 19-20 - MORAL LAW: ITS COMMANDMENTS* *1. 19:5-6a (19:1-9) COVENANT PROPOSED AND ACCEPTED. ?Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: 6 and you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.? *Father, You are King of all the earth, and desire us to be a spiritual Kingdom of Priests. *Hallowed be Your :Name!* *2. 19:12 (19:10-13) MOUNT SINAI GUARDED. ?And you shall set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that you go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whoever touches the mount shall be surely put to death.? *What a contrast between the law of the Old Covenant and that of the New! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 19:18 (19:14-20) JEHOVAH DESCENDS. ?And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.? *It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! Father, You *are*that living God! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 19:21-22 (19:21-25) THE CHARGE. ?And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto Jehovah to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 And let the priests also, that come near to Jehovah, sanctify themselves, lest Jehovah break forth upon them.? *O Father, forgive us that we have so little fear of You! Reveal to us that Your Name is * jealous*. May we see You and Your Son Jesus in the book of Revelation! *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. 20:1-3 (20:1-17) THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. ?And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 You shall have no other gods before me.? *Keep Your good hand upon us. Lift not Your presence from us to try us, as You did Hezekiah. Your Son Jesus by His Spirit in us will walk out Your commandments through us. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 20:19 (20:18-21) EFFECT OF GOD'S PRESENCE. ?And they said unto Moses, Speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.? *Here Father, You *proved* Israel by Your awesome presence! How awful indeed is Your presence! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 20:24 (20:22-26) TWO RELIGIOUS LAWS. ?An altar of earth you shall make unto me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt-offerings, and your peace-offering, your sheep, and your oxen: in every place where I record my name I will come unto you and I will bless you.? *Write on our heart Father, the importance of *Your* plan and pattern for all we do! This is fitting. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: 20:5b-6 (20:1-17) OUR GOD: A **JEALOUS GOD! ?For I Jehovah your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, 6 and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.? *Father, Your Name is *jealous*! - for Your Name, Your Word, Your Son, Your people! Write this truth on our hearts. *A Kingdom of Priests*: - Look at this in the light that the OT history of Israel is a collection of ?types and shadows? for the Church. We are to ask the Lord through the Holy Spirit to understand *how to interpret* these ?types and shadows? just as Jesus interpreted His parables for His disciples. In the beginning God did not intend to have the tribe of Levi to form a company of priests to serve Israel. He intended Israel herself to be a company of priests to serve the other nations of the world. Once Jesus died and rose again and ascended, and baptized the Church in the Holy Spirit; then every member of the church became a holy priesthood - a kingdom of priests for the world (1 Peter 2:5). God does *not* intend church leaders to do all church work. *Their* job is to equip each of of us church members to function in this capacity. See Ephesians 4:11-12 (4:1-16) - *?And HE (Jesus) gave some as apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some shepherds and teachers; 12 for the perfecting (equipping, chiropractically adjusting) of the saints, unto a work of ministry, unto a building up of the body of the Christ.? * Just as Israel found it difficult and almost impossible to let God's purposes be realized through them - so 80% of church members prefer being pew warmers - and let the 20% carry the full assignment of God. That was * not* the way it worked in the early church, nor the church in the days of John Wesley. Wesley had 70,000 discipled men meeting *at least* once a week in cell groups of approximately 8 each. They so adequately fulfilled God's purposes through them, that England was saved from the French Revolution and guillotine of 1789. Lenin was so impressed with these *still functioning*cell groups in the early 1900's, that he adapted them, and took the concept back to use it to found and function Russian Communism! The heart of Exodus 19-20 is the recounting of the 10 commandments which God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai following 2 forty day fasting sessions - even omitting water as well as food. The water part is humanly speaking impossible - so that God supernaturally enabled Moses to do *that* which is humanly impossible. 7-10 days of fasting without water is the absolute ?max? concerning this, and even that is dangerous. Just 3 days! But the 10 commandments have severely been tampered with by the Catholic church in *both* of these regards. They have omitted or taken away the second command, Exodus 10:4-6, because of their public use of graven images in their churches. *?You shall not make unto you a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 you shall not bow down yourself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, 6 and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments .?* Then to add insult to injury, they divided into two the 10th commandment to read: *You shall not covet your neighbor's house? *as #9, and *?You shall not covet your neighbor's wife etc.? *as #10! I would fear to stand before Christ Jesus at His Judgment Seat following His return, and *answer* for this two-fold flagrant abuse of Scripture! Let us remember that our God is *not only* a God of love - He is *also* a Jealous God of Justice protecting His Holy Name and *His* Holy word! And - the NT ending with the Book of Revelation is just as clear on this as the clear teaching of the OT. Mary is *not* the Queen of Heaven - *nor* the * mother* of the *Son of God*. She is the virgin mother of Jesus as the son of man only, and He did *not* obey her various requests and desires. On one occasion when she wanted to see Him - He refused! Instead He pointed to His 12 disciples and said, *They* were His mother, brothers and sisters, because *they* kept His commandments - while at that time His mother and brothers and sisters were *not* doing so! *Only* the 66 books of our Bible are authenticated by God as being *His*through Bible Numerics! This is God's eternal method of ensuring that *no one* can *tamper* with *His Word*. Church commandments *do not* and * cannot* cause His Word to be diminished or changed. Neither the Koran, nor the Book of Mormon! Those who truly love God will *not* let all the traditions of man such as the Talmud or the Mishnah to *make void* the Word of God! Psalm 37:25-26 - *?I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not see the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread. 26 All the day long he deals graciously, and lends; And his seed is blessed.?* This is our Psalm for February 7th! How fitting! J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon May 23 10:57:43 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 10:57:43 -0700 Subject: Exodus 21-23 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 23, 2011 *FEB 8 - EXODUS 21-23 - THE SOCIAL LIFE: ITS JUDGMENTS* *1. 21:5-6 (21:1-11) JUDGMENTS: SERVANTS. ?But if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: 6then his master, shall bring him unto God, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever? (ASV '01). *Father, let Your Kingdom Principles be worked out into our visible world. Yes, in all our relationships, may Your invisible world become visible! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 21:15, 17 (21:12-36) JUDGMENTS: FELONIES. ?And he that strikes his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. 17 And he that curses his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death.? *Presumptuous sin: how deserving punishment! What wisdom is contained here for Israel of old! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 22:14 (22:1-15) JUDGMENTS: MISDEMEANORS. ?And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it be hurt, or die, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution.? *How practical Your wisdom Father, in all of these common problems! We bless You for being the all-around God that You are! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4, 22:22-24 (22:16-23:9) JUDGMENTS: MISCELLANEOUS. ?You shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict them at all, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 and my wrath shall grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.? * Forgive us Father, for not entering into Your great heart in all of these issues. O make us more like You! *Our :daily :bread give us this day!* *5. 23:13 (23:10-19) JUDGMENTS: OBSERVANCES. ?And in all things that I have said unto you take heed: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of your mouth.? *Sometimes You lead us into testing Father, to see what is in our hearts as with Hezekiah, and sometimes to vindicate one of Your servants like Job. Sometimes we open ourselves to a fall into temptation because we fail to observe this statute. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 23:24-25 (23:20-25) JUDGMENTS: ANGEL OF THE PRESENCE VERSUS IDOLS. ?You shall not bow down to their gods, not serve them, nor do after their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their pillars. 25And you shall serve Jehovah your God, and he will bless your bread, and your water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of you.? *This is the path You desire for NT saints also! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 23:29-30 (23:26-33) JUDGMENTS: PROMISES, BOUNDARIES AND COVENANTS. ?I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the beasts of the field multiply against you. 30 By little and little I will drive them out from before you, until you be increased, and inherit the land.? *Again, what wisdom on your part, Father! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: 23:20-21 (23:20-25) JUDGMENTS: SHOULD GOD'S ANGEL BE IGNORED! ?Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared, **21 Take heed before him, and listen unto his voice; provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgression: for my name is in him.? * This is Your Jehovah angel, Father! This is Your Messiah pre-incarnate! It is *good* that we have the *balance* of God's Word! That goes equally for our diet also! These 3 chapters of warnings and judgments are just as necessary as the portions on encouragement and love. Thank God that our God is a God of balance! *This* is one of the most difficult achievements for human beings. We tend to be in one ditch by the road or the other - while God wants us in the center of the road. One almost needs to have some lawyer-experience to weave his way between the felonies and misdemeanors that God points out! Just as some believers write out ?crafted prayers? on the part of specific prayer needs - so we could write out an attorney's ?brief? to help achieve correct judgments. We have a straight-arrow attorney in our family - and much appreciate his wisdom in these areas. And what about ?borrowed? items that get lost or broken? Even here God lends us His wisdom! So many of God's moral rules for OT Israel - have equal force for us as NT saints. So many of these moral laws are repeated in the NT, or enlarged upon! See the enlargements of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Many other lessons are here that we have the privilege of searching out for ourselves. And for our Psalm for the day: Psalm 38:21-22 - *?Forsake me not, O Jehovah: O my God, be not far from me. 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.? *This is a Psalm of David. He points out that our sins Father, bring reproach upon You, because of our enemies. But *You* are merciful, and forgive us our transgressions, and turn back our enemies! Blessed be Your Name! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue May 24 12:46:27 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 12:46:27 -0700 Subject: Exodua 24 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 24, 2011 *FEB 9 - EXODUS 24 - THE RELIGIOUS LIFE: ITS ORDINANCES* *1. 24:3 (24:1-3) MOSES: CALLED UP. ?And Moses came and told the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the ordinances: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which Jehovah has spoken will we do.? *Father, Your Kingdom and Your rule is in Your word, and you are in Your Son and He in You. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 24:4 (24:4-5) MOSES: ALTAR AND TWELVE PILLARS. ?And Moses wrote all the words of Jehovah, and rose up early in the morning, and built an altar under the mount, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.? *Your will O Father, is in Your Word, and the pattern contained there. We understand, and submit to Your complete will in Your Word! * Your :kingdom come.* *3. 24:6-7 (24:6-8) MOSES: CONFIRMS COVENANT WITH BLOOD. ?And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in the basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that Jehovah has spoken will we do, and be obedient!? *This is *always* the condition for provision. This is Matthew 6:33 exemplified! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth! * *4. 24:9-11 MOSES: SEES GOD WITH 70 ELDERS. ?Then Moses went up, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: 10 and they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and as it were the very heaven for clearness. 11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: and they beheld God, and did eat and drink.? *Here we see an example of Your forgiveness of sin, Father! *Our :daily :bread give us this day!* *5. 24:12-13 (24:12-14) MOSES: CALLED UP FOR TEN COMMANDMENTS. ?And Jehovah said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give you the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, which I have written, that you may teach them. 13 And Moses rose up, and Joshua his minister: and Moses went up into the mount of God.? *Help us learn, what You would have us learn from this! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 24:15-16 (24:15-17) MOSES: ENTERS CLOUD OF GLORY. ?And Moses went up into the mount, and the cloud covered the mount. 16 And the glory of Jehovah abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.? *You Father, have baptized us in the water and the cloud also! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 24:18 MOSES: FORTY DAYS AND NIGHTS ON SINAI. ?And Moses entered into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.? *In the place of obedience, like Moses, we learn more of You, Father! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE: 24:8 (24:6-8) MOSES: A STRANGE SPRINKLING. ?And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which Jehovah has made with you concerning all these words.? *Father, let Your Spirit of revelation show us Your mind and purpose in this deep truth!* * For me, this is one of the strangest chapters in all of Scripture. It is unexpected! In is unique! Who would ever have thought that our God Jehovah would so reveal Himself? Perhaps the transfiguration of Jesus throws some light here. It was but to 70 elders of Israel with Moses, Aaron and his two older sons who experienced this unusual revelation. It was some 1500 years later that Moses appeared with Elijah at the transfiguration of Jesus! And consider the location for this revelation. At the base of Mount Sinai! We read in Galatians 4:25 - *?Now this, Hagar, is Mount Sinai in :Arabia.? *According to this, Mount Sinai is *not* in the Sinai Peninsula so-called, but in * Arabia*, where Paul spent the first three years of his conversion, and received from God the meaning of the 27 *mysteries* mention in the NT. Some archaeologists have discovered this Mount Sinai in Arabia, and there are the remains of the 12 pillars representing the 12 tribes of Israel, that God commanded Moses to build there. Could anything be clearer? It was later on the top of Mount Carmel that Elijah rebuilt the broken down altar of Jehovah, with 12 stones - representing the 12 tribes of Israel. And there by faith according to the word of the Lord, he called down fire from heaven which consumed the sacrifice, showing up the complete inadequacy of Baal worship. And it was to His 12 apostles that Jesus solemnly averred that in the Regeneration - they would sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). Notice too that the Mosaic Covenant was confirmed with the blood of sprinkling upon the children of Israel. The Abrahamic Covenant is the chief covenant of the OT. The Mosaic Covenant was a protection for Israel given by God until His Son came to inaugurate the New Covenant, which is the time for fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant. And twice in the prophecy of Isaiah - the Messiah to come - Jesus - is called the *Covenant*! Again - I find Exodus 24 one of the strangest chapter of the Bible. It has lessons in it that are unique, and upon which we must wait in humble obedience - so that the Holy Spirit can open to us God's inner thinking on this chapter. And now for our Psalm for the day - Psalm 39:7-8 - *?And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you. 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: Make me not the reproach of the foolish.? *This is one of the 73 Psalms of David. It expresses the security of those who trust in Jehovah, *and* the Insecurity of the Wicked! Father, You are Sovereign Lord, and You have made Jesus both Lord and Messiah, and given to Him as the Son of man - Your Name of Jehovah! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue May 24 17:56:01 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 17:56:01 -0700 Subject: 2011-05-24 - 7-fold Spiritual Warfare Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 24, 2011 *2011-05-24 - 7-FOLD SPIRITUAL WARFARE - OVERVIEW* *1. Revelation 13:18 (13:11-18) GOD'S BIBLE NUMERIC OUTLINED INTERLINEAR GREEK NT. ?Here is the wisdom. Who has understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his :number is Six hundred sixty six? NNT). *This discovery by Russian Ivan Panin in 1890, was really a revelation from God to him! Only Greek and Hebrew - the two Bible languages - have this numerical phenomenon. It is God's provision to make His Word meaningful to us just before the return of Christ. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. Matthew 16:18 (16:13-18) CITY CHURCH WITH ELDERSHIP IN GATE. ?And I (Jesus) also say unto you, that you are Peter (PEtros), and upon this :rock (PEtra) I will build my church and the gates (counsels) of Hades shall notprevail against it.? * What strong encouragement for *us*! *This* is the One who came in the Name of Jehovah, the Pre-incarnate Christ, the Son of God and the son of man - who spoke these words! See God's wisdom through the Eldership in the Gate of the City Church of Antioch in Acts 13:1-3! *3. Deuteronomy 32:30 (32:1-43) PRAYER MULTIPLICATION. ?How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, and Jehovah had delivered them up? ASV '01)? **This* shows the power of *corporate prayer* - even though written concerning the enemies of Israel! Kelley Varner wrote a book by this title, which greatly helps one to grasp this *extraordinary* concept. See also Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Matthew 18:19 and Zechariah 12:8. We *all* need to avail ourselves of this concept. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (7:11-18) EMBRYONIC REVIVAL PRINCIPLES. ?If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.? *The 12 tribes of Israel moved as one under Solomon in the construction of the Temple! This event is one of the 3 outstanding among the 245 deducible Bible dates according to Bible Numerics. The above suggested prayer for Revival and Restoration is associated with this significant event. *Our :daily :bread give us this day. * *5. Psalm 19:14 (1-14) BIBLE MEDITATION. ?Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in your sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.? * There *is* a wrong type of meditation! But *Bible Meditation * is *never* wrong, as practiced most significantly by George Muller and George Whitefield. Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1 are further significant references giving extreme credibility to this often forsaken or neglected concept. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors. * *6. Romans 8:26-27 (8:26-30) SPIRIT-LED INTERCESSION. ?And in like manner the Spirit also helps our :infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought: but the Spirit himself intercedes mightily for us with groanings unutterable: 27 and who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to God.? * ?Rees Howells, Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb sets forth Intercessory understanding in a manner that immediately makes clear this biography as both a classic and *a necessity*. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Revelation 1:12-18 (1:9-20) FOCUS ON JESUS. ?And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and amidst the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed down to the foot, and clothed about at the breasts with a golden girdle. 14 And his :head and his :hair white as white wool, as snow; and his :eyes as a flame of fire; 15 and his :feet like burnished brass, as refined in a furnace; and his :voice as the voice of many waters; 16 and having in his :right hand seven stars: and proceeding out of his :mouth a sharp two-edged sword: and his :countenance as the sun shines in his :strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his :feet as one dead. And he laid his :right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last, 18 and the Living one; and I became dead, and lo, I am alive unto the ages of the ages, and have the keys of :death and of :Hades.? *I know no other author than Oswald Chambers who sets forth a focus on Jesus so sharp, pointed and compelling. I come closer and closer into communion with Father and Son through ?My Utmost for His Highest.? *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *In 1967 my wife Marie asked me concerning God's purpose in leading us in 1948 into marriage. He promised us both in that year, that His Kingdom would prosper more with us together, than for either of us alone. He gave us 3 verses, and later a fourth one, confirming this. Dennis Bennett and his first wife Elberta were given the same 3 verses: Deuteronomy 32:30; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and Matthew 18:19. He later gave us Zechariah 12:8. The first vision He gave me in answer to prayer in 1967 was an ?organic laser-telescope? - composed of 7 component parts. The first two parts He revealed to me in 1967, but it wasn't until December 7, 2009 that He revealed the last five. The first of the last five was ?Prayer Multiplication? - which was the key reason He had us marry. Out of our life of prayer together, He answered many prayers to produce a manuscript of the first Component Part of this instrument - namely His ?Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek NT?. This MS is now in the hands of the printer, and soon I will be receiving a book MS copy to Proof-read. The activation of this vision began to take place October 31, 2009, and has now 8 men as members. This is in accord with the second vision God gave that night in 1967, concerning 70 Canadian teams of 8 men each - sitting in the Gates of these 70 cities. Various encouraging developments have been taking place in these last 18 months. But this Sunday May 22, 2011, another break-through took place. I have been asked to share in a National Convention sponsored by the ?New Hope Christian Centre? of Abbotsford BC, Canada - June 11th - 12th 2011. It will take place at ?Garden Park Tower? North Side Entrance, 2825 Clearbrook Rd., BC V2T 6S3 - TEL: 604-852-8076 or 604-852-8104. For more information visit their Website * *- * *. Free Admission. Conference Open to all. Free Will Offering will be taken. Speakers: Rev. Judy Pebernat of Courtney BC; Rev. Jim Watt, and Dr. David Rathnam, Founder and President of New Hope Int'l & Host Pastor. Times: Saturday 11th: 9 am to 12 pm 2 pm to 4 pm 7 pm to 9 pm Sunday 12th: 9 am to 12 pm Complimentary Lunch 7 pm to 9 pm Then Thursday through Sunday June 17-20 - I will be with Pastor Rathnam ministering in Courtney BC on Vancouver Island for Pastor Judy Pebernat, Senior pastor of Aaron House Christian Fellowship. I sensed the Lord saying on Sunday: Use the format of the ?Through the Bible in a Year Daily Devotional?. Write up an ?Overview? of the ?7-fold Spiritual Warfare? component parts on ?God's Organic Laser-Telescope.? Then take each of these 7 parts, and in turn write up a teaching outline on each. Following that, do the same for the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles of the 1948 Visitation in North Battleford. What you are now reading, is the first step of of this assignment, the * Overview* of the 7-fold Spiritual Warfare. I sense an unusual break-through about to take place both in Abbotsford and Courtney - plus in many intervening cities, towns and villages of Cascadia - the Pacific NW. This is in line with the 3 prophetic words of Dr. David Yonggi Cho in 1975 in Kelowna; 1979 in Toronto; and 1984 in Halifax. As the Spirit leads and directs, we will appreciate undergirding in prayer and intercession for the above opportunities. J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed May 25 12:03:22 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 12:03:22 -0700 Subject: Exodus 25-31 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 25, 2011 *FEB 10 - EXODUS 25-31 - THE TABERNACLE: ITS PLAN* *1. 25:8-9 (25) THE TABERNACLE: ITS FURNITURE. ?And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may live among them. 9 According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all its furniture, even so shall you make it.? *Father, it is *Your* way of doing things that count, * not* ours. It is *Your* pattern; Your order. Yes, we long for Your invisible kingdom to become our visible. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 26:30 (26) THE TABERNACLE: CURTAINS, BOARDS AND PILLARS. ?And you shall rear up the tabernacle according to its fashion which has been shown you in the mount.? *In all this Father, you designed to portray Your Son Jesus, and His relationship with us, His spiritual body. *No wonder* the representation had to be so accurate! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 27:8 (27) THE TABERNACLE: ALTAR AND COURT. ?Hollow with planks shall you make it: as it has been shown you in the mount, so shall you make it.? *Here we see Calvary, Father. Here *Jesus* is prepared for in His 5-fold sacrifice. Here we find salvation for our soul. Here we find the basis for Your right to bless us. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 28:30 (28) THE TABERNACLE: PRIESTLY GARMENTS. ?And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goes in before Jehovah: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before Jehovah continually.? *Daniel too walked this way: intercession through identification. Like Aaron, we can pray for Clan Salvation, even as he prayed for Tribal Salvation. May we not fall short of our intercessory privilege! *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. 29:45-46 (29) THE TABERNACLE: CONSECRATION OF PRIESTS. ?And I will live among the children of Israel, and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am Jehovah their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I might live among them: I am Jehovah their God.? *The sanctification of tabernacle and priests brings forth Your revelation Father, to Israel. We too would walk in this revelation. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 30:10 (30) THE TABERNACLE: ALTAR OF INCENSE; ANOINTING OIL. ?And Aaron shall make atonement upon the horns of it once in the year; with the blood of the sin-offering of atonement once in the year shall he make atonement for it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto Jehovah.? *O bring us all under Your rod on this day of days, Father! Then will our worship be acceptable unto You. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 31:2-3 (31) THE TABERNACLE: BEZALEL AND AHOLIAB. ?See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.? *Father, You plan every detail. Nothing is left out. You are God of the universe, but *also* God of the *atom*! *And bring us not into temptation!* *NOTE**: 25:22 (25) WHERE GOD MEETS WITH US! ?And there I will meet with you, and I will commune with you from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give you in commandment unto the children of Israel.? *This is Your Most Holy place, Your Throne, Your love seat, Father! Here was Your meeting place with Moses, and Aaron once a year. But since the time of the Riven Veil, *all* saints can boldly come into Your Presence! I read the entire Bible through in 6 weeks following my conversion at Passover 1944. It had nothing to do with nobility on my part. Under peculiar circumstances, God got me to agree to go into the ministry in my unconverted state several years previously. Now that I knew Him, I wanted to know what I had got myself into - hence this quick reading. Two things gripped my attention in this quick reading. The first came out of Exodus 28:30 and the Urim and Thummim. I could find no answer to my questions on this in Victoria among pastors, books or friends. But when on my first leave after this, I hitch-hiked to Port Alberni, and looked up Mrs. Allquist, who I had delivered papers to from 1938-41. She was a Jewish missionary to the Jews, and had literally memorized the entire Bible. In answer to my request, she had me turn to Proverbs 6:20-22 and read to her. This is an *exact* answer to the Urim and Thummim! Then in August of 1982, Pastor Jack Hayford spoke in the First Baptist Church of Arcata, California where I was serving as associate pastor. He recounted how God in 1969 confronted his father in Oakland CA when reading this passage - and had him replace Judah's name with Hayford, and Issachar's name with Smith (his wife's maiden name) - and pray for these 2 clans twice a day. Six miraculous conversions occurred in the following 6 months. My wife Marie and I picked up on this challenge for the Watt and Gaudet clans, plus the Chartrands, the clan of Marie's maternal grandfather. We too have seen marvelous conversions take place through clan salvation. We already had experienced hundreds come to Christ through the challenge of Household Salvation. So - for those who find the OT dull - we can testify that for *us*, it is * anything* but dull. In the year of my conversion, Lee Ellenwood came up from California to Victoria and Port Alberni. His teaching on the Tabernacle from Exodus 25-40 revolutionized my life. I daily walk - the truths unfolded to me at that time. They served as a base - and continue to be added to. For me - Bible truths will continue to open to me long after I have left this earthly life, and then enjoy the greater spiritual capacity to perceive deeper spiritual truth. And - *Jesus* *is* the *Truth*! I commend then this reading from FEB 10 to each one of you. May this day's devotion be as rich to you as it has been to me. And for our Psalm for the day? Read with me Psalm 40:6-8, *?Sacrifice and offering you have no delight in; My ears have you opened: Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I am come; In the roll of the book it is written of me: 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; Yes, your law is within my heart.? *This is a Messianic Prophecy showing forth the spirit of our Lord Jesus when He left the glories of heaven for our sake - and identified himself with us by taking on human form through Mary - and as Son of Man sets forth an example for us how to love God and His Word, and delight in the joy of walking in Torah. And of course we know - His *main* purpose for coming was to die on our behalf as an atonement for our sin! J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu May 26 08:51:16 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 26 May 2011 08:51:16 -0700 Subject: 7-fold - Ivan Panin Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 26, 2011 *B. MATURITY - ?GOD'S BIBLE NUMERIC OUTLINED INTERLINEAR GR. NT? - 2011-05-25* *1. Revelation 13:18 (13:11-18) THE BEGINNING. ?Who has understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his :number is Six hundred sixty six? (NNT). *Which comes first? The chicken or the egg? But which comes first? Man the Discoverer - or God the Revealer? See how God through Ivan Panin combined in 1890 to send help to the man through a Presbyterian minister. *Hallowed be Your :name.* *2. John 1:1 (1-18) FURTHER PRODDING. ?In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with :God, and the Word was God.? *God chooses each of us as individuals because of the particular genes and DNA He had placed in each one of us at birth. God *knew* what Panin would do when he discovered the differences between ?God? with an article - and ?God? without one! Panin looked up every NT reference to this, and further was captivated with the uniqueness of his discovery. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. John 20:27-28 (20:26-29) JESUS: VERY :GOD OF VERY :GOD - PLUS SON OF MAN! ?Then said Jesus to :Thomas, Reach here your :finger, and see my :hands; and reach your :hand, and put it into my :side: and be not unbelieving, but believing. 28 Thomas answered and said to him, My :Lord and my :God.? *God knows how to use the intricacies of His Word to prove His truth to unbelievers. God used Mrs. Mesheimer to bring me to a Jehovah's Witness meeting, and with this passage silence the leader! By this I followed unknowingly in the path of Panin. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. Isaiah 66:2b (66:1-4) A CORRECT ?WORD? ATTITUDE. ?But to this man will I look says Jehovah, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembles at my word.? *There are not many who honor God like Isaiah and Panin, and treat Him and His Word in this reverent and humble manner. *This*was one of Panin's favorite verses from all of Scripture! *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. Mark 16:19-20 (16:9-20) A PRIME GOD-MARKED SECTION. ?So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into :heaven, and sat down at the right hand of :God. 20 And THEY went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed.? *God knew that the day would come when the Bible Textual Critics, especially from Germany - would need to be put in their place. The last 12 verses of Mark stand out as the main target of Textual Critics - but *also*of God's Numerics! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Matthew 1:18 (1:18-25) MATTHEW CHAPTER ONE. ?Now the birth of :Jesus Christ was thus: His :mother Mary, betrothed to :Joseph, before they came together, was found with child of the Holy Spirit.? *Matthew chapter 1, would take a man 100 years to write, so that it contained the unusual and extraordinary Bible Numerics here that Panin discovered in the Greek text. But - because *every* Greek NT chapter contains such unusual configuration, it would mean that every NT chapter would have to be the last one written - if all features would be present. *Impossible* with man. Then *God* is the author through men! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. Genesis 1:1 (1:1-2:3) THE OLD TESTAMENT TOO! ?In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.? *Turn to our Website * * and click on ?Archives?. Scroll down to 2011.01.22 - to ?Cutting Edge Ministries on Panin?. Under ?Back to Bible Numerics? - there you will find a quotation by Karl Sabiers, showing the same unique Numeric Features in the OT Hebrew, just as they appear in the complete NT Greek. *And bring us not into temptation!* *NOTE**: Philippians 4:8 (4:8-9) HOW TO SEE GOD'S WORD! ?Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are **true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things? (KJV). *Amy Hong Sit of Houston, Texas set these words to the tune of ?do - re - mi? in ?Sound of Music?, plus many other Bible verses to classical and popular tunes. The Salvation Army did the same in their beginning days. I see this verse as an excellent counterpart to this Interlinear Gr. NT. Briefly - let me recount to you how *God* connected *me* with His Bible Numerics through Ivan Panin. First, in the Fall of 1942 He spoke to me in my spirit in my unsaved state, and directed me from Psalm 107:23-24 to join the Canadian Navy. In the next month or so, Panin died in Aldershot, Ontario, just south of Hamilton. This was to prepare me following my conversion in 1944, to hear the challenge from Russian Jew Dr. Jewell - to study the works of Ivan Panin! See the *timing* of God! In 1945 I felt led to purchase all the writings ?on? or ?by? Ivan Panin, while attending Bible College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. God knew my genetic predisposition for outlining. So He led me to read the Introduction to Panin's Numeric Greek NT printed by the Oxford Press of England. My discovery there that Bible Numerics revealed God's structure in the NT for each sentence, sub-paragraph, paragraph and section or chapter equivalent - *hooked* me. I outlined the Book of Ephesians according to this structure, and was so captivated that I typed up Panin's entire English NT translated by himself from his Greek text, copied by hand the entire Greek text underneath it according to the clause and sentence structure, and then outlined the entire Interlinear Greek NT. In 2000 my oldest son set me up with a Website. In 2007 my 3rd grandson set up my website with data processing to undergird it - for typing up the interlinear text on computer. In 2008 my wife Marie gave me a laptop for my birthday to expedite this process, and my grandson put it on Linux Software to more adequately handle the more difficult Interlinear process. In 2009 a friend put me in touch with a Printer, who like Panin and myself, felt God directing him to put the Interlinear into print. I finished typing through the laptop the complete Interlinear MS by December 31, 2010. The first book for MS proof-reading should be in my hands shortly. You can presently go to our Website under ?Interlinear? - and there find the complete Interlinear text plus my personal notes, which will not appear in the printed copy. The above - are only the high lights of God's revelation and leading in all of this. He is leading in a ?Team-effort?! It is not Panin or me, it is God and His team of some 10 or more individuals having part in this - a number not even mentioned in this brief survey. In the vision of 1967, the Lord is the Observatory Director who revealed that the ?Number One? Component Part of His Organic Laser-Telescope - was ?* His* Bible Numeric *Outlined* Interlinear Greek NT.? All of us as team members have but like Panin *discovered* God's purpose in all of this! *All* seven component parts are *essential* - but this first part is indeed *Number One*, Unique, Reserved by God for these Last Days, and guarded by Him for production until *now*. Join with me then in fully supporting the purposes of God to see this through to completion - and then integrally having its part in removing Satan's principalities and powers over cities, regions, nations, and then the world! - Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri May 27 11:22:46 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 11:22:46 -0700 Subject: City Church & Eldership Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 27, 2011 *C. MATURITY - CITY CHURCH & ELDERSHIP - May 26, 2011* *1. MATTHEW 16:18 (16:13-20) THE CHURCH: BELONGS TO JESUS. ?And I also say unto you, that you are Peter, and upon this :rock I will build my :church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it? (NNT). *Here we see the first of 114 references to the word ?church?. Again, the rules of pedagogy cause us to consider carefully the insights from this first reference. The church was purchased by Christ by His blood. Therefore *we belong* to Him! And the ?counsels? of hell will *not* prevail against Christ's Church! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. MATTHEW 18:15-17 THE CHURCH: SOLVES INTERPERSONAL PROBLEMS. ?And if your :brother sin, go, reprove him between you and him alone: if he hear you, you have gained your :brother. 16 But if he hear not, take with you one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word stand. 17 And if he refuse to hear them, tell the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be to you as the Gentile and the publican.? *This is the *second* reference to *church*. Here is a 4-fold manner in which to solve interpersonal problems - and according to Jesus - this is the *only*way for NT observant believers to solve such problems! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. ACTS 13:1-3 THE CITY CHURCH: HAS AN ELDERSHIP IN ITS GATE. ?Now in the church that was at Antioch were prophets and teachers, both :Barnabas and Symeon :called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy :Spirit said, Separate me then :Barnabas and Saul for the work unto which I have called them. 3 Then, having fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.? *Each City Church in NT times had its Eldership in the Gate of its city, just as did Bethlehem in the OT. The 5-fold Eldership of prophets and teachers waited on God - had the Word of the Spirit - fasted - and *obeyed* the Word of the Spirit. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. ACTS 15:22 (15:1-35) THE CHURCH & ELDERSHIP: JOINT DECISION. ?Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out from them, and send them to Antioch with :Paul and Barnabas; Judas :called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.? *Probably no greater controversy arose in the early church but that caused by the ?Judaizers?. The Book of Galatians was written by the Spirit through Paul to address this problem. How satisfactory was the 4-fold solution here! *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. RUTH 4:1 (4:1-21) THE OT CITY ELDERSHIP. ?Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat down there; and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; unto whom he said, Ho, you! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down? (ASV '01). *The cities of Israel from ancient times had an Eldership in the Gate of their cities, with many synagogues within. How important was their decision here. Boaz took precedence over the nearer kinsman. David and David's Greater Son Jesus - came from this decision! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. REVELATION 2:7 (2:1-7) SEVEN CHURCHES: SPOKEN TO BY THE SPIRIT. ?Who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him that overcomes, to him will I give to eat of the tree of :life, which is in the Paradise of :God. *All city churches should be listening to the voice of the Spirit. Pastor Bob Birch of Canada thoroughly understood this. *Overcomers*in each city church emerge as individuals who hear (which implies obedience) the Word of the Spirit. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 1 CORINTIANS 16:19 (16:19-24) THE CHURCH: CAN ALSO LOCALLY BE IN A HOME. ?The churches of :Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church in their house.? *There are 14 local churches mentioned in the NT. Aquila and Priscilla led 3 of these in 3 city churches. The elder of each local church formed the plural city church Eldership as seen in Acts 15. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *The City Church with its Eldership in the Gate - is *the Pedestal * holding up God's Word: His Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek NT. In the 1967 Vision I saw the City Churches with their Eldership as being God's Pedestal to *support* His Word: *specifically* this Interlinear product! We are not to be under any false illusions on this. It is God's purpose that this unique Interlinear Greek NT for Laymen - hold pre-eminence over all other NT texts and translations. The Numeric Phenomenon marks it as being unique. It is *not* in the Aramaic text. It is not in the Hebrew translation of the NT. God for His own purposes and according to *His own* counsel, has determined to set it in this particular product. God's Numerics - not the Anglicans Westcott and Hort - established this text. There is much confusion in this area, with many divergent theories and opinions. God is the final adjudicator! And we have His verdict through *His * Numeric phenomenon. Back to the Church - God's Pedestal for His Word! It comes from the Greek word ek-kl*e*SIa, which appears 114 times in the NT. Once in Acts 7 it refers to *Israel* in the Wilderness; 3 times it refers to the secular city of Ephesus (Acts 19:21-41); 14 times it refers to a church in the home such as in 1 Corinthians 16:19; 15 times for the Universal Church: Jew and Gentile in the One New Man for all time; but - *81 times* concerning the City Church! Revelation 2 and 3 contain 14 of these 81 references to the City Church. It is important that we have *God's* perspective on these teachings. It matters little to us who is right or wrong - it only matters that *our God's * perspective is allowed to be predominant. Let God say what *He* wants to say - and let the Bible mean what *it* wants to mean. All of this will come out in the wash upon the return of Christ Jesus - our Lord of lords and King of kings. Roland Allen from England, missionary to China and Africa, author of ?Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours?? and ?The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church? - had these two books placed in my hands in 1949 by Harry Conn of Chicago, when I was attending Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. These two books and the exhortation of Mr. Conn started me in the direction that has led me to the above. Jim Watt *SPECIAL**: ?I Have Never Forgotten You? - *Oscar winner Nicole Kedman narrates this fascinating Tribeca Film Festival selection for documentarian Richard Trank, who relays the remarkable story of architect turned Nazi hunter *Simon Wiesenthal*. After losing nearly 90 family members in the Holocaust and surviving a German deathcamp, Wiesenthal volunteered to help the American War Crimes Unit track down war criminals on the lam, and went on to find more that 1,000 of them. - *1 hr. 45 min. 2006* My wife Marie and I received the above from Netflix, and found it one of the most outstanding documentaries on the Holocaust of all we have ever viewed. In it Frederick Forsyth tells how he worked with Wiesenthal in producing ?The Odessa File?. Also, Anthony Hopkins recounts the outstanding part Wiesenthal played in the production of Steven Spielberg's ?Schindler's List.? Added also is Wiesenthal's key part in the production of ?The Boys from Brazil?. It is a pity that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran could not immerse himself in the truth of this - rather than the lies he walks in. J & M *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat May 28 09:31:47 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 28 May 2011 09:31:47 -0700 Subject: Prayer Multiplication Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 28, 2011 *D. MATURITY - PRAYER MULTIPLICATION - MAY 27, 2011* *1. Deuteronomy 32:30 (1-43) PRAYER MULTIPLICATION: EVEN FOR ENEMIES. ?How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, and Jehovah had delivered them up? (ASV '01)? *This is spoken for the enemies of Israel. But if God does this for enemies - *how much more* will He do it for His people when we walk as *disciples* of Him, and allow His Holy spirit to possess us! See ?Rees Howells Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb, and how Hitler and Nazism was defeated in World War II by such a team! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (4:7-12) PRAYER MULTIPLICATION: BY THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. ?Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and has not another to lift him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.? **Two* can receive a *good*reward for their labor - especially the labor of *prayer*. Oswald Chambers says that *prayer** *is our ministry. All else flows from here, and Prayer Multiplication is prayer honed to its final potential. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. Matthew 18:19 (18:18-20) PRAYER MULTIPLICATION: AS DIRECTED BY JESUS. ?Amen, Amen, I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on :earth as touching anything they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my :Father who is in the heavens? (NNT). *I love this verse. As we walk in full sensitivity to the Father through the Holy Spirit - and as we approach our Father in Jesus' Name, 1 John 5:14-15 takes effect and we *know* that we * have* the petitions we desired of him. The secret is for a couple or couples to *symphonize* with each other under the direction of the Holy Spirit. This is the Greek word behind the English word to ?*agree*?! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so one earth.* *4. Zechariah 12:8 (12:1-9) PRAYER MULTIPLICATION: LAST DAY INCREASE. ?In that day shall Jehovah defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of Davidshall be as God, as the angel of Jehovah before them.? *Faith's Checklist? by Charles Haddon Spurgeon uses this verse and illustration. How encouraging! This is Prayer Multiplication at its ultimate potential. Don't stop short at Deuteronomy 32:30 - Press on to this! *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. Acts 4:31 (4:23-31) PRAYER MULTIPLICATION: IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION. ?And when they had prayed, the place was shaken in which they were gathered; and all were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of :God with boldness.? *Imagine! To move in the spirit of Prayer Multiplication can result in a God-sent earthquake - that releases divine boldness into a united body so praying! Don't settle for anything less. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 2 Chronicles 20:17 (20:14-31) PRAYER MULTIPLICATION: LACED WITH PRAISE! ?You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah with you, O Judah and Jerusalem; fear not, nor be dismayed: tomorrow go out against them; for Jehovah is with you.? *There comes a time in united prayer when we have pressed through. It is *sin* then to continue praying, for it is then lack of faith. Now we must *praise*. We experienced this recently in one of our ?Pilot Prayer Team? sessions. Rees Howells experienced it again and again. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Exodus 17:12 (17:8-16) PRAYER MULTIPLICATION: FOR A LEADER. ?But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.? *Every pastor needs a couple like Aaron and Hur that when he is tired - yet obeying God, a couple like these two can come along and hold up our hands, and see the Amalekites fully defeated! We cannot as a leader do it all alone. Not even Moses! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *I had the privilege of serving as Associate pastor to Pastor Ern Baxter of the Surrey Christian Centre of Surrey, BC from 1973-76. One of his teachings that I specially appreciated was on ?Prayer Multiplication? based on *Covenant*. He illustrated this with the diagram of a triangle. ?God? is at the apex, ?A?. I am as ?B? down on the left hand side. God as the Greater - has made a vertical covenant with me as the lesser. I can accept or reject the conditions of His Covenant, but I cannot change them. As a disciple in covenant relationship with Him, He grants me a 1000-fold potential. My wife Marie as ?C? - in 1948 made a similar agreement with God on the right side of the triangle. Then shortly afterwards, by the word of the Lord, we made a ?horizontal? covenant with each other, called ?sunTH*E*k*e*? covenant between two equals, set forth by the preposition ?sun? (with) and ?TIth*e*- mi? (being placed). The first vertical covenant with God and each of us is ?di-aTH*E*k*e*?, which signifies a thorough agreement of a Greater with a lesser. Marie and I have watched this principle demonstrated in our lives. Then in 1994, 5 couples met weekly in our home in Federal Way on this same principle. But if one couple can drive 10,000 to flight, then 4 couples can drive ten million! Within 3 months we prayed one of our 5 couples to Cyprus and then on to Israel. Only *God* could have done this through us, through Prayer Multiplication. But God had shown us a greater potential for ?Prayer Multiplication?. In Zechariah 12:8, God promises in the last days that His people in Jerusalem (and Gentiles grafted into our Jewish Roots) - can claim that the *feeble*among us can be as David (10,000) - and those of the House of David can be as God, as the Angel of Jehovah (Jesus), a *million-fold*; a couple, 10 million; 4 couples - a billion! The ?Pilot Prayer Team? (PPT) God led us to form in 2009 - with 8 men or 4 couples, has seen the same Prayer Multiplication principle take effect. And *distance* is no hindrance. God through us can reach any individual or city or nation of the world. We have proven to our satisfaction that there is * nothing* that God cannot do through us according to His will. So - ?Prayer Multiplication? is the *third* component part of God's Organic Laser-Telescope - that He has revealed to us. It is a *powerful* part. Each of the 7 parts must by faith operate in unison. *Then* the laser effect is manifested in its awfulness and awesomeness! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun May 29 09:20:19 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 29 May 2011 09:20:19 -0700 Subject: 12 Embryonics Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 29, 2011 *E. MATURITY - EMBRYONICS - MAY 28, 2011* *1. Acts 3:19-21 (3:11-26) REVIVAL = RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS. ?Repent therefore, and turn again, unto the blotting out of your :sins, 20 that so seasons of refreshing may come from the Lord's face; and he send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus: 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which :God spoke by the mouth of his :holy prophets that have been from of old? (NNT). *?Times of Refreshing? by Dr. J. Edwin Orr uses the above text to describe what he saw in the 1930's to happen in Canada as the end draws near. Project this into the panorama of the last great move for the return of God's Son! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. Acts 2:38-39 (2:37-42) REVIVAL = REPENTANCE, BAPTISM & GIFT OF HOLY SPIRIT. ?Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, andsaid unto :Peter and the rest of the apostles, [Men] Brethren, what shall we do? 38 And Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto remission of your :sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.? *This is called ?The Peter Package? by some. It has *three* component parts, not just two. Many stop at baptism. But let us continue. The gift (d*o*-reA) of the Holy Spirit is used but 11 times in the NT, but is a key to the very heart of NT understanding. And - it *follows* baptism! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 1 Timothy 1:18 (1:18-20) REVIVAL = IMPARTATION THROUGH THE PRESBYTERY CONCEPT. ?This :charge I commit to you, Timothy child, according to the prophecies which led the way to you, that by them you war the good warfare.? **This* was the first of the restoration of the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles of 1948, and perhaps the most controversial; and sometimes the most abused. This is also one of the first verses quickened to the North Battleford elders - to confirm that it was *God Himself* leading them this way, not the enemy. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 1 Timothy 4:14 (4:11-16) REVIVAL: DEPENDENT UPON CONTINUANCE IN WHAT RECEIVED. ?Neglect not the gift in you, which was given you through prophecy, with laying on of the hands of the presbytery.? *It was fearfulness on the part of Timothy that held him back from continuing on. Most of those he was leading were older than he. But Paul knew his giftings, genetic make-up and D.N.A. - and strongly urged him to press on! Many of us need to hear a similar word. *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. 2 Timothy 1:7 (1:2-24) REVIVAL: DEMANDS CESSATION FROM FEAR. ?For :God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and sobering.? *How the enemy loves to cause the spirit of fear to abort us from following God's call of victory! We are in a battle. It is *not* against flesh and blood. It is against Satan's evil angels and demons, who influence us to oppose God's best interests, which are *ours* also! Recognize this. Press through. Seize the victory. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Hebrews 6:1 (5:11-6:8) REVIVAL: DEPENDS ON BEING BORNE ON UNTO PERFECTION. ?Therefore leaving the word of the beginning of the Christ, let us be borne on unto the perfection; not laying again a foundation.? *The author of Hebrews - set forth as ?Paul? by Bible Numerics - exhorts us to initially lay the six foundations listed here; but *then* to rest in that finished work, and *go on* unto perfection or *maturity*. And this is exactly what God wants us to do with the 12 embryonic revival principles of 1948! Let us go on! *And brings us not into temptation.* *7. Ephesians 6:10-11 (6:10-20) REVIVAL: MAINTAINED BY THE ARMOR OF GOD. ?For the rest, be strong in the Lord, and in the might of his :strength. 10Put on the whole armor of :God, that you be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.? *I have linked the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles of 1948 with the 12 tribes of Israel. This is a help in remembering them. The fact that the Spirit associates these with His Organic Laser Telescope says much. Let us master these 12; bring them to maturity; and walk in them. Note too, that the 7-fold armor of God is *corporate* for the corporate man, not just the individual. It certainly has individual application, but the main thrust of the Spirit is *corporate*! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *There is a release of power that takes place as Embryonic Revival Principles break into the stage of *Maturity*! This makes a 10-fold effect of power release to activate God's organic Laser-Telescope. Spiritual atoms and molecules must be bombarded by spiritual power in the laser chamber - to release spiritual ?photons? to produce the spiritual Laser-Telescope effect! We have seen it happen. The fullness has not yet been activated by our God. But we are on the verge of seeing it happen! Don't stop short of His timing for His fullness. He that endures *to the end* not only shall be saved - but also shall see the fullness of God's purposes come to pass. In August of 1945 as a sailor stationed at HMCS Cornwallis in Digby NS, I fasted and prayed all one night to find from God either a school or a job to go to - to get me out of the Navy. After promising to rectify a wrong I had done in my unsaved state - God said - Write George R. Hawtin, Bethel Bible Institute, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and apply as a student. No address! But it got there. Entrance papers were provided. When returned, I was accepted. The Captain of my ship sent me at my request to Esquimalt near Victoria for discharge. I made my goal in Saskatoon 2 hours before registration time ended, and saved a $5.00 late fee! The times of God are always perfect! That was October 1945. In July of 1948, George Hawtin, then principal of the school now moved from Saskatoon to North Battleford under a new name: Sharon Orphanage and Schools - asked if I would serve as one of the 7 elders for the July Camp Meeting. I am the last of those 7 elders alive. During 1948 12 Embryonic Revival Principles came together from that Visitation, which started February 1948. The 12th Embryonic Revival Principle of the Heavenly Choir was restored in October of that same year in Edmonton. Then in July 1992 the Word of the Lord came - *Bring to maturity* the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles of 1948 - they will be parameters of safety for the last Visitation preceding the return of My Son. As soon as I have written up these 7 Component parts for God's organic Laser-Telescope - I will then write up an *update* on the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles, starting with the 4 Key Ones surrounding the Tabernacle of Moses. I believe that it is the preceding which shall cause maturity for the second. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon May 30 10:12:57 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 30 May 2011 10:12:57 -0700 Subject: Bible Meditation Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 30, 2011 *F. MATURITY - BIBLE MEDITATION - 2011-05-29* *1. PSALM 19:14 (1-14) MEDITATION: PRAYED FOR BY DAVID. ?Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in your sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer? (ASV '01). *Words of our mouth emerge from the *meditation* of our heart. And even our *meditation* can be softly vocalized like the cooing of a dove. Psalm 19 is a wonderful subject for * meditation* and vocalization. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. Joshua 1:8 (1:1-9) MEDITATION: A CHALLENGE FOR JOSHUA. ?This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.? *Moses by the Spirit gives one of the strongest challenges for *meditation* that can be found in the Bible. *The whole* Torah or Pentateuch is to be Joshua's complete subject! It is to hold his attention day and night! The object is that through clear understanding he may then effectively *do* according to *all* written there. And only then does God give the following two extraordinary promises! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. Psalm 1:1-3 (1:1-6) MEDITATION: CONTRASTED WITH THE WICKED. ?Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stands in the way of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of scoffers: 2 But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; and on his law does he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also does not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.? *Possibly a son of Asaph wrote this psalm. How powerful! How great its contrast! How parallel to the word to Joshua. If any Psalm could be memorized - *this* is certainly one of the very first! I memorized it when in Grade 3, and have kept it up through the years. *Your :will be done. As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. Psalm 119:23 (119:17-24) MEDITATION: BASED IN THE LONGEST CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE. ?Princes also sat and talked against me; But your servant did meditate on your statutes.? *Again, the Spirit leads to make contrast between ungodly princes and a true servant of the Lord. *Meditation* becomes his source of comfort, strength and encouragement in the midst of persecution. We *all* could follow this exemplary pattern! *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. Psalm 119:97-99 (119:97-104) MEDITATION: ITS TREMENDOUS BENEFIT. ?Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; For your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept your precepts.? *Just look at the benefits of *meditation*! Wiser than enemies! More understanding than teachers! More understanding than the aged! Who wouldn't want to be led in the paths of *meditation*? Just as a cow chews her cud - so we as believers should cause the Word to return to our attention - and permit us to pour over its marvelous mysteries! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Psalm 119:148 (119:145-152) MEDITATION: DURING SEASONS OF WAKEFULNESS. ?My eyes have anticipated the night-watches, That I might meditate on your word.? *We should not fret when lying awake at night! What an opportunity to *meditate* on what we have memorized of the Bible. Brother Yun, the Heavenly Man of China - utilized this opportunity again and again! We can too! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 1 Timothy 4:15 (4:11-16) MEDITATION IN DILIGENCE. ?Be diligent in these; give yourself wholly to these; that your :progress be manifest to all.? *Does the NT have insights on *meditation* - that parallel the strong emphasis of the OT? Yes, but seemingly it is in a more veiled state. ?MeLEta? in the Greek is translated here as ?Be diligent.? But it has the underlying thought of *meditating* in diligence! It took prayer and diligence and study to dig this nugget out - but it is perfectly legitimate. *And bring us not into temptation!* *NOTE**: *I have been led to choose George Muller and George Whitefield as the true and great historical examples of *meditation*! Look at the fruitfulness. The first 10 years of Muller's Christian life were relatively fruitless from the years of 20 to 30. He was like a yo-yo! Up and down - up and down. But when he came across a biography on George Whitefield, and learned that *Meditation* was the chief activity of his fruitful life, Muller immediately changed his entire devotional habit. Now he majored on starting out early in the morning reading the Word on his knees, and both praying over it, and praying it back to God in his own words. He ended up the last 10 years of his life by reading through the Bible *in this manner*4 times a year! Four to five hours a day prepared him for victory and answered prayer all the day long! Men like Muller counted the cost - and paid the price! He who would count ?With Eternity's Values in View? - will be sure to do likewise. Such is the picture of true discipleship. Such is the example of Jesus, the Son of man! Such is the example of the apostle Paul, one of the closest to Jesus, called by Him, ?O greatly beloved of the Lord!? And Paul said to us - ?Follow *me*, as *I* follow Christ.? So - this example is not just for Jesus and apostles - it is for every believer - to become a disciple - to become a daily mediator in the Word of God! Muller didn't feel he was in the victory at all times as he desired. Neither do I - but he *did* press on in this direction as his daily habit, all apart from feelings. And so do I. God revealed Himself to me at Passover 1944 as a sailor in the Navy. On a day's leave, a number of us wandered north of Victoria, and found a tavern. Over it's door was the verse, ?Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord!? Psalm 19:14. Apparently the tavern had formerly been a chapel or church. I was deeply impressed upon coming upon this. I sensed God saying to me - ?This is for you! This is My will for you! I want you to be like David in both speech and meditation! That was 67 years ago. It is as deeply ingrained upon my spirit as it was that summer day. My closing word? Join me in walking in Psalm 19:14 and the challenge of Bible Meditation. It is an integral component part of God's organic Laser-Telescope. We will *not* be a part of God's Spiritual Star Wars apart from having Bible Meditation an *integral part* of our life. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue May 31 09:02:08 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 31 May 2011 09:02:08 -0700 Subject: Spirit-led Intercession Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* May 31, 2011 *G. MATURITY - SPIRIT-LED INTERCESSION - MAY 30, 2011* *1. Romans 8:26-27 (8:26-30) INTERCESSION: DEPENDENT UPON THE SPIRIT. ?And in like manner the Spirit also helps our :infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself intercedes mightily for us with groanings unutterable; 27 and who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to God? (NNT). *For the one - like Rees Howells - *possessed* by the Spirit - then the * mightiness* of the Spirit is released through his life. Perhaps no book like ?Rees Howells, Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb, so effectively reveals the tremendous possibility of *intercession* through a human being. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. Hebrews 7:25 (7:11-25) INTERCESSION: JESUS' HEAVENLY MINISTRY. ?Whence also he is able to save to the uttermost them that approach :God through him, he ever living to make intercession for them.? *As High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, Jesus can give us complete salvation. And this is all based on His *constant intercession* on our behalf. It is good on our part to let the Spirit through us on Jesus' behalf - join with Him in this great *Intercessory* Ministry. * Your :kingdom come.* *3. Isaiah 53:12 (52:13-53:12) INTERCESSION: AT TIMES AN OT LACK. ?Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors? (ASV '01). *Isaiah 52:13-53:12 is one of the great and outstanding chapters of the Bible. It is the clearest window into the soul of our Savior in the Bible. Orthodox Jews generally omit it, for it so clearly convicts them for their treatment of Jesus at His first coming. Even while bearing our sins - yet He *still interceded* for transgressors! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. Romans 8:34 (8:31-39) INTERCESSION OF JESUS: AT GOD'S RIGHT. ?Who is he that condemns? It is Christ Jesus that died, yes rather, was raised from thedead, who is at :God's right, who also intercedes for us.? *There are multitudes with Satan of his wicked angels and demons - and of wicked men who join these ranks - who would rail against us the saints. Yet - in spite of all this - the *intercessions* of Jesus in heaven on our behalf, is *more* than adequate to offset all the negatives of evil. *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. Isaiah 59:15b-16 (59:15b-21) INTERCESSION: A COMPLETE OT LACK! ?And Jehovah saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. 16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation unto him: and his righteousness, it upheld him.? *Few human *intercessors* exceed that of the life of Moses. Yet just as he prophesied, Israel had sunk to such a low level at the time of the above writing - that God could not find *one intercessor* upon earth. So - he sent His only-begotten Son to fill the gap. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (2:1-7) INTERCESSIONS: KEY RESPONSIBILITY FOR MEN. ?I exhort therefore first of all to make supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men; 2 for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.? *See the 4-fold exhortation by Paul for men - and then the 4-fold type of life we can expect to live as a result of *Intercessions* among these 4! We need a men's prayer room with multiple carpets and no chairs, where fathers and sons can pour out their hearts anytime day or night for these God-given goals! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Luke 23:42-43 (23:33-49) INTERCESSION: BY JESUS ON THE CROSS. ?And the thief said, Jesus, remember me when you come in your :kingdom. 43 And he said to him, Amen I say unto you, Today shall you be with me in :Paradise.? *It is amazing to note that Jesus in the great agony of His redemptive act on our behalf - yet - had time to hear and answer the dying request of a penitent thief! Again and again, when preachers at Passover recount the last 7 sayings of Jesus on the Cross - they recount *this one* among the 7! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *Let us look again at the above! See Intercession as one of the 7 integral component parts of God's Organic Laser-Telescope. Though *this*part is in sixth place, yet in God's sight - shouldn't it be much higher? When God gave me the vision of this in 1967, He set His ?Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek NT for Laymen? as the number one component part. I agree, though the other six come right along in importance. Under Romans 8:26-27, there is reference to the biography of Rees Howells by Norman P. Grubb. There is a 3-fold definition here on *Intercession*early in the book. It is an excellent definition, and comes out of nearly 50 years of the subject walking most successfully in this area. I read this definition first in 1953, and have continued to find it one of the best of all definitions for this subject. Jesus is God's greatest *intercessor*. But the Holy Spirit in us enables us to let the Lord use us in this medium in an acceptable manner. However, *corporate intercession* in the line of Prayer Multiplication - takes on that same dimension as early church believers experienced. May we each one find ourselves in such a corporate team! Note too that the NT throughout is for *men* to be engaged in this high calling and privilege. Normally we find in America that women are mostly engaged in this calling. But God expects *men* to be engaged most prominently here. To document the definition on *Intercession*, turn to ?Rees Howells, Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb, chapter 12, p.83, ?What *is* an * Intercessor*?. It reveals that ?*The Identification* of the Intercessor is Paramount. Next - *The Agony* of the Intercessor through the Holy Spirit; and thirdly, *the authority* of the Intercessor. Other types of prayer are necessary and good, but few understand the *costly nature* of the true intercessor - as defined by Rees Howells. In closing - for those who are truly honest and sincere to join our Lord in this dimension - I heartily recommend the purchase of the biography of Rees Howells by Norman P.. Grubb. I have one close friend whose life was transformed by this book in 1975. He was so captivated by its unusual helpfulness, that he has read it monthly ever since then! I myself have read it the same way for 7 years. I have then alternated this text with the biographies of some of the other men mentioned in this Overview. It deals with the Maturity of the 7 component parts of this instrument. Bless us each one as we pursue this most important and effective pursuit. J.A. Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Jun 1 09:15:32 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2011 09:15:32 -0700 Subject: Focus on Jesus Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 1, 2011 *H. MATURITY - FOCUS ON JESUS - MAY 31, 2011* *1. Revelation 19:11-13 (19:11-16) JESUS: WORD OF GOD! ?And I saw the heaven opened; and lo, a white horse, and he that sat on it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness does he judge and war. 12 And his :eyes are flame of fire, and on his :head are many diadems; having a name written which no one knows but he. 13 And he is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his :name is called The Word of :God? (NNT). *John 1:1 sets Jesus forth as the LOgos, the Word. And His Name in Heaven as Glorified Man is *The Word of God*. Who is like unto You, Lord Jesus? We know of none other! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. Revelation 20:11 (20:11-15) JESUS: GREAT WHITE THRONE. ?And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose :face the heaven fled away; and no place was found for them.? *Jesus has two thrones. One at the beginning of the Millennium: the B*E*ma - the Throne of Judgment for the saints. And one at the end of the Millennium: The Great White Throne - at which time all sinners receive their just desserts. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. Revelation 2:18 (2:18-29) JESUS: EYES AS A FLAME OF FIRE. ?And to the angel of the church of Thyatira write: These things says the Son of :God, who has his :eyes as a flame of fire, and his :feet like burnished brass.? *For the first 3 churches of the book of Revelation, Jesus first exhorts them to hear the word of the Spirit to them. *Then* He gives His promise to the overcomers. But starting with Thyatira and the last 4 churches, He changes the order. It is here to the overcomers that He gives His promise - and ends up exhorting them to hear the Word of the Spirit! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. Revelation 3:7 (3:7-13) JESUS: ALL DOORS OPEN TO HIM. ?And to the angel :of the church in Philadelphia write: These things says the holy one, the true, that has the key of David, who opens and none shall shut, and who shuts and none opens.? *Philadelphia like Smyrna - are the only two churches to whom Jesus has no word of condemnation. The sixth church has a little power, and their Lord who has the keys to open or shut all doors, has given to Philadelphia an open door, which Satan *cannot* shut. Consider this! *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. Revelation 4:2-3 (4:1-8) JESUS: A RAINBOW-SURROUNDED THRONE. ?After these things I was straightway in the Spirit: and lo, a throne was set in the heaven, and one sitting upon the throne; 3 and who sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and a rainbow round the throne, like an emerald to look upon.? *This is the first picture of Jesus following the opening of this ?Portal? door. What an awesome picture of our Resurrected and *Glorified* Lord! J. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission through the motivation of George Muller - read 2 chapters on Jesus from the Book of Revelation *every* Monday morning. He *maintained* his focus on Jesus. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Revelation 5:6-7 (5:6-1:14) JESUS: WHO HAS THE 7 SPIRITS OF GOD. ?And I saw amidst the throne and the four living beings, and amidst the elders, a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of :God, sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.? *Again, a sober and exalting vision of Jesus! The slain and resurrected Lamb of God was *alone* worthy in heaven and earth to take and open the booklet with the 7-fold seals. We can *never* move too high in glorifying the eternal Son of God. In *Him* dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Luke 2:52 (2:4-52) JESUS: HIS 4-FOLD GROWTH. ?And Jesus advanced in :wisdom and stature, and in grace with God and men.? *Never before or after - a man like Jesus! Even as Son of man - in His human state - He excelled all others. All pictures above of Jesus in the Book of Revelation - see Him as Glorified Man! There is a Man beside the Father sitting on the Throne of the Universe. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *Through the example of Oswald Chambers, I have been helped in maintaining my daily - and even hourly and momentarily - focus on Jesus! At the age of 27 he broke through into a victorious and overcoming relationship with Jesus, that continued right up to his Home-going 16 years later. His widow Biddy posthumously prepared for publishing some 50 of his books, that she had during their 7 years of marriage, recorded very accurately in shorthand. Her part in this union - was much like that of Catherine Marshall for Peter Marshall, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. Again and again in his teachings came the word - ?*My Utmost* for *His Highest*.? When Biddy picked out from all his writings 366 readings for a Daily Devotional - *this* seemed the right title for such a volume. ?Personal, Passionate Devotion to Jesus? was another of his words that recurs again and again in his writings. This morning, May 31, 2011, I read his reading from ?My Utmost for His Highest,? and marked it - ?Master this.? I am including it for you, as a reading I have continually sought to ?master?! J.A.Watt *PUT GOD FIRST - Oswald Chambers - May 31* ?*Jesus did not commit Himself to them . . . for He knew what was in man (John 2:24-25).* *Put Trust in God First. *Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutely in what God's grace could do for others. If I put my trust in human beings first, the end result will be my despair and hopelessness toward everyone. I will become bitter because I have insisted that people be what no person can ever be - absolutely perfect and right. Never trust anything in yourself or in anyone else, except the grace of God. *Put God's Will First. ?Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God? (Hebrews 10:9). *A personal obedience is to* *what he sees to be a need - our Lord's obedience was to the will of His Father. The rallying cry today is, ?We must get to work! The heathen are dying without God. We must go and tell them about Him.? But we must first make sure that God's ?needs? and His will in us personally are being met. Jesus said, *?. . . tarry . . . until you are endued with power from on high? (Luke 24:49). *The purpose of our Christian training is to get us into the right relationship to the ?needs? of God and His will. Once God's ?needs? in us have been met, He will open the way for us to accomplish His will, meeting His ?needs? elsewhere. *Put God's Son First. ?Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me? (Matthew 18:5). *God came as a baby, giving and entrusting Himself to me. He expects my personal life to be a ?Bethlehem.? Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transformed by the indwelling life of the Son of God? God's ultimate purpose is that His Son might be exhibited in me. *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Jun 2 09:25:32 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 09:25:32 -0700 Subject: Heavenly Choir Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 2, 2011 *JUDAH UPDATE - HEAVENLY CHOIR - June 1, 2011* *1. Luke 2:13-14 (2:8-20) HEAVENLY CHOIR: ANGELS. ?And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host of those praising :God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men of good pleasure? (NNT). *In the early part of the last century, Heaven came down to earth in meetings in America. A book was lent to me in 1944 - ?40 Years of Signs and Wonders in the Life of Mrs. Maria Woodworth-Etter?. She recounts there how angels came down and joined with the human singing. She called this ?The Heavenly Choir?. God restored this in October 1948 in Edmonton, Alberta. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. Luke 19:39-40 (37-40) HEAVENLY CHOIR: SUNG BY DISCIPLES. ?And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said unto him, Teacher, rebuke your :disciples. 40 And he answered and said, I tell you if these shall be silent, the stones will cry out.? *High Protocol for God's High Son! They ushered Him into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday with correct Protocol! And to the indignant Pharisees, Jesus alerted them that Protocol would demand *the stones* cry out - should His disciples be silent! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. Matthew 21:15-16 (21:12-17) HEAVENLY CHOIR: WITH PERFECTED PRAISE OF CHILDREN. ?But the chief priests seeing the wonders which he did and the children :crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the son of David, were indignant, and said to him, Do you hear what these are saying? And :Jesus said to them, Yes: did you never read [that] Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you have perfected praise?? *There is something about the praise of children that pleases God. And at the same time such praise of children infuriates religious leaders! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 (14:1-19) HEAVENLY CHOIR: PAULS SONG IN SPIRIT A COMPONENT! ?For if I pray in a tongue, my :spirit prays, but my :understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.? *Angels have a heavenly tongue of praise (1 Corinthians 13:1). When we blend with theirs our devotional prayer language as did the apostle Paul, again God takes pleasure. We *do* need the balance of song with our understanding as well as song with our spirit. *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. Isaiah 42:10 (42:10-13) HEAVENLY CHOIR: ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEW SONG. ?Sing unto Jehovah a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth; you that go down to the sea, and all that is in it, the isles, and its inhabitants? (ASV '01). *Close relationship with God causes His saints to break out with a *new song*! This excites the angelic hosts - and often causes them to join in! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Psalm 22:3; 22 (22:1-31) HEAVENLY CHOIR: A PROPHETIC MESSIANIC WORD. ?But you are holy, O you that inhabits the praises of Israel. 22 I (Jesus) will declare your name unto my brethren: In the midst of the assembly will I praise you.? *Think of these two insights. *God inhabits* the praises of Israel. This brings heaven and earth together. Then Jesus as the Head of His Body - the One New Man - leads us in praise to Almighty God. And think not that the angels fail to join in! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Ephesians 5:18-20 (5:15-21) HEAVENLY CHOIR: PAUL'S EXHORTATION. ?And be not drunk with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; 19speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with your :heart to the Lord: 20 thanking always for all in our Lord Jesus Christ's name the God and Father.? *Colossians 3:16 ties in with these verses in Ephesians. In Colossians the apostle show us that the *Word* dwelling in us richly - triggers rich heavenly song; and in Ephesians it is the Spirit-controlled life that triggers such heavenly praise. And *Judah* means *Praise*! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *I was discharged from the Canadian Navy in 1945, traveling from Nova Scotia to Esquimalt just outside of Victoria. When I later arrived in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan by the Word of the Lord in October of that year, I soon met up with Ern Hawtin, younger brother of George, who God used to lead the 1948 Visitation a few years later. I told Ern of the most unusual Worship Visitation in the meetings of Mrs. Woodworth-Etter through the Heavenly Choir. I told him that as I read in 1944 her book mentioned above, that the Spirit clearly spoke: ?In the not too distant future - you will see the Heavenly Choir restored.? He quizzed me as to the timing of this. I had to tell him that all that had been revealed to me, was that it would be in the not too distant future. In October 1948, the North Battleford Summer Camp Team was holding meetings in Edmonton, Alberta. Ern Hawtin asked me if I would be willing to share on the Heavenly Choir - if his brother George was agreeable. I signified, Yes. On the latter's approval, I shared what impressed me on the reading of Mrs. Woodworth-Etter's book, and my belief that this manifestation would soon be restored. When I was about to be seated, Ern Hawtin held me at the pulpit with his arm, and urged me to encourage the people to launch out into the deep! In spite of not ever having heard the Heavenly Choir - I asked the Lord what to do? He said, ?Have the congregation sing the old chorus ?Hallelujah? several times - and then to launch out in the Spirit - and *I*will take over!? So I did - and He did! In five minutes I heard congregational singing with angels joining in - in such a manner - that I will never forget that ?Indian Summer? morning! Two business men some 6 blocks away heard it through the open church windows. To find out whether they were listening to a choir or an organ - they followed their ears - and *both* were saved that morning! Countless 100's - and even 1000's - were saved in similar manner in the large meetings of Mrs. Maria Woodworth-Etter. Much fasting and prayer preceded the restoration of this last manifestation. Don't ?drum up? the Heavenly Choir - by settling for a human manifestation far short of what fasting and prayer can release! Act on Isaiah 66:2b - and God will fall upon such a people in a truly heavenly partnership! Note also that Judah was #1 tribe of Israel in the ?march? - when the cloud left the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. Jesus can be seen as the ?*Lion*? of the tribe of Judah? - for He was descendant of this tribe. This tribe was placed on the East side of the Tabernacle. Jesus is linked with the Gospel of Matthew - as King of the Kingdom. Among the 4 heads of the Cherubim in the prophecy of Ezekiel, Jesus again is the lion. So how can we again see the ?Heavenly Choir? restored in its purity, power and unusual results? What will bring the Embryonic truth of the Heavenly Choir to Maturity? I believe that God's ?Organic Laser-Telescope? producing ?Spiritual Star Wars? - will bring it to *maturity* - even *all 12* of the Embryonic Revival Principles brought together in the 1948 Visitation in Northern Canada. Our God is about to *fully activate* this! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Jun 3 08:37:45 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2011 08:37:45 -0700 Subject: Effective Leadership Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 3, 2011 *EPHRAIM UPDATE - EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP - June 2, 2011* *1. Joshua 1:9 (1:1-9) LEADERSHIP: GOD LAUNCHES JOSHUA. ?Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed: for Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go? (ASV '01). *Joshua was trained by Moses as his assistant, but chosen of God to take this outstanding leadership role. Moses was of the tribe of Levi, but Joshua from from Ephraim and Joseph. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. Deuteronomy 34:9 (34:9-12) LEADERSHIP: EQUIPMENT OF SPIRIT OF WISDOM. ?And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel listened unto him, and did as Jehovah commanded Moses.? **Not* just a word of wisdom came to Joshua as in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 - but a *spirit* of wisdom. Only twice did he miss God in his leadership - namely when he failed to consult Urim and Thummim concerning ?Ai? and the ?Gibeonites?! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 1 Samuel 16:13 (16:6-13) LEADERSHIP: SPIRIT-ANOINTING FOR DAVID. ?Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.? *Samuel feared to go down and anoint David in Bethlehem because of the jealousy of King Saul. Out of 8 brothers, God rejected the first 7, and chose the youngest - David. Immediately upon his anointing, he started writing his portion of the Psalms, and moving in unusual worship. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 2 Chronicles 1:10-12 (1:7-13) LEADERSHIP FOR SOLOMON: BASED ON WISDOM. ?Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this your people, that is so great? 11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of them that hate you, neither yet have asked long life; but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king; 12 wisdom and knowledge is granted unto you; and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you; neither shall there any after you have the like.? *Solomon started out so well in humility and obedience - until he forsook the Lord's word and married 700 wives plus 300 concubines. *They* stole his heart away from God - and led to the division of the Kingdom of Israel. *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. Judges 6:12 (6:11-18) LEADERSHIP COMMISSIONING: FOR GIDEON. ?And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto Gideon, and said unto him, Jehovah is with you, you mighty man of valor.? *Gideon as a Judge and Leader also started out with great humility and very weak faith. But he *grew* in the Lord. Yet after success he made an idolatrous garment, which led Israel astray - and eventually the death of all but *one* of his sons! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Matthew 16:17-19 (16:13-20) LEADERSHIP FOR PETER: HIS COMMISSIONING. ?And :Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my :Father who is in the heavens. And I also say unto you, that you are Peter, and upon this :rock I will build my :church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens; and whatever you shall bind on the earth shall be bound in the heavens; and whatever you shall loose on the earth shall be loosed in the heavens? (NNT). *Here we find Jesus setting forth Peter into Leadership as the key of the 12 apostles. He became apostle of the circumcision, and the first 12 chapters of the Book of Acts major on his leadership ministry. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Galatians 1:15-16 (1:13-2:14) LEADERSHIP FOR PAUL: HIS COMMISSIONING. ?But when it was God's good pleasure who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through his :grace, 16 to reveal his :son in me, that I preach him among the nations; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood.? *Here is the calling of one of the greatest leaders in the entire Bible. 14 of the NT epistles, including the Book of Hebrews according to God's Bible Numerics - are attributed to this Benjamite. Imagine our loss had not the 11 tribes in the Book of Judges found a solution in restoring this tribe following their heavy judgment! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *Joshua is of the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph. His temperament majors on the servant spirit of Mark, the ox - and he minors on the strong leadership spirit of Dan in John. As the servant of Moses, he did not set himself strongly forward, so it might have been a surprise to him that God chose this one to succeed Moses himself. But the wisdom in God's choice is most apparent as we study the leadership exhibited by Joshua in the Book called after his name. Besides that, he with Caleb were the only two good spies out of the 12 sent by Moses to spy out Canaan-land. It was God's choice that Ephraim be *leader* of the 3 tribes located on the West side of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. Manasseh, his older brother, and Benjamin his uncle and brother of Joseph were under his leadership. When Israel split into 2 parts following the reign of Solomon, Ephraim became leader of the 10 Northern tribes. Sadly, but necessary to say, under Jeroboam, these 10 were led into idolatry from which they never freed themselves - even up to their captivity under the Assyrians. *Not one* good king came out of the 10 tribes of Israel - rather - very evil kings arose, who went beyond even the evil of Jeroboam. But look at the 6 selections of Leadership above. The 6th one is the apostle Paul from the tribe of Benjamin, which tribe was assigned a place under Ephraim around the Tabernacle. George Hawtin exhibited the spirit of leadership for the 1948 Visitation in Saskatchewan. Like Joshua of Ephraim, he in the beginning led wisely. Later - areas that many believe were a departure from Scripture - were introduced under his leadership. Nevertheless, as we take the counsel God gave Jeremiah (15:19), and take the *precious* from the vile - we too shall be as God's mouth. In other words, we are *not* to throw the baby out with the bath-water. Many tend to throw everything out from this 1948 Latter Rain Visitation. A *serious* error and mistake! There is a good 12-fold baby here, that can be salvaged from the bath-water. And how can we see a maturity for the ?Leadership? truth of Ephraim and Joshua come to full maturity in our day? I believe - through the effective application of ?God's Organic Laser-Telescope? eventuating in ?His Spiritual Star Wars?! *Then* we will see the servant Spirit of Jesus in Mark the ox - and Ephraim and Joshua - exhibited in a manner that will highly glorify God! An added note on Matthew 16:17-19. Here Jesus tells Peter about the promise of binding and loosing. The verbs here in the Greek tense are ?the Perfect Passive Participle?, which is correctly translated - ?whatever you bind on the earth - not - shall be bound in the heavens - but *?shall already in the mind of God have been bound*? in the heavens. This is just the opposite to the vast majority of translations. The ?Williams? translation is one of the very few that I believe *correctly* renders this. Otherwise, it makes *God* our *water-boy* - instead of *us* being *His*water-boy. According to this - we must walk so closely and sensitively to God, that we sense what He is thinking in heaven. *Then* when we declare this on earth, He does it. But in this context *we* are *God's* water-boy; not there telling God what to do. Joshua sensed God's mind when he commanded the sun to stand still. True - God did this for man - *but* the man Joshua had faith because He already sensed the mind of God. J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Jun 4 09:33:32 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 4 Jun 2011 09:33:32 -0700 Subject: Our Jewish Roots Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 4, 2011 *REUBEN UPDATE - OUR JEWISH ROOTS - JUNE 03, 2011* 1. Leviticus 23:1-2 (1-44) OUR ROOTS: JEHOVAH'S SET FEASTS. ?And Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, The set feasts of Jehovah, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are *my set feasts*? (ASV '01). Note: these are * not* Jewish Feasts primarily, but *God's* set feasts, which we as Gentiles enjoyed both in OT and NT times. By order of emperor Constantine in 325 AD, it was forbidden for Jew or Gentile to keep the set feasts of Jehovah. That ungodly decree is slowly being rescinded. Read Romans 11 to see what God thinks of Gentile rejection of these. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. Proverbs 6:20-22 (6:20-35) OUR ROOTS: IN URIM & THUMMIM. ?My son, keep the commandment of your father, And forsake not the teaching of your mother: **21** Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them about your neck. **22 ** When you walk, **it shall lead you**; When you sleep, **it shall watch over you**; And when you awake, **it shall talk with you**.? *Early following my conversion in 1944, God fastened this teaching on my mind. Later that year a Jewish missionary to Jews opened my understanding to its application for NT saints! *All* of the OT: history, types and shadows, prophecies, allegories - all have application for us! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. Romans 11:17-18 (11:13-24) OUR ROOTS: IN ISRAEL - NOT OURSELVES. ?But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and did become partaker with **them** of the root of the fatness of the olive tree; **18** glory not over the branches: but if you glory, **not you** bear the root, but **the root you**? (NNT). *Subtle Antisemitism unfortunately causes even Gentile believers in Christ to reject our Savior's Jewish people after the flesh! We call it ?Replacement Theology?. Many in the church think *they* have replaced Israel. Muslims think they have replaced both Israel and us in the church! Paul by the Spirit clarifies *God's* position on this in this chapter! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. Acts 15:19-20 (15:6-21) OUR ROOTS: WITH - BUT DISTANT FROM - ISRAEL. ?Therefore MY judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the nations turn to :God; **20** but that we enjoin them, to abstain from the pollutions of the idols and :fornication **and what** is strangled and :blood.? *This is a marvelous section to set clearly before us, that in the One New Man - Jew and Gentile* *are together in the church - yet Gentiles do *not* have to follow full Jewish culture! There is a wise Protocol set forth here for both of us! *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. Galatians 2:7-9 (1:13-2:14) OUR ROOTS: DISTINGUISHED BY PETER & PAUL. ?But contrariwise, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel of **the uncircumcision**, even as :Peter **with that** of the circumcision **8** (for who worked for Peter unto apostleship of the circumcision worked for me also unto the nations); **9** and perceiving the grace :given me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas right **hands** of fellowship, that we go unto the nations, and they unto the circumcision.? *Here the Holy Spirit through Paul yet more clearly helps us to understand the distinction between Jewish Culture and Gentile Culture in the church. We can worship together, though maintaining our *distinct* cultures. It is not the Judaizing spirit we need to fear today so much - but the Gentilizing Replacement spirit! * And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Romans 11:5, 7 (11:1-12) OUR ROOTS: REQUIRE ?REMNANT? UNDERSTANDING! ?Even so therefore at the present season also there is **a remnant**according to election of grace. **7** What then? What Israel seeks for, that he obtained not; but **the election** obtained **it**, and the rest were hardened.? *It is extremely important that we understand the doctrine of ?the remnant?. The apostle Paul by unusual revelation was given by God the understanding of 27 mysteries unfolded in the NT, the doctrine of ?the remnant? being one. It helps us Gentiles in our Jewish Fellowship to have this understanding. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Romans 11:25-26a (11:25-35) OUR ROOTS: BASED ON ?MYSTERY? UNDERSTANDING! ?For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this :mystery, lest you be wise in your own **conceits,** that a hardening in part has befallen :Israel, **till** what **time** the fulness of the nations be come in; **26a** and so all Israel shall be saved.? *A *mystery* is something alluded to in the OT, but not explained. God chose Paul to give full understanding of these mysteries, and to share them especially with Gentile believers - though first to the Jews. This chapter clearly shows that God has *not* permanently rejected Israel! Their full restoration will be extraordinary blessing to Gentiles! *But deliver us from the evil **one!* *NOTE**: *God led me to Mrs. Mary Bertha Allquist of Port Alberni BC as her paper boy in 1938, and then as my first true mentor in 1944. She was to me as Deborah was to Barak! She clearly led me through some of the intricacies of how to understand as a Gentile - our Jewish Roots. I try like her to let *God say* what *He* wants to say; and the Bible mean, what *it* wants to mean. This spirit is *not* always honestly found in the church. This question needs to be faced, and when we see that we have areas of deception in our thinking - then we must repent of these areas - and let God and His Word lead us into a truer understanding. *I* have had to do this in a * number* of areas - but specifically in the area of ?Replacement Theology.? Many of my friends are still in the area where I used to be. I was a thorough-going Evolutionist because of my background in the United Church of Canada; and a Communist prior to my conversion. One of my University Professors said, ?If you think Communism is so all-fired great - why don't you move to Russia?? That set me back on my heels a bit! I had felt that my denomination needed a shot in the arm, and I thought perhaps Communism would do it. The problem of our ?Jewish Roots? is *largely* misunderstood, ignored or opposed in the church today. I have made the transition after thoroughly studying this whole subject, primarily from the Word of God! I believe I have made the *right* decision. I invite you to likewise study this primarily from Romans 9-11 and Galatians - and if you come up to the same conclusions as I have - I invite you to join me is such a decision. I am *not* a Paul - I do not have the unusual understanding of all of these subjects such as he did. But I am doing my level best to understand the Holy Spirit's teaching through him, and that of the whole of the Bible. I link the tribe of Reuben with our Jewish Roots. On our Website *< www.2rbetter.org> *under ?Embryonics?, you will move along this line written 11 years ago. Also under ?Interlinear?, you will find the entire Interlinear Greek NT set forth in Outlined Format designed especially for Laymen. I am currently preparing in MS form the entire Bible in an Outlined Daily Devotional format. And under ?Archives? - there are other articles helping to explain the above. Both my wife Marie and I are sold on ?God's thinking? as we see it on Israel. We have visited this land 4 times for varying lengths of teaching seminars. Our favorite was on Mount Carmel with David and Karen Davis, a Messianic Jewish Congregation and School. David was mentored following his conversion by Pastor David Wilkerson. I have pastored a Messianic Jewish Congregation for 10 years, and it was an enriching experience. We know - that you who have been led of the Lord to our Website - will follow through on this subject of Jewish Roots - just as Marie and I have done. Reuben, I line up with the Gospel of Luke, which sets forth Jesus as the Son of man. One of the 4 faces of the cherubim in Ezekiel is that of a ?man!? The Gospel of Luke portrays Jesus in His humanity; as one who was a great encourager to women! As one who draws out the best in our humanity! Oswald Chambers fitted into this area. And how can this subject be brought from its Embryonic state as of 1948 to full Maturity? By God's Organic Laser-Telescope - launching its effective ?Spiritual Star Wars?! A Happy Hunting Ground to you - as you with us pursue this rewarding goal. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Jun 5 09:09:56 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 09:09:56 -0700 Subject: Quick Decisions Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 5, 2011 *DAN UPDATE - QUICK DECISIONS - JUNE 4, 2011* *1. Judges 18:17-18 (18:14-20) QUICK DECISIONS: AN EVIL ONE. ?And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girded with weapons of war. 18 And when these went into Micah's house, and fetched the graven image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said unto them, What are you doing? (ASV '01)? *The Danites stole Micah's idols and priest - quickly! Now - this was a bad example of a ?quick decision?. But *we* can turn the bad example into a good. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. Judges 14:2-4 (14:1-4) QUICK DECISIONS: UNDERGIRDED BY GOD! ?And Samson came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. 3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleases me well. 4 But his father and his mother did not know that it was of Jehovah; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel.? *God is able to make *all things* work together for good. The desire of Samson was not good, for he was like ?A saved man in the hands of sin!? But God turned it into an occasion for a *great defeat* to the Philistines. So - the tribe of Dan given to ?quick decisions?, is evident in Samson, one of the Judges of Israel. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. Genesis 49:16-17 (49:1-27) QUICK DECISIONS: JACOB'S REPLY TO DAN. ?Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way, An adder in the path, That bites the horse's heels, So that his rider falls backward.? *Jacob by the Spirit knew the true nature of his son Dan. Dan was the 5th son of Jacob through Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid. When we look at the sons of Jacob - we see that only by grace could God from the nation Israel form these 12 tribes! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. Deuteronomy 33:22 (33:1-29) QUICK DECISIONS: MOSES PROPHECY OVER DAN. ?And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp, That leaps forth from Bashan.? *A hunter like Dan sizes up his opportunities, and *without hesitation* gains his prey. Once we know God's will, hesitancy must flee away. *Our :daily :bread give us this day!* *5. Revelation 7:4-8 (7:1-8) QUICK DECISIONS: CAN BE TOO QUICK! ?And I heard the number of the sealed, an hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of Israel's sons: 5 Of Judah's tribe were sealed twelve thousand; Of Reuben's tribe twelve thousand; Of Gad's tribe twelve thousand; 6 Of Asher's tribe twelve thousand; Of Naphtali's tribe twelve thousand; Of Manasseh's tribe twelve thousand; 7 Of Simeon's tribe twelve thousand; Of Levi's tribe twelve thousand; Of Issachar's tribe twelve thousand; 8 Of Zebulun's tribe twelve thousand; Of Joseph's tribe twelve thousand; Of Benjamin's tribe were sealed twelve thousand? (NNT). *As we look at Israel's 12 tribes listed here, *Dan* is missing! Dan brought idolatry into Northern Israel, and possibly his name is missing because of this. But - God is gracious and merciful. Look at Revelation 21:19-20. The ?beryl? stone is in the Wall Foundations of the New Jerusalem - and Dan is associated with the * beryl* stone! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Ezekiel 10:9 (10:9-14) QUICK DECISIONS: THE CHERUBIM WHEELS. ?And I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub, and another wheel beside another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like unto a beryl stone.? *Each of the 4 cherubs had a *beryl*wheel beside him; and like Dan, they moved swiftly, the 4 wheels moving with them. The description of the wheels is awesome and terrible. Read the context. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Daniel 10:5-6 (10:1-9) QUICK DECISIONS: **APPLIED TO GABRIEL**. ?I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz: **6** his body also was like the **beryl**, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.? *The body of Gabriel was like the *beryl*, and his appearance like lightning - more than quick movement! He is the archangel that appeared to Zacharias and Mary preceding the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus. Here is an example of what Dan *could have been like*. *But deliver us from the evil **one.* *NOTE**: *The temperament of Dan is that of a *John/Luke* - The *eagle*spirit is predominant, and balanced off with the humanity of Luke. Leadership is in Dan! *Quick Decisions* also! We can as noted above see that this can be detrimental to our overall good. Dan's name is missing in Revelation 7, but his stone reappears in Revelation 21! George Hawtin seemed to walk in the spirit of Dan. However, though he could make quick decisions - yet in meetings he walked in a ?team spirit?. He walked with fellow-elders, and in the beginning made no unilateral decisions. He always polled his fellow-elders - and sought a unified decision through prayer and fasting before launching out in action. *This*would have saved the tribe of Dan and Samson the Danite - had they *too* walked in this spirit. Out of the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles that came together in 1948; George Hawtin, as I observed him - walked in 7 of these 12. This is a high order, and very possibly why God chose him to lead in this Visitation. Like others, he later departed from a careful walk in some of these, and the enemy was able to creep in deceptively. A ?team-spirit? is a safeguard for the Danite spirit. George Hawtin often said - ?I don't teach anything that I cannot in a practical manner demonstrate.? This normally was very effective in his meetings. Of the 12 Embryonic Principles, not all were Restoration truths. Some had been presently in operation, but in an Embryonic rather than a mature state. The ultimate maturity of this Revival Principle of ?Quick Decisions? as seen in 1948 - is *Gabriel*! This is the maturity we are believing for prior to the return of our Lord. And as awesome as Gabriel appeared to Daniel - Jesus in His Resurrected and Glorified state - is *far more* awesome! The Book of Revelation clearly confirms this! And how shall we see the maturity of the above revival principle? Through the full activation of ?God's Organic Laser-Telescope? - and its product through ?God's Spiritual Star Wars?. And *this activation* is even now - just as He said the Restoration of the Heavenly Choir would be seen in *the not too distant future*! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Jun 6 08:57:54 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2011 08:57:54 -0700 Subject: Bridal Love Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 6, 2011 *JOSEPH UPDATE - BRIDAL LOVE - JUNE 3, 2011* *1. Genesis 49:22-26 (49:1-27) BRIDAL LOVE: FOUNDATION LAID. ?Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a fountain; His branches run over the wall. 23 The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him, and persecuted him: 24 But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel), 25 Even by the God of your father, who shall help you, And by the Almighty, who shall bless you, With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that couches beneath, Blessings of the breasts, and of the womb. 26 The blessings of your father Have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors Unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren? (ASV '01). *This is a remarkable prophecy! It is the same length as that which the Holy Spirit led Jacob to speak over Judah. This is no mistake. To study the history of Israel in the light of Judah and Joseph, is to see the importance of these two prophetic foundations.* **Hallowed be your :name!* *2. Deuteronomy 33:13-17 (33:1-29) BRIDAL LOVE: MIXED IN WITH MESSIAH TO COME. ?And of Joseph he said, Blessed of Jehovah be his land, For the precious things of heaven, for the dew, And for the deep that couches beneath, 14 And for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, And for the precious things of the growth of the months, 15 and for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the everlasting hills, 16 And for the precious things of the earth and its fullness, And the good will of him that dwelt in the bush. Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, And upon the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. 17 The firstling of his herd, majesty is his; And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox: With them he shall push the peoples all of them, even the ends of the earth: And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.? **This* is the Word of God through Moses for Joseph! *What* a word! But we can understand it better when we realize that it was God who made Joseph a strong type of His Son our Lord Jesus! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. Exodus 13:19 (13:17-22) BRIDAL LOVE: NOT FULLY TYPIFIED. ?And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and you shall carry up my bonesaway hence with you.? *It is at this point among others that Joseph as a type does not fully line up with Jesus! For *Jesus*' body did *not* suffer corruption as did that of Joseph and David - but God raised Him on the third day! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. Psalm 78:67-68 (78:1-72) BRIDAL LOVE: MOVED BY GOD TO JUDAH. ?Moreover he refused the tent of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim, 68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.? *It takes much meditation and prayer over the Word to see the significance of this passage from God's point of view. Because of the sin of Reuben, his birthright went to Judah; his blessing to Joseph; and his Priesthood to Levi! Yet - God did *not* completely forsake Reuben. He became the leading tribe on the South Tabernacle side, over Simeon and Gad. And Joseph did not gain the birthright, but the blessing: as seen in the verses above. *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 (5:1-10) BRIDAL LOVE: MOVED FORWARD BY REUBEN'S SIN. ?And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born; but, because he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. 2 For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the prince; but the birthright was Joseph's).? *God is the Potter! We are the clay! So *He* shapes us - the clay- into the vessel that pleases Him! So though originally the birthright went from Reuben to Joseph - yet finally the decision of God was to let Judah have it! For - from the tribe of Judah - not Joseph - the Prince Messiah came! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Psalm 105:17-19 (105:17-31) BRIDAL LOVE: UNDERGIRDED BY SUFFERING. ?He sent a man before them; Joseph was sold for a servant; 18 His feet they hurt with fetters: He was laid in chains of iron, 19 Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of Jehovah tried him.? *Like Job, God allowed *serious testings* to come upon Joseph. He who God would use - *must be* prepared even like Jesus! Suffering is a blessing when we see it from this vantage-point. *And bring us not into temptation!* (Yet - if to become like Jesus only testing and suffering will achieve this goal - then Father - Your :will be done!) *7. Hebrews 11:21-22 (11:17-31) BRIDAL LOVE: UNDERGIRDED BY FAITH! ?By faith Jacob dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshiped, leaningupon the top of his :staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at his end, made mention of the departure of the sons of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his :bones? (NNT). *Ponder this passage! In a sense, Joseph lines up with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - in the tremendous part he played in the establishment of Israel as a nation from the 12 tribes. Only in heaven will we begin to understand God's true perspective on all these truths! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE: *Joseph - among the 12 sons of Jacob - is absolutely unique. There are more linkages between Jesus and Joseph than any of the others, even including Judah, though rich indeed. To do a study of the Temperaments based on the 4 Gospels, but emphasizes this uniqueness. On a score of 50 for each Gospel, Jesus is 50 - 50 - 50 - 50! But from a human vantage point, Joseph is a balance in the 4 gospels that is above the other 11 sons. God has set him forth as a picture of the coming Son of God and Son of man - that is unique. We can individually take Judah with Matthew; Ephraim with Mark; Reuben with Luke; and Dan with John - and together - all 4 - show a composite picture of the coming Son of God. But Joseph uniquely does this all by himself! To read the prophecies of Jacob over Joseph in Genesis 49; and Moses over Joseph in Deuteronomy 33 - is to see an amazing picture. Those of us who regularly read the Bible through in a Year - are all deeply moved when we come to the portion starting with Genesis 37. When it comes to the time when he reveals himself to his brothers as their long rejected brother Joseph! Well - when we read Zechariah 12:10-14, and see how Israel will mourn when they recognize that Jesus who they crucified is indeed the One who He said He was - the Son of God who came the first time as the Son of :man in the Name of Jehovah! Now as one can see, there are 14 lists of the 12 sons and tribes of Jacob in the Bible. Their births are in Genesis 29-30; Jacob's blessings over them in Genesis 49; *but* their order around the Tabernacle in the book of Exodus and Numbers - replaces Joseph and Levi with Ephraim and Manasseh; the latter 2 are on the breastplate with the 12 stones in the same Tabernacle order. Levi then becomes God's glue to hold the 12 tribes together through the 5-fold ministry. And Joseph? He remains difficult to place, for he is set by God to illustrate Christ's heavenly origin as well as His earthly travail. Reconciliation was the act of Joseph to save his brothers to become a nation - the nation of Israel. And Jesus who Joseph pre-figures, came to Reconcile us as a lost race back to God. He came as a Jew, and Israelite - but *far wider* was His true Commission from the Father - *all* nations upon earth are being reconciled by Him as of Calvary. So really, the life of Joseph is but a dim prefiguring of the eternal Redemption and Reconciliation wrought by the Son of God! So what Jesus has actually done; and Joseph pre-figured - is to unite the church to the Son of God as His Bride - the One New Man - and a number of other symbols. And then in Christ - we are united with God! Bridal Love indeed - in a 2-fold manner! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Jun 7 09:02:36 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2011 09:02:36 -0700 Subject: Forgiveness through Forgetfulnness Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 7, 2011 *MANASSEH UPDATE - FORGIVENESS THROUGH FORGETFULNESS - June 6, 2011* *1. Matthew 6:14-15 (6:5-15) FORGIVENESS: DOUBLY EMPHASIZED ?For if you forgive :men their :trespasses, your :heavenly :Father will also forgive you. 17 But if you forgive not :men their :trespasses, neither will your :Father forgive your :trespasses? (NNT). *Of the 7 component parts of the prayer Jesus gave His disciples to pray, only *one* is repeated. 6:12 reads, *?And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.? *And as above, it is soberly repeated. Did Jesus mean what He said in this repetition? Indeed He did! Even people in the world know that they cannot succeed in business apart from a forgiving spirit! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. Genesis 41:50-51 (41:46-57) FORGIVENESS: BOUND UP IN FORGETFULNESS. ?And unto Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On, bore unto him. 51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For, he said, God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house? (ASV '01). *See what Joseph says regarding the birth of his firstborn which means ?forgetfulness?. Had not this little son been used of God to help Joseph forget the bitterness of his past with his 10 half-brothers - ! Fruitfulness (Ephraim) can *only* follow what our Manasseh has caused us to forget and * forgive*! This goes along with insights on ?Inner Healing?. *Your :kingdom come!* 3. Matthew 18:21-22 (18:21-35) FORGIVENESS: UNTO 77 TIMES, NOT JUST 7! ?Then came :Peter *and* said unto him, Lord, how often shall my :brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? *22 :Jesus said to him, I say not unto you, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times and seven.? *Peter no doubt felt he was being greatly magnanimous in forgiving up to 7 times! But the 77 times of Jesus - not in one day could anyone sin that many times against us! Jesus' parable that follows but emphasizes His point! *Your :will be done, as in heaven, so on earth!* *4. Matthew 18:15-17. FORGIVENESS: IMPLICIT BASICALLY IN THIS TEACHING. ?And if your :brother sin, go, reprove him between you and him alone: if he hear you, you have gained your :brother. 16 But if he hear not, take with you one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word stand. 17 And if he refuse to hear them, tell the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be to you as the Gentile and the publican.? *The 4-fold steps of handling interpersonal problems in the church are completely clear here. John Wesley's 70,000 cell group disciples, followed this completely in all such problems. *This* is the *first* command Jesus gave to the *church*; and it is probably the command *least heard* and * followed* in the church! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. Luke 23:33-34a (23:33-49) FORGIVENESS: THE EXTRAORDINARY ACT OF JESUS ON THE CROSS! ?And when they came unto the place which is called Skull, there they crucified him, and the male-factors, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.? *Those who crucified Jesus were Jewish leaders, many of the Jewish people, Pilate and the Roman soldiers. Did they really understand what they were doing? No. All of this was in the pre-determinate will and counsel of God. The Bible says so. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Acts 7:59-60 (7:54-60) FORGIVENESS: THE SPIRIT OF STEPHEN. ?And they stoned :Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my :spirit. 60 And he kneeled, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this :sin to their charge. And when he said this, he fell asleep.? *The spirit of Jesus on the Cross has carried over to Stephen, one of the first Jerusalem deacons. Did God hear Stephen's request? Absolutely! Saul of Tarsus, later Paul the apostle - received grace from the Lord because of this request, for he was consenting to Stephen's martyrdom! *And bring us not into temptation. * *7. Matthew 12:31-32 (12:22-32) FORGIVENESS: NOT GRANTED FOR HOLY SPIRIT BLASPHEMY!* ?*Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto :men: but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. **32 And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of :man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy :Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this :age, nor in the one to come.? *I personally have come across only one - who I was sure had committed this sin. And when I confronted him, he agreed, and left. Up to that moment he was seeking to hinder me from winning a Canadian Air-force lad to the Lord. It was the end of World War II. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *It might have been thought: If Jacob led of the Spirit by-passed Manasseh and set the younger son Ephraim ahead of him - then what value is in Manasseh? *Much* every way. One of the outstanding Judges of Israel came from the tribe of Manasseh. In Judges 6:15 (6:11-18) we read, *?And he said unto him, Oh, Lord, how shall I save Israel? behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.? *This was spoken by Gideon. True, Joshua out of Ephraim follows closely after Moses - but nonetheless - Gideon brought glory to the Name of His God, and deliverance to the people of Israel. And when we go back to Genesis and see what Manasseh did for Joseph in preparing him to forgive his brothers some few years later - then we know that to be set aside from first place does not mean that God can't use us usefully in His Kingdom! For me - to meditate upon the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:5-15 - and mull over the repetition of the command concerning ?forgiveness? - continues through the years to mean much to me. May the spirit of Manasseh richly dwell in us all. Though mentioned in other places - it is perhaps fitting to repeat this aspect of the Lord's prayer: In answer to the request of His disciples Jesus responds, *?After this manner, pray.? *The word *pray* here is in the imperative mood. It is a *command*! Then 6 of the following requests are * likewise* in the imperative mood: *Hallowed*; *Come* Your Kingdom; Be *done*Your will; *Give* us this day; *Forgive us* *as* we forgive; *Deliver* us from the evil one. These are the six double imperatives. But I have omitted the sixth one: ?*And bring us not into temptation or testing.?* This is *not* an imperative, but a subjunctive. It could loosely be translated - ?And Father, if You can bring me into the image of Jesus without testing like Job - Please - let it be. However if the *only* way I can be conformed to the image of Jesus - then bring on any temptation or testing that You deem necessary for this goal.? Serious? Indeed! I have prayed this prayer sincerely on a very few occasions. God always seems willing to answer this request! It is because of the double imperative in the Lord's prayer, that I slip this prayer as a 7-fold petition for each of us into each of the ?Through the Bible in a Year Daily Devotionals.? I am also including it in these twelve 1948 Updates for the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles associated with them. I trust this prayer may *daily* be a part for each one of us in our daily devotions. J.A.Watt * *** *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Jun 7 12:05:36 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2011 12:05:36 -0700 Subject: 5-fold Ministries Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 7, 2011 *LEVI UPDATE - 5-FOLD MINISTRIES - JUNE 4, 2011* *1. Deuteronomy 33:8-11 (33:1-29) 5-FOLD: REVERSAL OF GENESIS 49! ?And of Levi he said, Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one, Whom you did prove at Massah, With whom you did strive at the waters of Meribah; 9Who said of his father, and of his mother, I have not seen him; Neither did he acknowledge his brethren, Nor did he know his own children: For they have observed your word, And keep your covenant. 10 They shall teach Jacob your ordinances, and Israel your law: They shall put incense before you, And whole burnt-offering upon your altar. 11 Bless, Jehovah, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: Strike through the loins of them that rise up against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again? (ASV '01). *The above is a weighty passage indeed! Each point could make a sermon. And contrast it with Genesis 49 and Jacob's prophecy over Simeon and Levi - and one can only marvel at the contrast. What happened? What made the difference? See the following.* Hallowed be your :name!* *2. Numbers 25:7-8 (25:6-9) 5-FOLD VINDICATED. ?And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.? *This was like a Danite action by a Levite! Swiftly he saw the blasphemy - understood its seriousness - and without hesitation vindicated the honor of Jehovah's Name. Our 20th Century ?Political Correctness? *frowns* at such a righteous judgment on God's behalf! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. Numbers 25:10-13 5-FOLD: REWARD AND REVERSAL. ?And Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying, 11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealouswith my jealousy among them, so that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12 Therefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: 13and it shall be unto him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.? *So here we learn from God's own thinking why Jacob's prophecy in Genesis 49 for Levi, and Moses word in Deuteronomy 33, differ *so drastically*! It was because of Phinehas! *He*caused this *reward* and *reversal*! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. Numbers 3:38 (3:38-39) 5-FOLD: STARTED THROUGH MOSES & AARON. ?And those that encamp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death.? *Levi is divided up into 5 clear sections. Moses and Aaron occupy the first 2 sections in the East - next to the Tabernacle, and behind Judah. Gershon with Ephraim; Kohath with Reuben; and Merari with Dan. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. Numbers 10:14a; 17 (10:11-20) 5-FOLD: THE PART OF GERSHON & MERARI. ?And in the first place the standard of the camp of the children of Judahset forward according to their hosts; 17 And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who bore the tabernacle, set forward.? * Notice that on the ?march? Judah is first, followed by Moses and Aaron; then the Tabernacle of Boards and Curtains follow with two Levite leaders: Gershon in the West has the curtains; Merari on the North by Dan has the boards. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Numbers 3:29, 31 (3:27-32) 5-FOLD: KOHATH & THE FURNITURE. ?The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the side of the tabernacle southward. 31 And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all its service.? * Look at the wisdom of God in this. Gershon & Merari with the Tabernacle follow Judah's 3 tribes, so that as soon as the ?cloud? stops, the Tabernacle can be set up. Then following Reuben and his 3 tribes, Kohath has the furniture to set up under Aaron in the raised-up Tabernacle. By the time Dan fully arrives, *all* is in operation! * And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Exodus 26:26, 28 (26:26-30) 5-FOLD: THE 5 BARS! ?And you shall make bars of acacia wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 28 And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall pass through from end to end.? *Note that the *middle bar* alone extends the entire length of the two sides and back of the Tabernacle. This is like the ?apostle? represented by Moses; the two shorter bars at the top - represent Aaron as prophet, and Kohath as evangelist. These two ministries are closely related. The two bottom bars represent Gershon as pastor; and Merari as teacher, who is located on the north. Is *this* a Thus says the Lord? No - but a friend from the Midwest wrote a book from Fort Lauderdale which contains this as highly suggestive. I personally like the 5 bars of the Tabernacle boards looked over by the Levites. I leave it to you. * But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *Think of Moses - a Levite as God's *sent* apostle from Midian to Egypt, to deliver Israel from Pharaoh and his world; and next lead them safely for 40 years through the Wilderness, commencing this ministry at 80 years of age! Joshua at this time was 40. *This* is the middle bar of the 5 - on the sides of the Tabernacle. Think of Aaron as Moses spokesman to Pharaoh, set by God as His prophet to assist Moses, just as Silas assisted Paul. Think of Kohath, the one assigned by God under Aaron to carry the Tabernacle furniture - *after* Aaron and his sons have covered each article. Uzzah was struck dead for touching the ark when oxen stumbled, because David hadn't carefully read that Aaron was to see that the ark was *carried* on Levitical shoulders! not set on an ox-cart as the Philistines had done! This could be the evangelist. Then Gershon & Merari with the curtains and boards - *not* unimportant - but not thought of quite so highly - represent the pastor and teacher. Ephesians 4:11-12 set forth the 5-fold ministry in the NT, encompassing these 5 offices. Just as the spiritual chiropractor spiritually adjusts the members of the body of Christ for ministry - so these 5 adjust (ka-tarTIz*o*) the 33 spiritual vertebrae - so that Christ - Head of His spiritual body - can by the Spirit through the spinal cord, perfectly signal any part of His body. So many Americans have serious spinal back problems - up to 50 million according to some statistics. But God's *spiritual* equippers in Ephesians 4:11-12 - are commissioned by Christ to adjust, perfect and equip *every*member of His body - that *all* are perfectly moving under His coordination! The above will cause some to put on their ?thinking-caps!? My father used to say - ?Put *that* into your pipe and smoke it!? Not too spiritual, but he *did* get across his point. He came to the Lord following those earlier years. J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Jun 8 09:28:25 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2011 09:28:25 -0700 Subject: Overview: First 7 Tribes Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 8, 2011 *10. MATURITY - OVERVIEW OF FIRST 7 TRIBES - June 6, 2011* *1. Deuteronomy 33:7 (33:1-29) JUDAH: HEAVENLY CHOIR. ?And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear Jehovah, the voice of Judah, and bring him in unto his people, With his hands he contended for himself; And you shall be a help against his adversaries? (ASV '01). *And in what way did *the voice* of Judah reach Jehovah? One way was through the psalms and songs of David, a *son of Judah*! For these songs did not just serve the individual - but the whole nation of Israel! And then - for the One New Man of the church also! And indeed angels joined both choirs at times. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. Joshua 1:8 (1:1-9) EPHRAIM: EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP. ?This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.? *How did Joshua, a son of Ephraim - rise to such pinnacles of success? In *large* measure because he devoted himself to *meditation* on this verse! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. Romans 11:17-18 (11:17-24) REUBEN: JEWISH ROOTS. ?But if some of the branches were broken off, and you being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and did become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree; 18 glory not over the branches: but if you glory, not you bear the root, but the root you? (NNT). *There is a deeper relationship between Israel and the Gentile part of the church than many are aware of. Romans 9-11, but especially chapter 11 - has clear and practical insights for each one of us - straight from the heart of God through Paul the apostle. *Your :will be done , As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. Luke 16:5-6 (16:1-13) DAN: QUICK DECISIONS. ?And calling to him each one of the debtors of his :lord, he said to the first, How much do you owe my :lord? 6 And he said, Hundred measures of oil. And he said to him, Take your :papers, and sit down and write quickly fifty.? *Opportunities come our way at times, that if not immediately acted upon, are forever lost. We see a bargain in a store, and later on return to purchase it - but it is then gone! So there are God-given spiritual opportunities that cannot be delayed in acting upon. Here - *Dan* is a good example. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. Ephesians 5:25 (5:22-33) JOSEPH: BRIDAL LOVE. ?:Husbands, love the wives, even as the Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it.? *Wonderful lessons in this passage! Deep connections between married couples - and Christ and His church! And then comes the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! This *mystery* is great, and Paul speaks of Christ and the church. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Colossians 3:16 (3:12-17) MANASSEH: FORGIVENESS & NOUTHETIC COUNSELING. ?Let the word of the Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing (nou-theTOUNtes - 3560) yourselves with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with :grace singing in your :hearts unto :God.? *Just as Manasseh as an *admonisher* based on teaching - so we as fellow believers can do the same in song - especially when we sing Scriptures. And like Manasseh, we can soothe the heart of a Joseph, so that ?forgiveness? flows forth! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Ephesians 4:11-12 (4:1-16) LEVI: 5-FOLD MINISTRIES! ?And HE gave some as apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto a work of ministry, unto a building of the body of the Christ.? *Just as Levi represents the *5 bars* of the Tabernacle holding its sides and back together, so also he represents the 5-fold ministries of Ephesians - that like the glue of Levi - adjusts and links together the 12 tribes into a working unity. And that goes for the 12-fold teaching of 1948 also! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *Judah, Ephraim, Reuben and Dan - are the 4 leading tribes of Israel on ?The March? - and round about the Tabernacle. They can be linked with the 4 Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; and also with the the 4 heads of the cherubim in Ezekiel and the Book of Revelation: the lion; the ox; the man; and the eagle. They can also be linked *in combination* with the 12 Temperaments: Judah = Matthew/John Issachar = Mark/Luke Zebulun = Mark/Matthew Reuben = Luke/Mark Simeon = John/Mark Gad = John/Matthew Ephraim = Mark/John Manasseh = Luke/Matthew Benjamin = Luke/John Dan = John/Luke Asher = Matthew/Mark Naphtali = Matthew/Luke For those interested in the psychological aspect of temperaments, we can see the following relationship: Matthew = Sanguine Mark = Phlegmatic Luke = Melancholic John = Choleric Tim LaHaye and his wife in the past had some half dozen of so books on this subject. Each of us as individuals can link up with one of the tribes of Israel; each local church also; each city church too; and each region or nation as well. I met a man in Alberta who professed to be Judah Four-Square! I challenged him - ?Show me!? Well, he said, I'm a Judah. I agreed - no doubt! And our church is a Judah church. Yes, I again agree. And our city is linked with Judah. Could be, I replied. And our Province is a Judah province - Judah Four-Square! I told him I would have to think about it! But above all of these relationships - I see the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles of 1948 linked with the 12 Tribes of Israel. And I see the 7-fold component parts of God's Organic Laser-Telescope eventuating in His Spiritual Star Wars. And one of its functions is the *maturation* of of these 12 Embryonic Revival Principles! I have placed Joseph, Manasseh and Levi along with the 4 leading tribes - because of their close relationship with these 4: Joseph as the father of Ephraim and Manasseh; Ephraim as the brother of Manasseh; and Levi taken out of context for the sake of God's priesthood, and replaced with Manasseh. I recognize in the above, there is much new material for some. When Oswald Chambers would confront with new insights, that at first hearing were difficult to understand and swallow - he would say - ?Just put it on the back burner to simmer - In time it will come clear!? Blessings on us all - and especially those who God has called to understand and enter into the potential of these revelations. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Jun 8 13:11:08 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2011 13:11:08 -0700 Subject: Laser Empowerment Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* Jun 8, 2011 *9. MATURITY - EMPOWERMENT FOR ACTIVATION - June 6, 2011* *- FOR THE 7-FOLD SPIRITUAL WARFARE!* *1. Deuteronomy 32:33 (32:1-43) PRAYER MULTIPLICATION. ?How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, And Jehovah had delivered them up? (ASV '01)? *In 1973 Pastor Ern Baxter of the Surrey Christian Centre of BC, shared with us how Prayer Multiplication is based in *Covenant*. God makes a covenant with us as individuals that can be accepted or rejected, but not altered or modified. The individual can immediately move into an increased effectiveness. This is called *di-aTHEke*. But if two enter into covenant with God, and then covenant horizontally with each other (*sunTHEke*) - then 1000 becomes *10,000 fold!* Look at Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Matthew 18:19, 1 John 5:14-15, and especially Zechariah 12:8. *2. John 6:63 (6:22-65) LOgos (written word) to REma (Living Word!) ?It is the Spirit that makes alive; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life? (NNT). *In John 1:1 Jesus is set forth as the LOgos - the written word. But *here* His Words are living R *E*ma words! When like George Muller we *meditate* over the LOgos written word - it transforms itself into the R*E*ma Living Word, *and* emits power, just as in Prayer Multiplication. *3. Job 33:13-18. DREAMS AND VISIONS. ?Why do you strive against him, For that he gives not account of any of his matters? 14 For God speaks once, Yes twice, though man regards it not. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, In slumberings upon the bed; 16 Then he opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction, 17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man; 18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.? *When we sleep, God can send us a dream or vision - that not only does the above 4-fold goals, but *also* looses *power* that can be utilized in the Laser-effect! *4. Hebrews 11:1-2 (11:1-40) INCUBATION. ?Now faith is assurance of thingshoped for, conviction of things unseen. 2 For in this the elders had witness borne them.? *We increase our faith for answered prayer by *meditation* on God's promises! And when the answer comes through - there is a release of *power*that again activates the Laser effect! *5. Acts 1:8 (1:6-12) RECEIVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. ?But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all :Judea and Samaria, and unto theuttermost of the earth.? **This* releases not only *power* for witnessing - but *also* power for a team of 8 being available to the Lord to activate *His* Laser-Telescope! See also the 11 references to this gift - d*o*-reA - starting with John 4:10. And notice that in Acts 2:38 - this ?gift? follows repentance and baptism! *6. 1 Timothy 1:18 (1:18-20) THE PRESBYTERY CONCEPT. ?This :charge I commit to you, Timothy child, according to the prophecies which led the way to you, that by them you war the good warfare.? *Our 7-fold Spiritual Warfare - like that of Timothy's - is *also* released through the ministry of a Presbytery or City Eldership. All 10 of the concepts listed here - when released by faith simultaneously - allows the Lord to use us in an extraordinary manner! Believe it! *7. Habakkuk 3:3-4 (3:1-19) LAYING ON OF HANDS. ?God came from Teman, And the Holy One from mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of his praise. 4 And his brightness was as the light; He had rays coming forth from his hand; And there was the hiding of his power.? *Hebrews 6:1-2 lists this as one of 7 basic doctrines for a healthy NT church! Have you been on the receiving end of this ministry? Even better yet - have you pressed in like Rees Howells to the place where *your* hands impart multiplied blessings to others? *8. Nehemiah 8:10 (8:9-12) JOY. ?Neither be grieved; for the joy of the LORD Jehovah is your strength.?* Make no mistake! Joy for the NT saint is part of his normal life. See the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, and how *joy* is near the top of the list of 9! There is a release of the presence and power of the Lord through the life of the one who walks in the *joy* of the Lord! *9. Matthew 5:11-12 (5:1-12) BEATITUDES. ?Blessed are you when men shall reproach you and persecute, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your :reward in the heavens: for so persecuted they the prophets :before you.? *To properly understand persecution is to be *released* in joy. See Acts 4:23-31. Following the persecution of the 12, a great earthquake and their *great joy * followed! This is exactly what Jesus promised! In Matthew 5:12 Jesus said that when persecuted, we should *rejoice*, and be *exceeding glad* - a-gal-liASthe -. This is a most unusual verbal form. It means to ?leap for joy?! To be so carried away that we are almost beside ourselves! *This* kind of reaction to persecution releases *power* for the Laser effect! Jesus had this high joy when His Father revealed deep things to babe disciples and hid it from the wise! *10. Luke 2:52 (2:41-52) EMBRYONICS TO MATURITY. ?And Jesus advanced in :wisdom and stature, and in grace with God and men.? *By the time Jesus as Son of God came to earth and took on in addition a form as Son of Man - and *then advanced* to full maturity at the age of 30 and entered His 3 year ministry - *power* was released that the world up to that time had never seen. Yet - He said - through us - *greater* works would be done. Is *this*not an example of what will happen when the 12 Embryonics of 1948 are brought to maturity? Believe it! With the above 10 potential releases of power - bearing down on the Laser Chamber of God's Organic Laser-Telescope - we are about to see a manifestation of power bearing upon the 12 Embryonics - that will work the other way also - producing a demonstration and manifestation of what 1948 was but a fire-fly effect! The end of the age is at hand. Jesus is about to return. We are in the 7th Millennium since Adam. The 120th Jubilee has just ended. The timing of God is upon us. Move - so that you - can be part of God's Last Day Army - so you can take part in this ?7-fold Spiritual Warfare! J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Jun 9 16:14:25 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2011 16:14:25 -0700 Subject: Presbytery concept Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 9, 2011 *NAFTALI UPDATE - PRESBYTERY (ELDERSHIP) - June 9, 2011* *1. 1 Timothy 1:18 (1:18-20) PRESBYTERY: BASIS FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE. ?This :charge I commit to you, Timothy child, according to the prophecies which led the way to you, that by them you war the good warfare? (NNT). *This was one of the first verses found by the elders of the North Battleford Revival - that encouraged them to believe that it was God and not the devil leading them! See how powerfully Paul sets this truth forth to Timothy! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 1 Timothy 4:14 (4:11-16) PRESBYTERY: RESULTS CAN BE FORFEITED! ?Neglect not the gift in you, which was given you through prophecy, with laying on of the hands of the presbytery.? *Paul knew that his spiritual son Timothy was a timid soul - and needed encouragement to push on into full realization of truth and his potential. We can *all* neglect truth. At times we *all* need to hear Paul's exhortation to Timothy! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. Acts 13:1-3. PRESBYTERY: FOR LAUNCHING MISSIONARIES. ?Now in the church that was at Antioch were prophets and teachers, both :Barnabas and Symeon :called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy :Spirit said, Separate me then :Barnabas and Saul for the work unto which I have called them. 3 Then, having fasted and prayed and laid theirhands on them, they sent them away.? *The Presbytery sitting in the gate of a City Church - can be used of the Holy Spirit in a powerful way. Yet these 5 men continued fasting and praying after the Holy Spirit first spoke - to ensure that it was *indeed Him* speaking! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. Acts 15:2 (15:1-35) PRESBYTERY: SOLVES DOCTRINAL PROBLEMS. ?And when :Paul and :Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them (Judaizers), they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, to go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this :question.? *For me, this is one of the most powerful ministries of a City Presbyter. No matter how difficult the problem - the Holy Spirit through them can give the wisdom to solve *all such* problems! *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. Ruth 4:2 (4:1-17) PRESBYTERY: SOLVES INTERPERSONAL PROBLEMS. ?And Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit down here. And they sat down? (ASV '01). *I like this example of a City Presbytery. This goes back to Bethlehem well over 3000 years ago! And the Presbytery was witness concerning the peaceful solution arrived at by Boaz and the nearer Kinsman. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Luke 22:66 (22:66-71) PRESBYTERY: A CORRUPT EXAMPLE. ?And when it was day, the elder ship of the people were gathered, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away to their :Sanhedrin.? *The Sanhedrin of 70 in the City of Jerusalem was a Presbytery to solve problems. But through centuries of sloth, they had degenerated into such corruption - that they committed Jesus to death in the midst of rank injustice and perfidy. *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. Acts 22:5 (21:37-22:21) PRESBYTERY: A FORMER CONNECTION FOR PAUL! ?As also the high priest witnesses and all the Eldership: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and journeyed to Damascus to bring them also that were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.? *And what of Paul's pre-conversion state? He was a member of this corrupt body, and a witness to the unjust death and martyrdom of Stephen, the first Christian martyr! The conversion of Saul of Tarsus out of such a body is a miracle indeed! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *The February 1948 Visitation by God at North Battleford, Saskatchewan, is a Red Letter mark in God's economy. Azusa Street, LA, California started a Restoration in the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of Gifts of the Spirit leading to multiplied evangelism. But 1948 added to this dispensation. 12 Restoration Revival Principles came together this year, laying an Embryonic Foundation - that God intended to *mature* prior to the return of His Son. The *first* of these 12 Restoration Principles was that of the Presbytery or Eldership in the Gate of each City Church. Even this first restoration concept was but dimly understood in 1948. The fullness of its usefulness may not even be seen yet today. Primarily, it was seen then in the 1 Timothy 1:18 context, and perhaps also Acts 13:1-3. Other functions of this Eldership in the Gate of each City Church was scarcely perceived, if not at all. There is a Biblical principle often expressed: ?The first shall be last; and the last first!? Strangely enough, the Israeli tribe of Naphtali is listed *last* on Aaron's Breastplate of Judgment, and is associated with the ?Presbytery Concept,? *restored* on February 12, 1948. But Judah is listed *first* on the Breastplate of Judgment over the heart of the High Priest, and is associated with the Heavenly Choir - and *this*was the 12 th or last Revival Principle to be restored in Edmonton in October 1948. God seems to love doing things like this - that we in turn can later search out and marvel. Perhaps the Presbytery Concept restored in 1948, has been one of the most abused of the 12 Revival Principles of that year. ?A text without a context is a pretext,? has been often quoted. If *only* the full body of Scripture had been restored in 1948, the aberrations in the development of the Presbytery concept could have been avoided. For instance - the Presbytery of 3 cities close where Timothy grew up - *all* intimately knew him at the time Paul asked elders from them to set Timothy apart to be his co-worker. But today - oftentimes the Presbytery is not allowed any foreknowledge of candidates before ministering to them. This is unscriptural, and tempting God, and has caused many prophetic errors to take place that need *not* have happened - had simply the content of the *whole of* Scripture been applied! On one occasion George Hawtin watched me doing Greek Word Studies and outlining NT books on the basis of God's Bible Numerics as revealed to Russian Ivan Panin. He said - ?Jimmy - I wish to God I could do what you are doing!? I was 25 at the time and thought - ?What is going to happen to this movement if you don't?? Ultimate Reconciliation, British Israel and extreme Manifestation of the sons of God are but three of some 6-7 aberrations that came into this movement in the next few years. I remember one of the favorite illustrations of Ivan Panin: ?Just as a drop of ocean water holds in *trace form* every constituent element of the ocean - *so* every scripture must contain in trace form every teaching of the entire Bible!? No contradictions. That means teachers must be *well prepared * to share the Word of God. *This* is why James says in his 5 chapter letter, *?Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater condemnation!? (James 3:1). *So many self-called teachers seem to fail to understand - that *one day* they shall appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to *answer* for the incorrect teaching they gave down here on earth! This is the reason I have prepared God's Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek NT - Greek Word Studies - and a Through the Bible in a Year Daily Devotional - so that I can correct myself if any of my beliefs or doctrine does *not* line up with the Word of God. I would rather be corrected *down here*, than hear Christ correcting me at His Judgment Seat - when it would * then* be too late! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Jun 21 17:35:50 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:35:50 -0700 Subject: Breaking of Protocol Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 21, 2011 *This Happened in John Hagee's Church - Naqba Day - May 15, 2011 (improtectd)* *This is something bad!! Could this be the beginning of more of this ..... even here?* *A clear message from a very brave pastor - may thousands more like him rise up all over the world!!* *It is also a warning of what is coming our way - and we should make sure we're prepared!* This is a sign of the times. This type of ?protest? will become typical as we continue to stand for truth. As you scroll down, Hagee has a wonderful and clear message of why it is important to continue to stand with Israel. *From the Desk of Pastor John Hagee* *John Hagee Ministries* *Weekly Update - May 17, 2011* *Greetings to all of our 'Salt Covenant Partners' across the nation and around the world. If you haven't already heard, you will soon hear on the national media about the radical protesters that invaded Cornerstone Church Sunday protesting the right of Israel to exist. I want my friends and partners to have ?all the truth and nothing but the truth.?* *The facts are as follows: Sunday morning, May 15, 2011, at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio a day was set aside to express our appreciation for the State of Israel and the Jewish people. Hundreds of churches across America and around the world joined us as we stood in solidarity with Israel in this time of crisis.* *What I didn't know was that eleven anti-Israel protesters came to our 11:00 am worship service pretending to be worshipers. They sat in different sections of the church; some in the balcony and the majority on the main floor. As it turned out, none of them were Palestinians; they were all local radical activists.* *As I stood to deliver the sermon, one female ?Palestinian protester? stood at the edge of the balcony and began throwing anti-Israel propaganda leaflets on to the main floor of the sanctuary. She was not screaming; she was throwing leaflets by the handful on the heads of the people below.* *The leaflets said, ?We stand in solidarity with Palestinians and demand an end to U.S. support for Israeli occupation, apartheid, and violations of the human rights of Palestinians. We stand in solidarity with the Third Intifada demanding the right of return to occupied territories.?* *One side of the propaganda leaflet has the picture of a mother burying her child under the caption, ?Your tithes are responsible for this!? The leaflet claimed Israel was responsible for the deaths of 1,500 children since the year 2000.* *Cornerstone Church has an outstanding security team consisting of highly trained and professional police officers. On this particular Sunday they were simply spectacular. They quickly located and escorted out the leaflet protester.* *Five minutes later, a second protester stood and started screaming as loudly as she could, ?Free Palestine! Israel is apartheid. Israel has no right to the land.? She was quickly escorted out by security as the congregation cheered and applauded their action and her exodus. Five minutes after that, a third protester stood and started screaming fanatical propaganda phrases against Israel that are used all over the world to attack Israel and the Jewish people.* *I now knew we had a major and highly organized protest on our hands whose objective was to shut the service down to prevent this nationally televised tribute to Israel. At this point, I told my congregation, ?The objective of these protesters is to shut down this tribute to Israel. I'm going to finish this sermon if it takes unto 6:00 pm tonight.? The congregation cheered like it was the Super Bowl.* *These protesters did more to unite our congregation in one hour than a dozen preachers have done in the past few years. Protester after protester every five minutes stood, screamed slogans, and was escorted out by security. We finished out service in one accord and with total joy.* *The protesters were taken to the chapel where they were photographed, required to give their identifications, and charged with criminal trespass by our officers. If they return to church property they will be sent to jail. Some were sent to jail immediately because of outstanding warrants for their arrest. One-third of the staff of a local non-profit organization, the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, participated in this anti-Israel church invasion.* *In reviewing the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center Facebook page, it appears that at least five more of the eleven protesters participated in past protests publicized by Esperanza. Esperanza Peace and Justice Center receives tax funding from the city of San Antonio and the state of Texas.* *Here is why we are going to continue to support the State of Israel and the Jewish people:* *1. Israel is not a political issue... Israel is a Bible issue. Truth is not what you think it is, truth is not what I say it is, truth is what the Bible says it is. The reality is that Israel is the only nation created by a sovereign act of God in the Book of Genesis. Israel was not born on May 15, 1948 . . . it was born 3,500 years ago when Almighty God made an eternal covenant between Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their descendants (see Genesis 13:14-15 and Genesis 17:7-8).* *2. Those who believe the Bible are commanded in Psalm 122:6 to ?_Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.?* *3. God has promised in Genesis 12:1-4 to bless every person and nation who blesses Israel and to curse every persona and nation that curses Israel. The effectiveness of this divine mandate is seen in the lives of two Pharaohs. The Pharaoh that blessed Joseph and the Jewish people avoided starvation and knew unlimited prosperity; the Pharaoh that ?knew not Joseph? and who drowned Jewish male children in the Nile River, was himself turned to fish food in the Red sea with his army. Exactly what you do to the Jewish people, God will do to you.* *4. In Luke 7 the blessing of healing came to the house of a Roman centurion (a Gentile) with a sick servant. Why? Jesus Christ, a Jewish Rabbi, entered the Roman centurion's house and prayed for his sick servant because ?he built a synagogue? in the Land of Israel (see Luke 7:1-5).* *5. St. Paul has commanded all Christians in Romans 15:27, ?For if the Gentiles have benefited from their spiritual things (the Jewish people) it is the duty of the Gentiles to minister to them in material things.? What spiritual blessings have the Jewish people given to us? They have given us the Word of God, the Patriarchs, the Prophets, the first family of Christianity (Mary, Joseph Jesus, and the 12 Disciples) and the Apostle Paul. Take away the Jewish contribution to Christianity and there would be no Christianity.* *6. We support Israel because Jesus Christ our Lord said, ?I say to you, 'Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.'? (Matthew 25:40). The phrase ?My brethren? refers to the Jewish people. Jesus never called the Gentiles His brethren until the cross. Before the cross we were, as St. Paul stated, ?outside the covenants of Israel, without God, and without hope and of all men most miserable.?* *7. We support Israel because Obadiah 1:15 and Joel 3:2 make it very clear that any nation (including America) that tries to divide the Land of Israel (including Jerusalem) will experience the judgment of God. Simply stated, the day America turns its back on Israel will be the day God will turn His back on America.* *8. We support Israel because Israel has the right to exist! We call on the President and Congress to demand that Hamas and the Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist or to cut off all foreign aid immediately. Israel has the right to defined and defensible borders. Israel has the right to defend itself from any nation or group of people that attack them.* *To all Bible believers, let us unite to stand up and speak up for the State of Israel. God is watching!* *Sincerely, Pastor John Hagee, Cornerstone Church, San Antonio, Texas* *NOTE**: *Both my wife Marie and I read the above article, and independently and then unitedly felt you as readers should have the privilege of reading this also. A local church, either in the home or a separate building, needs to be protected. It is *an extended family*. We don't allow a visitor to come into our family and ?break Protocol? by disturbing it. Neither should a local church allow anyone to come in like the 11 intruders above, without being handled *swiftly* and *efficiently*! In 1906 three prominent pastors of Canada traveled to Azusa Street that year, and returned with the gift (do-reA) of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:38. Pastor D.N. Buntain of Winnipeg had a church of some 1500 members back then. Immediately upon his return Satan sent extreme disturbers to disrupt the service. When he learned that God would not handle such disturbers in answer to prayer, and would *not* be grieved if *he* did; immediately like Pastor John Hagee, he deputed four of his ushers to take a limb each of the next intruder - lift him above their heads - and march him out of the church! *That* settled all such future disturbers! In Tacoma Washington, a church had a visitor in the balcony deliver a prophecy that did not witness with *us* nor the church elders. The pastor checked with 4 or 5 fellow elders on the platform with him - then stood behind the pulpit till the visitor finished, and then replied, ?Church! I and my elders do not receive this word as from the Lord. At the close of the service, if this brother wishes to receive from us the reason for our rejection, we will be happy to share our reason with him. Now - let's continue on with our worship service! We had a guest with us that morning who had organized National Aglow for all of Canada. She was impressed with the wisdom and immediate handling of this problem by this Tacoma pastor. May *all* pastors of Canada and the US handle with wisdom and immediate dispatch all such intruding visitors in a local extended church family! Such are in need of ?Warfare by Honor?, the Biblical rules for Protocol. See Suuqiina and Quamaniq's book by this title, which can be obtained from P.O.Box 1088, Victorville CA 92393 - Tel: 615-923-7948 - Email: ndigenus at cs.com - Website: < www.firstnationsmonday.com/imi.htm> J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Jun 22 19:25:54 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:25:54 -0700 Subject: Issachar Update Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 22, 2011 *ISSACHAR UPDATE - Fruit of the Spirit - First Nations People - 2011-06-22* *1. Galatians 5:22-23 (5:16-24) ISSACHAR LINKED WITH FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. ?But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against :such there is no law.? *When members of the First Nations People walk in the fullness of Christ, this 9-fold fruit of the Spirit shines through their lives in a special manner. Each of Israel's 12 tribes have a particular and unique manifestation. Each of us as individuals are likewise linked, as well as individual local churches, city churches, areas and nations. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. Matthew 21:2 (21:1-7) ISSACHAR LINKED WITH A DONKEY. ?Jesus said to them, Go into the village that is over against you, and straightway you shall find an ass (donkey) tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring to me.? *In the high Andes of South America - nightfall comes suddenly. Often a missionary then has not the time to direct his donkey home. Instead he loosens the reins, and the wise little beast safely brings his master home in the dark over narrow and precipitous trails. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. Genesis 49:14-15 (49:1-27) ISSACHAR AND HIS FATHER'S PROPHETIC WORD. ?Issachar is a strong ass (donkey), Couching down between the sheepfolds: 15And he saw a resting-place that it was good, And the land that it was pleasant; And he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant under task-work.? *A donkey has a servant spirit, and is a faithful beast of burden. So too is Issachar. So too are the First Nations People. So too are those of us who are genetically matched with these two spirits. Jesus too was a *perfect* servant as Son of man to His Heavenly Father. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. Deuteronomy 33:18 (33:1-29) ISSACHAR & ZEBULUN CONTRASTED. ?And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; And, Issachar, in your tents.? *Though Issachar and Zebulun were full brothers, yet their genetic constitution produced two entirely different sons to Jacob! The younger Zebulun was a traveler, and Issachar one who stayed at home. It is interesting to note that just as Issachar dwelt in tents, so the First Nations People lived in tents or tipis. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day. * *5. Exodus 28:17 (28:15-30) ISSACHAR AND THE YELLOW TOPAZ. ?And you shall set in the breast-plate of judgment settings of stone, four rows of stones: a row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row.? *The yellow saffron robes of many Asian monks set forth the wisdom with which they were supposed to be endowed. This *certainly* applied to Issachar. His history shows forth his inherent wisdom. And the First Nations People likewise have this potential deposit. *And forgive us our :debts, As we have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 1 Chronicles 12:32 (12:23-37) ISSACHAR: ONE WITH UNDERSTANDING OF TIMES. ?And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.? *It is not everyone that can look at the times, and be enabled to interpret for others the significance of the specific times in which one lives. Issachar could! And the members of the First Nations People have this insight. See ?Dances with Wolves?, and how the elder leaders had this wisdom for their tribe! * **And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Judges 10:1-2 ISSACHAR: PRODUCED ONE OF THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL. ?And after Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he lived in Shamir in the hill-country of Ephraim. 2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.? *For 23 years Tola of Issachar rose up to judge Israel. He saved Israel in the days of judgment brought on because of the sins of the people. 7 major times in the book of Judges, God brought on judgment because of sin; and 7 times he raised up judges for deliverance. *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**:* Everything in the OT God has designed in the form of types and shadows for us in NT times, both Jews and Gentiles in the One New Man. How blessed we are by our God for this 4000 years of pre-Christian history! As I have studied the 12 tribes of Israel since 1949, I have noted the rich lessons built into their history. Dr. C.W. Slemming of England introduced this challenge to us in Chicago, by coming dressed in the full garb of Aaron the High Priest. It was especially the Breastplate of Judgment with its 12 stones inscribed upon with the names of Israel's 12 tribes - that captivated me. His book, ?These Are the Garmentsn,? opened my eyes to a treasure that has remained with me to this day - howbeit with many additions. In 1963 through the works of Dr. Tim LaHaye I added the 12 Temperaments to this. In 1967 I found the 12 NT Greek Word series for each of them. And Later I divided the world into its 5 major continents, 4 major countries and 3 major cultural division, making up another segment of 12. It was at this time I felt led to see Issachar linked with the First Nations People. It seems to me that God has reserved them for these last days like Benjamin of old in the latter part of the Book of Judges. When they like Benjamin are restored to both a giving and receiving role in our world of 12, I believe we will see God's last great Visitation taking place just prior to the return of His Son our Savior Jesus - as Lord of lords and King of kings. As a help in understanding God's purposes and thinking in this direction, let me recommend the reading of ?One Church, Many Tribes? by Richard Twiss - <*www.wiconi.com> *- and ?Warfare by Honor?, a Handbook on Protocol by Suuqiina and Quamaniq, PO Box 1088, Victorville CA 92393; Tel: 615-424-7448; * - *- J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Jun 25 13:30:48 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:30:48 -0700 Subject: Zebulun Update Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 25, 2011 *ZEBULUN UPDATE - Gifts of the Spirit - Abiding Secrets - 2011-06-25* *1. John 15:5 (15:1-16) ABIDING SECRETS. ?I am the vine, you are the branches: Who abides in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit: for apart from me you can do nothing? (NNT). *Zebulun means dwelling or abiding, and was named by Leah when born by her. By this name, Leah felt she would now have Jacob's love and he would dwell with her. Jesus is trusting that we will dwell with Him as branches in Him as the Vine. These 16 verses in context are powerful indeed! E. Stanley Jones claimed 15:16 each time before he preached! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. Genesis 49:13 (49:1-27) A SEA-FARING MAN! ?Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; And he shall be for a haven of ships; And his border shall be upon Sidon? (ASV '01). *As the younger brother to Issachar, Zebulun dwelt on the Mediterranean beach. Easy from here to trade by sea, and Issachar at home could help him disperse his goods. A good partnership! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. Deuteronomy 33:18 (33:1-29) JOY IN VOCATION. ?And of Zebulun Moses said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; And, Issachar, in your tents.? *It is good to see a man happy in his vocation. Happy the man who finds in his hobby his vocation! Zebulun had a missionary spirit of outgoing - and could use the gifts of the Spirit to confirm his message. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 (12:4-11) GIFTS OF CONFIRMATION. ?For to one is given through the Spirit a word of wisdom; and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit: 9 to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; 10 and to another workings of powers; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits: to another kinds of tongues; and to another interpretation of tongues; 11 but all these works the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each severally even as he wills.? *The Holy Spirit through Paul is very careful to point out that all 9 of these gifts are to profit the spiritual body of Christ. They are *not* primarily to bless the channel! Jesus through Mark speaks of ?Signs Following?: the preaching of the Word (Mark 16:9-20). The underground church of China (some estimate to be 100 million!) is like this! Brother Yun, The Heavenly Man, highly exemplified this double ministry of confirmation. He had the Zebulun spirit. *Our :daily :bread, Give us this day.* *5. Esther 8:10 (8:9-14) SWIFT MISSIONARY STEEDS. ?And Mordecai wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, riding on swift steeds and young dromedaries that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud.? *A footnote in the above translation has *young dromedaries* or camels - very swift desert travelers for the 127 provinces of King Ahasuerus. The deliverance message of Mordecai could swiftly reach each province. It brought joy in the spirit of Zebulun. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Exodus 28:17 (28:15-30) A FLASHING CARBUNCLE FOR A LIGHTHOUSE. ?And you shall set in the breastplate of judgment settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row.? *There is not a definiteness re the carbuncle as to color. Ezekiel 28:13 refers to its presence in the Garden of Eden. The gem is the stolen item in question in the *Sherlock Holmes* tale - ?The Adventure of the *Blue* Carbuncle?. William Shakespeare's ?Hamlet? refers to ?With eyes like *carbuncles*, the hellish *Pyrrhus.? *It is sometimes referred to as a deep-red flashing garnet - or sometimes a *green* stone. It could indeed refer to the flashing light of a light house! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Genesis 30:20 (30:14-24) A STRANGE BIRTH. ?And Leah said, God has endowed me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.? *The birth of Issachar and Zebulun occurred under strange circumstances. Rachel gave her turn to Jacob to Leah, in exchange for the mandrakes of Leah's son Reuben. God gave the 7th and 8th sons of Jacob to Leah for this exchange. And Zebulun through his name *did* bring blessing to Leah and the whole nation of Israel. * But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: *The history of the 12 sons of Jacob eventuating into the 12 tribes of Israel is unique! Joseph is the most moral of all these sons. Because of the persecution he received from his 10 half-brothers, God through Jacob awards Joseph with two parts in Israel: the blessing of the first-born through Ephraim and Manasseh! Zebulun is the 6th son of Leah, and the 10th of Jacob. Like Issachar, Zebulun had one son Elon who judged Israel 10 years. During the great revival in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah, an invitation was extended to the 10 northern tribes of Israel to attend a great Passover. Only 3 responded: Asher, Manasseh and *Zebulun* (2 Chronicles 30:11)! The background of these three tribes is most diverse. Thank God for Zebulun who was one of those who responded! Because of the prophecies over Zebulun; and because of the flashing light-house; and because of his linkage with the gifts of the Spirit - I see him as the ?missionary? tribe of Israel. As noted above, Brother Yun of China has this same spirit, and quite possibly will lead China in these last days to walk in this revelation. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Jun 27 16:29:26 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:29:26 -0700 Subject: Spiritual Warfare with Honor Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 27, 2011 *7-FOLD SPIRITUAL WARFARE WITH HONOR! (CHARACTER)* *AND WITH SCRIPTURAL PROTOCOL (METHOD) - 2011-06-27* In 1967 in answer to prayer - God gave two visions for my wife Marie and myself - as our marriage link with ?Prayer Multiplication? from His point of view. Acts 15 is an illustration how problems can be honorably solved from a 7-fold point of view. When we come together to solve a problem in the spirit of the Golden rule (Matthew 7:12), we are moving with character in honor. With this approach, God is pleased. When we add to this approach ?Scriptural Protocol? - then He is doubly pleased, for correct method added to right character, invariably produces satisfactory results. It did in Acts 15 - in solving the ?Judaizing? controversy. The City Church of Antioch, the first to send out missionaries under the direction of the Holy Spirit, was running into problems in the City Churches founded by Barnabas and Saul. They returned from their first missionary journey, now Paul and Barnabas. Many Gentiles had become believers in Jesus along with Jews. But Judaizing members from the City Church of Jerusalem were causing dissentions in these Asia Minor (now modern Turkey) City Churches. The Gentile believers were told by them that unless they were circumcised, and converted to Judaism, their salvation would not be complete. Paul vigorously confronted them on this issue, and later wrote the book of Galatians to lay out his full position. But first the City church of Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas along with others to seek redress concerning this problem with the Eldership or Presbytery of the City Church of Jerusalem. By this time there were 100's of churches in the home in Jerusalem, with an elder for each, making a plurality of elders on a city basis. Each of the leaders would be present plus the 12 apostles. James, the half brother of Jesus was the apostolic pastor over this city church, just as Timothy would be later on with the founding of the city church of Ephesus, which Paul after founding it, turned over to him. Peter represented the 12 apostles, plus the Jewish believers of the circumcision. He gave his word how God used him to bring the Gospel first to Gentiles in the Roman home of Cornelius, and baptized him, his household and his friends, without requiring conversion to Judaism. Paul, apostle of Gentiles, the concision, reported the results of the ministry of himself and Barnabas among Jews and Gentiles, and not requiring conversion to Judaism on the part of the Gentiles. Each retained *their own* cultures - but each came together in fellowship. James gave opportunity to the Judaizers to present their case and position, and opportunity was also given for other questions and comments. Evidently James also gave opportunity for prayer and the ministry of the Spirit through the gifts of revelation - for he concluded - it seems good to us and to *the Holy Spirit* to lay no other burden on Gentile believers except for the 4 things mentioned twice in this chapter. What a joy this was to Gentiles to receive this good and wise decision from the city church of Jerusalem! I had a dream last night of a similar type of Eldership and Presbytery meeting for our city and area. A friend of mine was taking the place of James in Jerusalem, and chairing this meeting. The subject calling for this gathering was concerning the Scriptural Protocol or Method of handling problems arising from the presentation of the Spiritual Warfare 7-fold Component Parts. A member of our SeaTac Metroplex Pilot Prayer Team would be presenting his insights on this challenge from the perspective of the Seattle Tacoma area, and I was to present the same from the perspective of Cascadia, the Pacific North West, and its 4 major cities. Opportunity would be given by the Apostolic City Church chairman for objections, questions and comments, followed by prayer to allow opportunity for the Holy Spirit through His gifts - to present divine perspective. It seemed to be the consensus of those present - that as it was in Acts 15, so it would be with us today - a united solution composed of the human dimension - plus the divine insights through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Jesus in His 3 year ministry on earth continually challenged the religious Jewish leaders of his day concerning their departure from the Word of God - and their replacement of this with the traditions of men. I believe today we face a somewhat similar problem. Each denomination has good things, but they like religious leaders of Jesus' day, have brought in traditions that don't entirely jibe with the Word of God. Also - in the early church - there were no denominations. There was but one united church composed of many local church home meetings in each city. In a sense - we today have a more difficult situation than did the apostle Paul, who founded 14 city churches. Reconstruction and Restoration of the status quo in cities today composed of our many denominations, presents an entirely different challenge. Which is easier? to build a home from scratch? or to remodel a home? To pose the question is to answer it. So we have to pick up on the Bible teaching of the ?remnant.? All local churches and denominations will not initially be open to the challenge of the early church. But there will always be a ?remnant? of some 5-8 or more local churches, that will ?go for it?! With the blessing and success that such unity produces, there will *then* be *others* who will join in. Look at the Revival in King Hezekiah's day. At first the priests would not respond. Levites had to take the priests' place and responsibility. But as God's blessing mightily fell on the restoration - with shame the priests sanctified themselves and took their place (2 Chronicles 29:34-36). Human nature is still the same, so we can profit from considering how Hezekiah led in this revival some 2700 years ago. On our Website (*www.2rbetter.org ) *under ?Archives?, under ?Maturity?, dated June 9, 2011 - you will find an ?overview? plus the 7 component parts of the 1967 vision of an organic Laser-Telescope - producing a Spiritual Star Wars effect. God's Bible Numeric *Outlined* Interlinear Greek NT is the first and chief of these 7 component parts. Ivan Panin discovered this numeric phenomenon in 1890, and spent 100,000 hours until his death in 1942 producing Greek and English NT texts based on this discovery. Starting in the fall of 1946 I discovered from Panin's discovery - that *even* the sentence, sub-paragraph, paragraph and section (chapter equivalent) structure is *likewise* established by God's Bible Numerics - which He had in the Hebrew in 4000 BC, and in the Greek in 3000 BC. (See Suuqiina & Quamaniq - for ?Warfare by Honor? and ?Protocol? for Method). An excellent article outlining these discoveries can also be found on our Website Archives dated 2011-01-02 and entitled ?Cutting Edge Ministries on Panin,? which is ?Russia's Gift to Christianity.? It is just like God to choose a man from the world's chief atheistic nation - and use him to scientifically and mathematically prove to his fellow scientists the absolute inerrancy of God's eternal Word of 66 books. The 50,000 hours I have spent putting together Panin's 2 Bible Numeric texts into an Outlined Interlinear Format, have been put in because of the possibility and potential of *outlining* the entire Interlinear Greek NT on the basis of the structural context of each of the 27 books. I love outlining, and the spin-offs I have received in this task, have been worth it personally - even should no other human being make use of it. The complete Outlined Interlinear Greek NT text can be found on our Website under ?Interlinear?. I have also transliterated the Greek text to make it easier for laymen to make use of it - but this is decidedly secondary to the benefit that comes from the *outlining*. This 2-volume text composed of Gospel and Epistles - is in the hands of the printer and publisher, and a preliminary text of Matthew and Mark is already produced for proof-reading. With the help of Elvin Gladney, I have recently presented the above to 2 cities in Canada, and have sensed God's approval in this. Your continued interest and prayers will be appreciated. - Jim Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Jun 29 13:09:35 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:09:35 -0700 Subject: Simeon Update Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* June 29, 2011 *SIMEON UPDATE - GIFT OF THE SPIRIT - June 28, 2011* *1. John 4:10 (4:1-26) GIFT (do-reA) - AN ARTESIAN WELL. ?Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of :God, and who is is that says to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water? (NNT). * This is the *first* of eleven references to Gift - d*o*-reA - and according the laws of pedagogy, the law of first reference generally gives the ?definition? to that word. I believe it does in this instance! Jesus here promises to the woman of Samaria an artesian well! springing up into eternal life. *Maintain* the flow! Meditating vocally upon a Psalm a day helps this maintenance! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. Acts 2:38 (2:36-47) GIFT: THE CRUCIAL PART OF THE ?PETER PACKAGE?. ?And Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto remission of your :sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.? *Note the order of these three events. Baptism is * immediate* following repentance, and *precedes* normally the *gift* of the Holy Spirit. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. Acts 8:20 (8:4-25) GIFT: NOT FOR BARTERING. ?But Peter said unto him. Your :silver perish with you, because you have thought to obtain the gift of :God with money.? *The heart of Simon the sorcerer was revealed through his offer, and correctly scored by Peter. The highest regard for this Gift should be maintained! He is an integral part of the Triunity of the Godhead! Read ?Rees Howells, Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb to gain a proper perspective on the Holy Spirit. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. Acts 10:45 (10:44-48) GIFT: FOR GENTILES TOO! ?And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, who came with :Peter, because that on the nations also was poured out the gift of the Holy :Spirit.? *In the beginning Jews believed all Covenants and Promises to Israel were solely for them. That God had planned equality for Gentiles with them, and to maintain *their own* culture - was *more than* mystifying to First Century Jews! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. Acts 11:17 (10:1-18) GIFT: JUSTIFIES BAPTISM. ?If then :God gave them the like gift as also to us, who had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand :God?? *Peter justified his action in baptizing Gentiles on the basis of God's *gift* of the Holy Spirit to Gentiles! The other apostles in Jerusalem received his defense! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. Romans 5:15 (5:12-21) GIFT BY GRACE. ?But not as the trespass, thus also the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much rather did the grace of :God, and the gift by grace which is of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many.? *The Holy Spirit is really *the New Heredity* of Jesus given to us on the basis of His Unspeakable Sacrifice on our behalf on Calvary! See the Holy Spirit as a gift which is *all of grace*! And it is - a gift of *Abundant* Life! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Romans 5:17 (5:12-21) GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. ?For if, by the trespass of the one, :death reigned through the one; much rather shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of :righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.? *Imagine! We who have *no*righteousness, are now recipients of Christ's very righteousness in the Holy Spirit. We should *never* think too lightly of this amazing gift of grace! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 2 Corinthians 9:15b (9:6-15) GIFT UNSPEAKABLE. ?Thanks to :God for his **unspeakable gift.? *10 times the d*o*-reA (GIFT) is undeniably accepted as the Holy Spirit. Why then for this one reference should an exception be made? Scarcely a commentary but applies this gift to Christ! Yet in the light of the above, this reference could only apply to the Holy Spirit! Unspeakable? Indeed! Through the gift of tongues can one only in an adequate manner express His value! *Ephesians 3:7 (3:1-13) GIFT THAT EXPLAINS PAUL! ?In which I became aminister, according to the gift of the grace of :God :given me according to the working of his :power!? *Paul's ministry? Can *only* be explained through *this gift* - d*o*-reA - this artesian well - according to the law of first reference. *Ephesians 4:7 (4:1-16) GIFT: POTENTIAL FOR ALL BELIEVERS. ?But to each of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of the Christ.? *Jesus gives us a New Heredity - His own - when He gives us the *Gift* of the Holy Spirit. Probably we will not in this life fully underrstand and appreciate the depth of the value of this *Gift*. Nonetheless, may we like Rees Howells press in to know Him more fully. *Hebrews 6:4-6 (5:11-6:8) HEAVENLY GIFT: HIS IMPORTANCE. ?For as to those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly :gift, and became partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6 and fell away, it is impossible to renew themagain unto repentance, they crucifying again to themselves and openly shaming the Son of :God.? *This is a most serious reference. Only once in my life have I met a man who most definitely had committed this sin. He knew it - and I knew it. *Genesis 29:33 (29:31-35) SIMEON: HEARING. ?And Leah conceived again, and bore a son: and said, Because Jehovah has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon? (ASV '01). *As the Son was to the Father, so is the Holy Spirit to the Son. And so ought we to be to the Spirit, like Rees Howells. ?Hearing? is a key in the above 3 instances. So Simeon's name is a key to the Holy Spirit who does what He *hears*. *John 16:13 (16:1-15) ?But when that one comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he hears, these shall he speak: and he shall declare to you the things to come.? *The word gift - do-reA - brings out for us all that the Holy Spirit hears and would be to us! *Genesis 49:5-7 (49:1-27) ?Simeon and Levi are brethren; Weapons of violence are their swords. 6 O my soul, come not into their council; Unto their assembly, my glory, be not united; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hocked an ox. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; And their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.? *What these two brothers did in the defense of their sister Dinah was outrageous. Levi through Phineas saw the curse reversed for his tribe, but Simeon remained in a secondary position throughout the history of his tribe. *Deuteronomy 33. *Moses leaves out Simeon in his blessings. There was none for him like Phinehas of Levi to reverse the curse. *Exodus 28:18 (28:15-30) ?And the second row of the breastplate of judgment an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.? *Simeon is on the second stone of the second row, the blue *sapphire*. On a diagonal - the red sardius of Judah, mixed with the blue sapphire of Simeon - form the purple stone of Benjamin in the third row on the breastplate of judgment! So - the gifts and callings of God *are* irrevocable, just as for Israel and God's covenant promises to Abraham and David! Much to learn from *each* of the 12 sons of Jacob, and of the 12 tribes. The 12 lessons are diverse, and helpful as we meditate upon them. See South Korea and Simeon! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Jul 1 10:52:09 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2011 10:52:09 -0700 Subject: Canada's 144th Birthday Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* July 1, 2011 *July 1st, 2011 - Canada's 144th birthday since 1867* *Today as I write this, it is again Canada's birthday of 144 years, 12 x 12! On July 1, 1995, 2200 Canadians met under the auspices of ?Watchmen for the Nations? at Whistler, BC, represented by 37 nations including Israel. Dr. David Demian directed this time. Pastor Bob Birch, Dr. John White and myself at David's request, served him as advisors. * *On July 1st, some 20 tribes of First Nations People spent 5 hours under the leadership of Freda Cooper, grand-daughter of a former Coast Salish chieftain - in making vertical reconciliation with God. This was followed by representatives of Great Britain, Canada and the US, kneeling and asking forgiveness for the way our forebears from Europe came to this continent and failed to exercise Protocol and Honor towards the some 800 tribes of this great land. Such blessing came down that July 1st, that David Mainse of 100 Huntley Street, Toronto, said it was the outstanding day of his life to witness and take part in this day. This day was Canada's 128th birthday since 1967, ?2? to the ?7th? power!* *Once again I am sending out my challenge, ?Will you share with me my burden for Canada?? I have just returned from 2 conferences in Canada challenging those present concerning ?The 7-fold Spiritual Warfare? eventuating in ?God's Spiritual Star Wars.? The first component part of God's Organic Laser-Telescope is ?God's Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek NT. Russia's Gift to Christianity? through Ivan Panin is his Greek and English NT texts printed by the Oxford Press of England - prior to his death in Canada in 1942. In 1944 God introduced me to Panin, and in 1946 I procured some 20 books and pamphlets either ?by? or ?on? Panin. I was captivated by Panin's discovery of the Bible Numeric sentence, paragraph and section format. On December 31, 2010, I completed putting Panin's two texts together in an Outlined Interlinear Greek NT format. A printer in Washington State is putting my 5-time proof-read copy of the 4 Gospels into print as ?Volume One? this summer; to be followed up by Volume Two: Acts, Epistles and Revelation. Go to our Website - click on ?Interlinear?, and you will find the complete Interlinear text with my notes. Under ?Archives? and ?Embryonics? you will find postings by Keelan Long on the Component Parts of the ?7-fold Spiritual Warfare.? * *I see the above as having a primary focus for Canada according to Dr. David Yonggi Cho's 3-fold prophecies, with a complementary thrust for the US. When Volume I of the Gospels is released, we will alert you. J.A.W.* *** * *?SHARE WITH ME MY BURDEN FOR CANADA?* Canada is very likely an Iroquois word meaning ?Community.? It could even mean ?Covenant Community.? My parents are Canadian, and though born in Arkansas, I received the majority of my schooling in Canada, and served during World War II in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve as a Seaman-bandsman. I did not see Canada until I was 4 years old, but I have had an interest and a burden for my country ever since. Through one of those flukes of history, I hold dual citizenship, and treasure both of them. However, as my friends point out, I probably regard my citizenship in heaven as the greatest of them all. My father is direct descendant of James Watt the inventor, and was himself a chief engineer both on land and at sea. During World War I he worked in Greenwich, Scotland making torpedoes, in the same town in which his famous forebear developed the perfection of the steam engine. He was in Crossett, Arkansas at the time of my birth, constructing a powerhouse for a lumber mill. My mother was a Mauser, Moser or Mosher ? take your pick. The Moshers fled Germany to Alsace-Lorraine to escape persecution. They were Huguenots. The Alfred Dreyfus family fled during that same time to the same place, and was the cause of Theodore Hertzl forming Zionism, and planning for the State of Israel in 1948. It was in 1898 that he held the first meeting for Zionism. One third of the Mosers and Moshers in Halifax are Jewish ? so who knows? Scottish, Irish, English, German-Dutch-French-Jewish ? with a dash of North American Indian through the Micmacs ? perhaps quite typical of many North Americans ? all of this paints a racial background from which I have come. My first year of school was in a one-room schoolhouse composed of grades 1-8 in Port Mellon, British Columbia. We were there because my father was chief engineer of the local lumber mill. I found myself in grade 2 in Seattle, Washington, as my father took a construction job for the powerhouse of the University of Washington. The Great Depression hit in 1929, and as in musical chairs, none of the resident engineers would leave their jobs, so we ended up on a farm in Murrayville, East of Langley in B.C. Just before that I had Grade 3 and part of Grade 4 in Kerrisdale, a suburb of Vancouver. We were in Murrayville until I finished Grade 8. It was now 1937, and as the Depression was beginning to lift, my father was offered a job as Chief Engineer in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island. However, during the 4 years on the farm, God began to deal with me, and a deep hunger and thirsting came into me to know God, the living God, if there was one. My church was very liberal, and had lost its faith in the Bible, in God, in Jesus as the Son of God, in the Trinity, in heaven, in hell, in angels, in the resurrection, in miracles ? there was no salvation necessary. We each had the spark of the divine in us ? all we needed was for someone to fan it, and we would come to life. But my step-grandfather, G. R. Gordon was one of the Vancouver pioneers who went through the great fire that destroyed the city. But he was one of those Methodists who knew God, maintained family devotions, and in his own way shared his faith. He did this latter by leaving little 32 page booklets called ?The Lily Series? each month as he visited us on ?Sunnybrook Farm? in Murrayville. 48 of these appeared one per month, which I found after his visit. I read each one of them. Invariably a story of how a person in England found God to be real thru salvation was told. I thought, ?When I am older, I will go to England, and maybe I too can find the God who became real to all these others.? I had met none in my church that seemed to have the experiences I read about in these little books. Then he one month left along with the regular gift, a larger beautifully illustrated hardback book called ?Intra Muros? by Rebecca Reuter Springer. This book very powerfully touched me. It means ?Within the Walls,? and is a story of how Rebecca in severe illness went into a coma, and seemed to be in heaven for a time. We will know one another over there, and our two lives are one ? were the main themes of this book. It has since been reprinted and is now called ?Within Heaven?s Gates.? By all means get it. You can find it on . When I was in my second year of High School, I became an early morning paperboy for the Vancouver Province. (One month I delivered papers for 30 consecutive days in the rain!) One of my customers was Mrs. Mary Bertha Allquist, a convert to Judaism through adoption, and after her Christian conversion, a missionary to the Jews. She had 20 cats. I am sure that she prayed for a full conversion for me, and that I would follow her footsteps in her commitment to God?s heart for the Jews as Paul outlined in Romans 11. Later when I became a true convert to Jesus, on my first leave from the Navy I made a point to visit her and ask questions about the Bible for which I could find no answer. She had literally memorized the entire Bible, much of it in Hebrew, and had entirely worn out 4 complete Bibles in the process. One of my questions had to do with the Urim and Thummim contained in the breastplate of judgment of the High Priest of Israel. She immediately had me turn to Proverbs 6:20-22 and read to her. As I read, she quoted by memory along with me. This fully answered my question. Later she told me that the Lord wanted her to share with me the Feasts of the Lord in Leviticus 23. During the 1948 Revival in North Battleford, I taught this to some 90 students in the Sharon Bible College. George Warnock audited the class, and already knew that Jesus had fulfilled Passover at His first coming, and that the Holy Spirit fulfilled Pentecost (Shavuot) 50 days later. And he also knew that the Feast of Tabernacles would not be fulfilled until Jesus the Messiah returned as Lord of lords and King of kings the second time. The Holy Spirit would not give him rest until in 1951 he wrote his book, The Feast of Tabernacles. The point is this: God sovereignly put Mrs. Allquist into my life 5 years before my conversion, and used her to strongly ground me in Biblical truth. She was one of my mentors. I thoroughly understand from Romans 9-11 and the rest of the Bible that God has *not *disinherited His people the Jews. They are *still *the apple of His eye, and with the remnant of non-Jewish believers who are grafted into the root of Israel, will become with them the ONE NEW MAN set forth by Paul in Ephesians. No wonder Canada?s treatment of the Jews during Holocaust days, and that of the United States, requires deep and sincere repentance. I graduated from High School in Port Alberni, and found myself in the same class as Marie Candide Gaudet, now Marie Watt. We were the last two unmarried classmates, so God led us to solve the problem! For our wedding on December 27, 1948, we asked Mrs. Mary Bertha Allquist to sing. God gave her words from the Scriptures, and wove them together in a prophetic chant. We asked her to write out for us what the Lord had given her on our behalf, and still to this day we treasure this gift. For Marie and myself, 1948 has vital significance. It was the year that God fulfilled the prophecy of Theodore Hertzl and birthed Israel as a nation. It was the year that God called Marie into His Kingdom. And it was the year that He led both of us by separate words into marriage. I worked for one year in a lumber mill in Port Alberni, and then took one year at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver. During that time, a Seminary Professor from my denomination preached a series of 6 sermons at St. Andrew?s Wesley, and in the final lecture gave a challenge: Every young man present here tonight should consider the ministry as his profession. I laughed to myself. Fat chance he?ll ever get me into the ministry. I respect my ministers as men and friends ? but none of them know God anymore than I do. I did not wish to become a hypocrite and become a minister, and preach about a God I did not know personally. But God used that message. I could not sleep that night, and because I had an important Economics exam coming up the next day, I became concerned. In desperation I finally said, ?God, if You are a God, and if You are keeping me awake because of that sermon, -- please let me sleep so I don?t flunk the exam tomorrow, and I?ll go into the ministry.? That was the last I remembered that night, and the first thing I remembered in the morning! After the exam (which I passed) and the rest of the day?s lectures, I returned to my boarding house, and wrote a letter to the preacher of the night before, Dr. Gerald B. Switzer. I told him that I was offering myself as a candidate for the ministry of my denomination to fulfill a promise I had made to God. He immediately responded and wanted to switch me from the College of Commerce to Union College, the seminary of my denomination on campus. I told him, No way! I want to know God before I go into the ministry. His reply ? Seminary is just the place to find God. I knew he was wrong. Besides that I had just read in Psalm 107 that they that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters ? they shall see the wonders of the Lord. I informed him that I must first join the Navy, find God, and then I would return and fulfill my vow to God. He reluctantly accepted my decision. However, to help me on my pilgrimage, as he expressed it, he gave me four books. One was ?The Man Nobody Knows? by Bruce Barton, and two were by Harry Emerson Fosdick. I sincerely doubt that one could find God by any of these, but I faithfully read them, plus 96 more books in the next 9 months as a sailor in the Navy. Then through ?Magnificent Obsession? by Lloyd C. Douglas ? and the ?Prince of the House of India? by Lew Wallace (author of Ben Hur), I received faith that God would reveal himself to me. I turned to the Bible, and in the book of Romans, knew that to know God He demanded a full submission of my will to His Lordship, and confession of this commitment to Him to others. I felt the cost was very high. I accused God of ?playing marbles for keeps.? If I played with Him, and lost, he would keep all my marbles. I was right, and He did! For the first time I prayed from my heart with all my heart ? God ? If you will reveal Yourself to me, I will serve You according to the Bible. Because I had never truly prayed before in my life, I repeated it twice more. On the third time, I *knew* that He had heard me. It was awesome. But a month later, He had still not revealed Himself to me. In desperation I called unto Him to fulfill His promise. Like a shot He responded ? Go tell your old Communist friend Vern McMahon that you can no longer study Communism with him. You now have a mandate from Me to preach My Gospel. I complained to Him ? But God ? You know that my denomination teaches that one?s personal beliefs are private ? they are like your toothbrush ? that are *not* to be shared. He didn?t change His mind, so with great trepidation I went to see Vern who was very ill. I had great difficulty sharing with him my new mandate from God. But lest Vern see me shaking, I blurted out my new status, and was immediately *born again.* I had fulfilled Romans 10:9, believed in my heart the salvation and resurrection that Jesus had provided, and confessed Him as Lord of my life. I had turned my spiritual light switch on without realizing it! I was saved! I was a new creation! *I was born again!* * *Very soon afterward somebody placed a book in my hands ? Times of Refreshing by J. Edwin Orr, Irish Revivalist. He stated that Britain and America both had several national revivals, but Canada had not. Yes, she has had a number of regional awakenings ? but a national revival to unite the French-speaking, and the English-speaking Canadians ? that has not ever taken place. The year was 1944. From that year, one of my priority prayers has been ? O God ? please send national revival to Canada, and unite our land. In the 1960?s I met Pastor Bob Birch of St. Margaret?s in Vancouver ? the Apostle of Love of Canada, and a true Intercessor like Rees Howells. He formed an organization called Watchmen for the Nations. As he is now over 90, he turned the leadership over to David Mohsen Demian, an Egyptian medical doctor. God has shown David that the chief hindrance to national revival in Canada is the way she treated the Jews during World War II. When the St. Louis with nearly 1000 Jews escaping Hitler came to her shores, she was turned away. She was forced to return to Europe, and 2/3 of all aboard went to the gas chambers. One of the Prime Minister?s cabinet members said, One (Jew) is too many. God has not overlooked the hard-heartedness of the government, both Federally and in Quebec, and the apathy of the churches that did not raise their voice in protest. Jesus said that the way individuals and nations treat His people (and nationally He is a Jew), will be the way He will treat them as to whether they be a goat or a sheep nation. This is a blot on this great nation that I love. Through the years I have sung from my heart, O Canada, my home and native land ? and yet there is a great hurt in my heart. When Canada, both politically and church-wise, repents and asks God for forgiveness, and seeks reconciliation with Israel and the people she turned away when she could have helped -- then there will be healing. 1000 orphan Jewish children were offered to Canada at that time ? while those in authority hemmed and hawed, they were all taken to gas chambers! Yes ? I believe God wants to bring revival ? great revival in both Canada and the United States before the return of the Lord. Yes, I agree with David Demian, that nationally Canada has an obligation to make amends for the tragedy of the extent of the Holocaust ? some part of which could have been avoided had hearts been softer and not so hard. Yes, I believe that the United States is guilty also concerning the St. Louis. At the order of FDR, the St. Louis was turned away from our shores also, and gunboats tracked her so that she could not get close enough to shore to unload her unfortunate refugees. But ? on the bright side! When the present Pope visited Canada for the first time, he was amazed at the 60 distinct cultural groups, the majority of whom have maintained their language, culture and customs. When revival hits Canada, within 3 months representatives of these 60 groups can fan out and reach 90% of the world?s population without the need of missionaries or intermediaries! What a challenge! In 1975 in Kelowna, B.C.; in 1979 in Toronto, Ontario; and in 1984 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dr. David Yonggi Cho from the large church in Seoul, South Korea, prophesied that God would use Canada in the last days to spearhead evangelism and missions to the ends of the earth. Canada is small (less than 30 million) and not feared by the other nations. They look upon her as a peace-making people, and call upon her to arbitrate when conflicts arise between nations. Her people will have open doors to travel in an unfettered way to the ends of the earth in a short period of time once revival hits that nation on a national level. We in the U.S. can give hands across the border to help where we can go with them ? and pray and give in the places where we would not be welcome. *WILL YOU SHARE WITH ME MY BURDEN FOR CANADA?* Jim Watt PS. Since the writing of this burden, both Canada (In November of 2000) and the US (In June of 2001) have had reconciliation with Israel in the light of the St. Louis. I am resending this report at the suggestion of a friend from a European country. May it serve to raise prayer for both Canada and the United States at this date of November 20, 2001. JW. *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Jul 3 09:51:31 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 09:51:31 -0700 Subject: Luke 11:1-28 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* July 3, 2011 Until the Gospels are completed for the Printer with final Proof-reading, I am doing no other new writing. But the notes on the reading below from the Gospel of Luke are so relevant and important, that though mailed initially less than a year ago, with your forbearance, I am remailing it. Jim *(From: LUKE #21 - 11:1-28)* *F. 11:1-13 MODEL PRAYER WITH IMPORTUNITY* *1. 11:1-4 MODEL PRAYER FOR DISCIPLES* *a. 11:1 REQUEST OF A DISCIPLE* Kai eGEne-to, en t*o* EInai auTON en TOp*o* tiNI pro-seuCHOme-non, *And it came to pass, as he :was praying in a certain place,* h*o*s ePAUsa-to [2974], EI-PEN tis t*o*n ma-th*e*T*O*N auTOU pros auTON, KUri-e, *that as he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord,* DIda-xon [1321] huMAS proSEUches-thai, kaTH*O*S kai I*o*An*e*s eDIda-xen tous ma-th*e*TAS auTOU. *teach us to pray, even as John also taught his :disciples.* *b. 11:2a And he said to them, When you are praying, say, Father, Hallowed be your :name.* EIpen de auTOIS, HOtan proSEUch*e*s-the, LEge-te, PAter, ha-gi-asTH*E*t*o* [37] to OnoMA sou. *c. 11:2b **Your :kingdom come. *elTHAt*o* h*e* ba-siLEIa [932] sou. *d. 11:3 Give us day by day our :daily :bread.* ton ARton [740] h*e*M*O*N ton e-piOUsi-on [1967] DIdou h*e*MIN to kath' h*e* MEran. *e. 11:4a And forgive us our :sins; for we ourselves also forgive every one indebted to us.* kai Aphes h*e*MIN tas ha-marTIas h*e*M*O*N; kai gar auTOI aPHIo-men panTI oPHEIlon-ti h*e*MIN. *f. 11:4b And bring us not into temptation.* kai m*e* ei-seNEGk*e*s [1533] h*e*MAS eis pei-rasMON [3986]. *2. 11:5-13 IMPORTUNITY IN PRAYER FOR HOLY SPIRIT* *a. 11:5-7 HOW TO PRAY* Kai EIpen pros auTOUS, Tis ex huM*O*N HExei PHIlon, *And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend,* kai poREUse-tai pros auTON me-so-nukTIou, kai EIp*e* auT*O*, *and shall go unto him at midnight, and say to him,* PHIle, CHR*E*-SON [5531] moi treis ARtous; *Friend, lend me three loaves;* e-peiD*E* PHIlos mou pa-reGEne-to ex hoDOU PROS me, kai ouk Ech*o* pa-raTH*E *s*o* [3908] auT*O*; *6 since a friend of mine is come unto me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him;* ka' 'KEInos Es*o*-then a-po-kriTHEIS EIp*e*, M*E* moi KOpous [2873]PAre-che: *7 and HE from within shall answer and say, Do not trouble me:* *E*d*e* h*e* THUra [2374] KEklei-stai [2808], kai ta paiDIa mou met' eMOU eis t*e*n KOIt*e*n [2845] eiSIN; *the door is already shut, and my little children are with me in :bed;* ou DUna-mai a-naSTAS DOU-NAI soi? *I cannot rise and give you?* *b. 11:8 THE FORCE OF IMPORTUNITY* LEg*o* huMIN, ei kai ou D*O*sei auT*O* a-naSTAS *I say unto you, Even if he will not rise and give him* diA to EInai PHIlon auTOU, *because he :is his friend,* diA ge t*e*n aNAIdi-an [335] auTOU e-gerTHEIS D*O*sei auT*O* HOs*o*n CHR*E* zei. *yet because of his :importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needs.* *c. 11:9 IMPORTUNITY ENCOURAGED* ka' 'G*O* huMIN LEg*o*, aiTEIte [154], kai doTH*E*se-tai [1325] huMIN; *And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you;* z*e*TEIte [2212], kai heuR*E*se-te [2147]; KROUe-te [2925], kai a-noiG*E*se-tai [455] huMIN. *seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.* *d. 11:10 THREE CLEAR PROMISES* pas gar ho aiT*O*N lamBAnei [2983]; kai ho z*e*T*O*N heuRIskei [2147]; *For every one that asks receives; and who seeks finds; * kai t*o* KROUon-ti aNOIge-tai [455]. *and to him that knocks it is being opened.* *e. 11:11 QUESTION* TIna de ex huM*O*N ton paTEra aiT*E*sei ho huiOS ichTHUN, *And of which of you that is the father shall the son ask a fish,* m*e* anTI ichTHUos Ophin [3799] auT*O* e-piD*O*sei? *and he for a fish give him a serpent?* *f. 11:12 Or again shall ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion?* *e* kai aiT*E*sei *o*ON [5609], e-piD*O*sei auT*O* skorPIon [4651]? *g. 11:13 WHY PRAY? BECAUSE OF REVELATION OF PARENTAL RELATIONSHIP* ei oun huMEIS, po-n*e*ROI huPARchon-tes, *If you therefore, being evil,* OIda-te DOma-ta a-gaTHA diDOnai tois TEKnois huM*O*N, *know **how to give good gifts to your :children,* POs*o* MALlon ho paT*E*R ho ex ou-raNOU *how much more shall the Father who **is** from heaven* D*O*sei PNEUma [4151] HAgi-on [40] tois aiTOUsin auTON? *give **the** Holy Spirit to them that ask him?* *G. 11:14-28 KINGDOM TEACHING LEADS US TO KEEP THE WORD* *1. 11:14-26 THE KINGDOM OF JESUS ABOVE THAT OF SATAN* *a. 11:14a And he was casting out a dumb demon.* Kai *e*n ekBALl*o*n daiMOni-on [1140] k*o*PHON [2974]. *b. 11:14b MARVELING FOLLOWS MIRACLES* eGEne-to de, tou dai-moNIou e-xelTHONtos, eLAl*e*-sen ho k*o*PHOS; *And it came to pass, when the demon was gone out, the dumb spoke; * kai eTHAUma-san [2296] hoi OCHloi. *and the crowds marveled.* *c. 11:15 RANK BLASPHEMY!* tiNES de ex auT*O*N EIpan, *But some of them said, * En Be-el-zeBOUL [954] t*o* ARchon-ti t*o*n dai-moNI*o*n ekBALlei ta daiMOni-a. *By Beelzebul the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.* *d. 11:16 And others, trying him, sought of him a sign from heaven.* HEte-roi de, peiRAzon-tes [3985], s*e*MEIon ex ou-raNOU eZ*E*toun par' auTOU. *e. 11:17 JESUS CORRECTS UNSPOKEN THOUGHTS* auTOS de, eiD*O*S auT*O*N ta di-a-no*E*ma-ta [1270], EIpen auTOIS, *But HE, knowing their :thoughts, said to them,* PAsa ba-siLEIa eph' he-auT*E*N di-a-me-ris-THEIsa [1266] e-r*e*MOUtai [2049]; *Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate;* kai OIkos ePI OIkon PIPtei. *and a house **divided against a house falls.* *f. 11:18 AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE* ei de kai ho Sa-taNAS eph' he-auTON di-e-meRISth*e*, p*o*s staTH*E*se-tai h* e* ba-siLEIa auTOU? *And if :Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his :kingdom stand?* HOti LEge-te en Be-el-zeBOUL ekBALlein me ta daiMOni-a. *because you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.* *g. 11:19 JESUS THROWS THEIR QUESTIONING ON THEIR SONS* ei de eG*O* en Be-el-zeBOUL ekBALl*o* ta daiMOni-a, *And if I by Beelzebul cast out :demons,* hoi huiOI huM*O*N en TIni ekBALlou-sin? diA TOUto auTOI huM*O*N kriTAI [2923] Eson-tai. *by whom do your :sons cast out? therefore shall THEY be your judges.* *h. 11:20 RELATION OF GOD'S KINGDOM AND DEMON DELIVERANCE* ei de en dakTUl*o* [1147] TheOU eG*O* ekBALl*o* ta daiMOni-a, *But if I by God's finger cast out the demons,* Ara EPHtha-sen eph' huMAS h*e* ba-siLEIa [932] tou TheOU. *then is the kingdom of :God come upon you.* *i. 11:21-22 THE STRONG MAN ARMED* HOtan ho is-chuROS [2478] ka-th*o*-plisMEnos [2528] phuLASs*e* [5442] t*e*n he-auTOU auL*E*N [833], *When the strong fully armed guards his own :court,* en eiR*E*n*e* esTIN ta huPARchon-ta [5274] auTOU: ePAN de is-chuROte-ros auTOU *his :goods are in peace: 22 but when a stronger than he* a-pelTH*O*N niK*E*s*e* [3528] auTON, t*e*n pa-noPLIan [3833] auTOU *shall come upon and overcome him, he takes from him* AIrei eph' h*e* e-pePOIthei [3982], kai ta SKUla [4661] auTOU di-aDId*o*-sin [1239]. *his whole armor in which he trusted, and divides his :spoils.* *j. 11:23 Who is not with me is against me; and who gathers not with me scatters.* ho m*e* *o*n met' 'eMOU kat' 'eMOU estin; kai ho m*e* suNAg*o*n met' eMOU skorPIzei [4650]. *k. 11:24 STATE OF A DELIVERED DEMON* HOtan to aKAthar-ton [169] PNEUma eXELth*e* aPO tou anTHR*O*pou, *The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man,* diERche-tai di' 'aNUdr*o*n [504] TOp*o*n, z*e*TOUN aNApau-sein [372]; kai m* e* heuRIskon, *passes through waterless places, seeking rest; and finding none,* to-te LEgei, Hu-poSTREps*o* [5290] eis ton OI-KON mou HOthen eX*E*Lthon. *then he says, I will turn back unto my :house from where I came out.* *l. 11:25 And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept and garnished.* kai elTHON, heuRIskei schoLAzon-ta [4980], se-sa-r*o*MEnon [4563] kai ke-kos-m*e*MEnon [2885]. *m. 11:26 A SOLEMN AND SERIOUS REVELATION* TOte poREUe-tai, kai pa-ra-lamBAnei HEte-ra PNEUma-ta *Then he goes, and takes along seven other spirits* po-n*e*ROte-ra [4191] he-auTOU hepTA; kai ei-selTHONta ka-toiKEI eKEI: *more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there:* kai GIne-tai ta EScha-ta tou anTHR*O*pou eKEInou CHEIro-na [5501] t*o*n PR*O *t*o*n. *and the last state of that :man becomes worse than the first.* *2. 11:27-28 BLESSEDNESS OF KEEPING WORD ABOVE HONORING MARY* *a. 11:27 JESUS SETS UP A CONTRAST* E-GEne-to de, en t*o* LEgein auTON TAUta, *And it came to pass, as he said these things, * aPAraSA [1869] tis ph*o*N*E*N guN*E* ek tou OCHlou, *a certain woman out of the crowd lifted up **her voice,* EIpen auT*O*, Ma-kaRIA h*e* koiLIa h*e* baSTAsaSA se, kai maSTOI [3149] hous eTH*E*la-sas [2337]. *and** said to him, Blessed the womb that bore you, and **the breasts which you did suck.* *b. 11:28 A WORD WE ALL SHOULD HEAR!* auTOS de EIpen, *But HE said, * MeNOUN, maKAri-os hoi aKOUon-tes ton LOgon tou TheOU, kai phuLASson-tes [5442]. *Yes rather, blessed who hear the word of :God, and keep it.* *NOTE**: (2010-11-30) - 11:1-13 - *For George Muller of Bristol - every opportunity to exposit the Scriptures, was to find something on *prayer*! * Prayer* was a key occupation in the life of Jesus while on earth as the :Son of man - specially His last three years of ministry. Check any of the great saints of the Bible - OT or NT - and we will find examples of a life of prayer. In the Moody Colportage book ?Answers to Prayer? by George Muller, the Preface has a brief outline of 6 points, how to always infallibly know the will of God prior to praying. I memorized this in 1944, and have found it works for me just as successfully as it did for Mr. Muller. In ?Appendix B? of the same book, he has 5 points how to always *Prevail* in prayer, once the will of God is surely known. *Importunity* is one of the 5 points in the second outline, and I use the example of Luke 11:5-13 for this, as well as Luke 18:1-8, and Daniel chapter 10. C.T. Studd is also an example of *importunity* - *not* to give up *until * the answer comes through. George Muller had 50,000 exact answers to prayer requests for the financial needs for 10,000 orphans. The equivalent for $8 million came in, without ever asking anyone for help *except God alone*! What a testimony. And for Studd - on his way to China as a missionary under the CIM, on ship-board he heard the fiery testimony of a Salvation Army lass. He said, ?Lord, I want *her* as my wife!? God said, ?You've got her.? Following the service, he excitedly shared with her this revelation. Her response: ?Charlie Studd, if you were the last man on earth, I wouldn't marry you!? He went back to God, who said, ?She's the one - keep drilling.? When they arrived in Shanghai, he found his temporary base, but she went on to Peking. His first letter to her was, ?12 reasons why you should marry me.? Her response: ?13 reasons why I shouldn't.? They got up to 20 points in their exchange of letters. But he wouldn't give up. He believed in * importunity*. So he fasted for 2 weeks. Then God said, ?Charlie, you can stop fasting. We've got through!? Her next letter was, ?Okay Charlie - when do you want to get married?? They had 4 daughters, and later when Charlie went to Africa as a missionary, no mission board would send him - so his wife in England was his mission board for the next 20 years! They saw one another but 2 weeks in that interval before he died in Africa. Churchill in his very elderly years gave the speech for the graduation class at Eton College, his old Alma Mater. It was extremely short - *?Never, never, never, never, never give up!?* - That's it! That's *importunity*. That is the illustration in all of the prayers of Jesus and George Muller. This is the message I use for myself. This is the challenge I leave for *all * of us. 66 years ago God challenged me with the Discovery of Ivan Panin on ?His Bible Numerics.? I soon learned of Panin's disappointment that he would die in 1942 without seeing an Interlinear Greek NT from the two Bible Numeric New Testaments that he produced in 50 years. I believed God laid it on my heart to do this for God first, and Mr. Panin second. This month, I will complete this project, 66 years later. I'm currently on chapter 14 of the Gospel of Luke. Luke is the last of the 27 NT books I am working on, and the 250th of the 260 chapters. It will be completed this 12th month of this year. Importunity. ?Never, never, never, never, never give up!? J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Jul 6 10:49:02 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2011 10:49:02 -0700 Subject: John 1:19-34 Message-ID: 2011-07-06 - Friends - When the Gospel of John has been proof-read for the 5th time; and an Introduction written - then Volume I of the Gospel Interlinear will be ready for printing and publishing. This fifth reading of the of the Gospel was a blessing to me as I proof-read it again - catching a number of corrections that needed to be made. The NOTE can be read on our Website - but will not appear on the printed product. J. ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* July 6, 2011 *(From JOHN #2 - 1:19-34)* *B. 1:19-34 JOHN'S WITNESS TO PHARISEES RE HIMSELF AND JESUS* *1. 1:19-28 JOHN'S TESTIMONY CONCERNING HIMSELF* *a. 1:19 JOHN WITNESSES TO PHARISEES CONCERNING HIMSELF* Kai HAUt*e* esTIN h*e* mar-tuRIa tou I*o*Anou, *And this is the witness of :John,* HOte aPIstei-lan pros auTON hoi IouDAIoi ex Ie-ro-soLUm*o*n *when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem* hi-eREIS kai LeuEItas HIna e-r*o*T*E*s*o*SIN [2064] auTON, Su tis ei? *priests and Levites to ask of him, Who are YOU?* *b. 1:20 And he confessed and denied not; and he confessed [that], I am not the Christ.* kai h*o*-moLOg*e*-sen kai ouk *e*rN*E*sa-to; kai h*o*-moLOg*e*-sen HOti, E-G *O* ouk eiMI ho ChrisTOS. *c. 1:21a **And they asked him, What then **are** you? *kai *e*R*O*t*e*-san auTON, Ti su oun? *d. 1:21:b ** Are you Elijah? **E*-LEIas ei? *e. 1:21c **And he says, I am not. *kai LEgei, ouk eiMI. *f. 1:21d **Are YOU the prophet? *Ho proPH*E*t*e*s [4396] ei su? *g. 1:21e **And he answered, No. *kai a-peKRIth*e*, Ou. *h. 1:22a They said therefore to him, Who are you? that we may give answer to them that sent us.* EIpan oun auT*O*, Tis ei? HIna aPOkri-sin D*O*men tois PEMpsa-sin h*e*MAS. *i. 1:22b **What do you say of yourself? *Ti LEgeis peRI se-auTOU? *j. 1:23 JOHN'S CLEAR ANSWER* Eph*e*, E-G*O* ph*o*N*E* [5456] bo*O*Ntos [994] en t*e* eR*E*m*o* [2048], *He said, I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness,* EuTHUna-te [2116] t*e*n hoDON KuRIou, kaTH*O*S EIpen *E*-SAI-as ho proPH*E*t *e*s. *Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.* *k. 1:24 And they had been sent from the Pharisees.* kai aPEstal-me-noi *E*san ek t*o*n Pha-riSAI*o*n [5330]. *l. 1:25 THEY QUESTION JOHN'S RIGHT TO BAPTIZE* kai *e*R*O*t*e*-san auTON, kai EIpan auT*O*, *And they asked him, and said to him,* Ti oun bapTIzeis [907], ei su ouk ei ho ChrisTOS, ouDE *E*-LEIas, ouDE ho proPH*E*t*e*s? *Why then do you baptize, if YOU are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?* *m. 1:26-27 JOHN INSTEAD POINTS TO JESUS* a-peKRIth*e* auTOIS ho I*o*An*e*s, LEg*o*n, E-G*O* bapTIz*o* en HUda-ti: *:John answered them, saying, I baptize in water:* MEsos huM*O*N ST*E*kei hon huMEIS ouk OIda-te, oPIs*o* mou erCHOme-nos, *in the midst of you stands one who you know not, 27 who comes after me,* hou ouk eiMI eG*O* Axi-os HIna LUs*o* auTOU ton hiMANta [2438] tou hu-poD*E*ma-tos [5266]. *the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose.* *n. 1:28 These things came to pass in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where :John was baptizing.* TAUta en B*e*-thaNIa eGEne-to PEran tou IorDAnou, HOpou *e*n ho I*o*An*e*s bapTIz*o*n. *2. 1:29-34 JOHN'S TESTIMONY CONCERNING JESUS* *a. 1:29 CHRIST THE LAMB OF GOD* T*e* aPAUri-on BLEpei ton I*e*SOUN erCHOme-non pros auTON, kai LEgei, *On the morrow he sees :Jesus coming unto him, and says,* Ide, ho amNOS [386] tou TheOU, ho AIr*o*n [142] t*e*n ha-marTIan tou KOSmou! *See, the lamb of :God, that takes away the sin of the world!* *b. 1:30 JOHN CLARIFIES HIS TESTIMONY* HOU-TOS es-tin huPER hou eG*O* EIpon, *This is he of whom I said,* O-PIs*o* mou ERche-tai aN*E*R hos EMprosTHEN mou GEgo-nen: HOti PR*O*-TOS mou *e*n. *After me comes a man who is become before me: for he was first in regard of me.* *c. 1:31 JOHN'S BAPTISM PREPARES FOR JESUS* ka' 'G*O* ouk *E*dein auTON; all' HIna pha-ne-r*o*TH*E* [5319] t*o* Is-ra*E* L, *And I knew him not; but that he be manifested to :Israel,* diA TOUto *E*Lthon eG*O* en HUda-ti bapTIz*o*n. *for this came I baptizing in water.* *d. 1:32 JOHN WITNESSES TO SPIRIT AS A DOVE ON JESUS* Kai e-marTUr*e*-sen [3140] I*o*An*e*s, LEg*o*n [HOti], *And John witnessed, saying [that],* TeTHEa-mai to PNEUma ka-taBAInon h*o*s pe-ri-steRAN ex ou-raNOU; kai Emei-nen ep' auTON. *I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and he abode upon him.* *e. 1:33 THE FATHER: WHO HAS SPIRIT AS A DOVE - BAPTIZES IN THE HOLY SPIRIT!* ka' 'G*O* ouk *E*dein auTON: all' ho PEMpsas me bapTIzein en HUda-ti, eKEI-NOS moi EIpen, *And I knew him not: but who sent me to baptize in water, HE said to me,* Eph' hon an Id*e*s to PNEUma ka-taBAInon, kai MEnon ep' auTON, *Upon whoever you shall see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him,* HOU-TOS es-tin ho bapTIz*o*n en PNEUma-ti HaGI*o*. *the same is he that baptizes in the Holy Spirit.* *f. 1:34 And I have seen, and have witnessed that this is the Son of :God.* ka' 'G*O* he*O*ra-ka, kai me-marTUr*e*-ka HOti HOU-TOS es-tin ho huiOS tou TheOU. *NOTE**: *1:19-28. - Here is a good example of how each of us ought to be - in our witness concerning Jesus. John did *not* elevate himself as a cousin of Jesus. But in every way possible he points to Jesus as the Appointed One of God - the Son of God - who is *so worthy* - that all John can do is point to Him and elevate Him! It is *Jesus*, not us, who is the *only* key to every man's salvation. And not only does He provide salvation for each of us through His ?Finished Work? - but He is also the baptizer in the Holy Spirit! We are identified with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection according to Romans chapter 6; and He is the One that the Father has appointed to grant us the Holy Spirit through Spirit-baptism. J. Edwin Orr explained it this way to Billy Graham: ?We are like an empty glass placed in a sink. The water (Christ) fills us as the tap is turned on. *This* is the baptism into Christ by the Holy Spirit. Then the water continues running into a plugged sink - until the glass is completely submerged in water. * This* is Christ baptizing us into the Holy Spirit. We are now in Christ and He in us.? Probably none of John's hearers at this time understood the full significance of these his words of explanation. Later he says - ?I must * decrease*, but *He* must *increase*. John's death eventually made this fully possible. We must be *dead to ourselves*, that Jesus be seen pre-eminently in each of our lives too! Now look at John 1:29-34. How John magnifies the Lord Jesus here. He seems to make it all so clear. So then why do so few of us *apprehend* in Jesus what John experienced in *his* life? Because these things are spiritually discerned! Mark 8:34 is the key. To follow Jesus, we must move on from salvation to *full discipleship*. Jesus did *not* ask us to make converts. * God* does that. We are to receive God's converts and *make disciples* out of them. Dawson Trotman, Founder of the ?Navigators,? in his pamphlet ?Born to Reproduce,? eminently makes this clear. Oswald Chambers in ?My Utmost for His Highest,? does the same. We *must* first *deny* all rights to our self-life; then we take up our cross, the full will of God for our lives as outlined in the New Covenant provided by Jesus; and thirdly we follow Jesus in the *same spirit* in which *He* followed the Father in His earthly life, as the Son of Man. ?Personal, passionate devotion to Jesus,? is the key. How many of us join the ranks of the George Mullers, Rees Howells and Oswald Chambers? According to them, not many. But we all have the invitation, opportunity and privilege to become members of the ?John the Baptist? example. ?Lord - by Your grace, lead and help *many* of us to become such disciples!? J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Jul 7 12:50:35 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 12:50:35 -0700 Subject: John 6:41-71 Message-ID: Dear Friends - 2011-07-07 These days I am not writing up new articles to mail, because of the pressure to finish the final proof-reading of this Interlinear text of the Gospels just prior to printing. However - in proof-reading the following portion, I felt many of you would appreciate receive it with the Notes once again, prior to publication. Jim Watt ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *(From JOHN #15 - 6:41-71)* *2. 6:41-51 BENEFITS OF TRUE BREAD - ETERNAL LIFE* *a. 6:41 MURMURING OF THE CROWD* E-GOGgu-zon [1111] oun hoi IouDAIoi peRI auTOU, HOti EIpen, *The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said,* E-G*O* ei-mi ho ARtos ho ka-taBAS ek tou ou-raNOU. *I am the bread which came down out of :heaven.* *b. 6:42 HIS ORIGINS STUMBLE THEM* kai Ele-gon, OuCHI HOU-TOS es-tin I*e*SOUS, ho huiOS I*o*S*E*PH, *And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph,* hou h*e*MEIS OIda-men ton paTEra kai t*e*n m*e*TEra? *whose :father and :mother WE know?* p*o*s nun LEgei [HOti] Ek tou ou-raNOU ka-taBEb*e*-ka [2597]? *how does he say now [that] I am come down out of :heaven?* *c. 6:43 Jesus answered and said to them, Murmur not among yourselves.* a-peKRIth*e* I*e*SOUS kai EIpen auTOIS, m*e* gogGU-ze-te met' alL*E*l*o*n. *d. 6:44 MAN'S INABILITY TO COME TO CHRIST* ouDEIS DUna-tai elTHEIN PROS me, eAN m*e* ho paT*E*R ho PEMpsas me helKUs*e* [1670]: *No one can come unto me, except the Father that sent me draw him:* ka' 'G*O* a-naST*E*s*o* [450] auTON en t*e* esCHAt*e* [2078] h*e*MEra. *and I will raise him up in the last day.* *e. 6:45a It is written in the prophets, And all shall be taught of God.* EStin ge-gramMEnon en tois proPH*E*tais, Kai Eson-tai PANtes di-dakTOI TheOU. *f. 6:45b Every one that has heard from the Father, and has learned, comes unto me.* pas ho aKOUsas paRA tou paTROS, kai maTH*O*N [3129], ERche-tai pros eME. *g. 6:46 YET - ONLY THE SON HAS SEEN THE FATHER* ouch HOti ton paTEra he*O*raKEN [3708] tis, *Not that any one has seen the Father,* ei m*e* ho *o*n paRA tou TheOU, HOUtos he*O*ra-ken ton paTEra. *save he that is from :God, HE has seen the Father.* *h. 6:47 Amen, Amen, I say unto you, Who believes has eternal life.* aM*E*N, aM*E*N, LEg*o* huMIN, ho piSTEU*o*n Echei z*o*-*E*n ai*O*ni-on. *i. 6:48 **I am the bread of :life. *eG*O* ei-mi ho ARtos t*e*s z*o*-*E*S. *j. 6:49 Your :fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and died.* hoi paTEres huM*O*N Epha-gon en t*e* eR*E*m*o* to MANna [3131], kai aPEtha-non [599]. *k. 6:50 JESUS IS THE TRUE BREAD* HOU-TOS es-tin ho ARtos ho ek tou ou-raNOU ka-taBAIn*o*n, *This is the bread which comes down out of :heaven,* HIna tis ex auTOU PHAg*e* [5315], kai m*e* a-poTHAn*e*. *that one eat of it, and not die.* *l. 6:51 TRUE BREAD AND CHRIST'S FLESH ARE ONE* eG*O* ei-mi ho ARtos ho z*o*n ho ek tou ou-raNOU ka-taBAS: *I am the living :bread which came down out of :heaven:* eAN tis PHAg*e* ek TOUtou tou ARtou, Z*E*sei [2198] ei ton ai*O*na: *if any eat of :this :bread, he shall live for ever:* kai ho ARtos de hon eG*O* D*O*s*o* h*e* SARX [4561] mou esTIN, huPER t*e*s tou KOSmou z*o*-*E*S. *yes and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world. * *3. 6:52-59 ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF JESUS' FLESH AND BLOOD* *a. 6:52 THE PEOPLE YET MORE CONFUSED* E-MAchon-to [3164] oun pros alL*E*lous hoi IouDAIoi, LEgon-tes, *The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying,* P*o*s DUna-tai HOUtos huMIN DOUnai t*e*n SARka auTOU phaGEIN? *How can this man give us his :flesh to eat?* *b. 6:53 JESUS CLARIFIES YET MORE HIS CHALLENGE* EIpen oun auTOIS ho I*e*SOUS, A-M*E*N, aM*E*N, LEg*o* huMIN, *:Jesus therefore said to them, Amen, Amen, I say unto you, * eAN m*e* PHAg*e*te t*e*n SARka tou huiOU tou anTHR*O*pou kai PI*e*te [4095]auTOU to HAIma [129], *Except you eat the flesh of the Son of :man and drink his :blood,* ouk Eche-te z*o*-*E*N en he-auTOIS. *you have not life in yourselves.* *c. 6:54 RESURRECTION - RESULT OF FEEDING ON THE MERITS OF CALVARY* ho TR*O*g*o*n [5176] mou t*e*n SARka kai PIn*o*n mou to HAIma Echei z*o*-*E*n ai*O*ni-on; *Who feeds on my :flesh and drinks my :blood has eternal life;* ka' 'G*O* a-naST*E*s*o* [450] auTON t*e* esCHAt*e* h*e*MEra. *and I will raise him up at the last day.* *d. 6:55 For my :flesh is true meat, and my :blood is true drink.* h*e* gar SARX mou a-l*e*TH*E*S es-ti BR*O*sis [1035], kai to HAI-MA mou a-l* e*TH*E*S es-ti POsis [4213]. *e. 6:56 Who feeds on my :flesh and drinks my :blood abides in me, and I in him.* ho TR*O*g*o*n mou t*e*n SARka kai PIn*o*n mou to HAIma en eMOI MEnei [3306], ka' 'G*O* en auT*O*. *f. 6:57 AN ANALOGY OF TWO TYPES OF LIVING* kaTH*O*S aPEsteiLEN me ho z*o*n paT*E*R, ka' 'G*O* z*o* diA ton paTEra; *As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father;* kai ho TR*O*g*o*n [5176] me, ka' 'KEInos Z*E*sei di' eME. *so who feeds on me, HE also shall live because of me.* *g. 6:58 CONTRAST BETWEEN CHRIST AS BREAD - AND MANNA* HOU-TOS es-tin ho ARtos ho ex ou-raNOU ka-taBAS: *This is the bread which came down out of :heaven:* ou kaTH*O*S Epha-gon hoi paTEres, kai aPEtha-non; *not as the fathers ate, and died; * ho TR*O*g*o*n TOUton ton ARton Z*E*sei eis ton ai*O*na. *he that feeds on this :bread shall live for ever.* *h. 6:59 These things said he in a synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.* TAUta EIpen en su-na-g*o*G*E* [4864], diDAsk*o*n en Ka-pharNAoum. *4. 6:60-65 WHY THE GOSPEL STUMBLES SOME* *a. 6:60 THE GOSPEL: A GROUND OF OFFENSE* PolLOI oun aKOUsan-tes ek t*o*n ma-th*e*T*O*N auTOU, EIpan, *Many therefore of his :disciples, when they heard this, said,* Skl*e*ROS [4642] es-tin ho LOgos HOUtos: tis DUna-tai auTOU aKOUein? *This :saying is hard: who can hear it?* *b. 6:61 EVEN JESUS' DISCIPLES STUMBLED* eiD*O*S de ho I*e*SOUS en he-auT*O* HOti gogGUzou-sin [1111] peRI TOUtou *But :Jesus knowing in himself that his :disciples murmured* hoi ma-th*e*TAI auTOU EIpen auTOIS, TOUto huMAS skan-daLIzei [4624]? *at this said to them, Does this stumble you?* *c. 6:62 What then if you should see the Son of :man ascending where he was before?* eAN oun the-*o*R*E*te ton huiON tou anTHR*O*pou a-naBAInon-ta [305] hoPOU *e *n to PROte-ron? *d. 6:63 THE TRUE NATURE OF JESUS' WORDS* to PNEU-MA es-tin to z*o*-o-poiOUN [2227]; h*e* sarx ouk *o*-pheLEI [5623]ouDEN: *It is the Spirit that makes alive; the flesh profits nothing:* ta 'R*E*ma-ta [4487] ha eG*O* leLAl*e*-ka huMIN PNEU-MA [4151] es-tin, kai z *o*-*E* [2222] es-tin. *the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life.* *e. 6:64a But there are some of you that believe not.* alLA EIsin ex huM*O*N ti-nes hoi ou piSTEUou-sin. *f. 6:64b JESUS' FOREKNOWLEDGE OF JUDAS* *E*dei gar ex arCH*E*S ho I*e*SOUS TInes eiSIN hoi m*e* piSTEUon-tes, *For :Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not,* kai TIS es-tin ho pa-raD*O*s*o*n [3860] auTON. *and who it was that should deliver him up.* *g. 6:65 SALVATION IS OF THE INITIATING FATHER* kai Ele-gen, DiA TOUto EIr*e*-ka huMIN, HOti ouDEIS DUna-tai elTHEIN PROS me, *And he said, For this cause have I said to you, that no one can come unto me,* eAN m*e* *e* de-doMEnon [1325] auT*O* ek tou paTROS. *except it be given unto him of the Father.* *5. 6:66-71 BASIS OF ABIDING IN JESUS* *a. 6:66 RESULT OF THE ABOVE CHALLENGE* Ek TOUtou polLOI ek t*o*n ma-th*e*T*O*N auTOU aP*E*Lthon [565] eis ta oPIs*o *, *Upon this many of his :disciples went :back,* kai ouKEti met' auTOU pe-ri-ePAtoun. *and walked no more with him.* *b. 6:67 :Jesus said therefore to the twelve, Would you also go away?* EIpen oun ho I*e*SOUS tois D*O*de-ka, M*e* kai huMEIS THEle-te huPAgein? *c. 6:68 PETER'S RESPONSE* a-peKRIth*e* auT*O* SIm*o*n PEtros, KUri-e, pros TIna a-pe-leuSOme-tha? *Simon Peter answered him, Lord, unto whom shall we go?* 'R*E*ma-ta [4487] z*o*-*E*S [2222] ai-*o*NIou [166] Echeis. *you have the words of eternal life.* *d. 6:69 And WE have believed and know that YOU are the Holy One of :God.* kai h*e*MEIS pe-piSTEUka-men kai egN*O*ka-men [1097] HOti su ei ho HAgi-os tou TheOU. *e. 6:70 ONE OF THE APOSTLES A DEVIL* a-peKRIth*e* auTOIS ho I*e*SOUS, Ouk eG*O* huMAS tous D*O*de-ka e-xe-leXAm*e *n [1586], *:Jesus answered them, Did not I choose you the twelve,* kai ex huM*O*N heis diAboLOS [1228] es-tin? *and one of you is a devil?* *f. 6:71 JUDAS UNMASKED* Ele-gen de ton IOUdan SIm*o*-nos Is-ka-ri*O*tou, *Now he spoke of :Judas **son of Simon Iscariot,* HOUtos gar Emel-len pa-ra-diDOnai [3860] auTON, heis ek t*o*n D*O*de-ka. *for he it was that should deliver him up, one of the twelve.* *NOTE: *This passage of John 6:41-71, is perhaps one of the most controversial of all of Jesus' teachings. The very fact that Moses in his Levitical teaching from God, forbade the drinking of blood, would pose a problem for Jews. But of course, like in dreams and visions, Jesus is here speaking metaphorically, not literally. Just as we are *not* to take dreams literally, but symbolically; so we are to see that Jesus is here speaking of feeding on *His Word*, and drinking of *His Spirit*. By all means make a life-time investment in the purchase of ?Dreams - The Divinity Code? - 'The Keys to Decoding your Dreams and Visions' by Adrian Beale and Adam F. Thompson. It has been called ?The Ultimate Bible-based dream interpretation guide,? and can be purchased through **. Recently these two Australian brothers visited the United States, and will be retuning in November, as well as to Canada. One friend of mine has made good use of ?The *Metaphor* Dictionary? - perhaps the key portion of this text, and is now satisfactorily interpreting her own dreams, plus those of her friends. We can cease to depend on others to interpret our dreams, and go to God directly for solving His messages to us. Up till now the majority of texts on dream interpretation have been based on Karl Jung, and his esoteric and occult background. I ceased teaching for a time on dream interpretation, because I could not obtain a text that was clearly Bible-based. The beautiful thing is this - God has given His Bible in a mode like dreams - it comes mostly in the form of metaphors and symbols. See the dreams Joseph and Daniel interpreted . See the Book of Daniel and Revelation. But the parables of Jesus are also in this mode - not to be received literally - but by the Spirit understood symbolically and metaphorically. This portion of John requires us to understand how God seeks to communicate with us. So - both the Bible and our dreams - are gifts from God, that if properly understood and interpreted, bring us into a living and intimate relationship with Him! What a challenge! What an opportunity! What a privilege! Now let us go back to John 6:41-71 and apply these insights. We will be blessed by the enlightenment that will come to us. And through this Australian dream book, not only our dreams, but the Scriptures themselves will open up to us in a new and living way. One further thought - Consider the above 5 subdivisions with their sentences, which are set forth by Bible Numerics. I have summarized each sentence, gathering up their summaries into subdivisions, paragraphs, sections and books. My summaries are *not*inspired like the Greek text, and Panin's English translation. Therefore I have left a space about them, so that you may replace mine with yours, should you deem yours better. No other NT translation has the above feature. It is unique to the discovery of Bible Numerics by Dr. Ivan Panin in 1890. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Jul 8 09:38:50 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2011 09:38:50 -0700 Subject: John 1:1-18 Message-ID: *2011-07-08 - Health & Longevity - Jim Watt* *The final proof-reading of the Gospels nears completion prior to the printing of Volume I of the Outlined Interlinear Greek NT - The Gospels.* *Preceding this portion of John 1:1-18, I sensed the Spirit nudging me to make available again the following information. I turned 88 on July 5th of this year, and am in fairly good physical and mental health. There are conditions to be met for anyone desiring a similar state. John Wesley died at 87 in 1791, weighing 120 pounds at 5' 6''. He rode 50,000 miles on horseback, and wrote a number of books at this time. He preached often 3 times a day, starting at 5:30 in the morning.* *My mother used to quote to us boys: ?Early to bed - early to rise - Makes as a man healthy, wealthy and wise!? Dr. Amen tells how by keeping brain and body healthy - one can be thinner, smarter and happy. I believe this, and have proved it. I still weigh the same as when I was discharged from the Navy following World War II, and could get into my old uniform if it were available. Our nation unfortunately has much sickness because of citizens being much overweight and many obese. Diabetes is only one of the serious diseases attached to this problem with both young and old. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale - author of ?The Power of Positive Thinking?, died at 95 in excellent health while writing his last book. George Muller died at 93 also in excellent health right up to the day of his death. ?Scientific Walking? as practiced by Dr. Peale and myself, and ?Scientific Rebounding? on a mini-trampoline - are 2 of the exercises I regularly practice. You can find how to do these on our Website . Click on ?Archives? and scroll down to 2008-07-07 ?For Better Health with Long Years.? * *Perhaps even more important than this physical aspect to health is ?Bible Meditation? as practiced by George Muller and George Whitefield. Not ?New Age? or Eastern Meditation! Under ?Archives? scroll down to 2011-06-09 - ?6. Maturity - Bible Meditation?. Adopting and walking this way could definitely revolutionize one's life!* *To live to be old - in good health - and productive to the end of one's life - is not only a worthy goal - but entirely possible! Jim Watt* ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* * (From JOHN #1 - 1:1-18) * *JOHN'S SUMMARY: THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, SON OF THE LIVING GOD* *I. 1:1-2:11 JESUS COMMENCES HIS MIRACULOUS MINISTRY* *A. 1:1-18 PURPOSE OF JESUS: TO REVEAL GOD TO MAN* *1. 1:1 In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with :God, and the Word was God.* En arCH*E* [746] *e*n ho LOgos [3056], kai ho LOgos *e*n pros ton TheON, kai TheOS *e*n ho LOgos. *2. 1:2-13 PURPOSE OF WORD: LIGHT AND LIFE FOR MEN* *a. 1:2 **The same was in **the** beginning with :God. *HOUtos *e*n en arCH* E* pros ton TheON. *b. 1:3 All things became through him; and without him nothing became that had become.* PANta di' auTOU eGEne-to [1096]; kai ch*o*RIS auTOU eGEne-to ouDE hen ho GEgo-nen. *c. 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of :men.* en auT*O* z*o*-*E* [2222] *e*n; kai h*e* z*o*-*E* *e*n to ph*o*s [5457] t*o*n anTHR*O*p*o*n. *d. 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.* kai to ph*o*s en t*e* skoTIa [4653] PHAInei [5316]; kai h*e* skoTIa auTO ou kaTEla-ben [2638]. *e. 1:6 There came to be a man, sent from God, his name was John.* eGEne-to ANthr*o*-pos, a-pe-stalMEnos [649] paRA TheOU, Ono-ma auT*O* I*o*An *e*s. *f. 1:7 PURPOSE OF JOHN: A WITNESS UNTO BELIEF* HOUtos *E*Lthen eis mar-tuRIan [3141], *The same came for a witness,* HIna mar-tuR*E*s*e* peRI tou ph*o*TOS, HIna PANtes piSTEUs*o*-sin [4100] di' auTOU. *that he might witness of the light, that all might believe through him.* *g. 1:8 HE was not the light, but came that he might witness of the light.* ouk *e*n eKEInos to ph*o*s, all' HIna mar-tuR*E*s*e* peRI tou ph*o*TOS. *h. 1:9 The true :light was which coming into the world lights every man.* *E*n to ph*o*s to a-l*e*-thiNON ho ph*o*TIzei [5461] PANta ANthr*o*-pon erCHOme-non eis ton KOSmon. *i. 1:10 He was in the world, and the world became through him, and the world knew him not.* en t*o* KOSm*o* *e*n, kai ho KOSmos di' auTOU eGEne-to, kai ho KOSmos auTON ouk EGn*o*. *j. 1:11 He came unto his :own possessions, and his :own received him not.* eis ta Idi-a *E*Lthen, kai hoi Idi-oi auTON ou paREla-ben [3880]. *k. 1:12-13 A NEW BIRTH - RESULT OF ACCEPTING THE WORD* HOsoi de Ela-bon auTON, Ed*o*-ken auTOIS e-xouSIan [1849] TEKna TheOU geNESthai, *But as many as received him, to them gave he authority to become children of God,* tois piSTEUou-sin eis to Ono-ma auTOU: *even** to them that believe unto his :name:* hoi ouk ex haiMAt*o*n [129], ouDE ek theL*E*ma-tos sarKOS*,* *13 who were begotten, not of bloods, nor of the will of flesh,* OUde ek theL*E*ma-tos [2307] anDROS, all' ek TheOU e-genN*E*th*e*-san [1080] . *nor of man's will, but of God.* *3. 1:14-18 PURPOSE OF JESUS: REVEAL GOD IN FLESH* *a. 1:14 INCARNATION AND CHARACTER OF CHRIST* Kai ho LOgos sarx eGEne-to, kai eSK*E*n*o*-sen [4637] en h*e*MIN, *And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us,* kai e-the-aSAme-tha [2300] t*e*n DOxan auTOU, DOxan h*o*s mo-no-geNOUS [3439] paRA paTROS, *and we beheld his :glory, glory as of an only begotten with a father,* PL*E*r*e*s CHAri-tos [5485] kai a-l*e*THEIas [225]. *full of grace and truth.* *b. 1:15 WHAT JOHN WITNESSED OF JESUS* (I*o*An*e*s mar-tuREI peRI auTOU, kai KEkra-gen, LEg*o*n, - *(John witnessed of him, and cried, saying, -* HOUtos *e*n ho eiP*O*N - Ho oPIs*o* mou erCHOme-nos EMprosTHEN mou GEgo-nen: *This was he who said - Who comes after me is become before me:* HOti PR*O*-TOS mou *e*n.)* * *for he was first in regard of me.)* *c. 1:16 Because of his :fullness we all received, and grace upon grace.* HOti ek tou pl*e*R*O*ma-tos [4128] auTOU h*e*MEIS PANtes eLAbo-men, kai CHArin anTI CHAri-tos. *d. 1:17 CONTRAST OF MOSES AND JESUS* HOti ho NOmos [3551] diA M*o*-uSE*o*s eDOth*e*; *Because the law was given through Moses;* h*e* CHAris kai h*e* aL*E*thei-a diA I*e*SOU ChrisTOU eGEne-to. *the grace and the truth came to be through Jesus Christ.* *e. 1:18 THE MANIFESTATION THAT CHRIST HAS GIVEN OF THE FATHER* TheON ouDEIS he*O*ra-ken [3708] P*O*po-te; mo-no-geN*E*S, TheOS, *God no one has ever seen; an only begotten, himself God,* ho *o*n eis ton KOLpon [3859] tou paTROS, eKEInos e-x*e*G*E*sa-to [1834]. *who is unto the bosom of the Father, HE has declared him.* *NOTE**: *John 1:1-18 is called the ?Prologue? to the whole Gospel of John, and in theological circles, the ?Prolegomena?. It is unique in the entire Bible, and gives the relationship of Jesus to the Father and to us, in a manner that is indeed unique. Jehovah's Witnesses have made a big deal out of 1:1, where it states that Jesus the ?Word? was ?God?, but without being preceded by the definite article ?the?. They say that he was but ?a God?, while the Father was ?the God.? I challenged one young Jehovah's Witness leader in charge of a group - ?If I could show you a passage, even from your own Interlinear Greek NT, the ?Emphatic Diaglott?, where Jesus is called ?the? God, would you acknowledge that your doctrine of making Jesus less the the Father is false? ?Yes?, he said, ?but you can't do that.? ?Turn to John 20:28,? I said, ?and read to me.? Here Thomas, when he saw the resurrected Christ with the nail-prints in His hands and feet, and the mark of the sword-thrust in His side, fell at His feet and said to Him, My ?the? Lord, and my ?*the*? God. This young man was immediately chagrined and at a loss before a home group of some 20 that he was seeking to disciple. One of our church members had been invited to attend this group, but told the leader she didn't think her pastor would approve of the teaching. ?Invite him to come,? he challenged, ?and tell him he can challenge me in any area where he has a problem. Following my challenge he said, ?I have had a dozen or so pastors challenge me in the past, but you are the first one that has put me into a losing situation.? I did not do this to embarrass this young leader, but to save our church member from falling into heresy and error. This took place in 1955 in Chicago through the Kostner Avenue Baptist Church, of which I was pastor. 1:1-2 throws light against the Gnostic error that took place, even starting in the first century of the church. It is interesting to note in 1:4, that the ?life? of Jesus is the ?light? of men - and His Life is the Life of the Holy Spirit, also called Eternal Life! 1:12-13 has been memorized by many, and is part of the 108 verses in the ?Topical Memory System? put out by the Navigators years ago. I love 1:14, telling how Jesus took on our human form to tabernacle among us, like Moses' Tabernacle in the Wilderness. For those with eyes to see, they could see the glory of the Father shining through the body of Jesus in His three year ministry amongst us. It was following the Holy Spirit descending on Him as a Dove that this manifestation with the Signs and Wonders commenced. Jesus did not perform a miracle prior to that time, in spite of some of the statements in apocryphal books. The contrast between the ministry of Moses and Jesus cannot be more clearly stated than in 1:17. And 1:18 makes it clear that all we know or can know of the Father, is only through Jesus Christ. God has chosen *Him* to manifest the fullness of the invisible God. Oswald Chambers in his writings, makes this point abundantly clear. People who love to memorize portions of Scripture, not just verses - are rewarded greatly through the memorization of this passage. Then as they * meditate* upon it, *great* reward becomes theirs. Lance Latham of Chicago raised up the ?AWANA? Clubs for boys and later also for girls. It stands for ?Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed?. He had the members memorize chapters and even *books* of the New Testament. The Book of Romans was one he strongly encouraged for complete memorization. Over 50% of the boys in one Club ended up as pastors or missionaries because of this strong challenge! - J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* ** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Jul 11 13:12:41 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:12:41 -0700 Subject: Acts 1:15-26 Message-ID: Dear Friends - 2011-07-11 I am sure we can all note the decided difference in Peter following the breathing of the Holy Spirit by Jesus upon the 11 - even before the baptism of the Spirit by Jesus on the Day of Pentecost. Notice how like Jesus Peter now is - He understood the absolute necessity of the Scriptures to be fulfilled concerning the lapse of Judas. This *had* to take place prior to the Day of Pentecost. Jesus always quoted the Scriptures - the Torah and the Tanakh - as though they had absolute certainty from the mouth of God. And they do! Yet how many ministers today fail to accord to God's Word - the Bible - the *certainty*and the *truthfulness* that it deserves ! ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *(From: ACTS #2 - 1:15-26)* *II. 1:15-26 JUDAS: HOLY SPIRIT LEADS IN CHOOSING HIS SUCCESSOR* *a. 1:15-16 JUDAS' BETRAYAL AND PETER'S PROPOSAL* Kai en tais h*e*MErais TAUtais a-naSTAS PEtros en MEs*o* t*o*n a-delPH*O*N, *And in these :days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren,* EIpen (*e*n te OCHlos [3793] o-noMAt*o*n [3686] ePI to auTO, h*o*s he-kaTON EIko-si), *and said (and there was a crowd of names in the same place, about a hundred and twenty),* [ANdres] A-delPHOI, Edei pl*e*-r*o*TH*E*nai [4137] t*e*n graPH*E*N [1124], *16 [Men] Brethren, it was needful that the Scripture should be fulfilled, * h*e*n proEIpe [4277] to PNEUma to HAgi-on diA STOma-tos [4750] DauID peRI IOUda, *which the Holy :Spirit foretold through David's mouth concerning Judas,* tou ge-noMEnou [1096] ho-d*e*GOU [3595] tois sul-laBOUsin [4815] I*e*SOUN. *who became guide to them that took Jesus.* *b. 1:17 Because he was numbered among us, and received his lot in this :ministry.* HOti ka-t*e*-rith-m*e*MEnos *e*n en huMIN, kai Ela-chen [2975] ton KL*E*ron [2819] t*e*s di-a-koNIas TAUt*e*s. *c. 1:18 JUDAS' SUICIDE: LOWERED HIS INHERITANCE* (HOUtos men oun ekT*E*sa-to [2932] ch*o*RIon [5564] ek misTHOU [3408] t*e*s a-diKIas [93]; *(Now this man obtained a field with the reward of his :iniquity;* kai pr*e*N*E*S geNOme-nos, eLAk*e*-sen [2997] MEson, kai e-xeCHUth*e* PANta ta SPLAGCHna auTOU. *and falling headlong, he burst asunder the midst, and all his :bowels gushed out.* *d. 1:19 JUDAS' MONUMENT: FIELD OF BLOOD* kai gn*o*sTON eGEne-to PAsi tois ka-toiKOUsin [2730] Ie-rou-saL*E*M; *And it became known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem;* H*O*Ste kl*e*TH*E*nai [2563] to ch*o*RI-on [5564] eKEIno t*e* diaLEKt*o* [1258] auT*O*N Ha-kel-daMACH [184], *so that in their language that :field was called Hacheldamach,* tout' EStin, Ch*o*RIon HAIma-tos [129].) *that is, Field of blood.)* *e. 1:20 JUDAS: HIS REPLACEMENT FORETOLD* GEgrap-tai gar en BIBl*o* [976] PsalM*O*N, Ge-n*e*TH*E*t*o* [1096] h*e*Epau-lis [1886] AUtou Er*e*-mos [2048], *For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his :habitation become desolate,* kai m*e* ESt*o* ho ka-toiK*O*N en auT*E*: kai, T*e*n e-pi-skoP*E*N [1984]auTOU laBEt *o* HEte-ros. *And let no one dwell in it: and, His :overseership let another take.* *f. 1:21-22 QUALIFICATIONS FOR JUDAS' REPLACEMENT* dei oun t*o*n su-nelTHONt*o*n [4905] h*e*MIN anDR*O*N en panTI CHROn*o* [5550] *Of the men therefore that have companied with us all the time* h*o* eiS*E*Lthen kai eX*E*Lthen eph' h*e*MAS ho KUri-os I*e*SOUS, *that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us,* arXAme-nos [756] aPO tou bapTISma-tos [908] I*o*Anou, *22** beginning from the baptism of John,* HE*o*s t*e*s h*e*MEras h*e*s a-neL*E*MPHth*e* [353] aph' h*e*M*O*N, *unto the day that he was received up from us, * MARtu-ra [3144] t*e*s a-naSTAse-*o*s [386] auTOU sun h*e*MIN geNESthai HEna TOUt*o*n. *of these must one become a witness with us of his :resurrection.* *g. 1:23 TWO CHOICES SET FORWARD* kai ESt*e*-san [2476] DUo, *And they put forward two, * I*o*S*E*PH ton kaLOUme-non Bar-sabBAN, hos e-peKL*E*th*e* IOUstos, kai MathTHIan. *Joseph called :Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.* *h. 1:24-25 THE CHOICE LEFT TO GOD* kai pro-seuXAme-noi [4336], EIpan, Su, KUri-e, kar-di-oGN*O*Sta [2589] PANt* o*n, *And they prayed, and said, You, Lord, who knows the hearts of all men,* aNAdei-xon [322] hon e-xeLEx*o* [1586] ek TOUt*o*n t*o*n DUo HEna, *show of these :two the one whom you have chosen,* laBEIN ton TOpon [5117] t*e*s di-a-koNIas [1248] tauT*E*S kai a-po-stoL*E*S [651] *25 to take the place in this :ministry and apostleship* aph' h*e*s paREb*e* [3845] IOUdas, po-reuTH*E*nai eis ton TOpon ton Idi-on. *from which Judas fell away, to go to his :own :place.* *i. 1:26 MATTHIAS: GOD'S CHOICE* kai Ed*o*KEN [1325] KL*E*rous [2819] auTOIS; kai Epe-sen ho KL*E*ros ePI MathTHIan; *And they gave them lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias;* kai sun-ka-te-ps*e*PHISth*e* [4785] meTA t*o*n ENde-ka a-poSTOl*o*n [652] . *and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.* *NOTE**: - 1:15-26 - *The above is a ?section? or ?chapter equivalent?, containing no paragraphs or subdivisions, just 9 sentences. Bible Numerics is able to give accurate contexts for all 27 books of the New Testament. So, not only are the problems for Textual Criticism solved, but also this most important challenge of arriving at a correct context. In the light of this, it is possible to see the Wisdom in God reserving Mr. Panin's discoveries in Bible Numerics for the days immediately preceding the Return of His Son, when attacks on God and His Bible have multiplied in intensity. Judas is the key theme for this section - his traitorous fall, and the prophetic planning for his replacement. Note the key conditions for his replacement: a disciple of the three year ministry of Jesus; and a witness of His Resurrection! Note how Peter takes the lead among the 11 to give God pre-eminence in making the choice between the two set forward. See also how Peter clearly saw the necessity of seeing the Scriptures fulfilled. He reviews the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, and the fearful judgment of God that fell upon him. It was necessary that the 12 chosen disciples by Jesus to become apostles, needed to have their number maintained. For Jesus prophesied that the twelve would in the Kingdom Manifested, sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. This choice couldn't be Paul, because he did not meet the 2 conditions set forth by Peter. This parallels the insight Israel had to renew Benjamin in the latter chapters of the Book of Judges. He had been reduced to 600 young men only because of his sin, and the judgment of God upon him by the 11 tribes. But did these rejoice over the judgment victory? Not at all! Israel knew that apart from *12 tribes* moving in unity, God's purposes through Israel could not be accomplished. Therefore wives were provided for these 600 young men, else we would not have had Paul, a Benjamite, to write half the books of the New Testament! In 1:24-26, the 10 received the challenge of the Spirit through Peter, and reserved for the Lord the right to make the final choice. Jesus through the lot chose Matthias. Following the Spirit coming ?upon? them in the next chapter - there is no more need to rely on the ?lot?. George Muller sought to use this several times as a new convert - but soon learned that the Spirit working upon the Word of God is *always* sufficient! Until this matter was settled, the work of God was held in abeyance. Once it was settled, then the Lord through His Spirit was free to fulfill the Day of Pentecost, which swiftly followed this timely preparation. J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Jul 14 12:05:52 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:05:52 -0700 Subject: 5 Most Important Sentences Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* July 14, 2011 *THE FIVE MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCES YOU'LL EVER READ* *(Sent to us by a friend - Wednesday, July 13, 2011, 12:29 pm)* *The Five BEST sentences you'll ever read, with #5 being exactly where we possibly are in the USA at the present moment.* *1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity* *by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.* *2. What one person receives without working for,* *another person must work for without receiving.* *3. The government cannot give to anybody anything* *that the government does not first take from somebody else.* *4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!* *5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work* *because the other half is going to take care of them;* *and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work,* *because somebody else is going to get what they work for;* *that** is the beginning of the end of any nation.* *The person who sent this to us ends up this way -* *Can you think of a reason for not sharing this? * *Neither could I ......* * * * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Jul 16 09:38:07 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2011 09:38:07 -0700 Subject: Acts 21:1-14 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* July 16, 2011 *(From: ACTS #35 - 21:1-14])* *D. 21:1-14 LESSONS ON WARNINGS FROM THE SPIRIT* *1. 21:1-6 WARNING OF THE SPIRIT* *a. 21:1-2 FROM MILETUS TOWARDS PHOENICIA* H*o*s de eGEne-to anachTH*E*nai [321] h*e*MAS a-po-spasTHENtas [645] ap' auT *O*N, *And when it came to pass that we were parted from them and had set sail,* eu-thu-droM*E*san-tes [2113] *E*Ltho-men eis t*e*n K*o*, *we came with a straight course unto :Cos,* t*e* de heX*E*S eis t*e*n 'ROdon, ka' 'KEIthen eis PAta-ra: *and the next day unto :Rhodes, and from there unto Patara:* kai heuRONtes PLOIon [4143] di-a-peR*O*N [1276] eis PhoiNIk*e*n, e-piBANtes [1910], aN*E*CHth*e*-men. *2 and having found a ship crossing over unto Phoenicia, we went aboard, andset sail. * *b. 21:3 PAST CYPRUS TO TYRE* a-naPHAnan-tes [398] de t*e*n KUpron, kai ka-ta-liPONtes [2641] auT*E*N eu*O *nu-mon [2176], *And when we had sighted :Cyprus, and leaving it on the left,* ePLEo-men eis SuRIan, kai kaT*E*Ltho-men [2609] eis TUron; *we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre;* eKEIse gar to PLOIon *e*n a-po-phor-tiZOme-non [670] ton GOmon [1117]. *for there the ship was to unload her :cargo.* *c. 21:4 PROPHETIC WARNING TO PAUL* a-neuRONtes [429] de tous ma-th*e*TAS, e-peMEIna-men [19611 auTOU h*e*MEras hepTA: *And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days:* HOti-nes t*o* PAUl*o* Ele-gon diA tou PNEUma-tos, m*e* e-piBAInein [1910]eis Ie-roSOlu-ma. *and** these told :Paul through the Spirit, not to set foot in Jerusalem.* *d. 21:5-6 FROM TYRE - BACK ABOARD SHIP* HOte de eGEne-to h*e*MAS e-xarTIsai [1822] tas h*e*MEras, *And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days,* e-xelTHONtes e-po-reuOme-tha [4198]; pro-pemPONt*o*n [4311] h*e*MAS PANt*o*n *we departed and went on; all, with wives and children,* sun gu-naiXI kai TEKnois, HE*o*s Ex*o* t*e*s POle*o*s: *bringing us on till out of the city:* kai THENtes ta GOna-ta ePI ton ai-gi-aLON, pro-seuXAme-noi, a-p*e*-spaSAme-tha [782] alL*E*lous; *and kneeling on the beach, we prayed, 6 and bade each other farewell;* kai eNEb*e*-men eis to PLOIon, eKEInoi de huPEstre-psan [5290] eis ta Idi-a. *and we went on board :ship, but they returned :home.* *2. 21:7-14 FOREWARNINGS BUT STRENGTHEN TO DO GOD'S WILL* *a. 21:7 PAUL'S TEAM ARRIVES AT PTOLEMAIS* H*e*MEIS de ton ploun [4144] di-aNUsan-tes [1274] aPO TUrou, *And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre,* ka-t*e*nT*E*sa-men [2658] eis Pto-lemaIda; kai as-paSAme-noi [782] tous a-delPHOUS, *we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the brethren,* eMEIna-men h*e*MEran MIan par' auTOIS. *and** abode with them one day.* *b. 21:8 NEXT STEP: PHILIP'S HOME AT CAESAREA* t*e* de ePAUri-on e-xelTHONtes, *E*Ltha-men eis KaiSAri-an: *And on the morrow we departed, and came unto Caesarea:* kai ei-selTHONtes eis ton OIkon PhiLIPpou tou eu-ag-ge-liSTOU [2099], *and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist,* ONtos ek t*o*n hepTA, eMEIna-men [3306] par' auT*O*. *who was one of the seven, we abode with him.* *c. 21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.* TOUt*o* de *E*san thu-gaTEres TESsa-res parTHEnoi [3933], pro-ph*e*TEUou-sai [4395]. *d. 21:10 AGABUS FROM JUDEA* e-pi-meNONt*o*n de h*e*MEras PLEIous, *And as we tarried some days, * kaT*E*L-THEN tis aPO t*e*s IouDAIas proPH*E*t*e*s, oNOma-ti Aga-bos. *a certain prophet came down from Judea, Agabus by name.* *e. 21:11 MESSAGE OF AGABUS TO PAUL* kai elTH*O*N pros huMAS, kai Aras [142] t*e*n Z*O*n*e*n [2223] tou PAUlou, *And coming unto us, and taking the girdle of Paul,* D*E*sas [1210] he-auTOU tous POdas kai tas CHEIras, EIpen, *he bound his own :feet and :hands, and said,* TAde LEgei to PNEUma to HAgi-on, Ton ANdra HOU es-tin h*e* Z*O*n*e* *These things says the Holy :Spirit, Thus shall the Jews* HAUt*e* HOUt*o*s D*E*sou-sin [1210] en Ie-rou-saL*E*M hoi IouDAIoi, *at Jerusalem bind the man whose this :girdle is,* kai pa-raD*O*sou-sin eis CHEIras ethN*O*N. *and shall deliver **him into the hands of the nations.* *f. 21:12 PAUL URGED NOT TO GO TO JERUSALEM* h*o*s de *e*KOUsa-men TAUta, pa-re-kaLOUmen [3870] h*e*MEIS te kai hoi *And when we heard these things, both we and they* enTOpi-oi tou m*e* anaBAInein auTON eis Ie-rou-saL*E*M. *of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.* *g. 21:13 PAULS READINESS TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST'S SAKE* TOte a-peKRIth*e* ho PAUlos, Ti poiEIte, KLAIon-tes kai sunTHRUPtonTES [4919] mou t*e*n karDIan? *Then :Paul answered, What do you do, weeping and breaking my :heart?* eG*O* gar ou MOnon deTH*E*nai [1210], alLA kai a-po-thaNEIN [599] eis Ie-rou-saL*E*M *for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem* heTOIm*o*s Ech*o* huPER tou oNOma-tos tou KuRIou I*e*SOU. *for the name of the Lord Jesus.* *h. 21:14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.* m*e* pei-thoMEnou de auTOU, h*e*-suCHAsa-men, eiPONtes, Tou KuRIou to THEl*e *ma giNESth*o*. *NOTE**: *21:9 - The four daughters of Philip prophesied (pro-ph*e*TEUou-sai), which would correspond with the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. But this would *not* place them in the *office* of prophet, as in Ephesians 4:11-12. The feminine equivalent form is #4398 proPH*E*tis, but Philip's 4 daughters are *not* in this category. 21:10-14 - Paul in the past mentioned that in city after city prophecies came forth of bonds that awaited him in Jerusalem. This was confirmed in Tyre (21:4). But Agabus in the latter part of this reading, like Ezekiel of old, acted out what would happen to Paul should he go up to Jerusalem. It is important to note here how Paul lived out these prophecies - he did * not* let them distract him from what *he* believed was the Lord's *guidance*at this time for his life. Were the prophecies true? Absolutely. But from Paul's viewpoint, they were *not* to take precedence over the more important guidance from God. There are believers today who will go a thousand miles to get a word from the Lord. But - do they know how to get *direct* guidance from Him, that supersedes prophetic words and revelation? This is a serious situation. Fully committed disciples like Paul - do not live on the level of prophetic guidance from others, even though authentic. They have so progressed into the Lord like Oswald Chambers, George Muller and Rees Howells - that *their* guidance is a direct word from the Lord. Does one often hear this distinction made today? Confirmation to Paul in the above - can be found in the life of Elisha when his mentor Elijah was about to be taken from him (2 King 2:3) - *?And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Do you know that Jehovah will take away your master from your head today? And he said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace.? *This happened again with the prophets from Jericho 2 verses later. Elisha did not need confirmation from the gift of prophecy. As a prophet, he like Paul had direct guidance from the Lord. We need to ?come up higher?, and not live in the realm of depending upon gifts of the Spirit for guidance. They can be true words as to what is about to happen should we follow a certain course - but *not* the personal word and guidance of the Lord for us. Many are confused over this passage with Paul, Agabus and the other prophets. Perhaps these words will help some to sort out the above, lead them to ?move to higher ground? like Paul and Elisha, and *not miss* the * true* guidance of the Lord. J.A.Watt PS. The above passage from Acts has brought confusion in the "Charismatic" ranks. I have thought and prayed much about this subject through the years, and finally felt free to suggest this solution. I do not present it as a "Thus says the Lord" - yet as one who in the past from his insights has received favor - I am sending it out once again - but with this difference. On December 31, 2010 I completed a rough draft for the Bible Numeric * Outlined* Interlinear Greek NT based on the discovery of Ivan Panin in 1890. It has now gone through 5 proof-readings. Can you catch any "typos" before it goes to the Printer? The 4 Gospels are now in his hands, and the printed copy of Volume I of the Interlinear will soon be available. It will appear without NOTES. Should you wish to read these, go to our Website *< www.2rbetter.org> *and click on "Interlinear". The problems with "postings" have not yet been completely solved, so please overlook these. Also, this text has been posted prior to the last 4 proof-readings, so there are "typos" here. J.A.W.* * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Jul 21 11:35:55 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:35:55 -0700 Subject: 2 Peter 1 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* July 21, 2011 The following document won't be available in this last corrected form until Volume II of the Interlinear is available. It is such a favorite of mine, that I am resending it in this updated form ahead of time - Jim *(From: 2 PETER #1 - 1:1-21)* *2 PETER SUMMARY - VIRTUE: KEY TO SAFETY IN LIGHT OF THE JUDGMENT* *I. 1:1-21 ? VIRTUE: KEY TO VICTORY & KINGDOM ENTRANCE* *A. 1:1-11 DIVINE VIRTUE: KEY TO GOSPEL BLESSINGS* *a. 1:1-4 SEVEN PROMISES OF BLESSING* Su-me*O*N PEtros, DOUlos kai aPOsto-los I*e*SOU ChrisTOU, *SYMEON PETER, bondman and apostle of Jesus Christ,* tois iSOti-mon [2472] h*e*MIN laCHOUsin PIStin *to them that have obtained an equally precious faith with us* en di-kai-oSUn*e* tou TheOU h*e*M*O*N kai s*o*T*E*ros I*e*SOU ChrisTOU: *in **the **righteousness of our :God and Savior Jesus Christ:* CHAris huMIN kai eiR*E*n*e* pl*e*-thuTHEI*e* [4129] *2** Grace to you and peace be multiplied* en e-pigN*O*sei [1922] tou TheOU kai I*e*SOU tou KuRIou h*e*M*O*N; *in **the** knowledge of :God and of Jesus our :Lord;* h*o*s PANta h*e*MIN t*e*s THEIas [2304] duNAme-*o*s auTOU ta *3** since his divine :power has granted to us all **things* pros z*o*-*E*N kai euSEbei-an [2150] de-d*o*-r*e*MEn*e*s, diA t*e*s e-pigN*O *se-*o*s tou *unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him* kaLEsan-tos h*e*MAS diA DOx*e*s kai a-reT*E*S [703]; *that called us through glory and virtue;* di? h*o*n ta TImi-a [5093] kai MEgis-ta h*e*MIN *4** whereby he has granted us the precious and exceeding* e-pagGELma-ta deD*O*r*e*-tai; HIna diA TOUt*o*n GEn*e*s-the THEIas koi-n*o*NOI PHUse-*o*s [5449], *great promises; that through these you may become partakers of **the**divine nature, * a-po-phuGONtes [668] t*e*s en t*o* KOSm*o* en e-pi-thuMIa [1939] phthoRAS [5356]. *having escaped from the corruption that **is** in the world by lust.** * *b. 1:5-7 SEVEN CONDITIONS TO MAINTAIN THE PROMISES* kai, auTO TOUto de spouD*E*N [4710] PAsan pa-rei-seNEGkan-tes [3923], *Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence,* e-pi-cho-r*e*G*E*sa-te [2023] en t*e* PIStei [4102] huM*O*N t*e*n a-reT*E*N [703]; *in your :faith supply :virtue;* en de t*e* a-reT*E* t*e*n GN*O*sin [1108]; en de t*e* GN*O*sei t*e*n egKRAtei-an [1466]; *and in :virtue :knowledge; **6** and in :knowledge :self-control;* en de t*e* eg-kraTEIa t*e*n hu-po-moN*E*N [5281]; en de t*e* hu-po-moN*E* t* e*n euSEbei-an [2150]; *and in :self-control :patience; and in :patience :godliness;* en de t*e* eu-seBEIa t*e*n phi-la-delPHIan [5360]; en de t*e* phi-la-delPHIa t*e*n aGAp*e*n [26]. *7** and in :godliness brotherly :kindness; and in **your **brotherly :kindness :love. * *c. 1:8 FRUITFULNESS: THE RESULT OF MEETING THESE CONDITIONS* TAUta gar huMIN huPARchon-ta kai ple-o-NAzon-ta [4121], *For if these things are yours and abound,* ouk arGOUS ouDE aKARpous kaTHISt*e*-sin *they make **you** to be not idle nor unfruitful* eis t*e*n tou KuRIou h*e*M*O*N I*e*SOU ChrisTOU ePIGn*o*-sin. *unto the knowledge of our :Lord Jesus Christ.* *d. 1:9 WILFUL BLINDNESS: JUDGMENT FOR REJECTING CONDITIONS* h*o* gar m*e* PAre-stin TAUta tuphLOS [5185] es-tin, mu-*o*PAz*o*n [3467], *For who lacks these is blind, short-sighted,* L*E*th*e*n [3024] laB*O*N tou ka-tha-risMOU [2512] t*o*n PAlai auTOU ha-mar-ti*O*N. *having forgotten the cleansing from his old :sins.* *e. 1:10-11 THE REWARD OF VIRTUES KEPT* di? ho MALlon, a-delPHOI, *Wherefore, brothers,* spouDAsa-te [4704] beBAIan [949] huM*O*N t*e*n KL*E*sin kai ek-loG*E*N poiEISthai: *give **the more** diligence to make your calling and election sure:* TAUta gar poiOUNtes ou m*e* PTAIs*e*TE [4417] po-te: *for in doing these you shall never stumble:* HOUt*o*s gar plouSI*o*s e-pi-cho-r*e*-g*e*TH*E*se-tai huMIN *11 **for thus shall be richly supplied to you* h*e* EIso-dos eis t*e*n ai*O*ni-on ba-siLEIan tou KuRIou h*e*M*O*N kai s*o*T *E*ros I*e*SOU ChrisTOU. *the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our :Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. * *B. 1:12-21 VIRTUE: ITS NECESSITY IN LIGHT OF SECOND COMING* *a. 1:12 REMINDER OF VIRTUE: NECESSARY FOR THE ESTABLISHED!* Di? ho melL*E*s*o* aEI huMAS hu-po-mimN*E*skein [5279] peRI TOUt*o*n, KAIper eiDOtas *Wherefore I shall be ready always to remind you of these **things**, though you know* kai es-t*e*-rigMEnous [4741] en t*e* pa-ROUs*e* a-l*e*THEIa. *and are established in the truth which is with **you.* *b. 1:13-14 REASON FOR URGENCY: SOON PASSING OF PETER* DIkai-on [1342] de h*e*GOUmai [2233], eph? HOson eiMI en TOUt*o* t*o* sk*e*N *O*ma-ti [4638], *And I think it right, as long as I am in this :tabernacle,* di-eGEIrein [1326] huMAS en hu-pomN*E*sei [5280]; *to stir you up by reminder;* eiD*O*S HOti ta-chiN*E* [5031] es-tin h*e* aPOthe-sis tou sk*e*N*O*maTOS mou [4638], *14** knowing that the putting off of my :tabernacle* *comes swiftly,* kaTH*O*S kai ho KUri-os h*e*M*O*N I*e*SOUS ChrisTOS eD*E*l*o*SEN [1213] moi. *even as our :Lord Jesus Christ also showed me.* *c. 1:15 REMEMBRANCE: ENSURED BY DILIGENT REVIEW* spouDAs*o* [4704] de, kai, heKASto-te Echein huMAS *Yes, I will give diligence that at each time you be able* meTA t*e*n eM*E*N Exo-don t*e*n TOUt*o*n MN*E*m*e*n [3420] poiEISthe. *after my :decease to call these **things** to remembrance.* *d. 1:16 THE COMING OF JESUS AS JUDGE: SEEN BY EYEWITNESSES!* ou gar se-so-phisMEnois [4679] MUthois [3454] e-xa-ko-louTH*E*san-tes [1811] , *For not by following cunningly devised fables,* eg-n*o*RIsa-men huMIN t*e*n tou KuRIou h*e*M*O*N I*e*SOU ChrisTOU *made we known to you the power and presence* DUna-min kai pa-rouSIan, all? ePOPtai [2030] ge-n*e*THENtes t*e*s e-KEInou me-ga-leiOt*e*to. *of our :Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of HIS :majesty.* *e. 1:17-18 CHRIST AS BELOVED SON: TESTIFIED TO BY FATHER!* laB*O*N gar paRA TheOU paTROS tiM*E*N kai DOxan, *For he received from God **the** Father honor and glory,* ph*o*N*E*S e-nechTHEIs*e*s [5342] auT*O* toiASde huPO t*e*s me-ga-lo-prePOUS [3169] DOx*e*s, *when such a voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory,* Ho huiOS mou ho a-ga-p*e*TOS mou HOU-TOS es-tin, eis hon eG*O* euDOk*e**-*sa [2106]: *This is my :beloved :Son, in whom I am well pleased:* kai TAUt*e*n t*e*n ph*o*n*E*N h*e*MEIS *e*KOUsa-men ex ou-raNOU e-nechTHEIsan [5342], *18 **and this :voice WE heard borne out of heaven,* sun auT*O* ONtes en t*o* haGI*o* HOrei [3735]. *when we were with him in the holy mount.* *f. 1:19-20 THE WORD OF PROPHETS: YET MORE SURE!* kai Echo-men be-baiOte-ron [949] ton pro-ph*e*-tiKON [4397] LOgon; *And we have the word of prophecy more sure;* h*o* kaL*O*S poiEIte proSEchon-tes [4337], h*o*s LUCHn*o* PHAInon-ti en auch-m*e*R*O* [850] TOp*o*, *whereto you do well to take heed, as to a lamp shining in a murky place,* HE*o*s hou h*e*MEra di-auGAs*e* [1306], kai phosPHOros [5459] a-naTEIl*e* [393] en tais karDIais huM*O*N: *until day dawn, and **the** day-star arise in your :hearts:* TOUto PR*O*ton giN*O*skon-tes, HOti PAsa pro-ph*e*TEIa graPH*E*S iDIas e-piLUse-*o*s ou GIne-tai. *20 **knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of **its** own interpretation.* *g. 1:21 THE PROPHET?S WORD IS ALWAYS GOD?S WORD* ou gar theL*E*ma-ti anTHR*O*pou *e*NECHth*e* [5342] pro-ph*e*TEIa poTE; *For no prophecy was ever borne by man?s will;* alLA huPO PNEUma-tos HaGIou pheROme-noi [5342], eLAl*e*-san aPO TheOU ANthr* o*-poi. *but men spoke from God, being borne **on** by **the** Holy Spirit.* *NOTE**: *2 Peter chapter one has been a favorite of mine for many a year. Two things especially stand out for me in this chapter ? first the seven things to add to our faith from Knowledge to Love ? and secondly Peter?s emphasis again and again on ?*These Things*?, referring back to these seven things. If one wants to understand the heart of the apostle Peter, probably this one chapter reveals it more perfectly than any other portion of Scripture. And remember ? though his disciple Mark wrote the Gospel named after him ? yet because Peter mentored him after the break-up of Barnabas and Paul ? this Gospel probably reflects the thinking of Peter as much as it does that of Mark. If a person is looking for one significant chapter of the Bible to memorize ? this could be the one! It has a wealth and a depth about it that cannot easily be dismissed. Note also that we have linked it with the tribe of Simeon and the ?Gift of the Holy Spirit.? Remember that Simeon means ?Hearing,? which reminds one of the Holy Spirit, who like Jesus spoke only the word of His Father; so the Holy Spirit perfectly represented Jesus in like manner. He did *not* speak from Himself. As the Comforter replaced Jesus when He returned to the Father, then the Spirit faithfully represented Him. The Greek words for ?faith? and ?love? are used in a number of other natural Bible Series of 9 words or less in the New Testament. It is our goal to do a 7-reference study on each of these 14 New Testament series. Close to 100 words are involved in these series. To take seven references from Englishman?s Greek New Testament Concordance, seems to give the heart of the meaning of each word, no matter which 7 references are selected. I often say that a Greek Word Study that establishes a true definition for that word is like a ?Rifle Shot.? It will bring down a deer. But the Interlinear Numeric Outlined New Testament and the corresponding Outlines are like a ?Buckshot blast.? It brings down a duck or goose. We need *both*. We need accurate definitions, but we also need an accurate understanding of the context for each Bible book. It has been said, ?A text without a ?context? is a pretext!? 2 Peter chapter one is an admirable example of both these methods of Bible Study. ? J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Jul 24 19:22:25 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:22:25 -0700 Subject: 1 Corinthians 3:2b-17 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* July 24, 2011 The following is a document now ready for printing, one of but 100 short chapters left to complete for Volume II of the Interlinear - ready for the hands of the Printer. This Interlinear Document is really the work of God, as discovered and prepared by Dr. Ivan Panin, who ironically has provided Russia's Gift to Christianity! This Interlinear edition is primarily an innovation because of its "Outlined" nature, based on a further discovery by Panin. To me, it equals the discovery as to how he perfected a Greek text the same as the original, and made an English translation of it as close as possible to this Greek text. I have made no innovations on these two texts apart from transliterating the Greek text according the the Berlitz method. I have found no other NT texts that reveal "context" in the way that comes alive through the sentence, sub paragraphs, paragraph and section format laid out by Panin through Bible Numerics. I have delighted in my 67 years of work on this intensely interesting project. Now that it is about to come into your hands the reader, I trust that for you it will be as great a blessing as it has been to me. J.A.W. *(From: 1 CORINTHIANS #3 - 3:2b-17)* *F. 3:3-17 GOD EVALUATES CHRISTIAN WORKERS* *1. 3:2b-9 GOD'S WORKERS: DIVISIONS INEXCUSABLE* *a. 3:2b-3 CARNAL CHRISTIANS: WALK AS NATURAL MEN* All', ouDE Eti nun DUnas-the; Eti gar sar-kiKOI [4559] es-te: *Nay, even now are you yet unable; 3 for you are yet carnal:* HOpou gar en huMIN Z*E*los [2205] kai Eris [2054], *for whereas jealousy is among you and strife,* ouCHI sar-kiKOI es-te, kai kaTA ANthr*o*-pon pe-ri-paTEIte? *are you not carnal, and walk you not after man's manner?* *b. 3:4 For when one says, I am of Paul; and another, I, of Apollos; are you not men??* HOtan gar LEg*e* tis, E-G*O* MEN ei-mi PAUlou; HEte-ros de, E-G*O*, A-polL*O *; ouk ANthr*o*POI es-te? *c. 3:5a What then is Apollos? and what is Paul?* ti OUN es-tin A-polL*O*S? ti DE es-tin PAUlos? *d. 3:5b Ministers through whom you believed, and as the Lord gave to each. * diAko-noi [1249] di' h*o*n e-pisTEUsa-te, kai heKASt*o* h*o*s ho KUri-os Ed* o*-ken. *e. 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered; but :God gave increase.* eG*O* ePHUteu-sa [5452], Apol-L*O*S ePOti-sen [4222]; all' ho TheOS *E*Uxa-nen [837]. *f. 3:7 So then neither is who plants anything nor who waters; but God that gives increase.* H*O*Ste OUte ho phuTEU*o*n esTIN ti OUte ho poTIz*o*n; all' ho auXAn*o*n TheOS. *g. 3:8 REWARD: ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL FAITHFULNESS* ho phuTEU*o*n de kai ho poTIz*o*n HEN ei-sin: *Now who plants and who waters are one:* HEkas-tos de ton Idi-on misTHON [3408] L*E*Mpse-tai kaTA ton Idi-on KOpon [2873]. *but each shall receive his own :reward according to his own :toil.* *h. 3:9 For we are God's fellow-workers: you are God's husbandry, God's building.* TheOU GAR es-men su-nerGOI [4904]: TheOU ge*O*Rgi-on [1091], TheOU oi-ko-doM *E* [3619] es-te. *2. 3:10-15 GOD'S BUILDING-CODE FOR CHURCH WORKERS* *a. 3:10a PAUL'S BUILDING-SKILL: HIS ACKNOWLEDGED GIFT* KaTA t*e*n CHArin tou TheOU t*e*n doTHEI-SAN moi, *According to the grace of :God :given me,* h*o*s soPHOS ar-chiTEKt*o*n [753] theMEli-on [2310] Eth*e*-ka [5087]; ALlos de e-poi-ko-doMEI [2026]. *as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another builds thereon.* *b. 3:10b But let each look how he builds thereon. * HEkas-tos de blePEt*o* p*o*s e-poi-ko-doMEI. *c. 3:11 ONLY ONE FOUNDATION* theMEli-on gar ALlon ouDEIS DUna-tai THEnai paRA ton KEIme-non *For other foundation can no one lay than what is laid, * hos es-tin I*e*SOUS ChrisTOS. *who is Jesus Christ.* *d. 3:12-13 FIRE: WILL MAKE PROOF OF ALL OUR WORKS* ei DE tis e-poi-ko-doMEI [2026] ePI ton theMEli-on chruSIon [5557], *But if any builds on the foundation gold,* arGUri-on [696], LIthous [3037] tiMIous [5093], XUla [3586], CHORton [5528], caLAm*e*n [2562]; *silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;* heKAStou to ERgon pha-neRON [5318] geN*E*se-tai: h*e* gar h*e*MEra d*e*L*O*sei [1213], *13 the work of each shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it,* HOti en puRI [4442] a-po-kaLUPte-tai [601]; *because it is being revealed in fire;* kai heKAstou to ERgon hoMOI-ON es-tin to pur auTO do-kiMAsei [1381]. *and the fire itself shall prove the work of each of what sort it is.* *e. 3:14 If the work of any shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive reward.* EI ti-nos to ERgon meNEI ho e-poi-koDOm*e*-sen, misTHON L*E*Mpse-tai. *f. 3:15 FIRE: CAN DESTROY ALL THE WORKS OF A TRUE BELIEVER* EI ti-nos to ERgon ka-ta-ka*E*se-tai [2618], z*e*-mi-*o*TH*E*se-tai [2210]: *If the work of any shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:* auTOS de s*o*TH*E*se-tai [4982]; HOUt*o*s de h*o*s diA puROS. *but himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.* *3. 3:16-17 JUDGMENT: UPON DESTROYERS OF GOD'S TEMPLE* *a. 3:16 Know you not that you are God's sanctuary, and the Spirit of :God dwells in you?* Ouk OIda-te HOti naOS [3485] TheOU esTE, kai to PNEUma tou TheOU en huMIN oiKEI [3611]? *b. 3:17 GOD'S REQUIREMENT: HOLINESS FOR HIS SANCTUARY* EI tis ton naON tou TheOU PHTHEIrei [5351], phtheREI TOUton ho TheOS; *If any corrupts the sanctuary of :God, him shall :God corrupt;* ho gar naOS tou TheOU HAgiOS es-tin, HOItiNES es-te huMEIS. *for the sanctuary of God is holy, which you are.* *NOTE*: 3:2b-3 (3:2b-9) *?Nay, even now are you yet unable; 3 for you are yet carnal: for whereas jealousy is among you and strife, are you not carnal, and walk you not after man's manner?? *It is very important for leaders especially to understand what the Spirit of God is leading the apostle Paul to write in this section. Carelessness in understanding will be shown up at the Judgment Seat (B*E*ma) of Christ for all believers, following the general resurrection. True local churches in each city should be led in unity with one another in each city church. This was normal in the beginning, though Corinth needed this letter from Paul to come up to standard. This is God's goal for us preceding the return of His Son. It is extremely important that leaders over local churches move in unity apart from strife and jealousy, which are signs of carnality and walking as natural men. 3:10a (3:10-15) *?According to the grace of :God :given, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another builds thereon.? *Here we find one of the clear apostolic credentials - founding city churches with Christ the foundation. 3:15 (10-15) *?If the work of any shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive reward.? *Our works must be Spirit-led by a Spirit-possessed life - else they will be burnt. See Rees Howells, Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb for a clear presentation on this. Oswald Chambers, George Muller and H. A. Baker walked in a parallel manner. Galatians 2:20 shows Paul's insight on this. 3:17 (3:16-17) *?If any corrupts the sanctuary of :God, him shall :God corrupt; for the sanctuary of God is holy, which you are.? *This is very serious. There are those who either ignorantly or deliberately hurt the organic body of Christ. We see government and political leaders who do this to cities, states and our nation. However, the majority of them are *not* in the Kingdom of God. But professing believers who are leaders of the church have no such excuse. We *shall* be judged by the Plumbline of the Word of God, by Him whose eyes are as a flame of fire! The Book of Revelation in the NT is little different from the prophetic teaching books of the OT. *Better* for leaders to be forewarned today, so that we may walk a careful walk in the love of the Spirit. This will surely prepare us for that final day. - J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Jul 26 20:48:40 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:48:40 -0700 Subject: Our Subconscious Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* July 26, 2011 A SOUND MIND IN A SOUND BODY - 2001-06-23 Mrs. Maryann Bilton from Yorkshire, England was my Elementary school principal in Murrayville, BC from 1933-1937, and my teacher in Grade 7 & 8. She delighted in giving us Latin proverbs and maxims to encourage us to do our best. The above title in Latin is, ?*mens sana en corpore sano.? * From this we should understand that the two impinge upon one another. If we look after our bodies with proper diet, exercise, rest etc., then our mind is sharper. Conversely when we look after our mind and pay attention to read good wholesome things, and talk along the same line, -- then our body also profits. Today we call it ?psycho-somatic? medicine. But the above philosophy or psychology is viewing man as a ?dichotomy,? a person of but two parts. This accords well with Behavioral Psychology and Evolution, but does not accord at all with God?s thinking in the Bible. After all, God is the Creator of all things, and who should understand us better that the One who made us? The Spirit of our Creator speaks these words through the apostle Paul, ?May the God of *shalom *make you completely holy ? may your entire *spirit, soul and body *be kept blameless for the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah? (1 Thessalonians 5:23). God is called the Father of the *spirits *of all men. Man is essentially spirit, has a soul and lives in a body. God is also a spirit, and has made us in His image. Man is therefore a Trichotomy, not a dichotomy. When man ever since Adam is born into this world, his spirit is dead unto God. He is dead in trespasses and sins. When Adam sinned, his spirit died to relationship with God, and his progeny has inherited his fall. But when man receives the birth from above, his spirit is resurrected, and immediately communion with God is restored. At this point the mind now must be renewed and brought up to the level of the recreated spirit. (Romans 12:2). This is both immediate and progressive. One man upon receiving this experience of the new birth was asked to give his testimony. He said, ?I feel damn good!? His mind was not yet renewed. Three weeks later when asked to give his testimony he said, ?I thank God for saving me and giving me His Holy Spirit on the basis of Jesus Atoning work!? Perhaps the following will help you to see the difference between soul and spirit. In the universe we find 5 Kingdoms. The Plant kingdom reaches down into the Mineral kingdom and by osmosis converts mineral life into plant life. Then the cow from the Animal kingdom reaches down and eats grass and converts it into the animal kingdom. Man then eats hamburger and drinks milk, and converts the animal kingdom into the Human kingdom. Finally God reaches down on the basis of the Atoning work of Jesus at Calvary, and converts man into the Kingdom of God. Now separate the Animal kingdom from the kingdom of man, and you will see the unique gift of God to man, his spirit. Animals do not worship God ? just look at the adoring eyes of a dog as he is with his master. But God has made man for Himself, and he is restless until he finds his rest in God (St. Augustine). Until man experiences the new birth he is not much better than the animals. But once his spirit is alive unto God ? what a difference there is between man and animal or bird life. Notice: it is the higher kingdom in each case which initiates conversion unto a higher level. Unless God enlightens the eyes of man and opens the door of the Outer Court of the Tabernacle, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. He must be born from above by the grace of God to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3; 5). Then He can see Jesus as His Savior at the Brazen altar, and the necessity of baptism and sanctification through the laver. It is here that man becomes an evangelical Christian. But unless God again enlightens man on a higher level to see through the door of the Holy Place, he cannot understand the filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit. He will not understand the 7 spirits of God at the Menorah, nor the 9 gifts of the Spirit and the 9-fold fruit of the Spirit. He will not know how by the help of the Holy Spirit to feed on Christ at the Table of the Bread of God?s presence, nor how to worship in spirit and in truth at the Altar of Incense. When God opens his eyes and man opens this second stage of the 60-fold believer, he then understands the Feast of Pentecost or Shavuot, and the testimony of Charismatic and Pentecostal believers. But don?t stop here! Ask God to open your eyes so you can see through the riven veil into the Holy of Holies. Like David, enter in to sit before the Ark of the Covenant, and worship God as one possessed of Him. Here, having passed through the Feast of Passover with justification by faith, and then the Feast of Pentecost in the Holy Place ? now enter into the Feast of Tabernacles, the GREAT feast of the Jews. Here be possessed by the Holy Spirit and lose yourself in Him. Here understand full intimacy with Jesus in the spirit and be unto Him as He was unto the Father. Here understand chapter 5 and 32 of ?Rees Howells, Intercessor,? by Norman P. Grubb, the autobiography of Madam Guyon, the life of Amy Carmichael, J. Hudson Taylor, George Muller, Andrew Murray and many others. Don?t sell yourself short at any time of the initial states. Press on into the Holiest of all, and there find the satisfaction of St. Augustine. It is only when God opens your eyes, and with great hungering and thirsting you press into the Holies of all, that you will find true rest unto your soul. One other word needs to be said. God speaks to us through His word. Rees Howells spent two hours a day letting God speak to him through the written Word. Then he waited on God in prayer, not just speaking to God, but letting God now speak to him by the word of the Spirit, the Rhema word. The written word in Greek is ?Logos;? in Hebrew, ?Davar.? The living word of the Spirit in Greek is ?Rhema;? in Hebrew, ?Amar.? Learn from these saints who have gone before us how to be with God on His throne in heaven by knowing and walking in the written word ? but just as importantly, know God on the throne of your heart and hear the 7-fold Spirit speaking and leading you from this place of intimacy. Remember the word spoken to Madam Guyon by the Franciscan monk. He showed her why her life was a failure. ?It is, madam, because you seek without what is within; accustom yourself to seek God in your heart, and you will there find Him.? God is no respecter of persons ? and what saints of yore have experienced, you too can enjoy in God today. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you! It was the above word that led Madam Guyon into an interior relationship with God so deep and real, that men like Archbishop Fenelon came from across Europe for her to mentor them. They knew she had found the secret of intimacy and overcoming life in God. St. John of the Cross thoroughly understood this same secret shortly after the days of Christopher Columbus. He taught how to purge oneself of the 7 capital sins of the flesh under the title, ?The Ascent to Mt. Carmel.? Then under its sequel, ?The Dark Night of the Soul,? he led believers into the second stage of purging their spirit of these same 7 capital sins. Finally in his song of songs, he showed how to enter into the Holy of Holies, and experience union and communion with the Beloved of our souls. It is a 3-fold path, paralleling the teaching of the Tabernacle of Moses. Notice how truth so often comes in a 3-fold manner. Too many believers stop at stage one ? and even too many at stage two! No, don?t rob yourself of the blessing of realizing the overcoming life in this life. Press on for *all *that God has for you. The Feast of Pentecost is not the acme and final goal, but the Feast of Tabernacles. There is the potential of an experience in this today, not just tomorrow. Don?t short-change yourself by settling for either step one or two. Possess and be possessed by all of God. E. Stanley Jones saw this same truth in his day. I am adding one of his readings. It concerns the possibility of overcoming through the Holy Spirit those deep problems that lie in our subconscious. Have you ever said, ?I can?t understand whatever made me do that?? Well, there is a hidden part of us that is not subject to our full control. But when we let the Holy Spirit loose in our lives, He is able to tame all the wild animals within us. Try Him! Invite Him in to take full charge. Turn every compartment of your life over to Him. He understands you, and He is able to do within you abundantly above all you can ask or think according to His power that works in you! J.A.Watt Taken from ?Abundant Living,? p. 15 *THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS IN THE SUBCONSCIOUS* *John 14:25-26; 15:26; 16:7-14* * We come now to the question: Can the **whole **nature be changed ? conscious and subconscious? If so, how? The answer is that Christianity provides for this deeper cleansing in its teaching and provision for receiving of the Holy Spirit. The area of the work of the Holy Spirit is largely, though not entirely, in the realm of the subconscious. There the Holy Spirit works ? purifying, redirecting, and dedicating age-long driving instincts. The wild horses of nature roaming in all directions are tamed and harnessed to the purposes of the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is tamer and redeemer, for only He can work at those depths. ?For the Spirit fathoms everything, even the depths of God? (1 Corinthians 2:10, Moffatt) ? and man. But the Holy Spirit not only fathoms the depths of man; He refashions the depths of man and unifies man at the center, so that the conscious and the subconscious speak the same language, understand each other, drive for the same goals, and own a common Lord.* * But here is where the Christian Church is weakest. It believes in and teaches the Holy spirit ? partly. The disciples were at this stage when Jesus said to them: ?He [the Holy Spirit] remains with you and will be within you.? (John 14:17, Moffatt.) The Holy Spirit was with them, but not within them. The same is true today. Most Christians know the Holy Spirit is with them ? He disturbs them by momentary touches, by flashes of nearness, by illuminations and insights, by saving here and saving there. But all this is ?with,? and not ?within.? He goads us rather than guides us, illuminates rather than invigorates, prods us into activity rather than penetrates all activities ? it is from without in, instead of from within out. The capital and government is on the outside, rather than on the inside. The sense of outsideness will persist in religion until we enter into what the disciples entered into at Pentecost. There they passed over from the ?with? stage to the ?within? stage. Their religion was no longer a prodding, but a penetration; no longer a restriction, but a release.* * O Spirit of God, I, too, long for this withinness ? I would be every whit whole. I would have the seat of Thy authority within me. For I cannot conceive that Thou has come so far in Thy redemption and wilt not come the full way. Thou wilt not stop on the threshold ? Thou wilt move within. Come, Spirit, come ? within, within, entirely within. Amen. - E. Stanley Jones * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Jul 27 11:49:11 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:49:11 -0700 Subject: Galatians 3:1-22 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* July 27, 2011 *(From: GALATIANS #3 - 3:1-22)* *D. 3:1-6 A DEFENSE FOR THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE* *a. 3:1 DECEPTION LEADS US FROM BASIS OF CHRIST'S DEATH* *O* aNO*e*-toi [453] GaLAtai, tis huMAS eBASka-nen [940], *O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you,* hois kat' oph-thalMOUS I*e*SOUS ChrisTOS pro-eGRAph*e* [3788] es-tau-r*o*MEnos [4717]? *before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified?* *b. 3:2 THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT: ON BASIS OF FAITH, NOT WORKS OF LAW* TOUto MOnon THEl*o* maTHEIN [3129] aph' huM*O*N, *This only would I learn from you,* ex ERg*o*n NOmou to PNEUma eLAbete, *e* ex a-ko*E*S [189] PISte-*o*s [4102]? *Did you receive the Spirit from works of law, or from hearing of faith?* *c. 3:3 Are you so foolish? having begun in Spirit, are you now perfected in flesh?* HOUt*o*s aNO*e*TOI [453] es-te? e-narXAme-noi [1728] PNEUma-ti, nun sarKI e-pi-teLEISthe [2006]? *d. 3:4 Did you suffer so many things in vain? if indeed in vain.* toSAUta ePAthe-te [3958] eiK*E* [1500]? ei ge kai eiK*E*. *e. 3:5 MIRACLES ARE WROUGHT BY FAITH, NOT BY WORKS* ho oun e-pi-cho-r*e*G*O*N [2023] huMIN to PNEUma, kai e-nerG*O*N [1754]duNAmeis [1411] en huMIN, *Who therefore supplies you the Spirit, and works miracles among you,* ex ERg*o*n NOmou, *e* ex a-ko*E*S [180] PISte-*o*s [4102]? *is it **from works of law, or from **the** hearing of faith?* *f. 3:6 Even as Abraham believed :God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.* kaTH*O*S A-braAM ePIsteu-sen t*o* The*O*, kai e-loGISth*e* [3049] auT*O* eis di-kai-oSUn*e*n [1343]. *E. 3:7-22 BLESSING OF FAITH AND PURPOSE OF LAW HARMONIZED* *1. 3:7-9 FAITH: THE BASIS OF SPIRITUAL SONSHIP WITH ABRAHAM* *a. 3:7 Know then that who are from faith, these are sons of Abraham.* GiN*O*Ske-te [1097] Ara HOti hoi ek PIS-te-*o*s, HOU-TOI huiOI ei-sin A-braAM. *b. 3:8 GOD FORESAW GENTILES IN THE CHURCH BY FAITH* pro-iDOUsa [4275] de h*e* graPH*E* HOti ek PISte-*o*s di-kaiOI [1344] ta ETHn*e* [1484] ho TheOS, *And the scripture, foreseeing that :God justifies the nations by faith,* pro-eu-*e*g-geLIsa-to t*o* A-braAM, [HOti] E-neu-lo-g*e*TH*E*son-tai [1757]en soi PANta ta ETHn *e*. *preached the gospel afore to Abraham, saying, [that] In you shall all the nations be blessed.* *c. 3:9 So then who are from faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.* H*O*Ste hoi ek PISte-*o*s eu-loGOUNtai [2127] sun t*o* pisT*O* A-braAM.* * *2. 3:10-14 FAITH IN CHRIST: THE ONLY WAY OF DELIVERANCE FROM THE LAW* *a. 3:10 SCRIPTURES PRONOUNCE A CURSE UPON LAW-KEEPERS* HOsoi gar ex ERg*o*n NOmou eiSIN huPO kaTAran [2671] EIsin: GEgrap-tai gar [HOti], *For as many as are of works of law are under a curse: for it is written [that],* Epi-kaTAra-tos [1944] pas hos ouk emMEnei [1696] PAsin tois *Cursed every one who continues not in all the things* ge-gramMEnois en t*o* bibLI*o* [975] tou NOmou, tou poi*E*sai [4160] auTA. *written in the book of the law, to do them.* *b. 3:11-12 CONTRAST BETWEEN FAITH WAY AND LAW WAY OF JUSTIFICATION* HOti de en NOm*o* ouDEIS di-kaiOUtai [1344] paRA t*o* The*O*, D*E*lon [1212] : *Now that no one is justified by law before :God, is evident:* HOti, Ho DIkai-os [1342] ek PIste-*o*s [4102] Z*E*se-tai [2198]; *because, The righteous shall live by faith;* ho de NOmos ouk EStin ek PIste-*o*s: all', Ho poi*E*sas auTA Z*E*se-tai en auTOIS. *12 and the law is not of faith: but, Who does them shall live in them.* *c. 3:13-14 CHRIST'S REDEMPTION PROVIDES THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT* ChrisTOS h*e*MAS e-x*e*GOra-sen [1805] ek t*e*s kaTAras [2671] tou NOmou, *Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law,* geNOme-nos [1096] huPER h*e*M*O*N kaTAra; HOti GEgrap-tai, *having become a curse for us; because it is written,* E-pi-kaTAra-tos [1944] pas ho kreMAme-nos [2910] ePI XUlou [3586]: HIna eis ta ETHn*e* *Accursed every one hanging on a tree: 14 that unto the nations might come* h*e* eu-loGIa [2129] tou A-braAM GEn*e*-tai en ChrisT*O* I*e*SOU; *the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus;'* HIna t*e*n e-pag-geLIan [1860] tou PNEUma-tos LAb*o*-men diA t*e*s PIste-*o* s. *that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through :faith.* *3. 3:15-18 BASIS OF PROMISE: ABRAHAMIC COVENANT, NOT LAW* *a. 3:15a Brethren, I speak after man's manner.* A-delPHOI, kaTA ANthr*o*-pon LEg*o*. *b. 3:15b A COVENANT PROPERLY ENACTED CANNOT BE VOIDED* HOm*o*s anTHR*O*pou ke-ku-r*o*MEn*e*n[2964] di-aTH*E*k*e*n [1242], ouDEIS a-theTEI [114], *Though but man's covenant, no one makes it void,* *e* e-pi-di-aTASse-tai [1928]. *or adds to it when confirmed.* *c. 3:16a Now to :Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his :seed.* t*o* de A-braAM erR*E*th*e*-san [4483] hai e-pag-geLIai [1860], kai t*o*SPERma-ti [4690] auTOU. *d. 3:16b THE PROMISE TO BE VALIDATED THROUGH THE DEATH OF ONE SEED: CHRIST * ou LEgei, Kai tois SPERma-sin, h*o*s ePI polL*O*N; *He says not, And to seeds, as of many;* all' h*o*s eph' heNOS, Kai t*o* SPERmaTI sou, HOS es-tin ChrisTOS. *but as of one, And to your :seed, which is Christ.* *e. 3:17 THE LAW, FOLLOWING ABRAHAMIC COVENANT, DID NOT VOID IT* TOUto de LEg*o*: di-aTH*E*k*e*n [1242] pro-ke-ku-r*o*MEn*e*n [4300] huPO tou TheOU, *Now this I say: A covenant confirmed before by :God, the law,* ho meTA te-traKOsi-a kai triAkon-ta Et*e* ge-goN*O*S, *which came to be four hundred and thirty years after,* NOmos [3551]*,* ouk a-kuROI [208], eis to ka-tarG*E*sai [2673] t*e*n e-pag-geLIan. *does not disannul, to make the promise void.* *f. 3:18 THEREFORE INHERITANCE DEPENDENT ON PROMISE, NOT LAW* ei gar ek NOmou h*e* kl*e*-ro-noMIa [2817], ouKEti ex e-pag-geLIas: *For if the inheritance is of law, it is no more of promise:* t*o* de A-braAM di' e-pag-geLIas keCHAris-tai [5483] ho TheOS. *but :God has granted it to :Abraham by promise.* *4. 3:19-22 PURPOSE OF LAW: TO SHUT UP TO FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE* *a. 3:19a **What therefore is the law? *Ti oun ho NOmos? *b. 3:19b TO HOLD TRANSGRESSORS DOWN TILL THE PROMISE FULFILLED* t*o*n pa-raBAse-*o*n [3847] CHArin pro-seTEth*e* [4369], *It was added because of transgressions,* Achris an ELth*e* to SPERma h*o* eP*E*Ggel-tai[1861]: *till the seed come to whom the promise has been made:* di-a-taGEIS [1299] di' agGEl*o*n [32] en cheiRI meSItou [3316]. *ordained through angels by a mediator's hand.* *c. 3:20 LAW, NOT THE COVENANT, HAD A MEDIATOR* ho de meSIt*e*s heNOS ouk EStin; ho de TheOS HEIS es-tin. *Now not of one is the mediator; but :God is one.* *d. 3:21a IS LAW CONTRARY TO PROMISE?* ho ouv NOmos kaTA t*o*n e-pag-ge-li*O*N tou TheOU? *Is the law then against the promises of God?* *e. 3:21b LAW A TEMPORARY NECESSITY THAT CANNOT MAKE PERFECT* *Be it not so: *m*e* GEnoi-to: ei gar eDOth*e* NOmos ho duNAme-nos [1410] z*o*-o-poi*E*sai [2227], *for if a law had been given which could make alive,* ONt*o*s en NOm*o* an *e*n h*e* di-kai-oSUn*e*n. *truly :righteousness would have been by law.* *f. 3:22 LAW SHUTS UP HOPELESS MAN TO CHRIST ALONE* alLA suNEklei-sen [4788] h*e* graPH*E* [1124] ta PANta huPO ha-marTIan [266], *But the scripture shut up :all things under sin,* HIna h*e* e-pag-geLIa [1860] ek PIste-*o*s I*e*SOU ChrisTOU doTH*E* tois piSTEUou-sin [4102]. *that the promise from faith in Jesus Christ might be given to the believing.* *NOTE*: Do you have friends who have strayed from the straight and narrow way, and ended up in a cult, etc.? We all have. What do you then do? Pray? More? Paul did. When the Galatians were bewitched with the Judaizers, and forsook ?grace? and returned to ?law? - he was heart-broken. He prayed. But he also wrote. Galatians is one of the finest letters written in an attempt to reclaim wandering souls. Note what he says to them first, *?O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified? (3:1)?* The ?cults? do not know Jesus Christ *crucified*! They are bloodless cults. With them there is no atonement - no redemption. Their leaders are dedicated to the self-life, self-pleasure, self-enrichment - without seeking to please God the Father, Christ His Son, or Their teachings in the Bible, God's Word. Sure - they quote verses here and there, taken out of context, and in line with their life lacking self-denial, taking up their cross in identification with Christ crucified - and failing to follow Him (Mark 8:34). The day will come, that with a bitter cry, they will confess that they were ?deceived - bewitched,? by false teachers of ?another Gospel.? Look at Todd Bentley - who received his revelations from a ?lady angel?! Angels in the Bible are neither feminine nor cherubs (baby angels). Such are traditions of men. In the ?Unity Cult,? and many others of like ilk - the teachers number in women up to 80% - hardly the proportion we find in either the *Old* or NT. Then see what Paul repeats twice concerning such false teachers - Galatians 1:6-9 - *?I marvel that you are so quickly removing from him that called you in Christ's grace unto a different gospel. 7 which is not another: only there are some that trouble you, and wish to pervert the gospel of the Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel other than what we preached to you, let him be anathema. 9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any preaches to you a gospel other than what you received, let him be anathema.? *This must be our attitude also towards all false teachers who depart from Paul's Gospel, as he so clearly set forth in his 14 letters. God made Paul the apostle to the Gentiles, the nations - all non Jews. Indeed, he saw God's *mystery* of Jew and Gentile together as the *One New Man*, and the relationship of both in Romans 11. He is adamant in protecting us non-Jews from the Judaizers. We should be equally protective in defending all believers from the false cults, who all teach ?another? Gospel, and bring down upon themselves the ?curse? of God. Does this sound too strong? *Not* if you consider the value of souls in God's sight! For is it worth it to play fast and loose with your soul under false teachers, when the end is to end up under a curse with them? Hardly! The heart of Paul and the heart of God clearly shines through in this letter to the Galatians. Here Paul clearly sets forth the stark division between law and grace, and the danger and penalty of following teachers who have departed from the latter. It is good to remember that in the Greek and English NT texts I have chosen above, they form God's Bible Numeric Outlined Greek Interlinear NT. God's signature is *numbers*. He chose the only 2 languages in the world (Greek and Hebrew) with no numerical equivalents - to write His Bible in - 66 books through 33 spelled-out writers. It can be mathematically proven that this Greek Text set forth by God through Ivan Panin, is the ?original? Greek text, and the English translation of it is based on a 10-year production of a Numeric Greek Lexicon, before Panin ever started producing the Greek text. Those who hate God and His Bible standards, don't have a leg to stand upon in the light of this extraordinary text. Those who hate what the Bible says about them - again - haven't a leg to stand upon. This should give courage - encourage all believers, to stand boldly but lovingly with God in His Word. Speak the truth in love. Persecuted for this? Of course! But with ?Eternity's Values in View? - who could then hesitate? I am committed to proclaim God's Word like Paul. Read 2 Corinthians 6 to see what it caused him. But from his lips - *?These light afflictions are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed!?* I join Paul in glorifying the Father through Jesus and His Word! Will you join me? Brother Yun, ?The Heavenly Man? of China, certainly has! - J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Jul 28 19:25:17 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:25:17 -0700 Subject: Michael Molinos Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* July 28, 2011 THE LIFE OF MICHAEL MOLINOS ? Part 9 - 2001-12-08 (This biographical section comes from ?The Spiritual Guide? by Michael Molinos. It can be obtained through SeedSowers Publishing, 4003 North Liberty Street, Jacksonville, FL 32206 ? Tel: 1-800-228-2665 ? * www.SeedSowers.com * ) In the midst of all the scandalous rumors and electric excitement, a bombshell went off. The city of Rome was officially informed that Molinos had confessed he was a heretic ? and that he had *recanted*. There was also released the ominous and damning statement that ?he had also confessed other sins.? To date, what those sins were has never been revealed. Further, Rome was now informed, the Inquisition had found Molinos guilty of heresy, and he had been officially sentenced to life imprisonment. Again, strong evidence there was no substance to the charges of immorality. Had they been true he would certainly have received the death penalty. This, as far as I can ascertain, was the first public knowledge that Molinos had been tried in court! You can get some idea of how much the mind of the public had been re-programmed toward Molinos, and how much this life was still public topic number one, in this footnote: On the day Molinos recanted, every church in Rome rang its bells at the news. It was a day of jubilation for everyone. What were the conditions of his recantation? Many felt he had been tortured. Others felt he was obeying his own belief that all men should submit to the church in whatever the church called for. There is no question about this: Molinos would have submitted to anything the church finally decreed, no matter what the conditions. On the 28th day of August, 1687, an official decree was posted by the Inquisition declaring Molinos guilty of ?having taught Godless doctrines and of having practiced them.? Included in this proclamation were 68 propositions stating that Molinos? teachings were ?heretical, blasphemous, offensive to pious ears, insolent, and dangerous to the destruction of Christian morality,? but never ? to my knowledge ? did they ever specify *anything*. All public statements ever released about Molinos were couched in vague generalities. Not only did the Inquisition not give specific explanations, but it was clear it did not wish to do so. Was the Inquisition ashamed to let Christendom know the basis on which it drew its conclusions? One historian observed that everything which was publicly and officially said about Molinos was mild, and lacked enough weight to brand him a heretic or justify life imprisonment. But on that fateful day of August 28, 1687, no one thought of such matters. Once the charges against Molinos were officially made public all copies of the *Spiritual Guide* ? once officially acclaimed by the Inquisition ? were ordered *burned*. Anyone found possessing *anything* by Molinos would be automatically excommunicated from the church. Had Molinos really been on the verge of a great reformation movement within the Roman Catholic church? Had such a reform happened would the people of the Roman church, along with its clergy, have been brought into a deeper walk with their professed Lord? We will never know. The torch was so successfully put to this movement that 300 years later the question is unanswerable. The system had once again triumphed over liberty, the heart, and realms unseen. What followed is one of those moments of history that is a caricature ? almost a comedy ? of justice. The Inquisition set aside a day to make itself look good, look legitimate, and most of all, look powerful. It was decided that Molinos? renunciation of his heresy would be officially celebrated, with all the pomp of which the church was capable. (And it was capable of a great deal.) September 23 was set aside for this grand occasion. Can you believe that the church issued a proclamation stating that any person attending this auspicious ceremony would be given 15 years of indulgences! With that a crowd of mammoth proportions was guaranteed! The ceremony was held at a church called Santa Maria Sopraminerva. The recantation was to be made out in full view of the waiting multitude. On the appointed day cardinals and bishops, members of the holy office, royalty (including princes), ambassadors and their ladies came ? along with Rome?s tens of thousands of ordinary people. So great was the throng that for a time the vaunted Swiss Guard seemed incapable of containing it. In the melee a number of persons were injured. At the same time during that day Molinos was given his last meal before imprisonment. The Vatican could afford to be gracious; we are told that it was a luxurious repast. At some high moment of the celebration Molinos was dramatically led before the expectant mass. Molinos, 65, stood before them dignified and melancholy. Attired in the garment of the penitent, his shackled hands held a burning torch. He was conducted to a platform facing the cardinals and the tribunal. Around him were the ladies and the nobility, the priests, seminarians, and prelates. Someone mounted the pulpit and read aloud the charges against him; the reading took several hours. The crowd, we are told, became so incensed at hearing all that was charged against him that they began accompanying the reading with the cry, ?To the flames! To the flames!? Ah, we Christians do have a flair for persecuting one another!! Following the reading came the pronouncement of judgment ? Molinos was to be sentenced to life imprisonment. Within that lonely cell, the judgment continued; he was commanded to recite the Apostles? Creed, once daily; twice each day he was to recite the rosary; three times a week he was to fast. Confession was to be four times a year. As to the receiving of the sacraments, this was a decision left to his confessor. After the reading of the judgment Molinos knelt down and formally renounced his heresy. He then signed a formal statement to the same effect, turned and received absolution from the commissary of the Pope. At last, the thing was over. Chapter 12 ? SELF SEEKING, IN THE SEEKING OF GOD (Taken from ?The Spiritual Guide? by Michael Molinos) * *God loves not the believer who does the most, nor who feels the most, nor who thinks the most cleverly and best, nor even that one who shows the greatest love, but He loves him who suffers the most. I am aware that in telling you that a deeper prayer is a prayer that does not depend on outward senses nor on those things which are pleasing to our natural man, that we are speaking of something that requires the martyrdom of some parts of us. But, please remember, we are also speaking of something that pleases the Lord. When there is no emotional experience nor intellectual insight into His way, the enemy may suggest to you that God has not spoken. But your Lord is not impressed with a multitude of words. He is impressed with the purity of the intent of your heart. He wishes to see the inward part of you humbled, quiet, and totally surrendered to Him and to His will, whatever it may be. You may not find emotions to produce such a relationship, but you will find a door by which you will enter into your nothingness and His all. There are those people who *have* begun a practice of collecting their inmost being but turned away from it almost immediately because they did not find any *pleasure* in it! There was no sense of God, there was no power, there was no sense of being pleased with their own thought, or being impressed with the way they formed their words and sentences to God. Actually all of these approaches to God *are nothing but a hunt for sensible pleasures*. This, to God, is but self-love and seeking after self. It is really not a seeking after God at all. It is *necessary* that you suffer a little pain and a little dryness. Without thinking about how much time you have lost or what other losses you have sustained, come to the Lord with reverence, paying no attention to dryness and sterility. You will find eternal reward. The more your outward man delights in some sort of pleasure in prayer, the less delight there is in the Lord. But the less you care for the outward thrills of spiritual things ? ah, *here* is something which delights the Lord. *EDITORIAL NOTE*: There are two more sections to the biography of Michael Molinos. He was brought up in Spain to the Catholic priesthood. As a Spanish professor in theology, he had an exact knowledge of St. John of the Cross -- and St. Theresa of Avila, leading figures in the Contemplative Movement. He not only understood the way of the Interior Life and the Prayer of the Heart, but he experienced and practiced it. He moved to Rome and became a friend and mentor of Cardinals and high people ? even the Pope! He wrote ?The Spiritual Guide? by request, so that many more people could profit from his life and teachings. It was translated into all the major languages of Europe, and at one time 20,000 in one city of Italy followed his example and teachings. It was jealousy that led the Inquisition and Jesuits to seek a way to cut his growing popularity and effectiveness. At the same time in France Madame Guyon and Fenelon were exciting the fear and opposition of these same parties. Madame Guyon was imprisoned for 10 years, part of that time in the Bastille. She wrote many books, but ?Experiencing God through Prayer? probably helped countless numbers on the same level as did ?The Spiritual Guide? by Molinos. ?It is Madame, because you seek without what is within. Accustom yourself to seek God in your heart, for you shall there find Him.? These words addressed to Madame Guyon by a Franciscan monk dramatically changed the direction of her frustrating life. From an early age she began to realize the words of Jesus to be true -?that the Kingdom of God is within you! Truly God is Transcendent ? but He is also Immanent. From the viewpoint of experience, we need to be immersed by Jesus in the Holy Spirit, by which we are in Him, and He in us. A bottle without a cork thrown into the ocean is an example of what God desires for us! To read the list of names and movements influenced dramatically by the writings of Madame Guyon is like reading a book of ?Who?s Who!? If you are living an ?exterior life? as a believer, and sense an emptiness, a frustration, a deep unfulfilled hunger and a feeling of frustration ? try dipping into the writings of Madame Guyon, Fenelon and Michael Molinos. If you receive and persevere with these friends as mentors ? you will in the end marvel at the change you experience. May this be the blessing for your life in 2002! - J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Jul 30 20:51:41 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2011 20:51:41 -0700 Subject: Hebrews 8:1-13 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* July 30, 2011 *(From: HEBREWS #7 - 8:1-13)* *G. 8:1-13 ?JESUS OUR HIGH PRIEST: HAS BROUGHT US A BETTER COVENANT* *a. 8:1-2 SPHERE OF JESUS' PRIESTLY MINISTRY: THE HEAVENLIES* KePHAlai-on [2774] de ePI tois le-goMEnois: *Now in the things we are saying the chief point is:* toiOUton Echo-men ar-chi-eREa [749], hos eKAthi-sen [2523] *We have such a high priest, who sat down* en de-xiA tou THROnou [2362] t*e*s me-ga-l*o*SUn*e*s [3172] en tois ou-raNOIS, *on the right of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,* t*o*n haGI*o*n [39] lei-tourGOS [3011], kai t*e*s sk*e*N*E*S [4633] t*e*s a-l*e*-thiN*E*S [228], *2 a minister of the holies, and of the true :tabernacle,* h*e*n Ep*e*-xen [4078] ho KUri-os, ouk ANthr*o*-pos. *which the Lord pitched, not man.* *b. 8:3 SACRIFICES: PART OF ALL PRIESTLY SERVICES* pas gar ar-chi-eREUS eis to prosPHErein [4374] D*O*-RA te kai thuSIas [2378]kaTHISta-tai [2525]: *For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices:* HOthen a-nagKAIon [316] Echein ti kai TOUton ho pro-seNEGk*e* [4374]. *whence it is is necessary that this one also have something to offer.* *c. 8:4-5 THE LAW: EXCLUDED JESUS FROM EARTHLY PRIESTHOOD* ei men oun *e*n ePI g*e*s, oud' an *e*n hi-eREUS, *Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all,* ONt*o*n t*o*n pros-pheRONt*o*n [4374] kaTA NOmon ta D*O*ra *seeing there are those who offer the gifts according to law* (HOti-nes hu-poDEIGma-ti [5262] kai skiA [4639] laTREUou-sin [3000] t*o*n e-pou-raNI*o*n [2032], *5 (the which serve a copy and shadow of the heavenlies,* kaTH*O*S ke-chr*e*MAtis-tai [5537] M*o*-uS*E*S MELl*o*n e-pi-teLEIN [2005] t *e*n sk*e*N*E*N: *even as Moses when about to complete the tabernacle is warned:* HOra, GAR, ph*e*-sin, poi*E*seis PANta kaTA ton TUpon [5179] ton deichTHENta [1166] soi en t*o* Orei). *for, See, says he, you make all **things **according to the pattern :shown you in the mount).* *d. 8:6 SUPERIOR COVENANT PRODUCES A SUPERIOR MINISTRY* nun de di-a-pho-r*o*TEras [1313] TEtu-chen [5177] lei-tourGIas [3009], *But now has he obtained a ministry the more superior,* HOs*o* kai KREITtoNOS [2909] es-tin di-aTH*E*k*e*s [1242] meSIt*e*s [3316], *by so much as he is also mediator of a better covenant,* H*E*tis ePI KREITto-sin e-pag-geLIais [1860] ne-no-moTHEt*e*-tai [3549]. *which has been enacted upon better promises.* *e. 8:7 For if that :first had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second.* ei gar h*e* PR*O*t*e* eKEIn*e* *e*n Amemp-tos [273], ouk an deuTEras e-z*e*TEIto [2212] TOpos [5117]. *f. 8:8-9 GOD: PROMISED ISRAEL A BETTER COVENANT* memPHOme-nos [3201] gar auTOUS LEgei, I-DOU, h*e*MErai ERchon-tai, LEgei KUri-os, *For blaming them he says, Lo, days come, says the Lord,* kai sun-teLEs*o* [4931] ePI ton OIkon Is-ra*E*L *That I will accomplish a new covenant* kai ePI ton OIkon IOUda di-aTH*E*k*e*n [1242] kaiN*E*N [2537]; *over the house of Israel and over the house of Judah;* ou kaTA t*e*n di-aTH*E*k*e*n h*e*n ePOI*e*-sa tois paTRAsin [3962] auT*O*N *9 Not according to the covenant that I made for their :fathers* en h*e*ME-ra e-pi-la-boMEnou [1949] mou t*e*s cheiROS auT*O*N *In the day that I took them by their :hands* e-xa-gaGEIN [1806] auTOUS ek g*e*s AiGUPtou: *to lead them forth out of Egypt land:* HOti auTOI ouk eNEmei-nan [1696] en t*e* di-aTH*E*k*e* mou, *For they continued not in my :covenant, * ka' 'G*O* *e*MEl*e*-sa [272] auT*O*N, LEgei KUri-os. *And I regarded them not, says the Lord.* *g. 8:10-12 NATURE OF NEW AND SUPERIOR COVENANT* HOte HAUt*e* h*e* di-aTH*E*k*e* h*e*n di-aTH*E*so-mai [1303] t*o* OIk*o*Is-ra *E*L *For this is the covenant that I will covenant for the house of Israel* meTA tas h*e*MEras eKEInas, LEgei KUri-os; *After those :days, says the Lord;* diDOUS NOmous [3551] mou eis t*e*n diAnoi-an [1271] auT*O*N, *I will put my laws into their :mind,* kai ePI karDIas [2588] auT*O*N e-piGRAps*o* [1924] auTOUS: *And on their heart also will I write them:* kai Eso-mai auTOIS eis TheON, kai auTOI EsonTAI moi eis laON: *And I will be God to them, And they shall be a people to me:* kai ou m*e* diDAx*o*-sin [1321] HEka-stos ton poLIt*e*n [4139] auTOU, *11 And they shall each in no wise teach his :fellow-citizen,* kai HEka-stos ton a-delPHON auTOU, LEg*o*n, GN*O*thi [1097] ton KUri-on: *And each his :brother, saying, Know the Lord:* HOti PANtes eiD*E*souSIN [1492] me, aPO miKROU [3398] HE*o*s meGAlou [3173]auT *O*N, *For all shall know me, From the least to the greatest of them,* HOti HIle-*o*s [2436] Eso-mai tais a-diKIai auT*O*N, *12 Because I will be merciful to their :iniquities,* kai t*o*n ha-mar-ti*O*N auT*O*N ou m*e* mn*e*sTH*O* [3415] Eti. *And their :sins will I remember no more.* *h. 8:13a In that he says, A new, he has made old the first.* en t*o* LEgein, KaiN*E*N, pe-paLAI*o*-ken [3822] t*e*n PR*O*t*e*n. *i. 8:13b But what becomes old, yes aged, is nigh vanishing away.* to de pa-laiOUme-non [3822] , kai g*e*RAskon [1095], egGUS a-pha-nisMOU [854]. *NOTE**: *There are certain insights from this passage that are unique, not appearing anywhere else in the NT. Because of the unusual three years of revelation that Paul received directly from the Lord following his conversion, it is difficult to find another NT writer who could unfold the clear revelation as appears in this book. His three years in the desert at this time are unique also. This is all apart from the confirmation that Bible Numerics through Ivan Panin gives to his authorship. It is especially in the realm of the unfolding insights to the OT ?mysteries? that Paul received from the Lord to make known to the church. We learn in this passage concerning the contrast of Moses' earthly tabernacle over which Aaron initially ruled with his successors, and the heavenly one - over which Jesus alone now eternally rules. 8:5 brings out a truth that again and again is repeated in the book of Exodus to Moses from God: ?*See, said He, that you make all thingsconcerning the earthly tabernacle - according to the heavenly pattern shown to you on the Mount.?* Moses so carefully obeyed this admonition, that when the finished Tabernacle was presented to God for His approval, He then in approval sealed it by placing His Shekinah glory upon it! Solomon later built the Temple exactly according to the pattern God gave to his father David. After 7 ? years of Construction, on the Feast of Tabernacles - God signified His approval by so filling the Temple with His glory - that 120 priests were unable to enter to stand and minister. Elijah on Mount Carmel, rebuilt the broken down altar of Jehovah, with the 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel, and exactly at the time of the evening sacrifice, he prayed his 63-word prayer. God signified His approval by sending fire from heaven, consuming not only the sacrifice, but the stones, and licking up the water also. Jesus said - *?I will build My church, and the counsels in the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!?* Not one word - not one miracle Jesus performed - but *all* came from the Father Himself. As Son of man - He originated *nothing* from Himself. God was *so pleased* with the work of His Beloved Son - that following Jesus earthly ministry of 3 years in founding the church, God filled 120 of the members with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, in the upper room. They represented the corporate living Temple of God. The Old Covenant of Moses for Israel was *not* faultless. So God prepared a *New Covenant* in preparation when Israel at the Lord's Second Coming will be a nation born in a day. And - because of the revelation of the ?mystery? of the ?One New Man? - Jew and Gentile together in the church, even in those beginning days, functioned dynamically from the Day of Pentecost in the New Covenant truth. Jesus fulfilled the Feast of Passover at Calvary. The Holy Spirit fulfilled ?The Feast of Pentecost? 50 days after Christ's Resurrection and 40 days after His Ascension. Jesus will fulfill the Feast of Tabernacles (Succot) at His Second Coming, and usher in His Millennial reign from Jerusalem. 8:10-12 again outlines the great contrast between the Mosaic Covenant from Mount Sinai, and the New Covenant, inaugurated by Jesus in His Atoning Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Sending the Holy Spirit as His own Heredity for us. But for me, perhaps the outstanding insight from this passage is 8:6 - Jesus - as the Mediator of a *better* covenant (than that of Moses), which has been enacted - or better - ?*constituted as Torah*? upon better promises. Dr. David Stern in both the Introduction to the ?Complete Jewish Bible? as well as to his ?Jewish New Testament Commentary? - points out this unusual Greek construction. The word ?ne-no-moTHEt*e*-tai? - is the key here. ?NOmos? (law) in Greek is T*O*rah in Hebrew, meaning ?teaching?. What this verse is proclaiming is that the New Testament is on the same level as the OT Torah, for both Jew and Gentile, ?The One New Man?. Still we need to remember - The NT is in the Old contained: the OT is by the New explained! And when we see ?both? as Torah in God's sight - then the 66 books of our Bible are *indeed* unique. And the fact that Bible Numerics even established God's *signature* through the 33 known Bible writers - then *it* becomes indeed the Plumbline to establish God's thinking and insight as infallible. This established the sexual sin of Sodom and Gomorrah and all successors to it. We all one day will appear either before the Judgment Seat (BEma) of Christ as believers - to answer for what we have believed and done in the body - and all unbelievers - unrepentant sinners - will appear before the Great White Throne to hear the final verdict for rebellion, deliberate unbelief and rejection of God's Christ, the only way of salvation and justification in this life down here. J.A.Watt *NOTE* # 2. The insights on Hebrews 8 above are so significant, that I am sending them out again. To see more clearly the background why I count them so important, turn to our Website ** and click on "Interlinear". Then scroll down to "Revelation 18:1-24" and read my *NOTE*. I believe that Panin's "discovery" of the sentence and paragraph structure God built into the NT without the 8 authors being aware of it - and the placing of the "*Outlined*" structure into the Interlinear NT text - is possibly the most outstanding breakthrough that God has reserved for these last days. When Volume I of the Interlinear Gospels comes out this year - at the suggestion of the Printer, I have put under "Introduction Part B" the historical background how all of this has come about. J.A.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Aug 1 12:41:41 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 12:41:41 -0700 Subject: Secure Salvation Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 1, 2011 *OUR SALVATION: FOREVER ASSURED BY GOD - 2011-08-01* *Assured by God's Grace - Romans 3:24* *Not on the Achievement of Man's best effort - Romans 3:20* *How do we know for sure our salvation is secure?* *1. God's Protection guarantees it. (Romans 8:31, 35-39)* *2. God's Power guarantees it. (1 Peter 1:3-5, 1 Thess. 5:23-24)* *3. God's Pledge guarantees it. (Ephesians 1:13-14)* *4. God's Plan guarantees it. (Romans 8:29-30)* *5. God's Pardon guarantees it. (1 Peter 1:18)* *6. God's Productivity guarantees it. (1 Peter 1:23, John 1:12-13)* *7. God's Perseverance guarantees it. (2 Timothy 1:12, 4:18, 1 Cor. 1:8-9, Phil. 1:6)* *8. Jesus' Prayers guarantee it. (Hebrews 7:25, 1 John 2:1, John 17:2, 9, 11-12)* *9. God's Presence guarantees it. (Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20)* *10. Jesus' Promise guarantees it. (1 John 6:37-40, 10:27-30)* *(Taken from Session 2, ?Connecting with God?)* *- From the ?Getting Connected? Class by Pastor Jeff Moorehead, Christ's Church of Federal Way, Washington.* *For those of you who like alliteration - the above should challenge you. Can you reach heaven without necessarily believing this? Of course! George Whitefield was a Calvinist, and John Wesley an Arminian. While Whitefield was visiting in America, one asked him: ?Do you think John Wesley as an Arminian, will make heaven?? ?My dear sir?, responded Whitefield the Calvinist - ?When we get to heaven, John Wesley will be so close to the throne of God that we will scarcely be able to see him!? What a gracious response.* As many of you know, I highly regard George Muller, who was powerfully influenced by George Whitefield. In Muller's biography by Dr. A.T. Pierson, he records under ?Appendix B, Apprehension of Truth? on page 386, some points which God began to show Mr. Muller while at Teignmouth in 1829: 1. That the word of God alone is our standard of judgment in spiritual things; that it can be explained only by the Holy Spirit; and that in our day, as well as in former times, He is the teacher of His people. The office of the Holy Spirit I had not experimentally understood before that time. Indeed, of the office of each of the blessed persons, in what is commonly called the Trinity, I had no experimental apprehension. I had not before seen from the Scriptures that the Father chose us before the foundation of the world; that in Him that wonderful plan of our redemption originated, and that He also appointed all the means by which is was to be brought about. Further, that the Son, to save us, had fulfilled the law, to satisfy its demands, and with it also the holiness of God; that He had borne the punishment due to our sins, and had thus satisfied the justice of God. And further, that the Holy Spirit alone can teach us about our state by nature, show us the need of a Savior, enable us to believe in Christ, explain to us the Scriptures, help us in preaching, etc. It was my beginning to understand this latter point in particular, which had a great effect on me; for the Lord enabled me to put it to the test of experience, by laying aside commentaries, and almost every other book, and simply reading the word of God and studying it. The result of this was, that the first evening that I shut myself into my room, to give myself to prayer and meditation over the Scriptures, I learned more in a few hours than I had done during a period of several months previously. *But the particular difference was, that I received real strength for my soul in doing so*. I now began to try by the test of the Scriptures the things which I had learned and seen, and found that only those principles which stood the test were really of value. 2. Before this period I had been much opposed to the doctrines of election, particularly redemption, and final persevering grace; so much so that, a few days after my arrival at Teignmouth I called election a devilish doctrine. I did not believe that I had brought myself to the Lord, for that was too manifestly false; but yet I held, that I might have resisted finally. And further, I knew nothing about the choice of God's people, and did not believe that the child of God, when once made so, was safe for ever. In my fleshly mind I had repeatedly said, If once I could prove that I am a child of God for ever, I might go back into the world for a year or two, and then return to the Lord, and at last be saved. But now I was brought to examine these precious truths by the word of God. Being made willing to have no glory of my own in the conversion of sinners, but to consider myself merely as an instrument; and being made willing to receive what the Scriptures said; I went to the Word, reading the New Testament from the beginning, with a particular reference to these truths. To my great astonishment I found that the passages which speak decidedly for election and persevering grace were about four times as many as those which speak apparently against these truths; and even those few, shortly after, when I had examined and understood them, served to confirm me in the above doctrines. As to the effect which my belief in these doctrines had on me, I am constrained to state, for God's glory, that though I am still exceedingly weak, and by no means so dead to the lusts of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, as I might and as I sought to be, yet, by the grace of God, I have walked more closely with Him since that period. My life has not been so variable, and I may say that I have lived much more for God than before. And for this have I been strengthened by the Lord, in a great measure, through the instrumentality of these truths. For in the time of temptation, I have been repeatedly led to say: Should I thus sin? I should only bring misery into my soul for a time, and dishonor God; for, being a son of God for ever, I should have to be brought back again, though it might be in the way of severe chastisement. Thus, I say, the electing love of God in Christ (when I have been able to realize it) has often been the means of *producing holiness, instead of leading me into sin*. It is only the notional apprehension of such truths, the want of having them in the heart, while they are in the head, which is dangerous. 3. Another truth, into which, in a measure, I was led, respected the Lord's coming. My views concerning this point, up to that time, had been completely vague and unscriptural. I had believed what others told me, without trying it by the Word. I thought that things were getting better and better, and that soon the whole world would be converted. But now I found in the Word that we have not the least Scriptural warrant to look for the conversion of the world before the return of our Lord. I found in the Scriptures that that which will usher in the glory of the church, and uninterrupted joy to the saints, is the return of the Lord Jesus, and that, till then, things will be more or less in confusion. I found in the Word, that the return of Jesus, and not death, was the hope of the apostolic Christians; and that it became me, therefore, to look for His appearing. And this truth entered so into my heart that, though I went into Devonshire exceedingly weak, scarcely expecting that I should return again to London, yet I was immediately, on seeing this truth, brought off from looking for death, and was made to look for the return of the Lord. Having seen this truth, the Lord also graciously enabled me to apply it, in some measure at least, to my own heart, and to put the solemn question to myself - What may I do for the Lord, before He returns, as He may soon come? 4. In addition to these truths, it pleased the Lord to lead me to see a higher standard of devotedness than I had seen before. He led me, in a measure, to see what is my true glory in this world, even to be despised, and to be poor and mean with Christ. I saw then, in a measure, though I have seen it more fully since, that it ill becomes the servant to seek to be rich, and great, and honored in that world where his Lord was poor, and mean, and despised. - George Muller *NOTE**: *I made a note following the above word: ?The apostle Paul and George Muller saw much alike in this respect.? J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Aug 3 15:42:06 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 15:42:06 -0700 Subject: Introduction - Part "A" Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 3, 2011 Dear Friends - Volume I - The Gospels - of God's Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek NT is about ready to be released. Introduction "Part A" has not been proof-read. Should any of you readers have suggestions or corrections before printing, I would most appreciate them. Your friend - Jim Watt *INTRODUCTION - PART ?A?.* *(?NOTES ON BIBLE NUMERIC OUTLINED INTERLINEAR GREEK NT by Ivan Panin?)* *(HOW TO MAKE OPTIMAL USE OF THIS INTERLINEAR)* *One. *This is not a typical Interlinear Greek New Testament. First of all, the format is chosen so that main and supporting clauses can be immediately seen in a poetic type of format - rather than all running together as in prose. Peter Marshall, former Chaplain of the US Senate, wrote his sermons this way, and Winston Churchill wrote his speeches in a similar manner. *Two. *The English translation is not consistently under the Greek words in the usual strict manner. This is done so that those interested primarily in the translation, may read it with more ease. *Three. *The Greek text has been transliterated into English letters so that any layman can pronounce the Greek words with an approximate correct pronunciation. The transliteration follows the Berlitz method of learning new languages. The accented syllable is capitalized. In the case of more than one connecting syllable, a hyphen is used to keep each word a unit. *Four. *For those not too familiar with Greek, but desire to know what is the key Greek Word that the English translates, the Strong?s Concordance Number beside each significant Greek word will make this clear. *Five. *In Greek there are two forms for the letter ?e? and ?o?. So that you may differentiate between the two, the long ?e? and ?o? are underlined. *Six. *English ?help? words in the translation that do not appear in the original are in ?Italics.? The Authorized King James version and most other translations follow this same format. *Seven. *The ?iota subscript? is a vestigial form standing for the letter ?iota? in ancient Greek. It helps to identify the Dative Cases as one of its purposes. It is appreciated by advanced students. However, my computer does not include this ?subscript?, and because the majority of readers who will use this Interlinear New Testament would not make use of it, it has been omitted. Scholars can easily verify each occurrence. *Eight. *The Definite Article ?the? in Greek is of great importance. Latin does not have this part of speech. The King James Authorized Version is declared to be a translation directly from the Greek, but the definite Greek article is not correctly used. It seems apparent that the translators of the 1611 AD version relied far more heavily on the Latin Vulgate than the Greek originals. Panin has been very careful to give this Greek part of speech its proper place. When it does not make sense to use it in his translation, he puts it in as a ?colon? in front of the noun or verb form it modifies. Those who understand the importance of this part of speech, will appreciate being made aware of its presence. In John 1:1, *?and the word was **God**?* - ?God? here is not preceded by an article. Jehovah's Witnesses use this verse to say that the ?Word? Jesus - is not equivalent to the Father. But in John 20:28, Thomas addresses Jesus as my :Lord and my :God - correcting the Jehovah's Witnesses error. *Nine. *Punctuation in the Greek differs in some points from English. Because the Greek has been in our case transliterated into English letters, I have taken the liberty to change into the Greek text, the English ?colon,? ?semi-colon,? and ?question.? *Ten. *There is a ?rough breathing,? and a ?smooth breathing? in Greek. The former has an apostrophe facing the word starting with a vowel. It has been transliterated with an ?h? in the transliteration. The ?smooth breathing? is not pronounced, and is traditionally not transliterated. *Eleven**. *But *most* of all, and *above* all, the two texts employed are that of Ivan Panin?s Numeric Greek and English New Testaments. There is absolutely no deviation from Dr. Panin?s Greek text. However a very few minor changes have been made in his English translation. ?Ye? has been replaced with ?you;? ?whilom? has been replaced with ?former,? because of its archaic nature. You can trust that except for such very minor changes, you are reading exactly as Panin himself made his translation, even to the punctuation. He was a master of English, and though nearly 100 years have passed since he made his translation, I could not feel justified in making any other changes. If you purchase his translation, you can check how faithfully I have adhered to his own text. The Jehovah?s Witnesses offered to make an Interlinear Greek New Testament from his two texts. He regretfully turned their offer down, because he saw them as a ?cult.? So his two texts have lain dormant since 1942, with his vision unfulfilled. Another has made an Interlinear Greek New Testament for his two texts, but has changed not only his translation, but even in places changed the Greek Text. I for one cannot recommend its purchase. *Twelve. *Pronouns in the Greek are implicitly in Greek verbs. However, for emphasis, there are also actual pronouns too. When these latter are included, it forms a double emphasis. This does not show up in regular translations. So that you the reader may be aware of this special emphasis, Panin capitalizes the pronoun in his English translation. I appreciate his thoughtfulness at this point, and trust it will be meaningful for you also. *Thirteen. *Dr. Panin discovered through Numerics that God has established even the correct sentence structure, paragraph sub-divisions, paragraphs and sections or chapter equivalents. This Interlinear text has been formatted, assigning sentence topics, with summaries for each sub-paragraph, paragraph and chapter equivalent. Needless to say, these titles and summaries are not inspired. For this reason I leave a space above them. You the reader are invited to substitute your own in case you feel you can improve on mine. And even should yours not be an improvement - yet the very action on your part in making substitutions - will give you a much greater grasp of God's thinking! I purchased all of Panin?s 20 or so books, booklets and pamphlets in 1945. It was because of the above contextual discovery that I have personally spent over 50,000 hours in preparing to post this Interlinear New Testament on our Website. My ?NOTES? at the end of each of the 500 or so mailings, are not contained in this printing. Should you wish to see what I have written, the full Interlinear text with my notes appears on our Website under ?Interlinear?. Use our Website *, *and click on ?Interlinear?. *Fourteen. *Recently, an article came out entitled ?Russia's Gift to Christianity.? It is one of the finer I have come across to give the reader a quick overview of the ministry of Ivan Panin, and how ?God's Bible Numerics? proved the basis for the 100,000 hours of his labors between 1890 and 1942. Again turn to our Website - and under ?Archives?, scroll down to ?2011-01-22 - Cutting Edge Ministries on Panin?. The final segment on Genesis 1:1, reveals how Panin for Hebrew, was enabled to ascertain the original Greek text also - from the 7 major NT texts and the 1000's of fragments. I found this article most enlightening. *Fifteen*. Dr. Panin discovered there was no Lexicon or Dictionary sufficiently accurate for his requirements in producing his Greek NT. Perhaps one of the best in his day, showed no Numerics concerning the number of references to the name of ?Moses? in the Bible. Had there been one extra reference, Numerics would have been evident. He found the missing reference from this Lexicon in the book of Hebrews. So Numerics even caught this error. So for 10 years, Panin worked in producing a Bible Numeric Greek Lexicon, with all vocabulary words of the the NT perfectly aligned together. Then and then only was he able to produce this Greek text with no alternate readings. This Lexicon also guided in making choice of the proper word in translating this Greek text. ?Washings? to replace ?Baptism? is completely out of order according to this. *Sixteen. *I am still in favor of a traditional Interlinear Greek NT for serious students and scholars, who desire the Greek text non-transliterated, and the English text placed word for word under the corresponding Greek words. There is a possibility of one taking on this formidable task. *Seventeen. *Sentence Summary outlines are preceded by ?lower case letters? of the alphabet. The summaries are 8 words or less - like a newspaper headline - to give an insight into the meaning of the sentence. A space is left above each sentence. The summaries are *not* inspired. The reader is encouraged to substitute his own summary where that in the text does not satisfy him. *Eighteen. *Sub-paragraphs are preceded by ?Arabic numbers?; Paragraphs by ?Upper Case Alphabetical letters?; Sections or chapter equivalents by ?Roman Numerals?. Again, readers are encouraged to substitute their own summaries for these also, just as for sentences. *Nineteen. *Order of Books of the Bible and God's Bible Numerics. The NT is set out in 7 divisions: The Gospels (like Elementary School); Acts (like Junior High); James through Jude (like High School); Paul's 7 churches: Romans through Thessalonians (like University); Hebrews (like a Master's Degree); Timothy through Philemon (like a Doctorate Degree); Revelation (like a Post-Graduate degree). *Twenty. * Authorship of Bible books according to Bible Numerics is as follows: There are 33 indicated authors of the 66 books of the Bible. Paul is author of 14 of the 27 books of the NT, including the book of Hebrews. There are no Bible Numerics in the Apocryphal books, nor in any other holy book of other religions. *God* is the author of our 66 books, and uses human writers with their unique vocabularies and history to write *His thoughts*. This accords with 1 Corinthians 14:37 - *?If any thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of what things I write you, that it is the Lord's commandment.? *And also in 2 Peter 1:21 - *?For no prophecy was ever borne by man's will; but men spoke from God, being borne on by the Holy Spirit.? *In other words - not just the words of Jesus in the Gospels should appear in red - *but also* His words through the other 5 NT writers! Our liberal and humanist friends who reject the Bible as authoritative, are not rejecting man, but *God*! *Twenty-one. *Bible Chronology. Ivan Panin discovered that there are 245 dates deducible from Bible evidence. Then he also discovered that these 245 dates are confirmed by God's Bible Numerics. 21 of these dates stand out above the 245 especially so. These dates are set forth in 8 periods, each period ending in a blood covenant - except for one. See our Archives ?2011-02-08 - Panin's Bible Chronology?, under our Website *< www.2rbetter.org>, *for these 21 dates and 8 periods. *Twenty-two. *It is interesting to note that *only* the 66 books of our Hebrew and Greek Bible show the Numerical phenomenon. The Apocryphal books of the Bible do *not* show it - nor any other religious book of any other religion. God has used ?Mathematics? as His Signature to put His non-counterfeiting mark upon His Word. P.S. For those who are interested, you can check out my article entitled ?Reaching Unbelievers through Bible Numerics? and published by ?The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.? Click on the following URL to get on their Website: *http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=4553&srcid=1979 ** *You will find 4 links in this article which have helped many others who have clicked on them. The link here on Dr. Keith L. Brooks is no longer available. Instead, you can now obtain Panin's Bible Numeric Greek text by contacting: Jim & Lois Thompson - 207/512-2636 New England Bible Sales 262 Quaker Road Sidney, ME 04330 Email: *; cell: 207/215-7986; Web: < www.newenglandbiblesales.com> * Mr. Thompson has picked up all of the Toronto books listed formerly under Dr. Keith L. Brooks, and made available through John Irwin. Mr. Irwin has transferred to Jim Thompson all of Panin's NT stock and pamphlets. The two in particular I highly recommend are ?Mathematics Prove Holy Scriptures? by Karl Sabiers - 158 pp. - and ?Absolute Mathematical Proofs? by Dr. Keith L. Brooks - 15 pp. James Watt - 2011-07-18 * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Aug 6 13:02:53 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2011 13:02:53 -0700 Subject: Asher Update Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 6, 2011 *ASHER UPDATE - BLESSEDNESS OF HEALING - 2011-08-05* *1. Luke 2:36-38 GOD'S BLESSEDNESS: THROUGH ANNA THE PROPHETESS. ?And therewas Anna, a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (SHE was of great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her :virginity, 37 and SHE a widow even unto eighty-four years), who departed not from the temple, worshiping with fastings and supplications night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to :God, and spoke of him to all that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem? (NNT). *Anna descends from *Asher*, meaning ?Blessed?. The meaning of all Hebrew names of people and places has significance, for each name like ?Asher? has a specific meaning. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. Matthew 5:3 (5:1-12) GOD'S BLESSEDNESS: THE BEATITUDES. ?Blessed the poor in :spirit, for THEIRS is the kingdom of the heavens.?* These eight Beatitudes have unusual and special significance. Note that Beatitude 7 has the same blessing as that of number one: *?for THEIRS is the kingdom of the heavens.? *Jesus starts both His ministry and the Sermon on the Mount with these eight Beatitudes. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. Psalm 1:1-3 (1:1-6) GOD'S BLESSEDNESS: THROUGH WORD MEDITATION. ?Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers? (ESV). *George Muller and George Whitefield were strong ?Word Meditators?. The blessedness in their lives was self-evident! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. Hebrews 12:28-29 (12:18-29) GOD'S BLESSEDNESS: THROUGH GOD'S KINGDOM. ?Therefore, receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to :God with godly fear and awe: 29 For our :God is indeed a consuming fire.? * It is *Jesus* who brings us God's Unshakable Kingdom! E. Stanley Jones has a book, with *this* as the first part of its title. The Gospel of the Kingdom is the main theme of the entire New Testament. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. Hebrews 13:8 (13:7-17) GOD'S BLESSEDNESS: THROUGH GOD'S SON! ?Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today, and unto the ages.? *?The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Persons.? *This* is the full title of the book by Dr. Jones referred to above. Bob Mumford counted it as one of the most valuable books of the last century. One man who read it, sat right down and for the first time in his life read a book through immediately the second time! Next to the Bible, it is truly a transforming book! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. Isaiah 53:4-5 (52:10-53:12) GOD'S BLESSEDNESS: CHRIST'S HEALING. ?Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.? *This is the Fourth Servant Song of Isaiah, pointing forward to the Redemptive Act of Christ. One church calls these 4 songs a ?Sensus Plenior? - that is - words that carry within themselves a ?Fuller Sense?. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. Matthew 5:11-12 (5:1-12) GOD'S BLESSEDNESS: POSSIBLE FOR JESUS' SAKE! ? Blessed are you when men shall reproach you and persecute, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your :reward in the heavens: for so persecuted they the prophets :before you.? *It is the Father's will that we be *identified* in all ways with His Son Jesus! It is His will that we become *adopted* sons of glory - conformed unto the image of His only begotten Son! George Muller came to understand that our great goal down here is *not* to be wealthy, successful and important - but willing to be identified with Jesus as one outside the camp! This world and life is but a testing-ground! All the other comes in the next life! This world is not my home! I'm just a-passin' through! *NOTE**: *In 1967 an unusual Visitation of the Spirit took place in Buenos Aires of the Argentine. Juan Carlos Ortiz came up to Vancouver BC in the early 70's - and challenged us with this Move of God. There some 30 leaders of Anglican and Brethren churches met together up to twice a week. Pastor Ortiz was an Assembly of God pastor, and one of these 30. They had a covenant agreement with one another on a city basis, and served as it were as an Eldership in the Gate of the City. It was so unusual how God blessed this unified group, that the 800 pastors of the 800 churches in the city would say - ?If these 30 decide to follow God in some direction - we might as well join them - for it will surely come to pass!? Previous to this move in Argentina, Edward Miller had a part in another move. In 1968 God led some 12 pastors in Seattle to meet together weekly for 18 months to pray for revival for our city. In 1971 and '72 we saw some 70 pastor come together, and in June of '71 we saw 50,000 gather together on one week in 5 different venues. It was front page news in both City Dailies. We saw the ?Children of God? broken in Seattle, as well as the Metropolitan Church of God, a homosexual group, who threatened to take 1000 of our Young People from us. We lost not one - but the leader of the threatening group died of ?Aids? soon after. I stood in those days for balance between the ?LOgos word? and the ?R*E*ma word? - 4 ? to one! Without this type of balance - revival soon ?gets off? - and tends not to last like the Moravian and John Wesley Revivals. God's Blessedness perseveres for those standing solidly in the Word - yet keeping alive and alert in balance with the Word of the Spirit! Check out our Outlined Interlinear Greek NT on our Website. It is one of 7 keys bringing one into revival and overcoming life. I like to link ?Asher? and the Blessedness of healing: body, soul and spirit - with our Latin American neighbors. Asher is one of the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles that came together in 1948 - and will soon come into greater and greater maturity prior to the return of our Blessed Lord. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Aug 13 13:50:49 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2011 13:50:49 -0700 Subject: Bert Thomson Memorial Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 13, 2011 *Albert James Thomson - March 20, 1925 - August 4, 2011* Albert (Bert) Thomson was called to his eternal home on August 4, 2011. In his last days he was visited by all his children and many of his grand children and great grand children, all who told him of their love and respect for him. He never lost his quick sense of humour or his politeness with the care staff and family. Although the last days were stressful, he brought his family together, not just to grieve our loss, but to share memories with him and each other. To the end, he enjoyed visits from his large family and many friends. He enjoyed when they read passages from the Bible, or sang and played hymns and when we held church services in his hospital room. As he sensed his life on earth was drawing to a close, he said a long prayer of blessing for his family. Bert was born in Plumas, Manitoba and grew up farming. He attended a one room schoolhouse, and as a youth learned to play the violin which he played at dances and other events. In 1945, after the harvest was complete, he left a note for his mother on the kitchen counter informing her that he had left with his friend Murray Snell to find work in BC. He came to Port Alberni and was employed on the survey crew for the water line from Sproat Lake to the new pulp mill. He began work on the pulp machine when the mill opened and later became a journeyman millwright. He married Irene Gaudet on June 20, 1947 and soon thereafter began a family with her. He became a Christian on the last Sunday in July 1951 and became a very active member at First Baptist Church, serving as a Deacon, Elder, Sunday School Superintendent, Choir member, and sometimes the preacher. He loved sports of all kinds, playing ball, golf, and curling. He coached many youngsters in several sports over the years. After his retirement he played softball, curled and was a lifetime member of the golf club. In recent years he was a Bulldogs season ticket holder. He played his violin in church and with Phil's Harmonics. Bert was married for more than 64 years to Irene (nee Gaudet), and was father to seven, grandfather to nineteen and great grandfather to eleven. He is survived by his wife Irene, children Jim (Nancy) of Williams Lake, BC; Shiela (Cliff) Neyedli of Coquitlam, BC. David (Katerina) of Port Alberni, BC; Tom (Ruth) of San Antonio, Texas; Deb of Hay River, NWT; Bert (Sheila) of Franklin, Tennessee; Shirley (Mike) Leger of Parksville, BC; and chosen daughter Beth. He is also survived by his brother Murray (Marilyn) of Kamloops, BC, his grandchildren and their spouses, his great grandchildren and by numerous nieces and nephews and their children. He was predeceased by his sister and brother in law, Janet and Ray Hubeli of Portage la Prairie, MB, and his granddaughter Shasta Thomson. (The above Obituary for the Memorial Service Bulletin was written by Bert's children, mostly by Tom we understand.) I (Jim Watt) married into the Gaudet Clan December 27, 1948, 18 months after Bert married one of Marie's younger sisters Irene. Marie was next to her mother Nanny Gaudet as a Christian, and 3 years later Bert was the third. Today there are well over 40 Christians in the Gaudet clan of some 200 or so descended from 12 brothers and sisters. I feel it a privilege to be part of this clan. Those of us who are spouses to the original Gaudet members - have been received as part of this clan in a wonderful way! After our marriage, Marie and I pastored a church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for a short while, and then made our residence in the United States. I entered Northern Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago in 1949, and in 1951 we took a vacation to Port Alberni where I filled the pulpit of the First Baptist Church for the vacationing pastor. It was on the last Sunday of July that Bert Thomson raised his hand to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior - and became a Christian. His mother-in-law Nanny Gaudet rushed over to Marie and excitedly shared with her - ?Bert raised his hand! Bert raised his hand!? Marie asked her - ?How did you know - Jim asked us all to bow our heads and close our eyes!? She replied - ?I looked!? Nanny had invited the whole Catholic Gaudet clan to attend our closing service, and told them that it would be okay to give a good offering, because it was all going to Jim and Marie! The Bible my grandparents gave me when I was seven, still has tear stains from Bert on it when Bert and I knelt at the altar and I led him in the sinner's prayer to accept Christ. I highly regard my brother-in-law Bert Thomson, who is quite alive today, just in another place and another state! He immediately followed on in a discipleship mode to read and do the Bible every day! He was true-blue! He years later told his name-sake son Bert Thomson Jr., that he sat on the first row of the church that night in front of the piano, with his mother-in-law Nanny Gaudet at his side, and a Presbyterian on the other, and his Baptist brother-in-law at the pulpit. What else could he do but the right and honorable thing? When Bert as a mechanic dropped a nut, from then on he did not swear - but in *everything* gave thanks! We *all* could take his example here - and I do! He would tell his family, grandchildren and great grandchildren - ?I love you! but *Jesus* loves you more!? What a family patriarch to his family, church, city and friends. When pastors of other denominational churches in the city couldn't find a pulpit supply when away - Bert filled in for well over seven of these! I had the privilege of giving a short cemetery address to some 100 family and friends. Bert asked if this could precede the Memorial Service, so that guests would not be forced at the reception to break off to go to the Cemetery! Could be interesting to see if this thoughtfulness on Bert's part might spread to other interments! At the cemetery I referred to Acts 13:48 (13:48-51) as a word for Bert, when the apostle Paul spoke to the church of Antioch of Pisidia; *?and as many as were **appointed** to eternal life **believed**!?* We do not know who God in His Sovereignty has appointed to eternal life. Our part is to preach to *all* - and those who *have* God's appointment, *respond* by believing! Bert was one of these. He said he could do no other when he clearly heard the Good News of the Kingdom of God through Jesus' Atoning death on the Cross! Jesus said in John 15:16 (15:1-16) - *?**You** did not choose me, **but I** **chose you** and **appointed** you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give it you? (ESV 2002). **This* was *eminently true* of Bert! He wanted to be a pastor, but God had him pastor a great family; a part in his home church; and a part in the City Church of Port Alberni. At the Memorial Service later that day at the First Baptist Church - two overflow rooms were overflowing! The town came out to honor Bert! His 4thson Bert Junior preached, and greatly honored his father. I look forward to the glad day when we all regather with Bert and Jesus and those who have gone before - all those whom God *appointed* to eternal life long before they were conceived - and like Bert when they heard the Good News of God's Kingdom in Jesus - also responded by believing! Bert Thomson Jr. is an ordained minister in Nashville, Tennessee, number two man in a world-wide fellowship of churches. He is soon moving to Toronto, Canada to lead in a city fellowship of 8 leaders in a new dimension of service in a city of some 5 million. Billy Graham founded the Lausanne Conference some years ago. It meets every five years. At its last meeting in South Africa - the key-note speaker from New York said that God's preparation for the return of His Son will *not* be accomplished by nations like the United States or Canada or Russia - but by *City Churches* such as Antioch, Jerusalem, Ephesus, Corinth and Rome of long ago. Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal, Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Nairobi (Kenya) - will be some of the cities God will use to pray back and prepare for the return of His Son! We have a Pilot Prayer Team of 8 in the SeaTac Metroplex. We are a 7-fold organic laser-telescope in the hands of Jesus, who uses us in a ?Spiritual Star Wars? context. The chief component part of this is ?God's Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek NT for Laymen.? Ivan Panin from Russia discovered what God placed in the Hebrew and Greek Bible texts 1000's of years ago; plus God's sentence, paragraph and section structure for each Bible book. Computers weren't available in Panin's day - so by hand with 43,000 pages, he prepared the texts for the 27 NT books. He died in 1942. In 1945 I started putting his Greek and English texts together in an outlined form. I too had to wait for computers to reach a level, and my grandson Keelan to give me an updated website with data-processed undergirding. From 2007 to 2010 I completed the first draft of this on the Website. I have proof-read this 4 times. It is now in the Printer's hands, and soon I will be proof-reading this final text. Then it can come into your hands. The second component part of this outlined laser-telescope is the ?City Church? concept with an Eldership in the Gate of each city church. This is what Bert Thomson Jr will be soon doing in Toronto! Marie and I drove all the way home from Port Alberni to Federal Way last Thursday, so I could be a part of a TV production at TBN in Federal Way on Friday. Two of us were interviewed on this program concerning God's desire for Israel. My part touched upon this, and also concerning this Interlinear production. This program will be shown next Friday August 19 at 8:30 am on ?Channel 20? in the Sea/Tac area. We will of course appreciate your prayers for the finalizing of the Interlinear printing and publication, as well as its demonstration in our area and in Toronto for the Pilot Prayer Team here and Bert Thomson's group there. There is a team of some 20 involved in the Interlinear Production. Panin and I are *not* the only ones involved in this. It is a *Team* effort! Panin spent some 100,000 hours in his part. I have spent some 50,000 hours in mine. But 1000's of hours have been spent by many of the team of 20, especially my grandson Keelan and our printer. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who have undergirded our team of 20. Your friends - Jim & Marie Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Aug 14 08:59:28 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2011 08:59:28 -0700 Subject: Gad - The Warrior Tribe! Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 14, 2011 *GAD UPDATE - THE WARRIOR TRIBE - 2011-08-13* *1. Genesis 30:11 (30:9-13) GAD: A SON OF GOOD FORTUNE. ?And Leah said, ?Good fortune has come!? so she called his name Gad? (ESV). *How good it is to have the blessing of God upon one as expressed by Leah as ?Good Fortune.? This is the way she perceived God's gift of Gad to her through her handmaid Zilpah. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. Genesis 49:19 (49:1-27) GAD: ONE WHO WILL RAID THE RAIDERS! ?Raiders shall raid Gad, but he shall raid at their heels.? *God chose to use Gad as one who administered ?Poetic Justice!? Those who attacked Gad, were in the end defeated by Gad! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. Deuteronomy 33:20-21 (33:1-29) GAD: ENLARGED BY GOD. ?Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad crouches like a lion; he tears off arm and scalp. 21 He chose the best of the land for himself, for there a commander's portion was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, with Israel he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments for Israel.? *It is good to receive a prophetic word from God in line with this. It fits in exactly with 1 Timothy 1:18 (1:28-20). *?This :charge I commit to you, Timothy child, according to the prophecies which led the way to you, that by them you war the good warfare? (NNT). *Paul revealed that through prophecies one can war a good warfare! Timothy did! Gad did! and through true and tested prophecies - you and I can! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. Ephesians 6:14-18 (6:10-20) GAD: LINKED WITH THE ARMOR OF GOD. ?Stand therefore, having girded your :loin with truth, and put on the breastplate of :righteousness, 15 and shod your :feet with preparation of the gospel of :peace; 16 in all things taking up the shield of the faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery :darts of the evil one. 17 And receive the helmet of :salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word: 18 with all prayer and supplication praying at every season in the Spirit, and watching unto it in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.? *A Gad-like spirit operates effectively through the armor of God. And note - this armor is applied primarily to a *corporate* man, and not to an individual. It has individual application - but it is specifically designed by God for those who move in a ?team spirit?. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. Matthew 6:16-18 (6:1-18) GAD: HIS ASSOCIATION WITH FASTING. ?And when you fast, become not as the hypocrites sad faced: for they disfigure their :faces, that they be seen of :men to fast. Amen I say unto you, They have their full reward. 17 But when YOU fast, anoint your :head, and wash your :face; 18 that you be not seen of :men to fast, but of your :Father who is in :secret: and your :Father, who sees in :secret, shall recompense you.? *?Shaping History through Prayer and Fasting? is one of the Key Books written by Derek Prince. Consider how Mahatma Gandhi used ?fasting? as a means to free India from British domination - and yet to preserve ?Friendship? between the two while doing so! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Numbers 24:9 (24:1-9) GAD: A LION - LIKE ISRAEL! ?He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.?* The Scriptures associate the majority of the tribes of Israel with an animal. Gad has the association of a lioness. Papa lion roars in a hole and shakes the earth, petrifying animals going to drink. Then Mama lion makes her kill, bringing it back to Papa and the cubs. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 1 Kings 18:21 (18:20-40) GAD: THE TRIBE OF ELIJAH. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ?How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.? *Elijah is considered by many to be a descendant of the tribe of Gad. He certainly had a lion-like nature. In this nature he confronted King Ahab and Jezebel. He also represented leadership with the other tribes on behalf of all of Israel. And - at Mount Carmel he rebuilt the broken-down altar of the LORD and restored Jehovah worship to Israel! *But deliver us from the evil** one!* *NOTE**: *When we consider the principles and characteristics of Gad as illustrated by the above 7 scriptures, we know that we too can enter in and share this great inheritance! It is the spirit of a ?warrior tribe? - slated for victory and not defeat. John the Baptist walked in this same spirit of Elijah. But even an Elijah needs to be arrayed in the armor of the Lord. We too need God as our 7-fold shield and 7-fold hedge. Look again at the 7-fold armor of God. *Morality* is protected when our loin is girded with truth, for *Jesus* is our Truth! And - it takes *righteousness* to keep our heart strong! When *peace* prepares our feet to bring us to share the Good News of the Kingdom - how *good* that is! And it is the shield of *faith* that enables us to ward off the fiery darts of the wicked one. And - faith comes by hearing - and hearing by Christ's R*E*ma word (Romans 10:17)! This is the Word of the Spirit - brought forth by meditating on our knees over the written LOgos word - until the Spirit quickens it back into its original * living* state! But without the helmet of *salvation*, we could not walk in the Romans 12:1-2 victory of a *renewed* and *protected* mind! Yet it is not sufficient to war in a defense mode - we need the sword of the Spirit, which again is the R*E*ma *word* of God. Only when we are like Rees Howells and * possessed* by the Spirit - is *He* enabled to speak through us and completely defeat Satan as Jesus did in the wilderness following His baptism. Three times Jesus quoted the Scriptures to Satan - and defeated him! and He, the Son of God as well as the Son of man said - ?Not one word have I spoken - or deed performed - but My Father through the Spirit initiated it! If God's only begotten Son so moved - *how much more* need *we * to walk in similar and parallel mode! And lastly, number seven - *praying in the Spirit* - is the capstone that finalizes all that the above six pieces of armor perform! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Aug 15 12:35:34 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:35:34 -0700 Subject: Benjamin Update Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 15, 2011 *BENJAMIN UPDATE - THE TRIBE OF TEAM-SPIRIT - 2011-08-15* *1. Genesis 35:18 (35:16-21) BENJAMIN: HIS NAME CHANGED. ?And as her soul (Rachel) was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni (son of my sorrow); but his father (Jacob) called him Benjamin (son of the right hand)? (ESV). *Of his twelve sons, Jacob named but one, the last. The name Ben-oni would have continually reminded him of the loss of his favorite wife. Our Father in heaven has set His only begotten Son at His right hand, just as Jacob set Benjamin there. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. Genesis 49:27 (49:1-27) BENJAMIN: A RAVENOUS WOLF! ?Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.? *The tribe of Benjamin was a very fierce, left-handed, tribe. Saul, Israel's first king was of this tribe, who made 21 attempts upon the life of David. Saul of Tarsus who became Paul the Gentile apostle, was also of this tribe. In the beginning he had a fierce hatred of the early Christians. But Benjamin through Paul has brought great blessing to the church. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. Deuteronomy 33:12 (33:1-29) BENJAMIN: GOD'S SAFETY FOR HIM. Of Benjamin he said, ?The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.? *Jerusalem is in the tribe of Benjamin, and when the Kingdom split because of the sin of Solomon, this tribe was given by God to Judah of David. Jerusalem - Zion - the City of God - indeed rests between his shoulders! How surely God's prophetic word comes to pass! Not *one* such word has *ever* failed! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. Philippians 3:4b-6 (3:2-16) BENJAMIN: FROM WHICH THE APOSTLE PAUL SPRANG! ?If any other thinks to have confidence in flesh, I yet more: 5circumcised the eighth day, of Israel's race, of Benjamin's tribe, Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching law, a Pharisee; 6 as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching righteousness which is by law, become blameless? (NNT). *Paul the apostle in the natural - the flesh - was not ashamed of his Benjaminite heritage. But from the vantage point of the Kingdom of God - he set such things aside. It would do well for *all of us* to follow this wise and humble example of Paul. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. Hebrews 6:1-2 (5:11-6:8) BENJAMIN: LINKED WITH FOUNDATION TRUTHS! ?Therefore leaving the word of the beginning of the Christ, let us be borne unto the perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 -the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.? *For a group to move in ?team spirit? - it must *first* be well-grounded in foundation truths. The above 6 - plus a seventh of *being borne unto the perfection* - are absolutely essential. To sit in the Gate of a City Church as an Eldership or Presbytery of eight - and to *function* under Christ's direction as an ?Automated Laser-Telescope? - such a team must walk together in unity under the full Headship of Christ! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. Judges 20:4-7 (19-21) BENJAMIN: NECESSARY, IN SPITE OF SIN! And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, ?I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. 5 And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead. 6 So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel. 7 Behold, you people of Israel, all of you, give your advice and counsel here.? *It would be well to reread these 3 chapters of Judges again. In spite of the judgment that fell on Benjamin for the above sin, the 11 tribes used of God in this judgment - did *not* rejoice - but mourned! For they knew that it took *all 12 tribes*for God to make use of them. They therefore contrived to supply the remaining 600 men of Benjamin with wives! Else we would have missed Paul the apostle and his 14 epistles! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. Judges 3:15 (3:12-30) BENJAMIN: A DELIVERER IN EHUD! ?Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, and the LORD raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.? *Here again we see why one linked with the tribe of Benjamin, like Saul of Tarsus, needs desperately to be saved! Spiritually speaking, I am linked with this tribe. I *know* how desperately *I needed* to be saved. God used Ehud, and He can use any of us! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *Next to Jesus of God and the Tribe of Judah - is Paul of the tribe of Benjamin. And *what* is one of the outstanding features of the apostle Paul? For me - it is his humility in ?Team-spirit?. Once the Lord Jesus arrested him on the road to Damascus, there was a growing and complete transformation that took place in his life. He let Jesus Christ be his all-in-all according to Galatians 2:20! His complete life: body, soul and spirit - was *now* at the full disposal of Jesus through His Spirit. Rees Howells, George Muller, Oswald Chambers and George Whitefield among many others, joined Paul in this complete surrender. *This*is what the Lord desires from *each one of us*. We are not saved to be blessed! We are saved to serve, and live at the full disposal of God. For *His* pleasure we are created! Of all Bible characters - Paul most completely portrays the plan God would have each one of us to walk in. Remember Acts 13:48 (13:42-52) *GOD'S BACKGROUND FOR OUR SALVATION. ?And as the nations heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of :God: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed!? *It is *good* to remember that before our conception, God not only foreknew us - but He also *appointed* us to eternal life. Then when this Good Message was clearly delivered to us - we followed God's plan through, and believed! Our God is Sovereign. The biography of George Whitefield by Arnold A. Dallimore makes this eminently clear. It can be obtained as a reasonable used copy on Amazon. One friend of mine had difficulty in determining who to put first in importance: Joseph or Benjamin! Both are born of the same mother - Jacob's favorite wife. Joseph is linked with Jesus in so many parallel ways. Yet Benjamin and the significance of ?team spirit? in his history - is gripping. Look again at Paul. How he depended on the prayers of others - and coveted them! How he appreciated his fellow team members, that he mentions so often in his epistles. So - you be the judges - and decide! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Aug 16 11:34:14 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:34:14 -0700 Subject: Exodus 32-34 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 16, 2011 *FEB 11 - EXODUS 32-34 - THE TABERNACLE: ITS DELAY* *1. 32:7-8a (32:1-10) THE GOLDEN CALF. And the LORD said to Moses, ?Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ?These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt'? (ESV)! *What a heinous sin! Israel manifested Satan's kingdom, not Yours, O Father! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 32:13 (32:11-19) THE INTERCESSION OF MOSES. ?Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, 'I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.'? *We see here the great power of intercession, Father! * Your :kingdom come.* *3. 32:31-32 (32:20-35) JUDGMENT OF THE LORD. So Moses returned to the LORD and said, ?Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if you will forgive their sin - but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.? *This is the height of intercession, Father. Israel needed this. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 33:11 (33:1-11) THE LORD WITHDRAWS. ?Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.? *Here is the making of a leader and successor. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 33:18-19 (33:12-23) MOSES DESIRES A REVELATION FROM THE LORD. Moses said, ?Please show me your glory.? 19 And he said, ?I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.? *You are the Potter, Father, and we are the clay. Do with us as You will. You are Sovereign, and have the right to choose for salvation whom You will. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 34:6b-7 (34:1-28) THE LORD'S COVENANT REVELATION TO MOSES! ?The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.? *THIS is Your character, O Great Jehovah Father! Like Moses, we worship before You, for Your Name also is *JEALOUS.*? *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 34:29 (34:29-35) TRANSFIGURATION OF MOSES. ?When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.? *From glory to glory You are changing us, Father! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 34:28 (34:1-28) ?So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.? *Father, we are humbled that You had to write this covenant the second time. The sin of Israel with the Golden Calf - while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments - God's Covenant - upon Mount Sinai the *first* time - *delayed * God's purposes in the timing of the Tabernacle. There are many lessons for us in these three chapters. For me - the chief one - is the 13-fold revelation of the *glory* of God - given at the request of Moses. God here called His glory *His goodness*! Synonyms from the hand of God have special significance! Each of the above 7 selected verses with their contexts - bring forth insights of significance. And as Paul reveals - all OT types and shadows have lessons of importance for you and me. Indeed, NT saints did not have the New Testament in written form of its 27 books completed until approximately 90 AD. The early apostles and teachers taught directly from the OT - interpreting it in the light of the Finished Work of Christ - which fulfilled the OT. Jesus *was* and *is* the New Covenant! Isaiah twice refers to Him in a Messianic sense as the *Covenant*! And what is our Psalm of the day but 41:12-13 (41:1-13) - *?But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. 13Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.?* This ends the first of the five Books of Psalms. Father, we praise You that this Psalm begins with remembering the poor. Israel did. You always do. We would hallow Your Name by doing so also. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Aug 17 20:57:32 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:57:32 -0700 Subject: Exodus 35:1-39:31 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 17, 2011 *FEB 12 - EXODUS 35:1-39:31 - THE TABERNACLE: ITS COMPLETION* *1. 35:4b-5 (35:1-9) TABERNACLE: ITS SABBATH AND OFFERINGS. ?This is the thing that the LORD has commanded. 5 Take from among you a contribution to the LORD. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD'S contribution: gold, silver, and bronze.? *God loves a cheerful giver - Give it all you've got. He loves to hear you laughing, When you're in an awkward spot. When the odds add up against you, It's time to shout and sing. Praise God! To praise Him is a *joyous* thing! (From the Medical Sisters). *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 35:29 (35:10-35) TABERNACLE: BEZALEL AND AHOLIAB. ?All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD.? *It is Your will Father, that we have *willing hearts*, and *joyful*, in what we do for You! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 36:6-7 (36) TABERNACLE: ITS CURTAINS AND BOARDS. So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, ?Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.? So the people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more. *What a marvelous grace of giving! Imagine needing to be restrained from giving! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 37:7, 9 (37) TABERNACLE: ITS FURNITURE IN BOTH ROOMS. ?And he made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered work on the two ends of the mercy seat. 9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.? *The cherubim always saw the blood of the Covenant on the mercy seat. It represented the Covenant You and the Son made with each other on our behalf, Father. Unfortunately we too often but dimly see and understand this gift! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 38:8 (38:1-8) TABERNACLE: THE ALTAR AND LAVER. ?He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.? *Here we as a Kingdom of priests see whether our walk and works are pure before You, Father! O refine us, Great Messenger of the Covenant, as silver and gold! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 38:22-23a (38:9-31) TABERNACLE: THE OUTER COURT. ?Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses; 23 and with him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.? *This work was like the wall and gates of Jerusalem restored by Nehemiah, which caused the enemies of the LORD to be greatly cast down! *And lead us not into temptation.* *7. 39:30-31 (39:1-31) TABERNACLE: THE PRIESTLY GARMENTS. ?They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engraving of a signet, 'Holy to the LORD.' 31 And they tied to it a cord of blue to fasten it on the turban above, as the LORD had commanded Moses.? *Holiness on our mind must be the first wave before the second wave of Your Kingdom rolls in, Father! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 39:14 (39:1-31) TABERNACLE: ITS 12 STONES FOR ISRAEL'S 12 TRIBES. ?There were twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They were like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.? *Now see a practical application of this truth! In 1969 the father of Pastor Jack Hayford was reading this portion of Scriptures for his morning devotions, when the Spirit spoke to his spirit, ?My son, if you will take Judah's name off the red sardius stone and replace it with your Clan Name 'Hayford'; and if you'll take Issachar's name off the yellow topaz and replace it with your wife's maiden name of 'Smith'; and if you will agree in prayer together twice a day for your two Clans - I will make an effective witness to every Hayford and Smith Clan member throughout the world - and those of open heart who I have appointed to eternal life (Acts 13:48) - *will believe*!? Within the next six months 4 Hayfords and two Smiths came to the Lord, none of the six previously being known to Pastor Jack Hayford's two parents! The first one came to Oakland, California where his father lived, and on impulse (?) phoned Jack Hayford's father as the first one listed in the phone book - to see if perchance they were related. After some 30 minutes checking - sure enough - they found they were 4th or 5th cousins! Then Pastor Hayford's father asked - ?By chance have you been born of the Spirit? Are you in God's Kingdom?? His reply - ?It's odd you should ask that! Within the last six months I have had an unexpected encounter with God - and yes - I opened my heart to receive His Son Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior!? Following these six, the Hayfords had no other indication of answered prayer in this direction. When queried, God reminded the father that in 2 Corinthians 13:2 - *as in the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses every word is confirmed *- ?I have given 6 witnesses! How can you walk by faith if I continue to give you witnesses? You and your wife remain faithful, and when you get to heaven, you will *see* what I have done!? The parents for the next 10 years twice daily faithfully prayed together for both Household (Acts 16:31) and *Clan Salvation*. Then Mr. Hayford Sr. had his Home-call in 1979. For the next 3 years Pastor Hayford's mother continued this challenge alone, and in June of 1982 shared with her pastor son what God had led his father and her to do. ?Mother?, why didn't dad tell me of this challenge?? ?O, you know your father son - if God led a layman in such a challenge - how much more would every pastor know of this opportunity and privilege? Why waste your time, son?? Pastor Jack had not previously heard of such a challenge! He immediately researched the Scriptures, and discovered that Clan Salvation was every bit as scriptural as Household Salvation. He then resolved that whenever he was invited to preach a one-service stand - unless the host pastor or God led him to preach otherwise, he would always preach on ?Clan Salvation?. On the first Wednesday of August 1982 he shared this at the First Baptist church of Arcata, California where I was serving in my 6th year as Associate Pastor. The next morning as Marie and I knelt in prayer, I prayed for the Watt Clan, the Gaudet clan (Marie's maiden name); the Chartrand clan (Marie's maternal grandfather's name) and the Mosher clan (My mother's maiden name). Within 18 months God opened the door to the Lacert Clan (Marie's maternal grandmother's clan name) - and 18 months later the Chartrands - and in 1996 led her to discover her lost 75 year old half brother - Gerard Gaudet! We know of over 40 of our Household and Clans who have come to the Lord! That month I read in the San Francisco Chronicle that 500 Chinese in that city of the ?Hu? Clan - met annually to celebrate their clan. *But* on mainland China there were 60 million of the Hu Clan! ?O God?, I prayed, ?please lead me to a 'Hu' to lead to the Lord, and start him praying for his 60 million clan members!? Within a short while I was preaching in the University area of Vancouver BC. At the close of the service, a Chinese lady came and informed me - ?My name is Monica Hu - and this morning I started to pray for my 60 million Chinese Clan members! Marie and I have seen over 3000 come to the Lord through preaching Household Salvation - and have no idea how many clan members we will meet in heaven because of Pastor Jack Hayford's challenge through his father. Will you join us in this faith challenge? Our Psalm for the day: - *42:11 (42:1-11) TURNING DEPRESSION INTO PRAISE! ?Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.? *O may we learn to reason with You from Your Word Father, as did David! J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Aug 18 12:07:44 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:07:44 -0700 Subject: Exodus 29:32-40:38 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 18, 2011 *FEB 13 - EXODUS 39:32-40:38 - THE TABERNACLE: ITS CONFIRMATION* *1. 39:32 (39:32-40:8) TABERNACLE COMPLETED: HOW TO SET UP. ?Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished, and the people of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did? (ESV). *This glorified You, Father. O may we too have a willing heart to do *all* things concerning Your Kingdom with a like regard. May we make visible accurately Your invisible Kingdom. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 40:9 (40:9-11) TABERNACLE: ANOINTED! ?Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy.?* This is a sign of the Holy Spirit sanctifying all our obedience. This should always be our heart's desire! * Your :kingdom come.* *3. 40:12-13 (40:12-15) TABERNACLE: PRIESTS WASHED, CLOTHED AND ANOINTED. ?Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water 13 and put on Aaron the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve me as priest.? *Kingdom anointing follows holiness preparation. It is our delight to follow in *all* Your ways, Father! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 40:16 TABERNACLE: MOSES OBEYS. ?This Moses did; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did.? *O that we might have a heart like Moses! O that we sought to please You Father - body, soul and spirit, as did Moses! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 40:17 (40:17-33) TABERNACLE: REARED UP. ?In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.? *One year to the month after the *Passover** *in Egypt, the tent of the congregation was erected. What a memorial! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 40:34-35 TABERNACLE: CONFIRMED BY GLORY CLOUD. ?Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.? *This was Your *sign*from heaven Father, registering Your approval! How Your enemies must have been cast down! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 40:36-37 (40:36-38) TABERNACLE: MOVED WITH ISRAEL BY CLOUD. ?Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up.? *This glorified You, Father! May we be just as sensitive to Your Spirit! *But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: 40:38 (40:36-38) GOD'S GLORY CLOUD AT ALL TIMES VISIBLE TO ISRAEL. ?For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.? *This must have been an awesome sight to both Israel and the surrounding nations. This reading completes the 14th day of Exodus! What a book! It contains the 10 commandments; the 10 plagues on Pharaoh and Egypt; the account of the first Passover; the plan, building and erection of the Tabernacle. And *all of these* are but types and shadows with rich spiritual lessons for us in the church, God's One New Man - composed of both Jews and Gentiles. Note that the 10 Commandments are called God's Covenant with Israel. It was a faulty covenant, for Israel was never able to keep their part of it. It was but a schoolmaster to hold Israel steady until Jesus - the New Covenant - came to write the Old by His Spirit on our hearts and minds along with Israel! So - we are *not* to go back to the Old - but to walk in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2) - which has *freed us* from the law of sin and death! Can we see this? Can we receive it? It will free us as it did Paul and those of the early church who also could see it. Easy? Not at all. See in Galatians, how Peter and Barnabas both fell from this freeing truth. Messianic Jewish Congregations today? Many here to are unable to see the fullness of this, especially the Gentile part. Cultural Judaism? No problem here. But this is for Jewish believers - not Gentile believers. There are many wanna-be's among the latter, who cause great wonderment among their Jewish friends. It is so difficult to strike a godly balance in the midst of all the above. And finally - our Psalm for the day! *PSALM 43:5 (43:1-5) SEND OUT YOUR LIGHT AND YOUR TRUTH. ?Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.? *Hope is for the future; Faith is for the *now*! Now-faith - brings invisible future hope into visibility and present reality! J.A.Watt * * * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Aug 19 10:21:21 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:21:21 -0700 Subject: Mark 1:1-8 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 19, 2011 *(From: MARK #1 - 1:1-8)* *MARK - SUMMARY: THE GOSPEL OF SERVICE AND POWER* *I. 1:1-8 THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST - INTRODUCTION* *a. 1:1 A beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.* ArCH*E* [746] tou eu-ag-geLIou [2098] I*e*SOU ChrisTOU. *b. 1:2-4 JOHN PREPARES FOR JESUS BY A REPENTANCE MESSAGE* KaTH*O*S GEgrap-tai en t*o* *E*-SAIa t*o* proPH*E*t*e* [4396]: *Even** as **it is written in :Isaiah the prophet:* I-DOU, a-poSTELl*o* ton AGgeLON [32] mou pro proS*O*pou [4383] sou, *Lo, I send my :messenger before your face,* hos ka-ta-skeuAsei [2680] t*e*n hoDON [3598] sou; ph*o*N*E* [5456] bo*O*Ntos [994] en t*e* eR*E*m*o* [2048], *Who shall prepare your :way; 3 A voice of one crying in the wilderness,* He-toiMAsa-te [2090] t*e*n hoDON KuRIou, euTHEIas [2117] poiEIte tas TRIbous [5147] auTOU;- *Make you ready the way of the Lord, Make his :paths straight;-* eGEne-to I*o*An*e*s, ho bapTIz*o*n [907] en t*e* eR*E*m*o* k*e*RUSs*o*n [2784] *4 John came, who was baptizing in the wilderness and preaching* BAPtis-ma [908] me-taNOIas [3341] eis Aphe-sin [859] ha-mar-ti*O*N [266]. *a baptism of repentance unto remission of sins.* *c. 1:5 THE WIDE RESULTS OF JOHN'S MESSAGE* kai e-xe-poREUe-to pros auTON PAsa h*e* IouDAIa CH*O*ra [5561], *And all the country of Judea went out unto him,* kai hoi Ie-ro-so-luMEItai PANtes; kai e-bapTIzon-to hup' auTOU *and all they of Jerusalem; and were baptized of him* en t*o* IorDAn*e* po-taM*O* [4215], e-xo-mo-loGOUme-noi [1843] tas ha-marTIas auT*O*N. *in the river Jordan, confessing their :sins.* *d. 1:6 JOHN'S FOOD AND CLOTHING* kai *e*n ho I*o*An*e*s en-de-duMEnos [1746] TRIchas [2359] kaM*E*lou [2574] *And :John was clothed with camel's hair* kai Z*O*n*e*n der-maTIn*e*n [1193] peRI t*e*n osPHUN [3751] auTOU; kai ESth* o*n aKRIdas kai MEli Agri-on. *and a leather girdle about his :loin; and was eating locusts and wild honey.* *e. 1:7 JOHN HIGHLY EXALTS JESUS* kai eK*E*rus-sen, LEg*o*n, ERche-tai ho i-schuROteROS [2478] mou oPIs*o*mou, hou ouk eiMI hi-kaNOS *And he preached, saying, After me comes the one mightier than I, the latchet* KUpsas [2955] LUsai [3089] ton hiMANta [2438] t*o*n hu-po-d*e*MAt*o*n [5266]auTOU. *of whose :shoes I am not fit to stoop down and unloose.* *f. 1:8 I baptized you with water; but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.* eG*O* eBAPti-sa huMAS HUda-ti [5204]; auTOS de bapTIsei huMAS PNEUma-ti [4151] HaGI*o* [40]. *NOTE: *The Gospel of Mark with its first eight verses points up the uniqueness of Panin's Discovery of Bible Numerics as it relates to a clearer and more accurate context. The old adage of ?A text without a context is a pretext? applies here. God's Bible Numeric sentence, subdivision, paragraph and section structure - establishes a context for the entire NT with a uniqueness not found anywhere else. For instance: between Ephesians chapter 1 and chapter 2, Bible Numerics makes but a *sentence* division - *not* a chapter - as is normally found. Here in Mark, the first 8 verses form a Section or chapter equivalent. This sets these 8 verses apart in a unique and important manner. The next chapter equivalent section is Mark 1:9 to 6:29! This throws an entirely different light on these beginning 6 chapters from the point of view of contextual understanding. I encourage all readers of this Interlinear Greek NT based on the two texts of Ivan Panin - to carefully examine all NT books from this outlined point of view. Many of the insights found in my *NOTES* - spring out of such an examination. I am not sure if even Panin himself saw the importance of outlining the entire NT on the basis of his Discovery. God set this up at the time of each Hebrew and Greek Bible writer, and not even *they* were aware of this unusual and helpful feature. It would seem that God has reserved the production of a text featuring this Discovery of ?Context? for the ?Last Days,? preceding the return of His Son - to offset the erroneous ?Textual Criticism? of many of the Liberal, Modernistic and Humanistic so-called scholars. It was in 1945 that I discovered the significance of Ivan Panin's Discovery. Since then I have devoted tens of thousands of hours to produce this Interlinear Greek NT, which has but 40 chapters to go for completion. The enemy of our souls greatly hates and fears this production. Four different individuals who call themselves friends of Ivan Panin, have done everything in their power to undermine this work, giving it a twist that completely destroys its efficacy. Normally - at 87 I should be too old to be giving myself to this work. But I believe I have a mandate from God to do this for Him - no matter how difficult. It is for me, then, a joy to have heard his Word in 1967 - ?Get *My* New Testament done!? This for me is then a labor of love, and a privilege to please Him. If *He* is pleased, I am pleased. If others are pleased and profit from it also, that is an extra bonus. For *me alone* to make use of this Interlinear, the labor has been worth it. Mark 1:8 contrasts John's *water* baptism with that of Jesus' *Spirit*baptism. The two are analogous! They are both baptisms of *immersion*, not ?washing? as one has said. In the family of words or cognates surrounding the root word *baptize*, (bapTIz*o*); there are 80 total references, with 4 parts of speech involved. All but one of these deal with immersion. bap-tisMOS, appearing 4 times in the NT, *is* properly translated a ?washing?, but *none* of the other 76. This is an example where ?a little bit of Greek is a dangerous thing.? One of the 4 so-called friends of Panin with no academic background in Greek, has changed Panin's translation in all 80 cases to say ?Washing? or ?to wash.? Who needs enemies when they have so-called friends? I do *not* count myself as a scholar. I have had 2 years of classical Greek at the University of Saskatchewan under Dr. Leddy, a Rhodes scholar; and 3 years of NT Greek, which does not make one a scholar, but it does provide some background in this area. I have also had 5 years of Latin and 5 years of Hebrew, which *again*, does *not*qualify one as a scholar; but it does give somewhat to help Lay-folk make use of the Bible Numeric Discoveries of Panin. In 1947 at St. Andrew's College, a Seminary of the United Church of Canada in Saskatchewan, I studied the Gospel of Mark under Dr. John Corston from Nova Scotia, who obtained his doctorate degree in Greek from Edinburgh, Scotland. He knew this Gospel so thoroughly, that he could quote it in Greek in its entirety, giving his own free translation as he went along. One day for a special verse, he asked the 20 or so of us in the class, to read from any other translation we happened to have, to give more light on the verse. Mr. Thomas read from Panin's English translation, which he had purchased from me. Dr. Corston said - ?Mr. Thomas - that translation comes most closely to the Greek text. From what are you reading?? When Mr. Thomas said that it was Ivan Panin's translation, the professor replied - ?Oh no! that this could happen to me!? The average scholar is like Dr. Corston. He won't even investigate the validity of Bible Numerics. Such scholars say, ?This is so incredible, that it's not even worth investigating!? Even many Evangelical scholars often take this same position. But what *they* count incredible - God chose the only two languages in the world, Hebrew and Greek, which have no numerical equivalents, for His Bible of 66 books. (24 in the Jewish OT). When numbers are substituted for letters, the Antichrist, the man of sin, when he comes, will be equivalent to ?666?. Jesus in Greek - ?I*e*SOUS? - is 888. Iota, 10; *E*ta, 8; Sigma, 200; Omi-cron, 70; Upsi-lon, 400; SIGma, 200; Total, *888*! Go to our Website, *;* and click on ?Interlinear?. At the close of the Introduction, is a ?URL?, leading to Toronto, Canada, for an article on ?How to Use Bible Numerics to witness to Mathematical and Scientific individuals.? There are 5 links in this article. The one under ?Dr. Keith L. Brooks,? is helpful as an introduction. It also makes available how to order all books ?by? or ?on? Ivan Panin. Karl Sabiers book was written in 1941 one year before Panin's death in Aldershot, Ontario. Sabiers interviewed him for one year prior to the writing of this book, so it clearly represents the final thinking of Panin on this Discovery. Panin's Introduction to his Bible Numeric Greek NT is very helpful also, for those who desire to check out more thoroughly this extraordinary Discovery. Panin was not the first to make this Discovery. It had been uncovered by Astruc in the 1700's - but Panin was the first to do 100,0000 hours of research to produce a Greek NT with no alternate readings, and an English translation setting forth the contextual basis of sentences, subdivision, paragraphs and sections or chapter equivalents. Because of this phenomenal research, he could be called the true Discoverer. I apologize for the length of this *NOTE*: there are many already convinced of the integrity of Panin's Discovery, and others who are interested to research it for personal satisfaction. Men like Dr. Jowett of Scotland, Winkie Pratney of New Zealand, Dr. David duPlessis of South Africa, are but 3 of hundreds who are satisfied with the Discovery claims of Dr. Panin. J.A.Watt *Addendum**: *Here are a couple of good questions that came in as a result of the above mailing. I am giving them, plus my response: ?I find the explanation about ?bap-tisMOS? interesting. Obviously, I too hold that biblical baptism means the immersion of the believer. But I am curious about the explanation. Two questions: If ?bap-tisMOS means *immersion*, then why don't you translate it ?immersion? rather than the more nebulous transliteration ?baptism? that I believe was invented in the early English translations to avoid taking sides in the immersion/dipping/pouring debate? And, what is the actual difference in meaning between ?washing? and ?immersion? since both would refer to the total contact of water with that which is being ?baptized?? Does ?washing? refer to the impact of the act ofbaptism while ?immersion? refer to the mode of the act?? - Just interested in your thinking. *Answer*: Good questions - not sure if I can give a satisfactory answer - but here goes - One: bap-tisMOS really doesn't mean immersion in the strict sense of what John the Baptist or Jesus' disciples or the early church did. It seems to be a specific noun used in Jewish liturgy for the Levitical washing of sacrifices and containers. In the Tabernacle and Temple there were water containers specifically for this purpose, not directly for immersion. The Levites washed parts of the sacrifice at these places, and the utensils connected with these duties - so that immersion was not really the thought here. My former associate took these 4 references, and applied them to all the other 76 - *not* kosher! Here's another thought: John Knox, when sent back to Scotland by Calvin, had to make a decision on the ?mode? of baptism. 49 went down to London from Scotland for this purpose. 24 voted for immersion; 24 for sprinkling. The Chairman cast the deciding vote for sprinkling - hence the Presbyterians (my background) by one vote left the Baptist field! King James set English translators to produce the King James or Authorized Version of 1611. The King was a language scholar, so the translators came to him with their specific problem. They reminded him that bapTIz*o* in the Greek literally means to dip or immerse. Should they translate it this way, the people would say - ?Then why don't we do it?? But if we transliterate the Greek word, we can give it any meaning we want.? Reply of the King - ?Transliterate it? - and say it means to sprinkle. - Interesting! Question 2 - The difference between ?washing? and ?immersion is based on the technical Levitical use of the two words. So - only 4 times in the NT is ?washing? the proper translation for the technical use of bap-tisMOS - while all the other 76 are properly translated dip as in dyeing - or immersion. So - really there *is* a distinct difference as I understand between bap-tisMOS and the other references, and should not be confused. Maybe this doesn't answer your questions to your satisfaction - but it seems the best I can do - Jim. *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Aug 20 09:13:24 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 09:13:24 -0700 Subject: Mark 1:1-8 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 20, 2100 *FEB 14 - MARK 1:1-8 - JOHN THE BAPTIST INTRODUCES JESUS* *1. 1:1 JESUS: BEGINNING OF HIS GOOD NEWS. ?A BEGINNING of the gospel of Jesus Christ? (NNT). *Father, there is *no one* like Jesus, Your only-begotten Son, whom You have made both Lord and Christ, and the Head over all things in the Church. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 1:2-3 JOHN: FORETOLD BY PROPHETS. ?Even as it is written in :Isaiah the prophet: Who shall prepare your :way; 3 A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his :paths straight;? *Father, You foretold John, and sent him to prepare for Your Christ. Like John, we would do your will and prepare for Christ's second coming: first in us - and *then* to the world! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 1:4 JOHN: HIS MINISTRY. ?John came, who was baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance unto remission of sins.? *This is the beginning of having our needs met: repentance unto remission of sin. *Then*we can begin to live a true life! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 1:5 JOHN: HIS SUCCESS. ?And all the country of Judea went out unto him, and all they of Jerusalem; and were baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their :sins.? *You had Isaiah say that we should confess and forsake our sins, Father. John had the same message. May we too have the message of John. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 1:6 JOHN'S CLOTHING AND FOOD. ?And :John was clothed with camel's hair and a leather girdle about his :loin; and was eating locusts and wild honey.? *We too have on the armor of God, beginning with our loin girded about with *truth*! By voluntarily submitting to testing, we may avoid being led into unnecessary testing. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 1:7 JOHN: PROCLAIMS MIGHTINESS OF JESUS! ?And he preached, saying, After me comes the one mightier that I, the latchet of whose :shoes I am not fit to stoop down and unloose.? **Humility*: the badge of the faithful servant of God! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 1:8 JOHN: POINTS TO JESUS AS HOLY SPIRIT BAPTIZER. ?I baptized you with water; but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.? *And *this* is the Kingdom of God made manifest: Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: Mark 1:3 THE MESSAGE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. ?Make ready the way of * *the Lord, Make his :paths straight!? *Father, Your path was straight in Jesus. We too would bring down the high, lift up the low, remove the stones, and make the crooked in us straight! God not only revealed to Ivan Panin the foundation of Bible Numerics through the Hebrew and Greek languages - but also the sentence, paragraph and section format for each of the 27 NT books. The same exists in the Hebrew OT - but Panin from 1890 to 1942 labored on his task prior to the days of computer. So - by hand - he prepared in 10 years a Bible Numeric Greek Lexicon; then a Greek text tested by Bible Numerics to eliminate some 3000 alternate readings; plus an English translation of this Greek text, guided by the Numeric Greek Lexicon; plus a Bible Chronology of 245 deducible dates produced first by Bible evidence alone - and then confirmed by Bible Numerics. This latter placed these 245 dates into 8 periods, each ending with a Covenant. 21 stand out unusually, and three of these especially so. Following I am inserting these 21 dates and 8 periods: *Significant Dates *** *Bible Chronology: 21/245 * *Period 1. Adam To Flood: 1656 years; * 4003 to 2347 B.C. 10. Enoch 365, translated, Gen. 5:24 3016 B.C. *Period 2. Flood to Covenant: 451 years * 2346 to 1896 B.C. 26. Eber 34; Peleg born; Gen.11:16 2246 B.C. 42. Abraham 99, The Covenant, Gen. 17:1 1896 B.C. *Period 3. Covenant to Exodus, 430 years * 1895 to 1466 B.C. 60. Joseph 30, is before Pharaoh, Gen. 41-53 1714 B.C. 61. Seven years of plenty end, Gen. 41-53 1707 B.C. 67. Moses born, Ex. 2:2 1546 B.C. *Period 4. Exodus to Temple, 480 years * 1465 to 986 B.C. 72. Years 40 to Exodus, Deut. 1:3, Moses & Aaron die 1427 B.C. 74. Caleb 85, Division of Land; Jsh. 14:10 1420 B.C. 76. 40 years and Oppression begins, Jud. 3:11 1392 B.C. 81. 80 years end, Ehud dies; Jud. 3:30 Deliverance 1273 B.C. 96. 1 Jephthah, Jud. 12:7 1126 B.C. 108. Philistines 40 years end; Jud. 12:15-13:1; Mizpeh 1056 B.C. 114. 2 Ishbosheth, 2 Sam. 2:8-11; David sole King 1028 B.C. 119. 4 Solomon, Temple Begun, 1 Kings 6:1 986 B.C. *Period 5. Temple to Captivity; 429 years * 985 to 557 B.C. 120. 11 Solomon, Temple finished, 1 Kings 6:38 979 B.C. 189. 4 Hezekiah, 7 Hoshea, 2 Kings a7:5; 18:9, Samaria besieged 692 B.C. 214. 6 Jehoiakim, Dan. 1:1, 3:5 Nebuchadnezzar's dream 573 B.C. 222. 9 Zedekiah; Jer. 24:1, Jerusalem besieged 559 B.C.. *Period 6 Captivity to Restoration; 70 years * 556-487 B.C. 230. 37 Captivity Jehoiachin, 1 Evil Merodach, Jer. 52:21 531 B.C. *Period 7. Restoration to the Christ; 483 years * 486 to 4 B.C. *Period 8. Nativity to Pentecost; 33 years * 3 B.C. to 30 A.D. 240. The Lord Jesus 12 years old, Luke 2:41-42 9 A.D. 245. 30 A.D. The Cross, Resurrection and Ascension & Pentecost, Jn 19:14-16; Lk 24:1-21; Acts 1:3-9 Mark 1:1-8 is marked out as one of the six sections of this Gospel. The Holy Spirit through Mark highlighted these first 8 verses as a complete introduction to this entire Gospel. You can go to our Website *< www.2rbetter.org> *and see the entire NT laid out in an Outlined Interlinear Greek format for Laymen under ?Interlinear?. There you can see how Bible Numerics sets forth this Gospel in these six sections. This manuscript is now in the hands of the Printer, and perhaps this year it will be possible to obtain the entire printed text. *Psalm 44:1-2 (44:1-26) COME TO OUR HELP! ?O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: 2 you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free? (ESV). *O LORD, our God, how great You are! What You did for Israel, You have done for us in Jesus! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Aug 21 09:48:56 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2011 09:48:56 -0700 Subject: Covenant: Seattle Presbytery Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 21, 2011 *COVENANT: SEATTLE PRESBYTERY ? JUNE 1971* *HISTORY* In 1971 a group of Seattle pastors under the leadership of Dennis Bennett of St. Luke?s Episcopal Church ? convened a conference composed of 30 North American traveling 5-fold ministries, with a core group of 8 local pastors. Father Bennett had been ministering in Florida earlier in the year. As he and Bob Mumford had fellowship, Bob mentioned a serious problem. Many of these traveling ministries did not know each other, and found it easy to bad-mouth one another behind the back of the one referred to. This often took place both privately and publicly. It was Bob?s belief, that if these men could meet for a week with one another in closed session ? it would then be more difficult to speak disparagingly of one another in their absence. Dennis told Bob of the Seattle pastors who were then meeting on a monthly basis ? some 30 or so in number. He felt they would take this challenge, and play host for such a conference. In January of 1971 the Seattle men unanimously accepted this challenge; and believed God to meet a normal weekly honorarium for each of the 30 traveling ministries, plus their full travel expenses, as well as their room and board while in Seattle. Morning and afternoon for 10 sessions, Dennis chaired these closed meetings. Some dozen subjects came under scrutiny and discussion ? but the most important subject centered on interpersonal relationships and problems ? and how scripturally to address it. Derek Prince presented a paper in 8 parts entitled ?Covenant: Seattle Presbytery.? After serious discussion, it was accepted and signed by both the 30 delegates, and later by many other pastors in the SeaTac Metroplex. In the 1700?s John Wesley prepared 52 sermons to train his Class Leaders of 8, who led some 70,000 at that time in weekly meetings in the British Isles. Later Lenin copied the Class Meeting concept and adapted it to Communist Cell Meetings. An English Sociologist of that day ? not a Christian believer ? stated emphatically, that apart from the Weekly Class Meetings inaugurated by the Wesleys ? Great Britain would have experienced in a similar fashion what took place in the French Revolution of 1789. John Wesley?s classic sermon on Matthew 18:15-17 was entitled, ?The Cure of Evil Speaking.? Here is his definition ? Any person who speaks of an absent brother in a derogatory manner, engages in ?Evil Speaking.? It is all too easy to use E-mails today in this manner, and thus violate the first commandment that Jesus gave the church, and the one we most often disobey and break Following is the article Derek Prince prepared for Seattle in June of 1971. (I am reproducing this on ?Word Processor? at the request of a present day local pastor.) -- Jim Watt *COVENANT: SEATTLE PRESBYTERY ? JUNE 1971* *1. We whose names are signed below believe that God has set us as leaders within the body of Christ in our area. We will respect the others whose names are signed below. (A: 1 Corinthians 12:12-28; Psalm 133.)* *2. If at any time we have any criticism or complaint against any of the others, we will take the steps prescribed in Matthew 18:15-17 to retain the fellowship of our brothers: **first**, go to the person alone; **second**, if necessary, go to him with two or more witnesses; **third**, if necessary, bring the matter before the whole group. Thereafter, we will abide by any decision reached by the whole group. (B: Exodus 23:1; Leviticus 19:16; Psalm 15:3; Proverbs 6:16, 19; 20:19; 26:20; James 3:l-10).* *3. If another person brings to us any criticism or complaint against any of those whose names are signed below, we will direct that person to take the steps prescribed in Matthew 18:15-17. If the situation requires, we will be willing to go with that person as a witness. We will not entertain any criticism or complaint against any of the others whose names are signed below, except in the presence of the one against whom the criticism or complaint is made. (B: above).* *4. We will also respect all other leaders within the body of Christ in our area, upon two conditions: **first**, that we recognize their lives and ministries as being morally and ethically sound (C: 1 Timothy 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; Titus 2:7-8); **second** that they show due respect for the scriptures (D: John 14:23-24; 2 Timothy 3:16-4:2; 1 John 2:4-5) the Lord Jesus Christ (E: John 5:22-23; 10:7-9; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 3:11; 8:6; Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 1:18; 1 John 4:2-3); the Holy Spirit (F: John 14:16-17, 26; 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11); and the body of Christ (G: Matthew 18:17; 1 Timothy 3:14-15; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 5:12-6:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:7, 17, 24) in our area.* *5. We will likewise respect any ministries whom God may from time to time direct to our area for the upbuilding of his body in our area, provided that they fulfill the two conditions stated in paragraph 4 above. (H: Matthew 10:40-41; Acts 11:22-24; 15:32-33; 18:27; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 16:10; Philippians 2:19-29; 3 John 5-8).* *6. If at any time we have reason to believe that persons are seeking to minister or exercise influence within the body of Christ in our area, who do not fulfill the conditions stated in paragraph 4, we will not give our endorsement or support to their ministries or other activities, and we will notify accordingly the other leaders whose names are signed below, as well as any members of the body of Christ in our area who look to us for spiritual leadership. (I: Matthew 7:15-23; Galatians 1:8-9; 2 Timothy 3:6-9; Titus 1:9-11; 3:9-11; 2 Peter 2; 1 John 4:1-6; 2 John 7-11).* *7. We agree that any one of us will no longer be recognized as a member of this group, if at any time: * * (1) He voluntarily withdraws from this covenant;* * (2) He moves to a place of residence outside our area;* * (3) After fair and careful examination by the group it is decided that he no longer * * fulfills the conditions stated in paragraph 4.* *8. New leaders may at any time be added to this group, or former leaders reinstated, provided that they fulfill the conditions stated in paragraph 4, and that they voluntarily and sincerely accept the commitments contained in this covenant.* (NOTE: The above principles can easily be adapted for a local congregation, especially where they apply. It would be hoped that local pastors would recognize the discipline of their various local churches, and stand by a brother pastor or leader when discipline has been applied. Such a member should not be received by another local congregation until the problem has been made right. They can also be used as the church of Ephesus did in Revelation 2:1-7. Outside teachers who counted themselves as apostles were received on a preliminary basis subject to approval. Those who did not meet NT standards were rejected. No doubt other city churches were warned concerning these. The last Lausanne Conference in 2010 I believe in South Africa, had a key note speaker from an area of NY City. He said God was not in these last days going to use nations such as the US and Canada to bring back His Son. Instead, He was going to use ?City Churches? to do so. The 7 churches of Revelation tend to confirm this. 5 key cities in Canada are moving in this direction, and 4 in Cascadia (the Pacific NW). In the light of this, the 1971 Covenant from Seattle could be of significance. George Whitefield produced city cell groups of this nature 18 months preceding John Wesley, and founded the first Wesleyan movement - again preceding the Wesleys, with emphasis more on the Sovereignty of God than on the free-will of man.) - J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Aug 22 10:57:40 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:57:40 -0700 Subject: Mark 1:9-3:35 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 22, 2011 *FEB 15 - MARK 1:9-3:35 - THE GOSPEL OF POWER AND JESUS* *1. 1:10-11 (1:9-13) JESUS: BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION. ?And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens being rent, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him: 11 and a voice came out of the heavens, You are my :beloved :Son, in you I am well pleased? (NNT).* What a testimony You have given Your Son, Father! We join You in confessing this word. We *hear* and * obey* Your Son *Jesus* as Lord and King. We would manifest Him in His fullness in our mortal flesh. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 1:14-15 (1:14-20) JESUS: CALLS FIRST DISCIPLES. ?And after :John was delivered up, ?Jesus came into :Galilee, preaching the gospel of :God, 15and saying [that], The season is fulfilled, and the kingdom of:God is at hand: repent, and believe in the gospel.? *The Good News is the Kingdom of God, which includes salvation, but is much broader. Yoked to Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30) is the symbol of our acceptance of Your Kingdom, Father. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 1:35 (1:21-45) JESUS: COMMENCES TEACHING AND HEALING MINISTRY. ?And in the morning, long before day, he arose and went out, and went off into a desert place, and was praying there.?* Prayer is the beginning of all ministry: then the ministry of the word for faith, and healing. Father, we acknowledge the wisdom and rightness of this Kingdom principle. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth. * *4. 2:12 (2:1-12) JESUS: LINKS FAITH, SIN, SICKNESS AND AUTHORITY. ?And he arose, and straightway took up the bed, **and** went forth before **them**all; so that all were amazed, and glorified :God, saying [that] We never saw the like.? *O the power, and Majesty of Your Son Jesus, Father! O forgive us that we so seldom sell out to Him to live His superabundant life through us! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 2:17 (2:13-22) JESUS: ON NEW WINESKINS. ?And when :Jesus heard **it, **he says to them [that] The healthy have no need of a healer, but the ailing: I came not to call **the** righteous, but sinners.? *We must submit to * renewal*, both individually and corporately. This is Your will, O Father. The traditions of human thinking and past moves must be purged and washed away: then and then only are we candidates for the new wine of the Spirit in the next and last move! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 3:14-15 (2:23-3:19a) JESUS: SABBATH CONTROVERSY. ?And he appointed twelve whom he also named apostles, that they be with him, and that he send them forth to preach, **15** and to have authority to cast out :demons.? *O the authority of Your Son Jesus, Father! We submit to His appointments, His authority, His teaching and His Kingdom! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 3:33b-35 (3:19b-35) JESUS: DEFINES TRUE DISCIPLES! ?Who is my :mother and my :brethren? **34** And looking round on them that sat round him in a circle, he says, See, :my mother and my :brethren! **35** whoever shall do the will of :God, the same is my brother and sister and mother.? *Submission to Your Kingdom principles through Your Son Jesus, Father: *this* is the way to honor You! *But deliver us from the evil **one!* *NOTE**: 3:27 (3:19B-35) JESUS: INSIGHTS ON SATAN'S KINGDOM! ?But no one can enter into the house of the strong, **and** spoil his goods, except he * *first** bind the strong, and **then** he will spoil his :house.? *The house divided cannot stand; but Your Son Jesus, Father, has *already* bound Satan, and divided his house! Satan is *now* a squatter! This happened at and because of Calvary! There are *no words* like the words of Jesus - either given directly by Him during His 3-year ministry - or indirectly by His Spirit through His apostles! In John 6 He told His disciples that the Words He spoke on earth - *They* were *Spirit* and they were *life*! And Paul and Peter both affirmed that all words both by prophets of OT and apostles of NT - *all* were from the Lord of Glory! All words therefore in the NT whether directly by the Lord or indirectly through His apostles - should be in *red*! The Gospel of Mark records Jesus words in action. They appeal to the practicality of the Roman mind! There is little pause between events. ?Immediately? and ?suddenly? are words that characterize this Gospel! It is also the Gospel of the ox - the servant spirit. Jesus came *not* to be ministered unto - but to *serve* - and to give His life a Ransom for many! To spend time on one's knees reading aloud from this Gospel, and meditating upon Jesus' words - is to imbibe of His spirit - and to find Him by His Spirit growing *within one*, and living out His life *through* such a one. Galatians 2:20 becomes a reality for such a one - not just for the apostle Paul. Note in this Scripture portion, that Jesus from His thousands of disciples - sovereignly chose 12 - who he appointed as apostles! This is also recorded in the Gospel of Luke. I am personally thrilled with the words of Jesus - either directly *or*indirectly. However - there *is* a Majesty and a linkage with His Words in the 4 Gospels which *are*unique! May God grant to each one of us to *profit* immeasurably from the Words of His Son Jesus in the Gospels! And - our Psalm for the day! *45:10-11 (45:1-17) YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER! ?Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father's house, **11** and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him!? *Father, this is our ideal relationship to Jesus Your Son! We embrace it; we receive it; we pledge to walk in it as Your Son walks it *through* us! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Aug 23 09:24:02 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:24:02 -0700 Subject: Mark 4:1-6:29 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 23, 2011 *FEB 16 - MARK 4:1-6:29 - KINGDOM TEACHING OF JESUS* 1. 4:24-25 (4:1-34) JESUS: PARABLE TEACHING. ?And he said to them, Look to what you hear: with what measure you measure it shall be measured to you; and shall be added to you. 25 For who has, to him shall be given: and who has not, from him shall be taken away even what he has? (NNT). We hear this word of Your Son, Father, and take it deeply to heart; we do not pass over it lightly. Yes, we are *yoked* to Jesus and His will and teaching. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 4:39, 41 (4:35-41) JESUS: MASTER OF THE SEA. ?And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Quiet, be still. 41 And they feared a great fear, and said one to another, Who then is this, that both the wind obeys him and the sea? *May we be as obedient to Jesus, as nature was to Him! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 5:19 (5:1-20) JESUS: HEALS A DEMONIAC. ?And he suffered him not, but said to him, Go to Your :house unto your own and report to them how great things the Lord has done for you, and he had mercy on you.? *How wise the instructions of Your Son Jesus, Father! You do *all* things well through him! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 5:36 (5:21-43) JESUS: MIRACLE WITHIN A MIRACLE. ?But :Jesus, overhearing the word spoken, said to the synagogue-ruler, Fear not, only believe.? *O forgive us, Father, that we are so slow to believe, and to accept Your Almighty power as manifested through through Your Son! There is *nothing* impossible with You! *Our :daily :bread, Give us this day.* *5. 6:4-6a (6:1-6a) JESUS: HINDERED BY UNBELIEF. ?And :Jesus said to them [that] A prophet is not without honor, save in his own :country, and among his own :kin, and in his own :house. 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his :hands upon a few sick, and healed them. 6a And he marveled because of their :unbelief.? *May we never doubt either Your ability - or - your willingness! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 6:12-13 (6:6b-13) JESUS: SENDS FORTH THE TWELVE. ?And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many sick, and cured them.?* Those whom Your Son appoints, Father, are in Him well able to function within His commission. *And **bring us not into temptation!* *7. 6:26 (6:14-29) JOHN: BEHEADED BY HEROD. ?And though the king was very sorry for the sake of **his** oaths and of the guests, he would not refuse her.? *The old order passes, giving place to new. Father, may we always bow and submit to Your Sovereign right to order Your Kingdom in the way pleasing to You! *But deliver us from the evil **one!* *NOTE**: 4:33-34 (4:1-34) JESUS: TAUGHT ONLY BY PARABLES. ?And with many such parables spoke he the word to them, as they were able to hear **it; 34and without parable he did not speak to them: but privately to his private :disciples he expounded all things.? *Father, teach us again the value of parable; help us to follow Jesus' example, and use parables in our preaching and teaching! There is no part of God's word unimportant - but *this* portion containing insights on Jesus' parables is especially important! In 1946-47 Mr. George Tasker, missionary from India, was lecturing in the Saskatoon area. We had him come to our IVCF meeting of some 100 students, and they were strongly taken with the unusual and penetrating insights he shared on Jesus' parables from the Gospel of Mark. He had that ability to reach even liberal thinking Christians with his challenging message. The teaching of the Kingdom of God by Jesus has far more importance than many of us realize. He called it the Gospel or Good News of the Kingdom of God. It is *this latter* that is the *heart* of the Gospel! Many have noted the distinction between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the Heavens. Some go into very fine detail on this - but I fear few could follow such detailed reasoning. I prefer to look at it as follows: The Kingdom of the Heavens was particularly the message the Father gave to His Son Jesus - both while on earth and on through His Millennial Reign to come. I call this the ?Invisible? or ?Within? Kingdom. At the end of the Millennium - Jesus as Son of Man - will turn back His mandate of the inward Kingdom - back to God, who will make the Kingdom of God an *outward* visible Kingdom, bringing the New Jerusalem down to the Recreated Earth. I find this more simple to understand. E. Stanley Jones wrote ?The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Christ?. Bob Mumford felt it was probably one of the most important books of the last century. I can testify of the impact it initially had on me - and on several other friends. Don't depart from this concept too soon - ?*The Gospel of the Kingdom of God*.? Look at Daniel 7:13-14 for an insight on this. J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Aug 24 09:03:31 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:03:31 -0700 Subject: Mark 6:20-10:31 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *August 24, 2011* ** * FEB 17 - MARK 6:20-10:31 - COST OF THE KINGDOM AND JESUS* *1. 6:56 (6:30-56) JESUS: ASTOUNDING MIRACLES. ?And wherever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the markets, and besought him that they might touch if but the border of his :garment: and as many as touched him were made whole? (NNT). *Here is the kingdom of Satan versus the Kingdom of God. The disciples would send the crowd away to buy and eat. Your Son Father, would feed them through the apostles! How different! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 7:9, 13 (7:1-37) JESUS: CONTROVERSY AND COMPASSION. ?And Jesus said to them, Well you reject the commandment of :God, that you may keep your :tradition, 13 making void the word of :God by your :tradition, which you have delivered: and many such like you do.? *Human tradition is the kingdom of Satan too! We choose Your pure word Father, letting the Bible mean what it wants to mean, and for You to say what You want to say! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 8:15 (8:1-26) JESUS' COMPASSION: MOTIVATION FOR MIRACLES. ?And Jesus charged them, saying, See that you look out for the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.? *It is the *teaching* of the Pharisees and Herod that Your Son Jesus warned us against, Father. But *He* met the needs of the multitude by multiplying food. * Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 8:34 (8:27-9:29) JESUS: HIS KINGDOM MANIFESTED! ?And Jesus called to him the crowd with his :disciples, and said to them, If any would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his :cross, and follow me.? *This is the way to make Your invisible Kingdom visible! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 9:37 (9:30-50) JESUS: CHILDREN AND THE KINGDOM. ?Whoever receives one of such little :children in my :name, receives me: and whoever receives me, receives not me, but him that sent me.? *May we not miss the truth of Your Son Jesus here Father. We embrace this Kingdom principle of *humility* and a *servant-spirit*. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 10:14-15 (10:1-16) JESUS: ON DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE. ?But when :Jesus saw it, he was indignant, and said to them, Suffer the little children to come unto me; hinder them not: for of such is the kingdom of :God. 15 Amen I say unto you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of :God as a little child, shall in no wise enter into it.? *A childlike, trusting, obedient spirit is the *true heart* of the *kingdom of God*. It will help us to obey Kingdom principles on divorce and remarriage. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 10:27 (10:17-31) JESUS: THE WAY OF ETERNAL LIFE. ?:Jesus looked upon them and said, Impossible with men, but not with God: for all things are possible with :God.? *This teaching clearly contrasts the kingdom of Satan with the Kingdom of God. Our attitude to money separates the sheep from the goats. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 9:7 (8:27-9:29) JESUS: UNUSUALLY WITNESSED TO BY THE FATHER! ?And a cloud came overshadowing them: and a voice came out of the cloud, This is my :beloved :Son: hear him.? *This is it, Father! *This* is Your word for us concerning Your Son Jesus! Mark 10:27 is a key verse that my wife Marie and I use when we challenge folk to believe God for ?Household Salvation?. You can fine how we use this among other verses by turning to our Website * *and then clicking on ?Archives?. Scroll down to 2010-03-06 ?*Clan & Household Salvation*?. God only knows how many will be in His Kingdom because of the challenge of these two subjects. Perhaps of the above seven sections in this FEB 17 Reading on Mark 6:20-10:31 - Section Seven can be for us the most practical and fruitful. We still use this on a daily basis, and encourage each of you to consider joining us in what has been for us a most fruitful endeavor - going back to the summer of 1944. Your friends - Jim & Marie Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Aug 25 11:47:31 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:47:31 -0700 Subject: Mark 10:32-13:37 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 25, 2011 * FEB 18 - MARK 10:32-13-37 - TEACHING PRECEDING BETRAYAL OF JESUS* *1. 10:45 (10:32-45) JESUS: DIFFICULTY IN BEING UNDERSTOOD. ?For the Son of :man also came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his :life a ransom for many? (NNT). **A Servant Spirit*: This is a key mark of Your Kingdom Father, and a high characteristic of Your Son. If we are yoked with Jesus, we will be dead to self-will, and will manifest Him! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 10:52 (10:46-52) JESUS: FAITH - THE KEY TO HEALING. And :Jesus said to him, ?Go; your :faith has made you whole.? And straightway he received hissight, and followed him in the way. *What is Your will for us, Father? That we believe in and obey Your Son! This is Your will, that we be yoked to Jesus! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 11:9-10 (11:1-11) JESUS: TRIUMPHAL ENTRY. And who went before and who followed cried, ?Hosanna; Blessed who comes in the Lord's name. 10 Blessed the coming kingdom of our :father David: Hosanna in the highest.? *What magnificent praise, Father; and it all redounds to you! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 11:22-23 (11:12-26) JESUS: LESSONS FROM THE FIG TREE. And :Jesus answered and said to them, ?Have God's faith. 23 Amen I say unto you, [that] Whoever shall say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his :heart, but shall believe that what he says comes to pass, he shall have it.? *Ah, here it is! It is *Your faith* we operate in Father, not our own! O forgive us for being so blind, for failing to rest in You, and for seeking to bring in Your Kingdom by works of the flesh! *Our :daily :bread, Give us this day!* *5. 12:26-27 (11:27-12:27) JESUS: HIS AUTHORITY QUESTIONED. ?But about the dead, that they are raised; have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how :God spoke to him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and God of Isaac, and God of Jacob? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living: you greatly err. *Father, may we not fall into the trap of testing You! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 12:29-30 (12:28-44) JESUS: EXPOSES SCRIBES. ?:Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, Israel; The Lord our :God, the Lord is one: 30 and you shall love the Lord your :God from all your heart, and from all your :soul, and from all your :mind, and from all your :strength. 30 A second is this, You shall love your :neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.? **These* are the keys to entering the Kingdom of God. Father, we embrace Jesus' teaching! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 13:30-31 (13:1-37) JESUS: FORETELLS A DOUBLE DESTRUCTION. ?Amen I say unto you, that, this :race shall in no wise pass away until all these thingsbe accomplished. 31 :Heaven and :earth shall pass away: but my :words shall not pass away.? *These are sober words; they concern things of the future, and are not always easy to understand. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 11:24-25 (11:12-26) JESUS: CONDITIONS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER. ?Therefore I say unto you, All **things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you received them, and you shall have them. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; that your :Father also who is in the heavens may forgive you your :trespasses.? *Answers to prayer apart from a *forgiving heart* are impossible! Teachings such as above are *not* truly and spiritually understood by the wise and prudent who are *not* born from above. It is *only* by those indwelt and possessed of the Holy Spirit who have true understanding concerning the Words of Jesus and God. Ph D's and learning do not give such understanding. George Whitefield in his day had education as an Episcopal priest. But it wasn't because of this that he had true understanding. Until once he was born by the Spirit - which was a time of deep trial for him - he immediately entered into a relationship with God that was unique. Throughout the rest of his life he was up at 4:00 AM, and on his knees before the Word of God. He usually read portions of the Scripture in both English and Greek. He also carefully read through the Commentary on the Bible by Matthew Henry. Then word by word and phrase by phrase he meditated aloud upon what he had read until it became living and crystal clear. Such an understanding of the Word came to him through this discipline, that in the next 30 years he preached some 30,000 sermons - that gripped his hearers by thousands and tens of thousands. This included the poor, the highly educated and children on both sides of the Atlantic. It was no doubt because of his unusual devotional time that he was enabled to preach often 3 times a day, with little preparation apart from these early morning devotional times. Then at 5:00 AM he often preached his first sermon of the day. At the time of his death in his early 50's - Charles Wesley wrote a poetic eulogy on his behalf of over 500 lines. Few people have truly and fully understood the effect of this man on the Kingdom of God - but God knew! His biography by Arnold A. Dallimore ?George Whitefield: God's Anointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century? more than adequately gives credit where credit is due - but *all*to the glory of God! In conclusion, let us consider our Psalm for the day - 48:9-10 (48:1-14) *ZION: THE CITY OF OUR GOD. ?We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. 10 As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness? (ESV). *Zion is a place of *dryness*; a place of *faith*, a place of *unity*, a place of *worship*, a place of *holiness*, a place of *Your Presence*, Father. It is a place of *maturity* for the 100-fold. Here we minister to You! J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Aug 26 10:01:37 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:01:37 -0700 Subject: Mark 14:1-16:8 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 26, 2011 *FEB 19 - MARK 14:1-16:8 - CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS* *1. 14:9 (14:1-11) JESUS: HIS PASSOVER ANOINTING. ?And amen I say unto you, Wherever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, what also this woman has done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her? (NNT). *This is an amazing revelation Father, and it behooves us to ponder it well and clearly understand what Your Son Jesus is really saying. The Gospel of Your Kingdom cuts across man's thinking and tradition. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 14:23-24 (14:12-31) JESUS: PASSOVER BECOMES COVENANT SUPPER. ?And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, This is my :blood of the covenant, which is shed for many.? *You have made Jesus our *Passover*, Father (1 COR 5:7), and now the new covenant is in His blood. We accept Your provision in Him! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 14:36 (14:32-52) JESUS: GETHSEMANE AND BETRAYAL. And he said, ?Abba, :Father, all things are possible to you; remove this :cup from me: but not what I will, but what you will.? *O Father, we see in Jesus - perfect God and perfect man. We are humbled by His example, and yet more by His Atoning Work. In Christ You have given us *everything*! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 14:61b-62 (14:53-72) JESUS: DENIED JUSTICE, AND DENIED BY PETER. ?Again the high priest asked him, and said to him, Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And :Jesus said, I am: and you shall see the son of :man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of :heaven.? *Imagine! The Son of God is turned over for injustice for witnessing to the Truth! O forgive us Father, for our ineffective witness for truth, or even denial as did Peter! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day. * *5. 15:33-34 (15:1-41) JESUS: HIS SUFFERING AND CRUCIFIXION. ?And when thesixth hour was come, darkness came over the whole earth until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour :Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthanei? which is, being interpreted, My :God, my :God, why have you forsaken me?? *Jesus was tempted Father, but did not fall. Help us in our weakness, too! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 15:42-43 (15:42-47) JESUS: HIS BURIAL. ?And when even was now come, since it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathaea came, a councilor or honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the :kingdom of :God; and he boldly went in unto :Pilate, and asked for the body of :Jesus.? *Not one of Jesus' bones was broken, and His body was laid with the rich in His burial. Father, You arranged this, and yes, you are well able to arrange all things for us too! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 16:6-7 (16:1-8) JESUS: HIS RESURRECTION! ?And he said to them, Be not amazed: you seek Jesus, the Nazarene, the crucified one: he is risen; he is not here: see the place where they laid him! 7 But go, tell his :disciples and :Peter [that], He goes before you into :Galilee: there you shall see him, as he said to you.?* *Here* is power of the Kingdom demonstrated! *But deliver us from the evil * *one!* *NOTE**: 14:37-38 (14:32-52) JESUS: ADMONISHES HIS THREE. ?And he comes, and finds them sleeping, and said to :Peter, Simon, do you sleep? could you not watch one hour? **38** Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.? *Watching and praying to You Father, will strengthen our spirit to triumph over the weakness of the flesh! This passage expands on the prime purpose of the coming of Jesus. It was * not* to teach or heal or set us an example - it was to *die* and give His life a ransom for many! To miss this, is to miss the heart of God. Modernistic seminaries completely bypass this great purpose, and settle for lesser things that fail to point mankind to the only place of help and safety! I know. I have sat under their teaching. I came out from among them by the insight given to me of the Lord. It is so important to see that *Jesus* is our Passover! The oath of God establishes the New Covenant in Jesus' blood! Oswald Chambers exhorts us to *brood* over the tragedy of the Cross. Though it was absolutely necessary, yet it shows up the perfidy of the Jewish rulers of that day, and that of Judas in his betrayal. But - this section closes with the Resurrection! According to 1 Corinthians 15 - had there been no resurrection - we would yet be in our sins! Jesus *is * Risen! - *This* was the greeting of the early church! One should visit ?Forest Lawn Memorial Park? in Glendale, California - and there look up the huge painting of ?The Crucifixion? by Jan Styka. But immediately following, one should then observe ?The Resurrection?! It shows Jesus immediately upon exiting from His tomb - to see the glorious vision from the Father of all the souls to come into the Kingdom because of the death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes - Oswald Chambers is correct. We should at times take occasion to * brood* over the tragedy of the *Cross*, and what it meant to God - and what it means to *us*! And lastly - the word from our Psalm of the Day: *49:15, 20 (49:1-20) GOD BANISHES FEAR IN TIMES OF TROUBLE! ?But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah. 20Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish? (ESV). *Father, teach us this Kingdom principle: write it deep on our hearts; help us to walk in rest and peace because of it.* *Then we will indeed walk with glad hearts! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Aug 27 09:32:44 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2011 09:32:44 -0700 Subject: Mark 16:9-20 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 27, 2011 *FEB 20 - MARK 16:9-20 - GREAT COMMISSION: GIVEN BY JESUS* *1. 16:10-11 (16:9-11) JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE. ?SHE went andreported to them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And THEY, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved? (NNT). *Belief is a voluntary act of will. We can choose to believe, and we can act in unbelief. But as Kingdom citizens we have no excuse for the grievous sin of unbelief. Father, forgive us for such a crass act! See Revelation 21:8 - the *unbelieving* are linked with seven other most disreputable sins! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 16:12-13 JESUS APPEARS TO TWO DISCIPLES. ?And after these things he was manifested in another form to two of them walking, as they were proceeding into the far country. 13 And THEY went away and reported to the rest: neither believed they them.? *When we are unwilling to believe, we can pray - Lord - make us willing to be willing! *He* then works in us the willingness! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 16:14 JESUS APPEARS TO THE ELEVEN. ?And afterward he was manifested to the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he rebuked their :unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him risen from the dead.? *Your disciples deserved Your rebuke, Lord Jesus! Father, we will not hide behind excuses and subterfuges. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 16:15-16 JESUS COMMISSIONS THE ELEVEN. ?And he said to them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Who has believed and is baptized shall be saved; but who has disbelieved shall be condemned.? *It is good news to live under Your Lordship Father, through Your Son. He is our Wonderful Counselor, and the Government is upon His shoulders. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 16:17-18 JESUS PROMISES HOLY SPIRIT SIGNS. ?And these signs shall follow them that have believed: in my :name shall they cast our demons, speak with tongues; 18 and in their hands they shall take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.? *Signs of confirmation are Your responsibility, Father. Our part is to joyfully and fearlessly proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 16:19 JESUS: HIS ASCENSION. ?So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into :heaven, and sat down at the right hand of :God.? *This was effected by Your power, Father! It has a significance along with Calvary, the Resurrection and Pentecost. Pentecost is the sign that Jesus arrived back into heaven. *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 16:20 JESUS: CONFIRMS THEIR WORD WITH SIGNS. ?And THEY went forth, andpreached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed.? *What a triumphant confirmation! Father, we glorify You for Your supernatural confirmation through Jesus. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 16:9 (16:9-11) JESUS: REVEALS SELF TO WOMEN FIRST! ?Now when he was risen early on the first of **the week, he appeared first to Mary :Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.? *To a woman Your Son Jesus first appeared after His resurrection, Father. We ponder the significance of this. This portion for the Textual Critics is one if not the most controversial portions of the NT. It does not appear in some of the 7 major NT manuscripts. As a result it is sometimes left out of the NT - or put in with a note drastically reducing its authenticity. Here is where Bible Numerics discovered by Ivan Panin in 1890, and authenticated by 100,000 hours of research for the next 50 years, sufficiently settles this age-old controversy. If *any* portion of the NT could be omitted, because of the unusual quantity of Bible Numeric proofs - Mark 16:9-20 would be the last to go! And why should Satan continue to put such doubts on manuscripts concerning this portion? I believe primarily because of the last 4 verses, 9:17-20. Signs confirming the Word when preached, have a tremendous effect on the hearers. See how the Father led His Son continually in this confirmation! See the testimony of Scripture what these signs meant to the hearers. And His apostles and subsequent followers had *the same* results when their words were likewise accompanied by these signs. See Peter and Paul in the book of Acts. Extraordinary! By all means open our Website ** and click on Archives. Then scroll down to 2011.01.02 Cutting Edge Ministries on Panin. Articles such as this have been for doubters a ?Dissolver of Doubts?. This makes a good ?D.D.?! John 8:1-11 receives like confirmation - but Bible Numerics agree with the Critics on Matthew 6 - ?For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory? - Yes - this is an ?eager-beaver? addition! Check ?Interlinear? on our Website to search other debatable texts. And our Psalm for the day - 50:14-15 (50:1-23) *GOD HIMSELF IS JUDGE*. *?Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.? *We as Your Covenant people have an obligation to You, O Father. Yes, we acknowledge our love-debt to You! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Aug 29 10:37:59 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:37:59 -0700 Subject: Leviticus 8-10 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 29, 2011 *FEB 22 - LEVITICUS 8-10 - THE PRIESTHOOD: FOR INTERCESSION* *1. 8:7-8 (8:1-13) PRIESTHOOD: WASHED, CLOTHED AND ANOINTED. ?And Moses put the coat on Aaron and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band. 8 And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim? (ESV). *These are Your commandments, and this is Your Pattern, Father; Moses submitted to Your Kingdom principles. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 8:23 (8:14-36) PRIESTHOOD: OFFERINGS AND CONSECRATION. ?And he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.? *Our hearing; our works; our walk: may they all be sanctified unto You Father, by Jesus' blood! *We* are a Kingdom of Priests, and need to submit to the *blood* and *oil*. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 9:7 (9:1-21) PRIESTHOOD: OFFERINGS FOR PEOPLE. Then Moses said to Aaron, ?Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.? *Father, through Your priests You bless Your people through ministering the Atonement.* **Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth. * *4. 9:24 (9:22-24) PRIESTHOOD: OFFERINGS ACCEPTED. ?And the fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.? *This is awesome Father, and causes us also to fall on our faces before You. O forgive us that we have lost Your fear, even the fear of You, O LORD; and have forgotten that Your Name is *Jealous*! *Our :daily :bread, Give us this day.* *5. 10:1 (10:1-7) PRIESTHOOD: JUDGMENT! ?Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons Aaron, each took his censor and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them.? *You look to those Father, who *tremble* at Your Word. O cause Your fear to enter into us because of this incident. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 10:8-9 (10:8-11) PRIESTHOOD: STRONG DRINK. And the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying, ?Drink** **no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.? *Wine and strong drink *do not mix* with worship and ministry! You established this under the Old Covenant Father, and it is true for us under the New! * And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 10:19 (10:12-20) PRIESTHOOD: THEIR PORTION. And Aaron said to Moses, ?Behold, today they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, and yet such things as these have happened to me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would the LORD have approved?? *Father, Your fear is coming upon Aaron; may it come upon us also, so that we may know Your exceeding great Holiness! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 9:23 (9:22-24) PRIESTHOOD PROPERLY PERFORMED: BRINGS GOD'S CONFIRMATION. ?And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, **and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.? *When we do all things according to Your pattern Father, then You confirm Your Word, and Your Glory is seen! Meaningful prayer in the light of the example of our Lord Jesus, His apostles after His resurrection; and various OT prophets and leaders - this is a safety net for *all* NT ministries. Oswald Chambers sets this forth in a most adequate manner in his following daily devotional reading for August 28th - *THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER* ? *. . . one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray . . . (Luke 11:1).*** Prayer is *not* a normal part of the life of the natural man. We hear it said that a person's life will suffer if he doesn't pray, but I question that. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God in him, which is nourished not by food, *but by prayer*. When a person is born again from above, the life of the Son of God is born in him, and he can either starve or nourish that life. Prayer is the way that the life of God in us is nourished. Our common ideas regarding prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that *we may get to know God Himself*! ?Ask, and you will receive ...? (John 16:24). We complain before God, and sometimes we are apologetic or indifferent to Him, but we actually *ask* Him for very few things. Yet a child exhibits a magnificent boldness to ask! Our Lord said, ?... *unless you ... become as little children ...? *(Matthew 18:3). Ask and God will do. Give Jesus Christ the opportunity and the room to work. The problem is that no one will ever do this until he is at his wits' end. When a person is at his wits' end, it no longer seems to be a cowardly thing to pray; in fact, it is the only way he can get in touch with the truth and the reality of God Himself. Be yourself before God and present Him with your problems - the very things that have brought you to your wits' end. But as long as you think you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything. To say that ?prayer changes things? is not as close to the truth as saying, ?Prayer changes *me* and then I change things.? God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a persona looks at things. Prayer is not a matter of changing this externally, but one of working miracles in a person's inner nature. *And now - our Psalm for the day - 52:6-7 (52:1-9) TWO AREAS OF TRUST. ?The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, 7 ?See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!? *Your wheels O Father, grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small! So it is with the wicked; but the righteous shall be justified! *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Aug 30 10:17:33 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:17:33 -0700 Subject: Leviticus 11-16 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 30, 2011 *FEB 23 - LEVITICUS 11-16 - THE PEOPLE: THEIR PURIFICATION* *1. 11:44 (11) PEOPLE: LAW OF CLEAN AND UNCLEAN. ?For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming that crawls on the ground? (ESV). *There is wisdom in all of these rules Father, and who abides within them will be the healthier for it. It also sets Your people off from all other people. We submit to Your Kingdom principles that apply to us as New Covenant believers. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 12:8 (12) PEOPLE: PURIFICATION OF MOTHERS. ?And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.? *Mary and Joseph submitted to this on behalf of Your Son Jesus, Father. We too submit to Your NT Covenant words for us! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 13:45-46 (13) PEOPLE: DISCERNING LEPROSY. ?The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, 'Unclean, unclean.? 46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.? *You have made leprosy a type of sin, Father. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 14:14 (14:1-32) PEOPLE: CLEANSING LEPROSY. ?The priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the priest shall put it on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.? *First the *blood*, and then the *oil*! And You have designed this cleansing to affect our *hearing*, our * work* and our *walk*, Father. O forgive us that we are so careless to avail ourselves of the fullness of Christ's Atonement! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 14:54-57 (14:33-57) PEOPLE: LEPROSY IN A HOUSE. ?This is the law for any case of leprous disease: for an itch, 55 for leprous disease in a garment or in a house, 56 and for a swelling or an eruption or a spot, 57 to show when it is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law for leprous disease.? *How careful You are Father, where it pertains to leprosy in a house or clothing! May we too be careful in the areas where *You* take care! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 15:31 (15) PEOPLE: LAW OF UNCLEANNESS. ?Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst.? *Your House Father, is defiled when we engage in uncleanness. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. But when we look after these matters, *You* are pleased! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 16:34 (16) PEOPLE: DAY OF ATONEMENT. ?And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.? And Moses did as the LORD commanded. *This is the annual Day of Atonement, one of the most solemn days of Israel! O help us by Your Spirit Father, to plumb its depths of meaning! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 14:8 (14:1-32) INSIGHT ON PURIFICATION. ?And he who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean. And after that he may come into the camp, but live outside his tent seven days.? *We bless You Father, for Your care for us in the areas of cleansing and hygiene. This section of Leviticus deals with cleansing of the body - the flesh. But in the NT, God sets forth His desire that we be cleansed in *both* flesh *and spirit* - 2 Corinthians 7:1 *?Having therefore these :promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in fear of God.? * There is a theological problem for some at this point. They believe that when we are born again from above, that our spirit is perfected at that point. However, those who consider this verse say - If we let the Word mean what it wants to mean and God say what He wants to say - then our human spirit is not perfected until the time of the resurrection. I am inclined to hold this latter view, but for me, it's not a ?Thus says the Lord.? Yet - I *do* believe that Christ in us at the new birth *is* perfect. When we allow Him to possess us and live His life through us by the Holy Spirit; then the Perfect One give us victory and an overcoming life. In 1949 my wife and I were visiting in Minneapolis at a pastor's home for a meal after Sunday morning church service. I happened to remark, ?My goodness!? - and immediately was reprimanded by the pastor's wife - ?You * have* no goodness! - only Christ in you is good!? This seems to line up with the tendency I feel comfortable with in an interpretation on this verse. What is *your* ?take? on it? And now - our Psalm for the day - *53:6 (53:1-8) ?Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.? *The lot of Your people Father, is difficult through their times of purging. You use our enemies to purge us, to protect Your Name which is *Jealous*! We submit to all Your actions in this manner that You deem are necessary for our perfection. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Aug 31 12:24:26 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:24:26 -0700 Subject: Leviticus 17 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* August 31, 2011 *FEB 24 - LEVITICUS 17 - THE ALTAR: FOR RECONCILIATION* *1. 17:5 (17:1-5) ALTAR OF TENT: PLACE OF SACRIFICE. ?This is to the end that the people of Israel may bring their sacrifices that they sacrifice in the open field that they may bring them to the LORD, to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the LORD? (ESV). *You have designated only one altar for sacrifice in Israel; and only Christ at Calvary is acceptable to us, Father. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 17:6 ALTAR: RECEIVES BLOOD AND FAT. ?And the priest shall throw the blood on the altar of the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting and burn the fat for a pleasing aroma to the LORD.? *And the blood and the fat is for *You* Father, not for us. We acknowledge Your right in these decisions. And now whatever You say in the 27 books of the NT - *this* we will walk in! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 17:7 ALTAR: REPLACES DEMON WORSHIP. ?So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.? *Sacrifice to Satan and demons by man is unacceptable to You, Father. The day will come - and soon - when all such workers of travesty shall be removed from the earth, but the righteous and obedient shall be eternally rewarded! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 17:8-9 ALTAR: ITS REFUSAL BRINGS DEATH. ?And you shall say to them, Any one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice 9 and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it to the LORD, that man shall be cut off from his people.? *These are strong words from man's point of view Father, but altogether righteous from Yours! O forgive us for judging You from humanism and man's traditions! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 17:11 (17:10-12) BLOOD OF ALTAR: EATING BRINGS DEATH. ?For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.? *Blood represent life, and the soul is in the blood. And the highest life given for the world is in the Blood of Your Son, Father. May we never be tempted to doubt the efficacy of Christ's blood! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 17:14 (17:13-14) BLOOD APART FROM ALTAR: EATING BRINGS DEATH. ?For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.? *Now we see the wisdom of ?kosher? meat - of meat properly drained of blood. We submit to Your will in this, Father! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 17:15 (17:15-16) UNCLEANNESS: FOR EATING DEAD OR TORN ANIMALS. ?And every person who eats what dies of itself or what is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or a sojourner, shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening; then he shall be clean.? *This is Your method for our cleansing Father, when we transgress against Your wishes.* But deliver us from the evil one.* *NOTE**: 17:10 (17:10-12) ANY KIND OF BLOOD EATEN: BRINGS JUDGMENT TO ALL! ?If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people.? *Man always tends to rebel against You Father, and seeks to bring back human ways of doing things. The Altar is the first of seven pieces of furniture in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness, constructed by Moses according to the pattern shown him by vision on Mount Sinai. This whole chapter, the 17th of Leviticus, is devoted for today's devotional reading to this initial piece of furniture, and bears careful reading. For George Whitefield and George Muller, they read it on their knees. Then Whitefield - word by word and line by line - would meditate upon it, and pray it back to God vocally. He did this at 4:00 AM, and would preach from this sometimes up to 3 times a day. Note that the blood and the fat must *always* be burnt on the altar *for God*. No more blood and suet puddings! But you say - This is OT! Yes - and the Temple sacrifices and worship were like the Sabbath - uniquely for Israel as a sign of God's ownership over them. Acts 15 and the Book of Galatians reveal that Gentiles - non-Jews - are *not* under obligation for these. But the *moral law* of the OT - especially when repeated in the NT, is likewise for *us* as well as for Israel. And - eating blood and fat is verboten for us just as for Israel! It is shocking today to see so many Evangelical Christians refusing to accept the authority of God in His 27 NT books - to *do* them. Paul (1 Corinthians 14:37) and Peter (2 Peter 1:21) clearly show that *not* just the words of Jesus in the Gospels - *but also* His Words *through* His apostles - are *equally* binding upon us! It may be that parts of the church will refuse to acknowledge God's authority in such until Christ's Return for His Millennial Reign, *Then* the whole earth will submit to His benevolent reign. And any nation on earth then who refuses to come to Jerusalem annually to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles - rain will be withheld from *that nation*! I personally would rather practice *now* all NT words - and so be ready for them in the 7th 1000 years about to come! I have some friends who berate me for this position! We will *soon* see who is on *God's side* on these issues! Our Psalm for the day - *54:4-5 (54:1-7) THE LORD UPHOLDS MY LIFE! ?Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. 5 He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them.? *Father, we hallow Your Name for Your faithfulness in delivering us from our enemies. Yes, Your Truth *always* triumphs! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Sep 1 22:10:25 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2011 22:10:25 -0700 Subject: Elvin Gladney - Celebration of Life Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 1, 2011 *ELVIN GLADNEY - CELEBRATION OF LIFE - OPEN WINDOWS* *Bethlehem Baptist Church, 4818 E. Portland Ave.* *Tacoma WA 98404, Friday September 3, 2011, 12:00 noon.* *1. 1 Corinthians 13:1 (13:1-10) CONFIRMATION. ?This is the third time I am coming unto you. At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word be established? (NNT). *?There were *four* visions that Elvin confirmed! Imagine! He had unusual insight and understanding in both this realm, as well as understanding in the Word above average. He had clear perceptions on the definitions of the 5-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11-12, and much more. Humbly he always let another man praise him, and *not* his own mouth. He wore at least 7 hats - and effectively functioned under each 7 of them. Because of this, he was able to confirm all the visions that we walked in - in the Pilot Prayer Team that he ended up leading! *2. Revelation 12:11 (12:7-13:1a) THE ORGANIC LASER-TELESCOPE. ?And THEY overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their :testimony; and they loved not their :life even unto death.? *Truer words could not have been spoken of Elvin! I have changed slightly these words, which I believe illustrated his life: *We now overcome,* *We now overcome, * *We now overcome - today!* *O deep in my heart - * *I do believe -* *We now overcome today!* I made a picture of the 1967 vision of the Laser-Telescope, and John Hwang one of our Pilot Prayer Team members updated it. God used these pictures in Cultus Lake BC for the ?Prayer Canada? National Convention, and in Portland later this year, and last with John's updated picture in Abbotsford, BC. In these meetings, I preceded Elvin by laying a foundation of the significance of this vision, and then Elvin with this picture followed up with a highly motivational challenge: ?All those who would like an impartation so you could be part of this vision - come forward between 2 lines Jim and I will form, and we will lay hands on you, and pray or prophesy as the Lord leads. In all 3 cities, there was *not one* empty seat. His challenge was so effective - that *all* wanted to receive such an impartation! Elvin understood the full significance of this vision, and what the Lord could do through 8 souls full committed as a team to let Him use them in this ?Spiritual Star Wars? mode! *3. Acts 13:1-3. THE CITY CHURCH & ELDERSHIP IN THE GATE. ?Now in the church that was at Antioch were prophets and teachers, both :Barnabas and Symeon :called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy :Spirit said, Separate me then :Barnabas and Saul for the work unto which I have called them. 3 Then, having fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.? *This was the second vision starting in 1949 - increasing in 1963 - and very clear in 1967. It came immediately following the Laser-Telescope Vision in March of 1967. I saw 70 elders behind Marie and myself, each with 7 spiritual soldiers in a gigantic parade square - with battalion after battalion of soldiers to our left as far as eye could see. Three generals were in front of us. One - the same as the Observatory Director in the first vision - told us that our obedience to their instructions had been satisfactorily carried out. It was now our responsibility to take what had been demonstrated by the 70 teams of 8 behind us, and share this with God's battalions to our left. In 2009 He said it was now time to activate the formation of one team of 8 as an example, a ?Pilot Prayer Team? - and that from this multiplication would take place in the 70 major cities of Canada and of the United States - and then unto the cities of the world prior to the return of of God's Son. *4. Revelation 13:18 (13:11-18) INTERLINEAR GREEK NT & TIMOTHY JOHNSON. ?Here is the wisdom. Who has understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his :number is Six hundred sixty six.?* This was a verse that led Russian Ivan Panin in 1890 to spend 50 years of 100,000 hours researching the Numerical phenomenon of the Bible. A Presbyterian minister in Boston informed him of God's choice of the only two languages with no numerical equivalents. Hebrews and Greeks used the letters of their alphabet for their numbers. So the Antichrist's name in Greek when he comes will add up to 666. ?Jesus? adds up to 888 in Greek. This among other such insights motivated Panin for the rest of his life in this research. He even discovered that Bible Numerics establishes sentence, paragraph and chapter equivalent structure! This is what hooked me to outline the entire two texts of Panin in Interlinear format. Elvin grasped the significance of this, and urged me on to the completion of this Interlinear task! Here's how it started. God called me into the Canadian Navy in 1942, while still an unbeliever, not knowing God. He said, ?Join the Navy according to Psalm 107:23-24 - and I will reveal Myself to you.? I did in July of 1943, and at Passover of 1944, *He did*! In July Dr. Jewell, a Russian Jew introduced me to Ivan Panin. In 1945 I realized the significance of this introduction, and found out that Panin died in 1942, the year God called me, and died discouraged because the Greek and English New Testaments he had perfected the previous 50 years, had not come into an Interlinear format. I felt God saying - Would you be willing to finish his vision? I told God for His sake I would, but I didn't have the gifting for finalizing it in printing and publication. When Elvin learned of the 50,000 hours I had put into this, he took over and highly encouraged me to complete it as of December 31, 2010. He then linked me up with his printer friend Timothy Johnson. From Elvin's testimony, Timothy felt God leading him to put this into print. The Pilot Prayer Team with Elvin as leader felt they could believe God for the publishing. He was working this out with the PPT member who is taking Elvin's place at this time, Jim Ray. With all the labor Elvin has put into this, I believe God will be honoring him to bring all of this to pass! *5. Genesis 49:1 (49:1-28) THE 12 EMBRYONIC REVIVAL PRINCIPLES RESTORED IN 1948. Then Jacob called his sons and said, ?Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.? *In July of 1992 God led me to link the 12 principles above with the 12 tribes of Israel, and the 12 major cultural areas of our planet earth. Elvin grasped the significance of this. He saw that just as Israel could not function without all 12 tribes, so the church under God would not be viable without all 12 cultural groups operating. When Benjamin was nearly wiped out in the book of Judges, the remaining 11 tribes mourned and planned until Benjamin was operative again. Else - we would not have had Paul and his 14 NT epistles! Just so we need the First Nations People like Benjamin to be functioning, so that they can receive, and we can receive from them. And the 12 Revival Principles of 1948 must be brought from their Embryonic state of that day to full maturity in *our* day. Elvin saw this, and exhorted our Pilot Prayer Team to understand these principles - and to pray and believe for full maturity. Over six of these principles now have a leader moving others in this direction! He also encouraged us to thoroughly understand the 7 Component Parts of the Laser-Telescope, and how to let the Lord use us in an organic sense in this also! Elvin's understanding and insistence in motivating all of us - including myself - to move in full unity to bring into reality all of these concepts - amazed me! He was moving in ?Motivating Power? far more strongly that I was able to move in myself. God had given me the visions - but He was giving Elvin the understanding and faith to motivate us to bring these to pass! And - it takes all 12 brought to maturity - and operating in unity - for God to be able to use the 12 world cultural groups like the 12 tribes of Israel. Israel understood in Judges at the end, that Benjamin *had to be restored* as one of the 12, for God to use this nation. The First Nations People is one of the 12 World Cultural Groups, and like Benjamin must be restored, matured, and giving and receiving for the other 11 - for *God* to use His world church in bringing to pass all conditions prior to the soon return of His Son! Elvin saw this! But it wasn't to him just knowledge! It was an insight that required our team to be activated in maturity - and then multiplied as Elderships (Presbyteries) in the Gates of the cities of Canada and the U.S. He heard the plea of Arnie Bryan of Prayer Canada for the 260 prayer groups across Canada's cities, towns and villages - praying weekly for the local major and city councils where they lived. Elvin was not daunted by the immensity of the task. *6. Matthew 11:29 (11:25-30) HUMILITY: VERSUS HIS BOLDNESS IN KENYA. ?Take my :yoke upon you; and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in :heart: and you shall find rest to your :souls.? Proverbs 27:2 (27:1-27) ?Let anotherpraise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.? *But in all this Elvin moved constantly in this spirit. Like Paul the apostle he was a tent-maker, and supported his family and himself, while traveling constantly in the fulfilling of these visions throughout Cascadia, the Pacific Northwest. Because present day city churches are not sufficiently mature to understand the practical honor in finances that ministries like Elvin deserve - he worked himself into failing health and finally his Home-going. Surely now we can say thanks in absentia by picking up his task - by supporting his widow Wanda and the children He with Felix Anderson of Bellingham last year had such an impact in Kenya, that Christian leaders of a large poorer section of the capital Nairobi - said that a return trip would establish them, and they could see reaching all of Africa successfully with the City Church and Eldership concept. *7. 1 Timothy 1:18 (1:18-20) IMPARTATION. ?This :charge I commit to you, Timothy child, according to the prophecies which led the way to you, that by them you war the good warfare!? *Perhaps this last is the most practical of all the rich gifts the Lord imparted to Elvin. This was the key restoration truth of the 1948 Visitation in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. It initially deeply troubled the Canadian elders of that move. But when they discovered the above verse among many others - they then effectively launched out and saw God do miracles.! As mentioned above, Elvin strongly urged all who desired an impartation in line with the verse above - to come forward. Elvin and I would allow them to pass between us, laying hands on them, and praying or prophesying as the Lord should lead. In the 3 cities of Cultus Lake, Portland and Abbotsford, Elvin made use of the diagram made to depict the vision of the organic Laser-Telescope of the 1967 Vision. John Hwang, one of our PPT members - upgraded this diagram, and Elvin made excellent use of this upgrading in Abbotsford. When the printed copy of the Outlined Interlinear Greek NT is available, turn to the Preface at the beginning as written up by Elvin. ?One Picture is worth 1000 Words!? There you will see the diagram he used and there you will read what he says about the effectiveness of these 3 city meetings. He * deserved* to have a part in this Interlinear! But who would have thought that within less than two months he would be with the Lord in Glory - at a fairly young age. Only God can replace such a one as Elvin. Actually, it will probably take a number of ministries to make up for our loss - but heaven's gain! I personally stand with 4 areas of my ministry empty now! Pray and believe that God in His Wisdom and mercy will swiftly move to fill in these gaps. So the above are 7 windows to see into the life of the man promoted to a higher calling - Elvin Gladney. Saturday 3, 2011 at noon will truly be a *Celebration of life*! The life of one living now more fully than ever before - in a living relationship with the Lord Jesus - the One He truly loved supremely down here, and sought to serve supremely - and then His people as His Lord led. A last practical note: In the OT God had the 12 tribes of Israel tithe to the smaller tribe of Levi, which gave them a little more than the other tribes. Then they in turn tithed to the Priests, who represent the 5-fold ministries, of which Elvin was a part. Through close friends of this family, they have set up a *Benevolent Fund* account for supporting Wanda and the children. Chase Bank Acct. #970891594 Acct. holders: Wanda Gladney & Melanie Crutcher or - Folks can mail checks to: Real Life International Church P.O. Box 98794 Des Moines, WA 98198 Please indicate *Benevolent Fund* on checks if mailed Your friends - and Elvin and Wanda's friends - Jim & Marie Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Sep 5 13:08:07 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2011 13:08:07 -0700 Subject: Leviticus 18-20 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 5, 2011 *FEB 25 - LEVITICUS 18-20 - REGULATIONS FOR THE PEOPLE* *1. 18:4-5 (18:1-5) REGULATIONS FOR ISRAEL IN CANAAN. ?You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God. 5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD? (ESV). *Not our thing, nor the things of the worldly; but *your thing*, Father. To *this* we are committed! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 18:22-23 (18:6-30) REGULATIONS: UNLAWFUL MARRIAGES AND LUSTS. ? You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. 23 And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.? *Incest, homosexuality, and bestiality: *all* are *abomination* to You Father, and bring *confusion*! As believers, we believe Your Word here, submit to it, and let You live in and through us to this end. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 19:1-2 (19:1-10) REGULATIONS: EXAMPLES OF HOLINESS. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 ?Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.? *Here it is: Holiness to You, Father. Write it upon our minds and in our thoughts, till we think Your thoughts after You. Renew our minds. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 19:17-18 (19:11-22) REGULATIONS: VARIOUS STATUTES. ?You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.? *This is loving your neighbor as yourself: O forgive us Father, that we fail to keep strong relationships with one another at all times, by being our brother's keeper! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 19:24-25 (19:23-25) REGULATIONS: FRUIT OF THE LAND. ?And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD. 25 But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the LORD your God.? *All of us should know the wisdom of these words, Father. We seem to lack wisdom in these practical areas so often. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 19:31 (19:26-37) REGULATIONS: SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS LAWS. ?Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.? *To seek channelers like J.Z. Knight, and listen to Ramtha, is worthy of death; and those who do it are already spiritually dead. But when we reject Satan's wisdom from the second heaven: You Father are pleased! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 20:13 (20:1-27) PENALTIES: FOR INFRACTION OF ABOVE LAWS. ?If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.? *?Gay people? can be delivered and forgiven of their homosexuality if they repent. God loves the sinner, but *hates* their sin. * But deliver us from the evil one! * *NOTE**: 20:22 (20:1-27) ?You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out.? *Healing of the Land is dependent upon Your grace Father, being lived out through us in Christ. Dr. J. Sidlow Baxter wrote ?Explore the Book? - an exemplary outlined Commentary on all the books of the Bible. Some of his titles are excellent. Some 40 years ago I made my own outline of the Bible, not thinking I would ever edit and send out my outlines with a few of his titles. Now that I am doing so, and though Dr. Baxter has had his home-going, I want to give credit where credit is due. A few of the Titles in Exodus and Leviticus come from this man. You will probably be able to spot his - from mine. These regulations for Israel are fairly stiff! Where they deal with morality - we as Gentiles need to walk in them too - such as in 2., 6. and 7. above. I know our society and culture counts this part of the Bible as being ?politically incorrect?. Our society and culture is *wrong* at this point! *God* and *His Bible* is correct! When the religious leaders of the apostle Peter's day tried to shut him and his brother apostles up - he said - ?Whether it is right to listen to you - or God- *you* judge! But as for us - we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard of from God!? I say the same as Peter! God comes ahead of our government and political leaders - when they judge contrary to the Word of God. When Dr. Ivan Panin's Bible Numeric Outline Interlinear Greek NT comes out - it will be a clear word, far above all governmental judgments! Even if like the apostles of yore we be beaten, persecuted and jailed, we *will stand with God and His Bible*, and be like the white-robed saints of Revelation 6:9-11; and 7:13-17. It is *good* for us to see what was forbidden Israel from a moral view-point - because God counted much of this as an *abomination*! Such as those like Sodom and Gomorrah may persecute us today - but they have a day coming in the future - and soon - that will force them to see the truthfulness of God and His Bible and what we preach today. And our Psalm for the day? *55:22 (55:1-23) GOD'S PROMISE FOR HIS SAINTS. ?Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.? *The heavy burden of betrayal by those whom we trusted is grievous to us, Father! It was grievous to Your Son. Yet we trust you implicitly for deliverance. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Sep 6 14:57:58 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2011 14:57:58 -0700 Subject: Leviticus 21-22 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 6, 2011 *FEB 26 - LEVITICUS 21-22 - REGULATIONS FOR THE PRIESTS* *1. 21:7-8 (21:1-15) PRIESTS: RELIGIOUS LAWS. ?They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled, neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. 8 You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy? (ESV). *High standards You have O Father, for Your five-fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11). We honor You for this. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 21:16-17 (21:16-24) PRIESTS: PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS. ?And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 17 ?Speak to Aaron, saying, None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God.? *Only outer court ministry of deacons is permissible for those who have compromised the priesthood may approach here (Ezekiel 44:9-31). We submit to this. *Your :kingdom come. * *3. 22:3 (22:1-9) PRIESTS: SEPARATION AND DEFILEMENT. Say to them, ?If any one of all your* *offspring throughout your generations approaches the holy things that the people of Israel dedicate to the* *LORD, while he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.? *We remember Nadab and Abihu. We remember those leaders of *our* generation who have fallen. Righteous and just are Your judgments O Father. *Jealous* is Your Name! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 22:14 (22:10-16) PRIESTS: SANCTITY OF THEIR FOOD. ?And if anyone eats of a holy thing unintentionally, he shall add the fifth of its value to it and give the holy thing to the priest.? *O forgive us Father, for so lightly regarding Your holy things and Your holy Name! Your fear is not sufficiently deep in our hearts. O circumcise our hearts and write these things deeply upon them! *Our :daily :bread, Give us this day.* *5. 22:19-20 (22:17-25) PRIESTS: IMPERFECTIONS. ?If it is to be accepted for you it shall be a male without blemish, of the bulls or the sheep or the goats. 20 You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you.? *Malachi censored Israel for disregarding this word. Rather, You Father spoke this word of censor through Him! You are a *great*God, and deserve our best! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 22:29-30 (22:26-30) PRIESTS: LAW OF SACRIFICES. ?And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted. 30 It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until morning: I am the LORD.? *If we are to be thankful unto You Father, let us be thankful according to *Your* prescribed pattern! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 22:31-33. OBEDIENCE ENJOINED. ?So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the LORD. 32 And you shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the LORD who sanctifies you, 33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD.? *We acknowledge Your declaration Father! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE: 21:6 (21:1-15) PRIESTS: REASON FOR THEIR HOLINESS. ?They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the LORD's food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy.? *The five-fold ministry is highly favored, and it behooves all such to walk in *holiness*. Then they can walk in Kingdom Power! God's instructions for OT priests do not apply to us directly, but the * spirit* of this does apply to the 5-fold ministries today. 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus deal with this viewpoint from a NT aspect. Recently a man who walked in the Spirit of this went to his heavenly home and reward - Dr. John Stott. When I read of this, I felt it was well worthwhile passing along - so here 'tis. It would be profitable for us to look up Dr. Valson Abraham's Website - and see the fruit that partly comes because of the input of John Stott. *Remembering an Exemplary Christian Leader: John Stott* by Valson Abraham, India Gospel Outreach - <*www.indiago.org>* *John Stott was named by TIME magazine as one of the top 100 leaders in the world, with influence second only to that of Billy Graham. Yet he was a humble man who shunned the limelight and the trappings of power to quietly give himself to the work of a pastor, mentor, writer and to the fulfillment of the Great Commission.* On July 27th, *John R.W. Stott*, a hero of the faith and a hero of mine, went to be with the Lord at the age of 90, a homegoing of one of the finest minds and erudite teachers of God's Word the global church has ever had. During his lifetime, Stott was known worldwide for his depth and breadth of Biblical scholarship, and for preaching, teaching and writing with extraordinary clarity, simplicity and faithfulness to the Scriptures. Born to an agnostic father and a Lutheran mother, Stott was ordained an Anglican minister, serving as rector of All Souls Church in London and chaplain to the Queen of England. *TIME* magazine named him among the top 100 leaders in the world, and his influence upon evangelicalism was second only to Billy Graham. His ministry shaped the faith of a generation and took him all over the world, spanning across denominations to countless people and selling millions of books. The royalties from his books provided scholarships for hundreds of doctoral students and books for seminaries especially in the ?majority world?. In spite of his fame, he remained a humble man, celibate, living in a one-bedroom apartment, and quietly mentoring hundreds of people of every background who knew him as ?Uncle John.? Stott was a man of keen global vision and insight and was the chief architect of the Lausanne Covenant, which laid out the beliefs on which evangelicalism was built into a worldwide movement. The Lausanne Covenant has served as a theological and philosophical foundation that has guided India Gospel Outreach from its earliest days. Stott's commitment to the Great Commission is also unmistakable throughout his many books and sermons. His simple and lucid exposition of profound Bible truths have helped to influence and encourage the development of many evangelical and church planting missions, especially those in the 10/40 window, including that of India Gospel Outreach. ?*His [Jesus] authority on earth allows us to dare to go to all the nations. His authority in heaven gives us our only hope of success. And His presence with us leaves us with no other choice.? - *John Stott I first heard him speak at Urbana in 1979 and during my years at Fuller Theological Seminary where he preached on different occasions. All of us who heard him were captivated as he illuminated the Word of God and radiated the Spirit's unmistakable presence. In turn, he gave us his undivided attention. As his time on earth drew to a close, family and friends surrounded him, reading from 2 Timothy and listening to ?I Know That My Redeemer Liveth? and other selections from Handel's Messiah during his final moments. Now, for eternity, he gazes at the Redeemer he so adored. *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Sep 7 11:10:30 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 11:10:30 -0700 Subject: Leviticus 23-27 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 7, 2011 *FEB 27 - LEVITICUS 23-27 - REGULATIONS FOR FEASTS AND CANAAN* *1. 23:1-2 (23) FEASTS OF THE LORD. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2?Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.? *We honor Your Holy Convocations, Father: Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles; teach us the deep New Covenant counterparts. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 24:5-7 (24:1-9) OIL FOR THE LAMP AND SHOWBREAD. ?You shall take fine flour and bake twelve loaves from it; two tenths of an ephah shall be in each loaf. 6 And you shall set them in two piles, six in a pile, on the table of pure gold before the LORD. 7 And you shall put pure frankincense on each pile, that it may go with the bread as a memorial portion as a food offering to the LORD.? *12 loaves represent 12 tribes and 12 New Covenant apostles! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 24:16 (24:10-23) CANAAN LAND JUDGMENTS. ?Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.? *O that we were grieved and defended Your Name whenever it was blasphemed and taken in vain! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 25:4 (25:1-7) THE SABBATIC YEAR. ?But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.? *One day out of seven: one year out of seven for the land, that it be not leached. How we have sinned against our stewardship of ourselves and the land, the earth.! How we have polluted it and the air, lakes, oceans and food! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 25:9 (25:8-55) THE YEAR OF JUBILEE. ?Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land.? This will be the end of six millennia, and could be the last trumpet, the joyful sound.* Father, Your Son is about to take up His great power and reign with his saints upon the earth. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 26:45 (26) CONDITIONS OF BLESSING IN CANAAN. ?But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.? *This is a terrible prophecy of judgment, and has been fulfilled! Restoration has been fulfilled in part; times of restitution of all things is at hand! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 27:19 (27) LAWS FOR DEDICATED PERSONS AND THINGS. ?And if he who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, then he shall add a fifth of its valuation price, and it shall remain his.? *We acknowledge Father, Your right in all of this. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 23:27-28 (23) YOM-KIPPUR: THE DAY OF ATONEMENT. ?Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD. **28 And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God.? *This is most likely the most holy day in the whole year for Israel! Dave Saddler was a sailor in the Canadian Navy during World War II days. He was number one Bantam-weight boxer, and highly respected. When he would be in a room reading with other sailors present, and one took the Lord's Name in vain - Dave immediately confronted him, ?I'll thank you not to take that Name in vain again. He happens to be my best friend!? You can imagine the pall that immediately came down in that room - for even heavier sailors didn't want to tangle with this fiery little boxer! Leviticus 23 records the 3 great feasts of the Lord. Passover and Tabernacles each had 3 parts, making 7 altogether. A Jewish missionary to her people introduced this chapter to me in 1944 shortly after the Lord revealed Himself to me according to His promise. I shared this with students at the Sharon Orphanage and Schools of North Battleford, Saskatchewan in the Fall of 1948. George Warnock audited this class of some 70 students. He had previously copied the entire OT out by hand, so was well aware of this portion of Scripture. But the spirit of Mrs. Mary Berth Allquist who shared this with me seeped through: Jesus fulfilled Passover! The Holy Spirit 50 day later fulfilled Pentecost; and Jesus at His Second Coming will fulfill Tabernacles. Her spirit filtered through me to George, and wouldn't let him go till he wrote his first of 12 or so books - ?The Feast of Tabernacles?. It didn't do much for 10 years - but then through the instigation of Bill Britton, it was reprinted and went throughout the world. So for me, Leviticus 23 is a red letter chapter - and has led me to have fellowship with Messianic Jewish believers for the last 67 years. And - our Psalm for the day - *57:9-11 (57:1-11) LET YOUR GLORY BE OVER ALL THE EARTH! ?I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!? *What a paean of praise! We join with the Psalmist in this! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Sep 8 12:30:39 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 12:30:39 -0700 Subject: Luke 1 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 8, 2011 *FEB 28 - LUKE 1 - JESUS: PREPARATION THROUGH JOHN* *1. 1:3-4 (1:1-4) JESUS: PREPARATION BY LUKE. ?It seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from above, to write to you in order, excellent Theophilus; 4 that you might know the certainty concerning the words in which you were instructed? (NNT). *Foundations are important; thank You Father for ensuring that we are well grounded. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 1:17 (1:5-25) JESUS: PREPARATION BY JOHN. ?And HE shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the fathers' hearts to thechildren, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for theLord a people prepared for him.? *Thank You Father, for the Elijah spirit of John. Thank You for the Elijah band being raised up to herald the second coming of Your Son. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 1:37-38 (1:26-38) JESUS: PREPARATION BY GABRIEL. ?Because no word from :God shall be void of power. 38 And Mariam said, Lo, the bondmaid of theLord; be it unto me according to your :word. And the angel departed from her.? *O we bless You Father, for this wonderful response of Mary. May it always be our response too! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 1:42b-43 (1:39-56) JESUS: PREPARATION BY MARY. ?Blessed you among women, and blessed the fruit of your :womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my :Lord should come unto me?? *Blessed are You Father, for the gift of perception Your Spirit granted unto Elisabeth. *She*recognized the day of her visitation: may we also be alive to such insights! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 1:63-64 (1:57-66) JOHN: PREPARATION BY ELISABETH AND ZACHARIAS. ?And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And all marveled. 64 And his :mouth was opened immediately, and his :tongue, and he spoke, blessing :God.? *You were confirming Your Word Father, with signs following; and it did not fail to impress Your people. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 1:76-77 (1:67-79) JOHN: PREPARATION BY PROPHECY. ?Yes and you, child, shall be called prophet of the Most High: For you shall go before the Lord to make ready his ways; 77 To :give knowledge of salvation to his :people In remission of their sins.? *How Zacharias profited from Your nine-month rebuke, Father. Now faith and prophecy flow forth! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 1:80 JOHN: PREPARATION BY SOLITUDE. ?And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto :Israel.? *How wise Your dealings with us as individuals, Father! How wise with John, him of the Elijah spirit! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE: 1:35 (1:26-38) JESUS: PREPARATION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. ?And the angel answered and said to her [Mary], The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you; therefore also what is born shall be called holy, Son of God.? *May Your Son Father, be born anew in many more of us before He returns again.* * Motherhood is a painful privilege. Young Mary of Nazareth had the unique privilege of being mother to the very Son of God. Yet the pains and pleasures of her motherhood can be understood by mothers everywhere. Mary was the only human present of Jesus' birth who also witnessed his death. She saw him arrive as her baby son, and she watched him die as her Savior. Until Gabriel's unexpected visit, Mary's life was quite satisfactory. She had recently become engaged to a carpenter, Joseph, and was anticipating married life. But her life was about to change forever. Angels don't usually make appointments before visiting. Feeling as if she were being congratulated for winning the grand prize in a contest she had never entered, Mary found the angel's greeting puzzling and his presence frightening. What she heard next was the news almost every woman in Israel hoped to hear - that her child would be the Messiah, God's promised Savior. Mary did not doubt the message but rather asked how pregnancy would be possible. Gabriel told her the baby would be God's Son. Her answer was the one God wants in vain to hear from so many other people: ?I am the Lord's servant ... May everything you have said come true? (Luke 1:38). Later her song of joy shows us how well she knew God, for her thoughts were filled with his words from the Old Testament. Within a few weeks of his birth, Jesus was taken to the Temple to be dedicated to God. There Joseph and Mary were met by two devout people. Simeon and Anna, who recognized the child as the Messiah and praised God. Simeon directed some words to Mary that must have come to her mind many times in the years that followed: ?A sword will pierce your very soul? (Luke 2:35). A big part of her painful privilege of motherhood would be to see her son rejected and crucified by the people he came to save. We can imagine that even if she had known all she would suffer as Jesus' mother, Mary would still have given the same response. Are you, like Mary, available to be used by God? (Taken from ?Life Application Study Bible?, ?New Living Translation?, 1996, p. 1941). Our Psalm for the day - *58:3 (58:1-11) GOD WHO JUDGES THE EARTH. ?The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies? (ESV). *Here we see Father, an understanding of the tares and the wheat. We thank You that as the Potter You have formed us to love the Tree of Life. You have made us to be conformed to the image of Jesus! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Sep 9 09:25:48 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2011 09:25:48 -0700 Subject: A Tree of God's Own Planting Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 9, 2011 *2011-09-08 - A TREE OF GOD'S OWN PLANTING* *From ?George Muller of Bristol? by Dr. A.T. Pierson, p. 107* The second paragraph of this account relates the 4 stages of *all steps* in the life of George Muller: *much prayer*; *meditation on the Word*; *searching of his own heart*; and *patient waiting to know the mind of God*. As a result, 50,000 *exact answers* to prayer came in the next 60 years, amounting financially to over $8 million prior to 1900 in the support of 10,000 orphans; plus the various divisions of ?The Scriptural Knowledge Institute for Home and Abroad?. The reason I share this, that it might encourage great carefulness in what we pray for. Rees Howells only prayed for those things that the Spirit laid on his heart after the same type of care to accurately ascertain the Will of God - before launching out in the prayer of faith. I fear many today take a desire, and then make declarations of faith on the basis of this desire, without *first* using the 4 careful steps of George Muller. His prayers and those of Rees Howells were *always* answered in most extraordinary ways. They both believed 1 John 5:14-15 *?And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything **according to his :will**, he **hears* * us; **15** and if we **know that he hears us** whatever we ask, **we know that we have** the petitions which we have asked of him? (NNT).* True prayer is always Asking and *Receiving*. John R. Rice wrote a book by this title to express this same confidence. Now see how Mr. Muller walked this principle out: J.A.Watt ?The time was now fully come when the divine Husbandman was to glorify Himself by a product of His own husbandry in the soil of Bristol [England]. On February 20, 1834, George Muller was led of God to sow the seed of what ultimately developed into a great means of good, known as ?The Scriptural Knowledge Institution, for Home and Abroad.? As in all other steps of his life, this was the result of much prayer, meditation on the Word, searching of his own heart, and patient waiting to know the mind of God. A brief statement of the reasons for founding such an institution, and the principles on which it was based, will be helpful at this point. Motives of conscience controlled Mr. Muller and Mr. Craik in starting a new work rather than in uniting with existing societies already established for missionary purposes, Bible and tract distribution, and for the promotion of Christian schools. As they had sought to conform personal life and church conduct wholly to the scriptural pattern, they felt that all work for God should be carefully carried on in exact accordance with His known will, in order to have His fullest blessing. Many features of the existing societies seemed to them *extra*-scriptural, if not decidedly anti-scriptural, and these they felt constrained to avoid. For example, they felt that the end* proposed* by such organizations, namely, *the conversion of the world* in this dispensation, was not justified by the Word, which everywhere represents this as the age of the outgathering of* the church* from the world, and not the ingathering* of the world* into the church. To set such an end before themselves as the world's conversion would therefore not only be unwarranted by Scripture, but delusive and disappointing, disheartening God's servants by the failure to realize the result, and dishonoring to God Himself by making Him to appear unfaithful. Again, these existing societies seemed to Mr. Muller and Mr. Craik to sustain a *wrong relation to the world* - mixed up with it, instead of separate from it. Any one by paying a certain fixed sum of money might become a member or even a director, having a voice or vote in the conduct of affairs and becoming eligible to office. Unscriptural means were commonly used to *raise money*, such as appealing for aid to unconverted persons, asking for donations simply for money's sake and without regard to the character of the donors or the manner in which the money was obtained. The custom of *seeking patronage* from men of the world and asking such to preside at public meetings, and the habit of *contracting debts*, - these and some other methods of management seemed so unscriptural and unspiritual that the founders of this new institution could not with a good conscience give them sanction. Hence they hoped that by basing their work upon thoroughly biblical principles they might secure many blessed results. First of all, they confidently believed that the work of the Lord could be best and most successfully carried on within the landmarks and limits set up in His word; that the fact of thus carrying it on would give boldness in prayer and confidence in labor. But they also desired the work itself to be a witness to the living God, and a testimony to believers, by calling attention to the objectionable methods already in use and encouraging all God's true servants in adhering to the principles and practices which He has sanctioned. On March 5th at a public meeting a formal announcement of the intention to found such an institution was accompanied by a full statement of its purposes and principles, in substance as follows: 1. Every believer's duty and privileges to help on the cause and work of Christ. 2. The patronage of the world is not to be sought after, depended upon, or countenanced. 3. Pecuniary aid, or help in managing or carrying on its affairs, is not to be asked for or sought from those who are not believers. 4. Debts are not to be contracted or allowed for any cause in the work of the Lord. 5. The standard of success is not to be a numerical or financial standard. 6. All compromise of the truth or any measures that impair testimony to God are to be avoided. Thus the word of God was accepted as counselor, and all dependence was on God's blesssing in answer to prayer. The *objects* of the institution were likewise announced as follows: 1. To establish or aid day-schools, Sunday-schools, and adult-schools, taught and conducted only by believers and on thoroughly scriptural principles. 2. To circulate the Holy Scriptures, wholly or in portions, over the widest possible territory. 3. To aid missionary efforts and assist laborers, in the Lord's vineyard anywhere, who are working upon a biblical basis and looking only to the Lord for support. To project such a work, on such a scale, and at such a time, was doubly an act of faith; for not only was the work already in hand enough to tax all available time and strength, but at this very time this record appears in Mr. Muller's journal: ?*We have only one shilling left.? *Surely no advance step would have been taken, had not the eyes been turned, not on the empty purse, but on the full and exhaustless treasury of a rich and bountiful Lord! It was plainly God's purpose that, out of such abundance of poverty, the riches of His liberality should be manifested. It pleased Him, from whom and by whom are all things, that the work should be begun when His servants were poorest and weakest, that its growth to such giant proportions might the more prove it to be a plant of His own right hand's planting, and that His word might be fulfilled in its whole history: *Isaiah 37:3 ?I the Lord do keep it: I will water it every moment: Lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.?* Whatever may be thought as to the need of such a new organization, or as to such scruples as moved its founders to insist even in minor matters upon the closest adherence to scripture teaching, this at least is plain, that for more than half a century it has stood upon its original foundation, and its increase and usefulness have surpassed the most enthusiastic dreams of its founders; nor have the principles first avowed ever been abandoned. With the Living God as its sole patron, and prayer as its only appeal, it has attained vast proportions, and its world-wide work has been signally owned and blessed. On March19th Mrs. Muller gave birth to a son, to the great joy of his parents; and, after much prayer, they gave him the name of Elijah - ?My God is Jah? - the name itself being one of George Muller's life-mottoes. Up to this time the families of Mr. Muller and Mr. Craik had dwelt under one roof, but henceforth it was thought wise that they should have separate lodgings. When at the close of 1834, the usual backward glance was cast over the Lord's leadings and dealings, Mr. Muller gratefully recognized the divine goodness which had thus helped him to start upon its career the work with its several departments. Looking to the Lord alone for light and help, he had laid the corner-stone of this ?little institution?; and in October, after only seven months' existence, it had already begun to be established. In the Sunday-school there were one hundred and twenty children; in the adult classes, forty; in the four day-schools, two hundred and nine boys and girls; four hundred eighty-two Bibles and five hundred and twenty Testaments had been put into circulation, and fifty-seven pounds had been spent in aid of missionary operations. During these seven months the Lord had sent, in answer to prayer, over one hundred and sixty-seven pounds in money, and much blessing upon the work itself. The brothers and sisters who were in charge had likewise been given by the same prayer-hearing God, in direct response to the cry of need and the supplication of faith. Meanwhile *another object* was coming into greater prominence before the mind and heart of Mr. Muller: it was the thought of *making some permanent provision for fatherless and motherless children*. An orphan boy who had been in the school had been taken to the poorhouse, not longer able to attend on account of extreme poverty; and this little incident set Mr. Muller thinking and praying about orphans. Could not something be done to meet the temporal and spiritual wants of this class of very poor children? Unconsciously to himself, God had set a seed in his soul, and was watching and watering it. The idea of a definite orphan work had taken root within him, and, like any other living germ, it was springing up and growing, he knew not how. As yet it was only in the blade, but in time there would come the ear and the full-grown corn in the ear, the new seed of a larger harvest. Meanwhile the church was growing. In these two and a half years over two hundred had been added, making the total membership two hundred and fifty-seven; but the enlargement of the work generally neither caused the church life to be neglected or any one department of duty to suffer declension - a very noticeable fact in this history. The point to which we have now come is one of double interest and importance, as at once a point of arrival and of departure. The work of God's chosen servant may be considered as fairly if not fully inaugurated *in all its main forms of service*. He himself is in his thirtieth year, the age when his divine Master began to be fully manifest to the world and to go about doing good. Through the preparatory steps and stages leading up to his complete mission and ministry to the church and the world, Christ's humble disciple has likewise been brought, and his fuller career of usefulness now begins, with the various agencies in operation whereby for more than threescore years he was to show both proof and example of what God can do through one man who is willing to be simply the instrument for Him to work with. Nothing is more marked in George Muller, to the very day of his death, than this, that he so looked to God and leaned on God that he felt himself to be nothing, and God everything. He sought to be always and in all things surrendered as a passive tool to the will and hand of the Master Workman. This point of arrival and of departure is also a point of *prospect*. Here, halting and looking backward, we may take in at a glance the various successive steps and stages of preparation whereby the Lord had made His servant ready for the sphere of service to which He called, and for which He fitted him. One has only, from this height, to look over the ten years that were past, to see beyond dispute or doubt the divine design that lay back of George Muller's life, and to feel an awe of the God who thus chooses and shapes, and then uses, His vessels of services.? (Dr. Pierson then reviews the more important steps in the process by which the divine Potter had shaped His vessel for His purpose, educating and preparing George Muller for His work. He then follows with 24 of these steps.) *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Sep 10 10:43:33 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2011 10:43:33 -0700 Subject: :Luke 2 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 10, 2011 *FEB 29 - LUKE 2 - JESUS: FROM BIRTH TO TWELVE* *1. 2:7 (2:1-7) JESUS: HIS BIRTH. ?And she was delivered of her :firstborn :son; and they swaddled him and laid him in a manger, because there was not room for them in the inn? (NNT). *Your Kingdom comes, Father, in the unexpected; in the suddenly; in the common ways; in what man counts as nothing; among the poor; in what man counts as foolishness. O give us the wisdom of true perception! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 2:11-12 (2:8-20) JESUS: THE SHEPHERDS. ?For this day is born to you in David's city a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this is a sign for you: You shall find a child swaddled, and lying in a manger.? *Father, we will submit to the rule and the way of Your Kingdom. We will be prepared for angelic visitation should this be Your will. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 2:21 JESUS: NAMED BY GABRIEL. ?And when eight days were fulfilled for :circumcising him, his name also was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was :conceived in the womb.? *Jeremiah had his commission before conception. Ishmael, Isaac, Cyrus and John the Baptizer were also named before conception. How *great* You are, Father! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 2:38 (2:22-38) JESUS: BLESSED BY SIMEON AND ANNA. ?And coming up at that very hour she [Anna] gave thanks to :God, and spoke of him to all that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.? *Not all perceived Your Son at His first coming, Father. Thank God for the shepherds, Simeon and Anna. O forgive us for our blindness, and slowness to believe! Make us perspective. Anoint our eyes with eye salve that we might see. *Our :daily :bread, Give us this day.* *5. 2:39. JESUS: BROUGHT TO NAZARETH. ?And when they had accomplished all the things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to :Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.? *Jesus was born under the law, and all things according to the law were done unto Him. You superintended this Father. We bless You for it. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 2:40 JESUS: BEFORE TWELVE. ?And the child grew, and became strong, filled with wisdom: and God's grace was upon him.? *How You must have loved Your Son in His humanity, Father! This was the One Whom You would later make Lord and Christ! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 2:42, 49 (2:41-52) JESUS AT TWELVE IN THE TEMPLE. ?And when he [Jesus] was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; 49 and he [Jesus] said unto them, How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my :father's business? *Imagine being the human parents of God's only begotten Son! Father, we marvel at Your salvation in Your Son! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 2:51-52 (2:41-52) JESUS: HIS AMAZING EXAMPLE OF OBEDIENCE! ?And Jesus went down with them, and came unto Nazareth, and was subject to them: but His mother kept all these sayings in her heart. **52 And Jesus advanced in :wisdom and stature, and in grace with God and men.? *Father, write deeply on our hearts this example of Your Son Jesus! Lord Jesus, live out Your life of humility and submission to Your Father and His delegated authority, through us! The life of Jesus falls naturally into 4 parts: His birth to age 12; His Hidden years from 13 to 30; His 3 years of preaching, teaching and healing; His death, burial and resurrection, followed by His Ascension and 10 days later the Gift of the Holy Spirit to replace Him. Actually, the last week of Jesus takes precedence over all, and takes up a large part of all 4 Gospels. Since the fall of Adam, the most significant event in the planning of God is the coming of the Second Adam, God's only begotten Son. Three events in the history of man allow all other events to hang upon them: the Abrahamic Covenant in 1896 BC; the Solomonic Temple in 986 BC; and Calvary and the Resurrection of Jesus in 30 AD. To understand these 3 events is to see from God's perspective the true meaning of world events. History is only truly understood from God's perspective, not from the surmising of even the most highly educated of men. Turn to our Website ** and click on Archives. Then scroll down to 2011-02-08 Panin's Bible Chronology. At the close of this article click to get a PDF copy of these 3 events within the context of 21 significant dates of the 245 - that are deducible from Bible evidence alone. Then through Panin they are confirmed by Bible Numerics. This time frame of 4000 years is divided into 8 periods, each ending with a Blood Covenant. Jesus - is the High Point of *all* history! He alone gives complete meaning and understanding to all the purposes of God. In Him we can and should live and move and have our being. To please Him is to please the Father. He and the Father are *one*! And for our Psalm for the day - *59:17 (59:1-17) DELIVER ME FROM MY ENEMIES. ?O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love [CHEsed]? (ESV). *When our enemies seek to overwhelm us - yet You O Father, are *well able* to deliver us, and You *do so*! You are the God of the ?nick of time? (Hebrews 4:16). We can trust You *completely*! J.A. Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Sep 11 08:50:01 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:50:01 -0700 Subject: Luke 3-4 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 11, 2011 *MAR 1 - LUKE 3-4 - JESUS: BEGINNING & NATURE OF HIS MINISTRY* *1. 3-16-17 (3:1-20) JESUS: TESTIFIED TO BY JOHN. ?:John answered, saying to all, I indeed baptize you with water; but the one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose :shoes I am not fit to unloose: HE shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire: 17 whose :fan is in his :hand, thoroughly to cleanse his :threshing-floor, and to gather the grain into his :barn; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire? (NNT). *This is a *proper*introduction Father, to *Jesus* and His Kingdom. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 3:21b-22 (3:21-28) JESUS: HIS BAPTISM AND GENEALOGY. ?Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy :Spirit descended in bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, You are my :Son the beloved; in you I am well pleased.? *What a * sign** *of confirmation! What a genealogy of Mary through Nathan! We submit to Your way, Father. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 4:1-2a (4:1-13) JESUS TEMPTED. ?And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led in the Spirit in the wilderness forty days, being tempted of the devil. 2a And he ate nothing in those :days.? *Following revelation and confirmation comes temptation. You have made it this way for *all* of us, Father, including Jesus in His humanity. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 4:14-15 JESUS: POWER AFTER FASTING AND TESTING. ?And :Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into :Galilee: and a fame went out concerning him through the whole region round about. 15 And HE was teaching in their :synagogues, being glorified of all.? *Note: *power* in Jesus' ministry came after a season of fasting. *When* you fast, Jesus said, assuming we will fast. And Father forgive us for seeing things in Your Word that are easy on our flesh, but overlooking those conditions that bring us closer to You. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 4:18-19 (4:16-30) JESUS: BEGINS MINISTRY AT NAZARETH. ?The Lord's Spirit is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to thepoor; Has sent me to proclaim release to captives, and sight to the blind, To set free the bruised, 19 To proclaim the Lord's acceptable year.? **This* is Your Messiah, Father! This is His word of the Kingdom to us. We bow and accept His gracious words. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 4:31-32 (4:31-43) JESUS: MOVES HEADQUARTERS TO CAPERNAUM. ?And he came to Capernaum, a city of :Galilee. And he was teaching them on the sabbaths: 32 and they were astonished at his :teaching; because his :word was with authority.? *Here is a Kingdom message with authority and power! Demons were subject unto Your Son Jesus Father, and are *still* subject to Him in us! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 4:44. JESUS: PREACHES IN SYNAGOGUES OF GALILEE. ?And he was preaching in the synagogues of :Judea.? *Not just in His new headquarters of Capernaum; but in *all* the cities of Galilee Jesus preached the Good News of the Kingdom of God with *power*. This was Your will and leading, Father! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE: 4:40-41a (4:31-43) JESUS: HEALS AND CASTS OUT DEMONS! ?And when the sun was setting, all that had any weak with various sicknesses brought them unto him; and He laid :hands on every one of them, and cured them. 41a And demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying [that] You are the Son of :God.? *Thank You Father, that Your Son Jesus did not permit revelation concerning His true nature from demonic sources! The Kingdom of God is *not* in word only - but in power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit! John the Baptist actually preceded the true manifestation of the Kingdom of God as introduced by Jesus - so he did not have this demonstration. But Jesus did! And His apostles who followed Him did also! And whenever revival comes - *always* these same demonstrations and ?signs following appear. Study carefully church history and its revival times, and without fail such appear! Many today teach that these demonstrations and signs ceased following the days of Jesus and His apostles. But is *this* theology an excuse for those who since then do *not* have demonstration of signs and wonders and power in their ministries? Jesus said - These ?signs? *shall follow* those that believe! If we do not believe they are for us today - then certainly we will not have them confirming the word of our ministry. But - is such a *correct* theology? The Greek language is sometimes called the language of the ?Aorist?. We in English do not have the Aorist tense for our verbs. Some have defined it as a ?punctiliar? or sudden action in past, present or future; the *tense* that is complete in itself; not to be repeated; but with *continuing* consequences! The coming of Jesus is such an Aorist. His death on the Cross performing His Finished Work - is an aorist. His Resurrection is an aorist; His coming again will be an aorist. But - 1 Corinthians 12:28 - :God has *set* some in the church - is an aorist - which includes *all* the power and signs following! And Ephesians 4:11 - ?And HE [Jesus] *gave*? the 5-fold ministries including apostles and prophets - is an *aorist.* So - *as long as there is a church* - God and Jesus intend that the *Gifts*of the Spirit and Ministries to equip the members of the Body of Christ - should *continue* to function. Should they fail to be manifested - this but indicates a low spiritual temperature in the church - that requires revival! - and as soon as revival comes - than spontaneously the Gifts and Ministries reappear! They *did* in the ministry of Luther! They *did* in the ministry of the Wesleys! They *did* at Azusa Street in 1906! And they will continue to do so to the very end. According to the Aorist tense then, it is theologically sound to believe for the type of ministry manifested by Jesus and His apostles in the beginning - to continue unabated to the very end! And our Psalm for today? - *61:1-2 (61:1-8) LEAD ME TO THE ROCK! ?Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I? (ESV). *Your Name O Jehovah Father, is a strong tower; we Your righteous ones run into it, and are lifted on high!* (Proverbs 18:10).* J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Sep 13 11:41:40 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:41:40 -0700 Subject: Matthew 6:1-18 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *(From: MATTHEW #8 - 6:1-18)* *D. 6:1-18 ATTITUDES: ON DOING RIGHTEOUSNESS* *1. 6:1 THREE FORMS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS NOT FOR PRAISE OF MAN* *But take heed you do not your :righteousness* ProSEche-te [4337] de t*e*n di-kai-oSUn*e*n [1343] huM*O*N m*e* poiEIN *before :men, to be seen of them:* EMpros-then t*o*n anTHR*O*p*o*n, pros to the-aTH*E*nai auTOIS: *else you have no reward with your :Father who is in the heavens.* ei de M*E*ge misTHON [3408] ouk Eche-te paRA t*o* paTRI huM*O*N t*o* en tois ou-raNOIS. *2. 6:2-4 ALMS-GIVING* *a. 6:2a HYPOCRITES PARADE THEIR ALMS-GIVING* *When therefore you do alm**s**, sound not a trumpet before you,* HOtan oun poi*E*S e-le-*e*-moSUn*e*n [1654], m*e* salPIs*e*s EMprosTHEN sou, *as the hypocrites do in the synagogues* H*O*Sper hoi hu-po-kriTAI poiOUsin en tais su-na-g*o*GAIS *and in the streets, that they may have glory of :men.* kai en tais 'RUmais, HOp*o*s do-xasTH*O*sin huPO t*o*n anTHR*O*p*o*n.* * *b. 6:2b Amen I say unto you, They have their full :reward.* aM*E*N LEg*o* huMIN, aPEchou-sin tou misTHON auT*O*N. *c. 6:3-4 GOD REWARDS ONLY SECRET ALMS-GIVING* *But when YOU do alm**s**, let not your :left **hand** know what your :right does:* sou de poiOUNtos e-le-*e*-moSUn*e*n, m*e* GN*O*t*o* h*e* a-ris-teRA [710] sou ti poiEI h*e* de-xiA [1188] sou: *4 **that your :alm**s** be in :secret:* HOp*o*s *E* sou h*e* e-le-*e*-moSUn*e* [1654] en t*o* krupT*O* [2927]: *and your :Father who sees in :secret shall recompense you.* kai ho paT*E*R sou ho BLEp*o*n [991] en t*o* krupT*O* [2927] a-poD*O*sei soi [591].* * *3. 6:5-15 PRAYING: A MODEL PRAYER FOR DISCIPLES* *a. 6:5a PRAYER: NOT AN EXCUSE FOR PARADE* *And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites:* Kai HOtan proSEUch*e*s-the [4336], ouk Eses-the h*o*s hoi hu-po-kriTAI [5273]: *for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues* HOti phiLOUsin [5368] en tais su-na-g*o*GAIS [4864] *and in the corners of the streets, that they be seen of :men.* kai en tais g*o*NIais t*o*n pla-tei*O*N heST*O*tes proSEUches-thai, HOp*o*s phaN*O*sin tois anTHR*O*pois. *b. 6:5b Amen I say unto you, They have their full :reward.* aM*E*N LEg*o* huMIN, aPEchou-si ton misTHON auT*O*N. *c. 6:6 SECRET PRAYER: ONLY KIND REWARDED BY THE FATHER* *But when YOU pray, enter into your inner :chamber,* su de HOtan proSEUch*e* [4336], EIsel-the eis to taMEI-ON [5009] sou, *and having shut your :door, pray to your :Father who is in :secret,* kai KLEIsas t*e*n THUran sou, PROseu-xai t*o* paTRI sou t*o* en t*o* krupT*O *, *and your :Father who sees in :secret shall recompense you.* kai ho paT*E*R sou ho BLEp*o*n en t*o* krupT*O* [2927] a-poD*O*sei [591] soi .. *d. 6:7 VAIN REPETITION IN PRAYER FORBIDDEN* *But in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles:* pro-seuCHOme-noi [4336] de m*e* bat-ta-loG*E*s*e*-te [945], H*O*sper hoi ETHni-koi [1482]: *for they think that they shall be surely heard for their much :speaking.* doKOUsin [1380] gar HOti en t*e* po-lu-loGIa [4180] auT*O*N ei-sa-kousTH*E*son-tai [1522]. *e. 6:8 REASON: FATHER KNOWS OUR NEEDS BEFOREHAND* *Be not therefore like unto them: * m*e* oun ho-moi-*o*TH*E*te [4336] auTOIS: *For :God your :father knows what things you have need of, before you :ask him. * OIden gar ho TheOS ho paT*E*R huM*O*N h*o*n CHREIan Eche-te, pro tou huMAS aiT*E*sai auTON. *f. 6:9 PRAYER PATTERN: FIRST THE FATHER?S NAME!* *Pray YOU therefore thus:* HOUt*o*s oun proSEUches-the [4336] huMEIS: *Our Father who **is** in the heavens, Hallowed be your :name.* PAt*e*r h*e*M*O*N ho en tois ou-raNOIS, Ha-gi-asTH*E*t*o* [37] to OnoMA [3686] sou. *g. 6:10a **Your :kingdom come. *elTHAt*o* [2064] h*e* ba-siLEIa [932] sou. *h. 6:10b Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* ge-n*e*TH*E*t*o* [1096 to THEleMA [2307] sou, h*o*s en ou-raN*O*, kai ePI g* e*s. *i. 6:11 Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* ton ARton [740] h*e*M*O*N ton e-piOUsi-on [1967] dos [1325] heMIN SEme-ron [4594]. *j. 6:12 PRAYER AND FORGIVENESS: ITS CONDITION* *And forgive us our :debts,* kai Aphes [863] h*e*MIN ta o-pheiL*E*ma-ta [3781] h*e*M*O*N, *As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* h*o*s kai h*e*MEIS aPH*E*ka-men [863] tois o-pheiLEtais [3781] h*e*M*O*N. *k. 6:13 PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE IF TESTED* *And bring us not into temptation,* kai m*e* ei-seNEGkes [1533] h*e*MAS eis pei-rasMON [3986], *But deliver us from the evil one.* alLA 'RUsai [4508] h*e*MAS aPO tou po-n*e*ROU [4190]. *l. 6:14 FORGIVENESS: CONDITION TO RECEIVE FORGIVENESS!* *For if you forgive :men their :trespasses,* E-AN gar aPH*E*te [863] tois anTHR*O*pois ta pa-rapT*O*ma-ta [3900] auT*O*N, *your :heavenly :Father will also forgive you.* aPH*E*sei kai huMIN ho paT*E*R huM*O*N ho ouRAni-os. *m. 6:15 UNFORGIVENESS: PENALTY FOR REFUSAL TO FORGIVE* *But if you forgive not :men their :trespasses,* eAN de m*e* aPH*E*te tois anTHR*O*pois to pa-rapT*O*ma-ta [3900] auT*O*N, *neither will your :Father forgive your :trespasses.* ouDE ho paT*E*R huM*O*N aPH*E*sei ta pa-rapT*O*ma-ta huM*O*N. *4. 6:16-18 DIRECTIONS CONCERNING FASTING* *a. 6:16a HOW NOT TO FAST* *And when you fast, become not as the hypocrites sad faced:* HOtan de n*e*sTEU*e*-te [3522], m*e* GInes-the [1096] h*o*s hoi hu-po-kriTAI sku-thr*o*POI [4659]: *for they disfigure their :faces, that they be seen of :men to fast.* a-phaNIzou-sin [853] gar ta PROs*o*-pa auT*O*N, HOp*o*s phaN*O*sin tois anTHR*O*pois n*e*sTEUon-tes. *b. 6:16b Amen I say unto you, They have their full reward.* aM*E*N LEg*o* huMIN, aPEchou-sin ton misTHON [3408] auT*O*N. *c. 6:17-18 THE PROPER ATTITUDE AND METHOD FOR FASTING* *But when YOU fast, anoint your :head, and wash your :face;* su de n*e*sTEU*o*n [3522], AleiPSAI [218] sou t*e*n ke-phaL*E*N [2776], kai to PROs*o*PON [4383] sou NIpsai [3538]; *18 **that you be not seen of :men to fast, but of your :Father who is in :secret:* HOp*o*s m*e* phaN*E*S tois anTHR*O*pois n*e*sTEU*o*n, alLA t*o* paTRI sou t* o* en t*o* kruPHA*o*: *18 **that you be not seen of :men to fast, but of your :Father who is in :secret:* kai ho paT*E*R sou, ho BLEp*o*n en t*o* kruPHAI*o*, a-poD*O*sei [591] soi. *NOTE:* - At the suggestion of our Printer's Associate, I am making the following revision. As you will have noted, this Interlinear does not follow the normal Interlinear pattern. Because the English text is not a word-for-word equivalent to the transliterated Greek text; and because a one-line sentence stands for the sentence summary - and therefore precedes the Greek text - it was felt that the English text throughout the NT should precede the Greek text for consistency. I can complete this reversal of texts for the Gospels in one month, and another month will complete the entire NT. This mailing shows this reversal of texts. Do you have any comments? *BENEVOLENT GIVING ? PRAYER ? AND FASTING ?* This section of the Sermon on the Mount can be seen exemplified in the life of Jesus in a most amazing manner. Jesus? 12 disciples watched Him for 3 years, and were so impressed with His example, that they requested, ?LORD ? teach us to pray like John the Baptist taught his disciples to pray.? The prayer contained here most certainly contained the 7 areas in which Jesus the Son of :Man prayed to His heavenly Father. *This* should motivate us not just daily; but like Daniel ? 3 times a day -- to seek our heavenly Father?s face in Jesus? Name! Will He hear and answer? Most certainly, as we faithfully let the Holy Spirit guide us into obeying all the commands of Jesus! It is important to note here that Jesus introduces ?The Disciples' Prayer? with ?double imperatives?! The Lord's Prayer is really John 17 by Jesus! What is normally called the Lord's Prayer is really ?The Disciples' Prayer?. Jesus said - After this manner *pray* ye (Imperative mood). Then *each* of the requests which follow are also in the imperative mood except one! And lead us not into *testing* - is in the subjunctive mood. The significance of this is - Father, if you can bring me into the image of Jesus without going through what ?Job? did, please do! But if the only way you can bring me as a son into glory is through testing - then in the process, *let not* Satan get an eventual advantage over me, but deliver me as you did Job! And may I too forgive my persecuting enemies as did Job, Jesus, and Stephen! This is quite a different way of looking at this prayer Jesus gave to His disciples! Note also that the 5th request to the Father, ?Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors?, is the *only one* repeated. Jesus emphasizes the importance of being forgiven - is on *our part* forgiving our enemies - else - our heavenly Father will *not* forgive us! We need to clearly understand and note these insights. And what of *giving*? ? God so loved us in the world that He gave His only begotten Son on our behalf. And Jesus in His Deity so loved us that He humbled Himself to become a man like us so He could redeem us by His blood and reconcile us back to God. *Giving*? Never has the world seen such an example of Giving. Mel Gibson?s ?The Passion of the Christ? helped us understand this to some extent. And what of the Holy Spirit? Like the Father and the Son, He so loved us -- that on the basis of Jesus? sacrifice He gave Himself to come to live in us at Pentecost, so that through Him Jesus could live out His Victorious and Overcoming Life *through us*! Yes ? this is the privilege of the Disciple! And what of Fasting? Men of prayer say ? ?When prayer alone won?t get one through ? add fasting to prayer, and see the amazing results.? When I get into the Sermon on the Mount ? I always look forward to this 3-fold section. It is so rewarding. It so pleases the Father. It so honors the Son. And again ? the texts above are from the discovery of Ivan Panin concerning God?s Numeric signature, aligning Himself infallibly with the Word ? both Hebrew and Greek. So the liberals and modernists have trouble receiving this! So what else is new? But those who have ears to hear will rejoice in this last day Interlinear Numeric Greek New Testament made possible by Panin. Again ? click on the link below, and find the article and extra 5 links on Panin. *http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Pa ge.aspx?pid=4553&srcid=1979 * J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web: http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Sep 16 14:40:11 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:40:11 -0700 Subject: Repent and be Converted Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 16, 2011 *2011-09-16 - REPENT AND BE CONVERTED - Don Krow* *Discipleship Evangelism Ministry - P.O. Box 150, Ralston, OK 74650 USA* *(May be copied and used for Bible Study and Discipleship Purposes. Not to be Sold.)* *www.krowtracts.com - www.delessons.org * For many years I have emphasized God's unconditional love and grace. But I must admit that many in the grace teaching movement have overlooked and even scorned one of the most foundational subjects that accompanies God's grace, that is, the subject of repentance. Because of a lack of understanding of this subject, many have thought that repentance is a work of the law, legalism or man's human effort to do right etc. None of these things are true. Repentance involves a change of mind, a change of heart and has nothing to do with works of law. Without repentance Jesus Himself said that people will perish (See Luke 13:1-5). It is of the utmost importance that we know and understand this subject thoroughly. Many today preach ?only believe,? but that was not the message of Jesus or his apostles. Christ and his apostles preached ?repent and believe? (See Mark 1:15; Mark 6:12). Any message that leaves out the call to repentance is misleading people and not representing God. The general edict of God to the human race is ?repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus? (See Acts 20:20-21). The apostle Paul declared that all men everywhere must repent (Acts 17:29-31; 2 Peter 3:9). It is a command and not an option. Repentance must always accompany true faith and without it such faith is always an empty profession (See James 2:19-20). According to Jesus' words, repentance and remission of sins is a packaged deal (See Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38). The New Testament is absolutely clear, the first move that any sinner must make who wants reconciliation with God is repentance (See Acts 3:19). So, what is repentance? Repentance is an inner change of mind, a change of heart that results in an outward turning around, to face and move in a completely new direction (that direction is towards God). Repentance turns you FROM something, TO something. For the Thessalonian believers it turned them FROM idols TO serve the Living and True God (See 1 Thess. 1:9). The apostle Paul preached repentance FROM darkness TO light and FROM Satan UNTO God. In this turn the free gift of grace that results in forgiveness (righteousness) was granted to those who believed (See Acts 26:18). Paul stated that his ministry was to call people to repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds (See Acts 26:19-20). Many in the Christian church today are so afraid of the word ?works? (not recognizing that there are different kinds of works described in Scripture - 1 Thess. 1:3; Eph. 2:10; Acts 26:20) that they have denied the reality that faith and repentance both require evidence (or fruit) to prove their existence (Acts 26:20; Jas. 2:17-20). To say that because we are believers, that we do not need to continue in repentance is as silly as saying that we do not need to continue in faith (See Col. 1:21-23), yet this is the attitude of many in the church today. That Jesus emphasized the seriousness of repentance or its lack thereof is truly an understatement (See Luke 13:1-5). That conversion cannot take place without repentance is the teaching of the early church (See Acts 3:19). That ?repentance? is the first foundational teaching of Christ cannot be denied (See Hebrews 6:1-3). Scriptural repentance begins with God. Jesus said, ?No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him ... (John 6:44). For this reason the supreme crisis of every human being comes at the moment of the Spirit's drawing to repentance. When a person says, ?Yes? to that drawing it will lead to saving faith. If rejected it will leave a person to continue in his own way. ?As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked TURN from his way and live? (Ezek. 33:11). The early Christian Church continued the call for repentance. This early preaching linked repentance with faith (Acts 20:21), the demand to be baptized (Acts 2:38), and the promise of the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47). ?Repentance? and ?conversion? are identical twins (Acts 3:19). The Greek word for ?conversion? is *epistrepho* and means to turn about, a turning from and a turning to. This corresponds to ?repentance? and ?faith.? 'Divine grace is the efficient cause, human agency the responding effect' (Vine's Lexicon). Have you turned from darkness to light, from the authority of Satan unto the authority of God, that you may receive the forgiveness of sins by calling on His name? (Acts 26:18; Acts 4:12). *Repentance is not perfection, it is a new direction* - and it is towards God (Acts 20:21). Have you turned to ?follow? Him? (Matt. 8:22; 16:24; Luke 9:23; John 10:27). ?Follow? means to come or go after; to accept the guidance or leadership of; to be governed by (Rom. 10:9-10, 13). *NOTE**: *The above article by Don Krow is from ?The Foundation Series - Discipleship Evangelism?. It is taken from a booklet produced by DKM, a non-profit organization that provides benevolent help and discipleship materials for third-world nations. It may be copied and used for Bible study and discipleship purposes, but not to be sold. I was introduced to Don Krow and his ministry on September 13, 2011 by Ross Johnson, Executive Director & CEO of Life Messengers, publishers of Christian outreach materials since 1944. Ray W. Johnson is founder, now deceased. ?The Simplified King James Version, Paraphrase and Commentary? is brought to you under the title of ?The Last Days Bible.? The New Testament has been published under that title and is available through *< www.lastdaysbible.org>. *One of our grandsons has given an excellent review of this. In 1955 we were pastoring the ?Kostner Avenue Baptist Church? of Chicago following my graduation at ?Northern Baptist Theological Seminary? in 1952. Many of the pamphlets written by Ray Johnson came into our hands at that time including, ?Here's How?, and ?Is This Your Life?? We probably passed out thousands of these; and when in 1962 we moved to the Seattle are, we soon contacted Ray Johnson, and developed a meaningful friendship. In the midst of his new endeavor of publishing the ?Last Days NT?, he invited me to become a member of the ?Life Messengers? board, of which I am still a member, but now under his son Ross. Don Krow found a copy of ?The Last Days NT? in a second hand bookstore, and he and his wife fell in love with it. He has contacted Ross, and has made an offer to update it in some minor areas, and republish it. He is already using it in a booklet on Hebrews and 1 John. As a board member I am impressed with his creative ideas, plus his activation ability to bring such ideas to fruition. For myself, I count it a privilege to be a member of this board, and trust to see the full Bible published. I have proof-read for Ray large portions of the OT. This is the second Bible I have helped get published. I was asked in 1955 by Mr. Roberts of Toronto to contact Rochunga Pudaite of Assam, India, then in Wheaton, to help him in publishing the whole Bible in his Hmar language, plus a hymn-book. This Rochunga did in the next 17 years, and also founded ?Bibles for the World.? Then for the past 67 years I have been active in preparing for publication an Outlined Interlinear Greek NT making use of the Bible Numeric Greek and English NT texts prepared by Russian Dr. Ivan Panin. This with Ray Johnson's Last Days Bible await publication now. Don Krow has suggested a rename for the latter - ?The Simplified King James Version, Paraphrase and Commentary?. When you read Don Krow's article ?Repent and be Converted and check out his Website on ** on Discipleship and Evangelism - I believe that you with me will want to pray for a fruitful alliance between him and Ross Johnson for the completion of that which was so close to the heart of his father Ray. Jim Watt. *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Sep 17 14:15:58 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:15:58 -0700 Subject: Luke 6:12-8:56 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 17, 2011 *MAR 3 - LUKE 6:12-8:56 - JESUS: PRINCIPLES OF HIS KINGDOM* *1. 6:12-13 (6:12-19) JESUS: CHOOSES HIS TWELVE APOSTLES. ?And it came to pass in these :days, that he went out into the mountain to pray: and he continued all night in :prayer to :God. 13 And when it was day, he called his :disciples; and chose from them twelve, whom he also named apostles? (NNT). *The 12 apostles have already been disciples! Their choosing by Jesus triggered more Kingdom healing and teaching. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 6:38 (6:20-7:1) JESUS: SERMON FOR DISCIPLES. ?Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your :bosom. For with what measure you measure it shall be measured to you again.? *Father, we bless You that You have made Jesus to be our life (Galatians 2:20). *He* is our Savior, and Yoke-fellow (Matthew 11:28-30). Our rest is in *Him*. *Discipleship* is through His indwelling presence. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 7:9 (7:2-17) JESUS: PERFORMS EXTRAORDINARY MIRACLES. ?And when :Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd following him, I say unto you, I have found so great faith not even in :Israel.? *Only twice Your Son Jesus marveled, Father: once at the people's unbelief; here for a Gentile's *faith*. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 7:28 (7:18-35) JESUS: CONFIRMS JOHN THE BAPTIST'S MINISTRY. ?I say unto you, Among them born of women none is greater than John: yet the lesser in the kingdom of :God is greater that he.? *O forgive us Father, for our little faith! In the presence of Your Son Jesus, we ought to have *great*faith. But so often we do not recognize the day of our visitation; but rather persecute Your servants who bring it! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 7:47-48 (7:36-50) JESUS ON LOVE AND FORGIVENESS. ?Therefore I say unto you, Forgiven are her sins, the many; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, he loves little. 48 And he said to her, Forgiven are your :sins.? *O Father, forgive us for doubting Your compassion as revealed in Your Son. Be with us in temptation's hour, and forsake us not! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 8:10 (8:1-39) JESUS: PARABLE, WARNING AND MIRACLES. ?And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of :God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.? *Your Kingdom Father, is Good News! John the Baptist prepared for it; Jesus preached it. It was *not* in word only, but in *power* and * demonstration* of the Holy Spirit. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 8:43-44 (8:40-56) JESUS PERFORMS A MIRACLE WITHIN A MIRACLE. ?And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who could not be cured by no one, 44 came on behind, and touched the border of his :garment: and immediately the issue of her :blood ceased.? *Father, we bless you for the manifestation of Your Kingdom through Jesus. * But deliver us from the evilone! * *NOTE**: 8:18 (8:1-39) JESUS GIVES A CLEAR WARNING! ?Look **out, therefore, how you hear: for whoever has, to him shall be given; and whoever has not, from him shall be taken away even what he thinks he has.? *Father, we heed this solemn warning, and hide it away in our hearts. Jesus linked miracles, healings and signs with the Kingdom of God in manifestation. Of course His Word takes precedence over the signs of confirmation, for He and His Word are *one*! (See John 1:1). Note too that Jesus chose from among all His disciples, 12 whom He called apostles. He no doubt had opportunity to note these 12 from among the multitude of His disciples. But it was through an all night of prayer, that His Father was able to confirm these 12 - even Judas who was to betray Him. It is only as we too take prayerful time on our knees, meditating over such words as these - word by word and line by line like George Whitefield, that God is then able to burn His Words upon our heart and spirit. *Then* when we share such words with others - they become wing-tipped and fire-tipped, and those who hear are deeply moved. Jesus said - The words I speak unto you - * they* are *Spirit*, and they are *life*. But look at the early morning prayer times He habitually spent with His Father, and often during the day as well. See how He could quote Scripture to Satan so effectively. If we truly wish to be used of God this way - then we too like George Muller, Rees Howells, Oswald Chambers and George Whitefield - must *make time* for God and His Word. There are no short-cuts. Early in George Muller's ministry he failed to spend this time over God's word - and found he couldn't open his mouth to speak boldly as he ought to speak! *This*taught him a lesson - and the rest of his life *he failed not* in making and taking time early in the mornings to wait on God. He habitually rose at 4:00 am, and spent much time on his knees meditating over God's Word. When he walked, he would take a large print NT with him, and often sat on a stile to meditate further on it. So - a proper manifestation on God's Word through our lives - will require a similar devotional time with God over His Word! And our Psalm for the day! - *63:3-4 (63:1-11) MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR YOU! ?Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands? (ESV). *David belonged to the ?League of the Burning Heart!? Father, he desired You; he esteemed You; You satisfied him; his secret communion was with You; he joyfully depended upon You; he had holy triumph in You. He * hallowed* Your Name! J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Sep 18 19:50:21 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2011 19:50:21 -0700 Subject: Luke 9:1-50 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 18, 2011 *MAR 4 - LUKE 9:1-50 - JESUS: KINGDOM TEACHING* *1. 9:1-2 (9:1-6) JESUS: COMMISSIONS THE TWELVE. ?And he called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure sicknesses. 2 And he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of :God, and to heal? (NNT). *Here is the Kingdom in a nutshell: proclamation of the good news, plus confirmation in power! This is the pattern for this Kingdom age; then open rule and manifestation at Jesus' second coming. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 9:7, 9 (9:7-9) JESUS: PERPLEXES HEROD. ?Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done: and he was perplexed, because it was :said by some, that John was risen from the dead; 9 And :Herod said, John I beheaded: but who is this, about whom I hear such things? And he was seeking to see him.? *Was Herod willing to pay the price concerning Your will, Father? No; curiosity was stronger than desire. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 9:13-14a (9:10-17) JESUS FEEDS 5000. ?But he said unto them, Give YOU them to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; except WE should go and buy food for all this :people. 14a For they were about five thousand men.? *Father, Your Son gave the multitude their daily bread! If it takes a miracle, You will meet our needs! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 9:23 (9:18-27) JESUS: DEFINES DISCIPLESHIP. ?And he was saying to all, If any would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his :cross daily, and follow me.? *Here is true discipleship. Here is what Oswald Chambers calls *personal, passionate devotion to Jesus*! O forgive us Father, that our commitment is so weak! Make us like a John the Baptist, a bright and shining light for Jesus! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 9:34-35 (9:38-36) JESUS: HIS TRANSFIGURATION. ?And while he was saying these things, a cloud came and was overshadowing them: and they were afraid as they :entered into the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my :Son, the chosen: hear HIM.? *The three apostles saw the Kingdom of God manifested in Jesus, and heard heaven's approval upon it. This was of You, Father. Yet - Your Word is a *more sure* word of prophecy! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 9:42-43a (9:37-43a) JESUS HEALS AN EPILIPTIC. ?And as he was yet a coming, the demon rent and convulsed him grievously. But :Jesus rebuked the unclean :spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43aAnd all were astonished at the majesty of :God.? *Father, through Jesus You deliver us from the evil one! Even demons are subject to us in Jesus' Name! Jesus in us will set the captives free! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 9:48 (9:43b-50) JESUS: CHILDLIKENESS IS CENTRAL TO THE KINGDOM. ?Whoever shall receive this little :child in my :name receives me: and whoever shall receive me receives him that sent me: for who is lesser among you all, the same is great.? **Humility* is the great mark of the Kingdom, with a servant spirit. You have ordered it so Father, and it is so contrary to the world. But we rejoice in this, because it is of You! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 9:26 (9:18-27) JESUS: A STERN WARNING. ?For whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my :words, of him shall the Son of :man be ashamed when he comes in his :glory and the Father's, and of the holy angels.? *Break the fear of man in us, Father! Let *Your* fear eclipse the other, and be the *expulsive power* of a new affection. May we *tremble* at Your Word! *GOD IS TOTAL TRUTH - Psalm 31:1-5* *Pastor Jeff Moorehead, Christ's Church of Federal Way, September 18, 2011* Jesus consistently honors the Bible - the Word of God. He sees God as ?Total Truth?. He does not stand for ?Modernism? which is the belief that reality (truth) is only known by the testable senses of mankind. Nor does He attest to ?Postmodernism? which is the belief that reality (truth) is technically *unknowable*! *A. God is the Determiner of truth.* Truth is from a Hebrew word from which we get our word *Amen* - So be it - This is so! And in Psalm 31:1-5 - God is the *God of Truth* (reality). David proclaims God as ?O LORD God of Truth!? *B. God is the Deliverer of Truth* We have access to God through 5 Delivery Systems: 1. Through *Creation*! See Romans 1. 2. Through *Discovery*. e.g. - only 2% of earth's water is *fresh*! 3. Through *His Word* - special revelation 4. Through the *Gospel of Jesus* - the Word of truth. Truth in the NT is from a-L*E*th*o*. L*E*th*o* means to hide; ?a? - is that which is *not* hidden. Jesus is God's means to take hidden things in the OT, and make them known as God's Messiah in the NT. Solomon in Proverbs 25:2 states that ?It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. We are a ?kingdom of priests? - and in Jesus and Paul as the opener of ?mysteries? we discover truth. 5. Through *fallible men* teaching and *preaching* the Word of Truth. *C. God is the Determiner of Truth* There are 7 categories that people live by: by what we determine! 1. *Experience*? many do. 2. *Tradition*? The Pharisees of Jesus' day were rebuked by Him for this. 3. *Culture* - Everybody does it? 4. *Reason* - because its logical? 5. *Emotion* - It *feels* right - feelings are almost always right? Wrong! 6. *Opinion* - Surveys say? - No - *God* determines! 7. *Divine Revelation* - Considered to be politically incorrect by the 6 above. But - 9 Unique Features of the Amazing Truth of Reality! 1. *Innovative* Truth - It's *original* - the Central Reality! 2. *Inspired* Truth - God-breathed. See 2 Timothy 3:16 ?*Every* scripture is God breathed, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for discipline *which is* in righteousness.? Some translators, knowing the true construction of the Greek text here, have yet translated it ?Every scripture inspired of God is profitable? - putting doubt that our 66 books of some 40 authors are truly inspired of God - in spite of 2 Peter 1:21 and 1 Corinthians 14:37. 3. *Infallible* Truth - Inerrant - no mistakes. Psalm 19:7 - The fear of the Lord is *perfect*! 4. *Insistent* Truth. The commandment of God = Truth! 5. *Immutable* Truth. Proverbs 30:5-6 warns of adding or taking from any part of God's Word. His word *never* changes. All else changes - but *not*God or His Word! 6. *Indestructible* Truth. It *won't* pass away. It is *not* chained! 7. *Influential Truth*. It is a word of ideas. Isaiah 55:11 shows there is * nothing* like God's Word! Paul's word to the Thessalonians was *not* man's word - but *God's Word* in truth! 8. *Indiscriminate* Truth. It is for *all* our friends who need this truth. 1 Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone loves not the Lord of Truth - let him be Anathema - a curse! Psalm 117:1-2 - This Truth is *not* just for Jews or Israel - but for *all* nations - all people! 9. *Indispensable* Truth. We can't live *without* it. Three times Jesus quotes this Truth to defeat Satan. At this point He says that man shall not live by bread alone - but by *every* word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Jesus confirmed Moses as the author of the Bible's first 5 books! He confirmed *all* of the Word of God as being indeed *God's Word*! Jesus confirms in John 8:33 that to know His Truth - *is to be set free*! But in 8:32 we must first follow Him in His Word - else we end up in blind deception. It is only by God's Truth that we are released to repent of sin and place our faith in Jesus and His Finished Work! Note: - In Charles G. Finney's Day, his ?Revival Lectures? in NY City were taken down short-hand and transcribed. Of course this was not done perfectly, but Mr. Finney let them go through, to the blessing of the body of Christ. I made notes on Pastor Moorehead's sermon above, and of course there will be errors. I trust he like Mr. Finney will forgive these, and trust that they will be a blessing to Christ's body today. At the close of his message - he exhorted us to take the above truth and share it to the salvation of souls! I trust what I have done is in this spirit. - Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Sep 20 10:12:42 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:12:42 -0700 Subject: Luke 9:51-13:35 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 20. 2011 *MAR 5 - LUKE 9:51-13:35 - JESUS: CAUSES DIVISION* *1. 9:62 (9:51-62) JESUS ON DISCIPLESHIP. ?But :Jesus said unto him, No one, having put his :hand to the plow, and looking :back, is fit for the kingdom of :God? (NNT). *Leave self behind; take up your cross; follow in the footsteps of Jesus: *this* is discipleship, and it is *easy* and *light*(MAT 11:28-30), for the way of the transgressor is *hard*. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 10:18-19 (10) JESUS: COMMISSION, CORRECTION AND CHOICE. ?And he said to them, I beheld :Satan fallen as lightning from :heaven. 19 Lo, I have given you the authority to :tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.? *What Jesus started through the 70, will eventuate in the overthrow of Satan. No wonder Jesus rejoiced, Father! And we too rejoice that He has chosen us! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 11:9, 13 (11:1-13) JESUS ON PRAYER. ?And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 13 If you therefore being evil, know how to give good gifts to your :children, how much more shall the Father who is from heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? *What confidence this gives us in prayer to You, Father! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 11:20 (11:14-36) JESUS: EXPOSES SATAN AND DARKNESS. ?But if I by God's finger cast out the demons, then is the kingdom of :God come upon you.? *Your Kingdom Father, is a Kingdom of Power as well as of truth. O forgive us that we so often settle for either aspect, but so seldom bring the two together in Your balance! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 11:52 (11:37-54) JESUS EXPOSES HYPOCRISY. ?Woe to you :lawyers! for you took away the key of :knowledge: you entered not in yourselves, and those entering in you hindered.? *What a condemnation! Father, guard our spirits that we fall not in a similar sin! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 12:50-51 (12) JESUS CONTRASTS COVETOUSNESS AND TRUE STEWARDSHIP. ?But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 51 Do you think that I am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, No; but rather division.? *The Kingdom of God is Good News to the Wheat, but Bad News to the tares and to Satan. It is Bad News to the carnal, the traditionalist and the hypocrite. *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 13:34 (13) JESUS: HARD TEACHING! ?Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those sent unto her! how oft would I have gathered your :children together, even as a hen gathers her own brood under her :wings, and you would not!? *What potential compassion in the face of such gross rebellion! Father we see in Jesus' Your heart of compassion! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 10:21 (10) JESUS: HIS BASE OF REJOICING! ?In that same :hour he rejoiced in the :Holy Spirit, and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of :heaven and :earth,that you did hide these **things from the wise and understanding, and did reveal them to babes: yes, :Father: for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.? *This rejoicing (agalliAo) is the same as Luke 1:44, where John the Baptist *leaped* in the womb for joy. It is stronger than CHAIr*o*, joy. It is a joy of *celebration*! It is important to see Jesus' words on the Gospel and its initial effect to cause division. Peace is *not* its initial effect! I can witness that this is exactly what happened upon my entry into the Kingdom of God 67 years ago. Soon my brother would not open my mail to him - and when we were on leave from the armed forces together, he was afraid to walk down town with me in case I started a street meeting on the way. My parents were concerned that I was being carried away with zeal to win the whole world to Christ all by myself! I am sure they were correct in part, and that my zeal needed to be programmed more wisely. But when we look over Luke 9:51-13:35 - it is evident that *division* is an initial reaction to the Gospel! In the days of George Whitefield and the Wesleys - early violent persecution was the mark of the beginning of Methodism. So it is good that this aspect of the Gospel is clearly in view for all new-comers into God's Kingdom! And our Psalm for the day: *65:1-2 (65:1-13) O GOD OF OUR SALVATION. ?Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. 2O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come? (NNT). *You made us for Yourself, O Father, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You (St. Augustine)! Praise and worship to You are comely. We acknowledge gratefully and joyfully Your right to this! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Sep 21 17:09:18 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:09:18 -0700 Subject: Luke 14 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 21, 2011 *MAR 6 - LUKE 14 - TIME: IN GALILEE, PRIOR TO JERUSALEM* *1. 14:4b-6 (14:1-6) PHARISEES: OPPOSE SABBATH HEALING. ?And he [Jesus] took him, and healed him, and let him go. 5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a son or an ox fallen into a well, and will not straightway draw him up on the sabbath day? 6 And they could not answer again unto these things? (NNT). *Father, forgive us for the spirit of quibbling over the letter of the law, and forgetting the Justice and Mercy of Your Kingdom! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 14:11 (14:7-11) PHARISEES: PRIDE VERSUS HUMILITY. ?For every one that exalts himself shall be humbled; and who humbles himself shall be exalted.? **Humility*: a *true* mark of Your Kingdom Father, along with a servant spirit! We see this *highly* exemplified in the life of Your only begotten Son *Jesus*. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 14:12 (14:12-14) PHARISEES: SHOULD MINISTER TO POOR! ?And he said to him also that had bidden him, When you make a dinner or supper, call not your :friends, nor your :brethren, nor your :kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid you again, and recompense be made you.? *We bless You Father, for considering the daily food of the poor. Make us like Yourself in this: sensitive; considerate: generous. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 14:21b (14:15-24) PHARISEES: EXCLUDED FROM THE KINGDOM! ?Then the house-master being angry said to his :bondman, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and maimed and blind and lame.? *Not all will sit down and eat bread in Your Kingdom Father. Many of us *think* we will, but the love of riches and pleasure and things will choke out the seed of Your Kingdom. O forgive us for our carelessness, and optimism without foundation! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 14:26-27 (14:25-27) DISCIPLESHIP: ITS DEFINITION. ?If any comes unto me, and hates not his own :father, and :mother, and :wife, and :children, and :brethren, and :sisters, yes, and his own :life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own :cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.? *How clear and uncompromising was Your Son concerning discipleship and Kingdom issues, Father!* **And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 14:33 (14:28-33) DISCIPLESHIP: ITS ILLUSTRATION. ?So therefore whoever of you renounces not all that he has, cannot be my disciple.? *Have we forgotten that this saying of Jesus is a word that came from *You* Father? A simple life with giving to the poor will greatly enrich us in Your Kingdom! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 14:34-35 DISCIPLESHIP: A WARNING. ?:Salt therefore is good: but if the salt also have lost savor, with what shall it be seasoned? 35 It is fit for neither land nor dunghill: men cast it out. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.? *Only disciples who have the true tang of the Kingdom (See Romans 14:17) will be accepted by You Father! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 14:13-14 (14:12-14) HOW TO MAKE A FEAST! ?But when you make a feast, bid **the poor, maimed, lame, blind: 14 and you shall be blessed; because they have not with which to recompense you: for you shall be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.? *This expresses Your heart, Father. All through Scripture we see Your heart in this. We would be like You! The Galilee ministry of Jesus is most significant. Here He performed His first miracle. Here He preached the Sermon on the Mount. Here He fed the 5000 and the 4000. Here He clearly set forth the principles of God's Kingdom! In Luke 14:13-14 He sets forth how to conduct a feast. Make it for the poor who will be unable to recompense you, He said! Smith Wigglesworth took this challenge of Jesus quite literally. So in Bradford, England back in the early part of the last century - as a plumber - once a week he would put on a banquet. He collected all the sick and poor of his city and served up a wonderful free banquet for them. Then he had entertainment for them! All those of the previous week who had been sick; but prayed for and healed - gave their testimonies of the goodness of the Lord. Then all the present ones at the banquet who had their faith rise by these testimonies came forward, and through *their* healing, became the entertainment and testimonies for the succeeding week! I am sure the Lord looked down from heaven at His entertaining servant, and was well pleased! Just look at all the other Kingdom lessons that flow out of this chapter! And now - our Psalm for the day! *66:18-20 (66:1-20) HOW AWESOME ARE YOUR DEEDS! ?If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love [CHEsed] from me? (ESV) *Father, we thank You for the forgiveness of sin in Jesus. We thank You for answers to prayer from forgiven hearts. We bless You for Your Covenant love, binding us to You and one another! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Sep 24 09:44:01 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2011 09:44:01 -0700 Subject: James 3:1-18 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 24, 2011 *(From JAMES #4 - 3:1-18)* *B. 3:1-18 WORDS MISUSED: REVEAL AN EVIL HEART * *1. 3:1-12 THE INCONSISTENT TONGUE: BREAKS KEY TO CONTROL* *a. 3:1 Be not many teachers, my brothers, knowing that we shall receive greater condemnation.* M*e* polLOI diDASko-loi GInes-the, a-delPHOI mou, eiDOtes HOti MEIzon KRIma l*e*mPSOme-tha. *b. 3:2a **For in many **things **we all stumble. *polLA gar PTAIo-men [4417] HApan-tes. *c. 3:2b PICTURE OF THE PERFECT MAN* *If any stumbles not in word, the same is a perfect man,* ei tis en LOg*o* ou PTAIei, HOUtos TElei-os aN*E*R, *able to bridle the whole :body also.* du-naTOS cha-li-na-g*o*G*E*sai [5468] kai HOlon to S*O*ma. *d. 3:3 A BRIDLE CONTROLS THE WHOLE HORSE* *Now if we put the bridles of horses into the**ir** mouths* ei de t*o*n HIPp*o*n [2462] tous cha-liNOUS eis ta STOma-ta BALlo-men *that they may obey us, we turn about their whole :body also.* eis to PEIthes-thai auTOUS h*e*MIN, kai HOlon to S*O*ma auT*O*N meTAgo-men [3329]. *e. 3:4 THE RUDDER CONTROLS THE WHOLE SHIP* *Lo, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, * iDOU, kai to PLOIa, te-liKAUta ONta kai huPO aNEm*o*n [417] skl*e*R*O*N [4642] e-lauNOme-na, *are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the steersman wills.* meTAge-tai huPO e-laCHIStou p*e*-daLIou, HOpou h*e* horM*E* [3730] tou euTHUnon-tos BOUle-tai. *f. 3:5a Thus the tongue also is a little member, and boasts great things.* HOUt*o*s kai h*e* GL*O*Ssa [1100] miKRON MElos esTIN, kai meGAla auCHEI. *g. 3:5b Lo, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!* iDOU, h*e*LIkon pur h*e*LIk*e*n HUl*e*n aNAPtei [381]! *h. 3:6 THE TONGUE INFLAMES ALL OF NATURE!* *And the tongue is a fire: the world of :iniquity among our :members is the tongue,* kai h*e* GL*O*Ssa pur: ho KOSmos t*e*s a-diKIas h*e* GL*O*Ssa kaTHISta-tai en tois MEle-sin h*e*M*O*N, *which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the path of :nature,* h*e* spiLOUsa [4696] HOlon to S*O*ma, kai phloGIzou-sa [5304] ton troCHON [5164] t*e*s geNEse-*o*s [1078], *and is set on fire by :geenna.* kai phlo-gi-zoMEn*e* [5304] huPO t*e*s geENn*e*s [1067]. *i. 3:7-8 HUMAN NATURE ALONE FAILS TO CONTROL THE TONGUE* *For every kind of beasts and birds, of things creeping,* PAsa gar PHUsis [5449] th*e*RI*o*n [2342] te kai pe-teiN*O*N [4071], her-peT *O*N [2062], *and in the sea, is tamed, 8 and has been tamed by human nature:* te kai e-naLI*o*n [1724], daMAze-tai [1150], kai deDAmas-tai t*e* PHUsei t*e * an-thr*o*PIn*e*: *but the tongue can no man tame:* t*e*n de GL*O*Ssan ouDEIS daMAsa DUna-tai anTHR*O*p*o*n: *a restless evil, full of deadly poison.* a-kaTASta-ton [183] kaKON, mesT*E* iOU tha-na-t*e*PHOrou [2287]. *j. 3:9-10a THE TONGUE GRAVITATES BETWEEN BLESSING AND CURSING* *Therewith bless we the Lord and Father;* en auT*E* eu-loGOUmen ton KUri-on kai paTEra; *and therewith curse we :men, who are made after God?s likeness:* kai en auT*E* ka-taR*O*me-tha tous anTHR*O*pous, tous kath? hoMOI*o*-sin [3669] TheOU ge-goNOtas: *10a **out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing.* ek tou auTOU STOma-tos eXERche-tai eu-loGIa kai kaTAra. *k. 3:10b My brothers, these things ought not to be thus.* ou chr*e*, a-delPHOI mou, TAUta HOUt*o*s GInes-thai. *l. 3:11-12 THIS ACTION IS CONTRARY TO NATURE* *Does the fountain send forth from the same :opening* M*E*ti h*e* p*e*G*E* [4077] ek t*e*s auT*E*S BRUei [1032] *the sweet and the bitter? 12 can a fig tree, my brothers,* to gluKU kai to piKRON [4089]? M*e* DUna-tai, a-delPHOI mu, suK*E* [4808], *yield olives, or a vine figs? neither **can** salt water yield sweet.* eLAIas poi*E*sai, *e* AMpe-los [288] SUka? OUte ha-luKON [252] gluKU [1099]poi *E*sai HUd*o*r. *2. 3:13-18 CONTRAST OF INFERNAL AND HEAVENLY WISDOM* * a. 3:13 GOOD CONDUCT IN MEEKNESS: PROVES WISDOM* *Who **is** wise and understanding among you?* Tis soPHOS [4680] kai e-pisST*E*m*o*n en huMIN? *let him show by his good :conduct his :works in meekness of wisdom.* deiXAt*o* ek t*e*s kaL*E*S a-na-stroPH*E*S [391] ta ERga auTOU en PRAUt*e*-ti [4240] soPHIas. *b. 3:14 TRUTH IS BETRAYED BY BAD CONDUCT* ei de Z*E*lon [2205] piKRON Eche-te kai e-riTHIan [2052] en t*e* karDIa huM* O*N, *But if you have bitter jealousy and faction in your :heart,* m*e* ka-ta-kauCHASthe [2620] kai PSEUdes-the [5576] kaTA t*e*s a-l*e*THEIas. *glory not and lie not against the truth.* *c. 3:15 THE SOURCE OF EVIL CONDUCT* *This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, * ouk es-tin HAUt*e* h*e* soPHIa An*o*-then ka-ter-choMEn*e*, *but is earthly, sensual, demonish.* alLA ePIgei-os [1919], psu-chiKE, dai-mo-niOdes. *d. 3:16 For where jealousy is and faction, there is confusion and every vile deed.* HOpou gar Z*E*los kai e-riTHIa [2052], eKEI a-ka-ta-staSIa [181] kai pan PHAUlon PRAGma. *e. 3:17 THE NATURE OF HEAVENLY WISDOM* *But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable,* h*e* de An*o*-then soPHIa PR*O*ton men hagN*E* [53] es-tin, Epei-ta ei-r*e* -niK*E* [1516], *gentle, easily entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, * e-pi-eiK*E*S [1933], eu-peiTH*E*S [2138]], mesT*E* eLEous [1656] kai karP*O*N a-gaTH*O*N, *without variance, without hypocrisy.* a-diAkri-tos [87], a-nuPOkri-tos [505]. *f. 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.* karPOS de di-kai-oSUn*e*s en eiR*E*n*e* SPEIre-tai [4687] tois poiOUsin eiR* E*n*e*n. *NOTE:* For me, James chapter 3 is the key of this letter, because of verse 3:17. Heavenly Wisdom has an 8-fold character, composed of the 8 words listed herein. ?Pure? (hagN*E*) has been sent under ?The Book Outline of James? plus ?Greek Word Studies.? Upon completion of the Greek Interlinear Numeric New Testament of this book, I will supply a one-page outline for the remaining 7 key words of this verse, plus a one-page outline for the remaining six Numeric sections. My goal is to do this for each of the 27 books of the New Testament. The main reason for this project is because I believe that it originated in the mind of God. He used Ivan Panin to prepare both the Numeric Greek and English texts. Panin died in Aldershot, Ontario Canada in 1942, but failed to see the fruition of his hope for the production of an Interlinear Greek Numeric Outlined New Testament. God Providentially introduced me to Dr. Ivan Panin through a Russian Jew ? Dr. Jewel of Calgary, Alberta in 1944. I purchased all writings of Panin available in 1945. Since then I have spent well over 40,000 hours preparing the Interlinear Greek Numeric Outlined New Testament in MS form, plus the 7-fold format of the Greek Word Studies. I am in the process of typing up on Computer this three-fold project. I know I don?t need to ask for your prayers for its successful completion. Solomon in his 3-fold writings highly commends the *wisdom* of God. *Jesus*is God?s Wisdom manifested in the flesh. Jesus is also the *Word of God* manifested in the flesh from before the world was. Jesus by the Holy Spirit abides within believers, and manifests Himself through us in the 8-fold manner of this key verse. Heidi and Rolland Baker of ?Iris Ministries? in Mozambique, Africa ? seek to see this manifestation in fullness through their lives. This is my goal also. It is a *daily* exercise of faith in the light of Romans 12:1-2; Mark 8:34 and Galatians 2:20. Will you join with Marie and me in this high privilege and calling? Oswald Chambers in his writings sets forth principles that speed one on in this way. - J.A.Watt PS. At the high motivation of Elvin Gladney, I completed the first typed copy of the Outlined Interlinear Greek NT on December 31, 2010. I am now in the process of reversing the two texts so that the English Text appears first. This is at the strong suggestion of members in the Printing Department. For me, it is a good 2 months project, but I believe it should be done. Pray for Jim Ray. Since this sudden and most unexpected passing of Elvin, at his work at the last, he laid the foundation for this shift. Again - Romans 8:28. God has a hidden wisdom in this, and in the not too distant future, we will understand His wisdom here. In the text above, you can judge for yourself if you agree. J. * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Sep 27 13:46:10 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:46:10 -0700 Subject: Luke 13:22-35 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 27, 2011 *From: LUKE #26 - 13:22-35)* *M. 13:22-35 TWO ANSWERS: NUMBER OF SAVED - AND ISRAEL'S FUTURE* *1. 13:22-30 WARNING AGAINST A MERE PROFESSION* *a. 13:22 JESUS' TRAVELING MINISTRY* *And he went on his way through cities and villages,* Kai di-e-poREUe-to kaTA POleis kai K*O*mas [2968], *teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem.* diDAsk*o*n, kai poREIan [4197] poiOUme-nos eis Ie-roSOlu-ma. *b. 13:23 And a certain one said to him, Lord, are the saved few?* EIpen DE tis auT*O*, KUri-e, ei oLIgoi [3641] hoi s*o*ZOme-noi [4182]? *c. 13:24-27 WARNING: MAKE USE OF ?TIME? TO ENTER NARROW DOOR* *And he said unto them, Strive to enter by the narrow door:* ho de EIpen pros auTOUS, A-g*o*NIzes-the [75] ei-selTHEIN diA t*e*s steN*E*S [4728] THUras : *for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter,* HOti polLOI, LEg*o* huMIN, z*e*T*E*sou-sin ei-selTHEIN, *and shall not be able 25 when once the house-master is risen up,* kai ouk iSCHUsou-sin [2480] aph' hou an e-gerTH*E* ho oi-ko-deSPOt*e*s [3617], *and has shut to the door, and you begin to stand without,* kai a-poKLEIs*e* [608] t*e*n THUran, kai ARx*e*s-the Ex*o* heSTAnai, *and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us;* kai KROUein [2925] t*e*n THUran, LEgon-tes, KUri-e, Anoi-xon [455] h*e*MIN; *and he shall answer and say to you, I do not know you from where you are;* kai a-po-kriTHEIS eREI huMIN, Ouk OIda [1492] huMAS POthen esTE; *26 then shall you begin to say, We were eating in your presence* TOte ARxes-the LEgein, E-PHAgo-men [5318] eN*O*piON sou *and drinking, and you did teach in our :streets;* kai ePIo-men [4095], kai en tais plaTEIais [4113] h*e*M*O*N eDIda-xas; *27 and he shall speak, saying to you, I do not know from where you are;* kai eREI, LEg*o*n huMIN, Ouk OIda [1492] POthen esTE; *depart from me, all workers of iniquity.* aPOst*e*-te [868] ap' eMOU, PANtes erGAtai a-diKIas [93]. *d. 13:28 DISASTER FOR NOT TAKING RIGHT OPPORTUNITY* *There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth,* eKEI EStai ho klauthMOS [2805] kai ho brugMOS [1030] t*o*n oDONt*o*n [3599], *when you should see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets,* HOtan Ops*e*s-the A-braAM, kai I-saAK, kai IaK*O*B, kai PANtas tous proPH*E* tas, *in the kingdom of :God, and yourselves cast forth without.* en t*e* ba-siLEIa [932] tou TheOU, huMAS de ek-bal-loMEnous [15440 Ex*o*. *e. 13:29 THOSE WHO WILL AVAIL THEMSELVES* *And they shall come from east and west, and from north and south,* kai *E*xou-sin aPO a-na-toL*O*N [395] kai dusM*O*N [1424], kai aPO borRA 1005] kai NOtou [3558], *and shall sit down in the kingdom of :God.* kai a-na-kliTH*E*son-tai [341] en t*e* ba-siLEIa tou TheOU. *f. 13:30 And lo, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.* kai iDOU, eiSIN Escha-toi [2078] hoi Eson-tai PR*O*toi, KAI ei-sin PR*O*toi hoi Eson-tai Escha-toi. *2. 13:31-35 JESUS' APPOINTMENT WITH JERUSALEM* *a. 13:31 PHARISEES WARN JESUS* *In that very :hour certain Pharisees came, saying to him,* En auT*E* *te* H*O*ra proS*E*Lthan ti-nes Pha-riSAIoi, LEgon-tes auT*O*, *Get you out, and go from here: for Herod wishes to kill you.* Exel-the, kai poREUou enTEUthen: HOti H*e*R*O*d*e*s THElei se a-pokTEInai. *b. 13:32 JESUS' ANSWER TO HEROD* *And he said to them, Go and say to that :fox, Lo,* kai EIpen auTOIS, Po-reuTHENtes EIpa-te t*e* aL*O*pe-ki [258] TAUt*e*, I-DOU, *I cast out demons and accomplish healings today and tomorrow, * ekBALl*o* daiMOni-a [1140] kai iAseis [2392] a-po-teL*O* [658] S*E*me-ron kai AUri-on, *and the third day I am perfected.* kai t*e* TRIt*e* te-leiOUmai. *c. 13:33 THE DARK NATURE OF JERUSALEM* *Nevertheless I must go on today and tomorrow and the day following:* pl*e*n DEI me S*E*me-ron kai AUri-on kai t*e* e-choMEn*e* poREUes-thai: *for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.* HOti ouk enDEche-tai [1735] proPH*E*t*e*n a-poLESthai [622] Ex*o* Ie-rou-saL *E*M [2419]. *d. 13:34 THE REFUSAL OF JERUSALEM* *Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets,* Ie-rou-saL*E*M, Ie-rou-saL*E*M, h*e* a-pokTEInou-sa [615] tous proPH*E*tas, *and stones those sent unto her!* kai li-tho-boLOUsa [3036] tous a-pe-stalMEnous [649] pros auT*E*N! *how oft would I have gathered your :children together, even as a hen* poSAkis *e*THEl*e*-sa e-pi-suNAxai [1996] ta TEKna sou, hon TROpon [5158]ORnis [3733] * gathers her own brood under her :wings, and you would not!* t*e*n he-auT*E*S nos-siAN [3555] huPO tas PTEru-gas [4420], kai ouk *e*-theL *E*sa-te! *e. 13:35 THE WORD OF DELIVERANCE FOR JERUSALEM* *Lo, your :house is left unto you; and I say unto you,* iDOU, aPHIe-tai huMIN ho OIkos huM*O*N; LEg*o* de huMIN, *You shall in nowise see me, until you shall say, Blessed who comes in theLord's name. * ou m*e* Id*e*TE me, HE*o*s EIp*e*-te, Eu-lo-g*e*MEnos [3127] ho erCHOme-nos en oNOma-ti KuRIou. *NOTE**: (2010-12-08) - 13:22-30 - Christian **Professors are not necessarily Possessors!* The inquirer in verse 23 is not uncommon. People wonder. But here Jesus leaves none in doubt. There *is* a narrow door to enter the Kingdom of God. It is *not* as difficult as some would make it - but it is *far* from as easy as others would say and teach. It is far better *not* to listen too closely to fellow human beings. Rather, *go back* to the true words of Jesus and His apostles. If there are those who do *not* speak in accordance with God's words - it is because there is *no light* in them. *Prove* *all* *things*! Take nothing for granted! The risks are *too great*. There *is** *a heaven to gain, and a hell to shun! Jesus and His apostles said so! Is it worth taking a chance by listening to and following those who do *not* line up with these words? For *me* - I have made up my mind 66 years ago - I have made my choice - I *side* with Jesus and His apostles, and His 8 NT writers! I find that *here* there is safety! - *here* there is security. Eternity is too long a time to play fast and loose with. Our 70-90 years down here is altogether too short a time to put all our hopes on, and ignore the possibility of a very long future in one of two places. You say - But I don't believe what you believe and say. But - *what if* I am correct, and *you* are wrong and short-sighted? Is such a possibility worth gambling on? *Not* for me! The possibility of such a future is *too great* to gamble on. And Jesus said - the *vast majority* through carelessness are on the Broadway of eternal destruction, and *few* like myself, are on the narrow way of eternal life. It is appointed unto man * once* to die - and - *after that* - *the Judgment*! These are the words of Jesus through His NT writers. Too sober - and too important to fool around with. God wants this word of the Good News of His Kingdom to reach *every*human being. What they do with it is *their choice* - but at the Judgment - the foolish ones will be without excuse! They heard, but either neglected - or made the wrong choice. I have *not* neglected, and I believe I have made the *correct* choice. I invite * all* fellow human beings to join me in my choice. Why not? you have little to lose. If you deny yourself in this life - it is only up to 90 or so years at the most - but *then* all the wonders of God's Presence, Heaven and Paradise lie before you! *13:31-35* - What we do with *Jesus* - is the critical question in this life. The Father *sent Him*. He came 2000 years ago as the Son of :man in the Name of the Father - of God - Jehovah! His name in Hebrew, Yeshua, means ?Jehovah is our Salvation?, for He alone saves His people from their sins. In His humanity, He is a Jew! In His deity, He is God! Jerusalem refused Him! How sad! But the *small* remnant who received Him, will *not* be disappointed or ashamed. When He returns - which is *very soon*, those who see the wounds in His hands and feet and side - and who will say, Blessed is He - Jesus - who returns in the Name of Jehovah - *they* will see Him, be received by Him, and inherit the new heaven and the new earth! So - carefully read the words of *God's* Bible Numeric Interlinear Greek New Testament. Forget the Greek transliteration if you will, but read indeed and carefully the heavy black type English text, and the sentence and paragraph outlines. Don't look at the latter as inspired like the NT text - they are *not*. Make use of the empty space above - by crossing my outline out and substituting your own - if you can improve on mine - and surely you can! Bless you friend as you do so! My wife and I both entered God's Kingdom by *first* reading *His* Bible. We received confirmation afterwards by listening to His saints! We learned how to evaluate *false*, so-called confirmation. We retain the true, and discard the false. J.A.Watt *PS. This portion of Luke has previously been mailed. But at the suggestion of Printer and others, I am reversing the order of the Bible Numeric Interlinear Greek and English texts. Reaction to this change prior to printing has been 100% positive thus far. Do you have any comment? J.* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * ** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Sep 28 19:36:48 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:36:48 -0700 Subject: John 1:35-51 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 28, 2011 *(From JOHN #3 - 1:35-51)* *C. 1:35-51 JESUS MIRACULOUSLY CALLS DISCIPLES* *1. 1:35-42 JESUS' FIRST DISCIPLES COME FROM JOHN* *a. 1:35-36 JOHN INTRODUCES JESUS AS THE LAMB OF GOD* *Again on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples;* T*e* ePAUri-on PAlin hiST*E*kei I*o*An*e*s, kai ek t*o*n ma-th*e*T*O*N auTOU DUo; *36 and he looked upon :Jesus as he walked, and said, See, the Lamb of :God! * kai emBLEpsas t*o* I*e*SOU pe-ri-paTOUNti, LEgei, Ide, ho amNOS [286] tou TheOU! *b. 1:37 And the two :disciples heard him speak and followed :Jesus.* kai *E*kou-san hoi DUo ma-th*e*TAI auTOU laLOUNtos kai *e*-koLOUth*e*-san t* o* I*e*SOU. *c. 1:38a JESUS QUESTIONS THEM* *And :Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, * straPHEIS de ho I*e*SOUS, kai the-aSAme-nos [2300] auTOUS a-ko-louTHOUNtas, LEgei auTOIS, *What do you seek?* Ti z*e*TEIte? *d. 1:38b And they said to him, Rabbi (which is to say, interpreted, Teacher), where do you stay?* hoi de EIpan auTO, 'RabBEI, (ho LEge-tai, me-ther-me-neuOme-non, DiDAska-le), pou MEneis? *e. 1:39a He said to them, Come, and you shall see.* LEgei auTOIS, ERches-the, kai Opses-the [3700]. *f. 1:39b THEY VISIT WITH HIM THERE FOR THE DAY* *They came therefore and saw where he stayed;* *E*Lthan oun kai EIdan pou MEnei; *and they stayed with him that :day: the hour was about the tenth.* kai par' auT*O* Emei-nan t*e*n h*e*MEran eKEIn*e*n: H*O*ra *e*n h*o*s deKAt* e*. *g. 1:40 ANDREW, SIMON PETER'S BROTHER, WAS ONE OF THEM* *One of the two that heard it from John and followed him,* *e*n AnDREas, ho a-delPHOS SIm*o*-nos PEtrou, heis ek t*o*n DUo *was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter.* t*o*n a-kouSANt*o*n paRA I*o*Anou kai a-ko-lou-th*e*SANt*o*n auT*O*. *h. 1:41 ANDREW REPORTS TO PETER THEIR FIND* *HE found first his :own :brother Simon, and said to him,* heuRIskei HOUtos PR*O*ton ton a-delPHON ton Idi-on SIm*o*-na, kai LEgei auT* O*, *We have found the Messiah (which is, interpreted, Christ).* HeuR*E*ka-men ton MesSIan [3323] (HO es-tin, me-ther-m*e*-neuOme-non, ChrisTOS [5547]). *i. 1:42a **He brought him unto :Jesus. *Ega-gen auTON pros ton IeSOUN. *j. 1:42b JESUS SURNAMES SIMON* *:Jesus looked at him, and said, You are Simon the son of John:* emBLEpsas auT*O* ho I*e*SOUS, EIpen, Su ei SIm*o*n ho huiOS I*o*Anou: *you shall be called Cephas (which is, by interpretation, Peter).* su kl*e*TH*E*s*e* [2563] K*e*PHAS [2786] (ho er-m*e*NEUe-tai, PEtros [4074] ). *2. 1:43-51 PHILIP AND NATHANAEL CALLED* *a. 1:43 JESUS CALLS PHILIP* *On the morrow he wished to go forth into :Galilee,* T*e* ePAUri-on *e*THEl*e*-sen e-xelTHEIN eis t*e*n Ga-liLAIan, *and he found Philip: and :Jesus said to him, Follow me.* kai heuRIskei PHIlip-pon: kai LEgei auT*O* ho I*e*SOUS, A-koLOUthei [190]moi. *b. 1:44 Now :Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.* *e*n de ho PHIlip-pos aPO B*e*th-saiDA, ek t*e*s POle-*o*s AnDREou kai PEtrou. *c. 1:45 SIGHT OF JESUS: A SOURCE OF JOY* *Philip found :Nathanael, and said to him,* heuRIskei PHIlip-pos ton Na-tha-na*E*L, kai LEgei auT*O*, *We have found him, of whom wrote Moses in the law,* Hon Egra-psen M*o*-*e*S*E*S en t*o* NOm*o*, kai hoi proPH*E*tai, *and the prophets, Jesus the one of Nazareth, son of :Joseph.* heuR*E*ka-men, I*e*SOUN huiON tou I*o*S*E*PH, ton aPO Na-zaRET. *d. 1:46a And Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth?* kai EIpen auT*O* Na-tha-na*E*L, Ek Na-zaRET DUnaTAI ti a-gaTHON EInai? *e. 1:46b **:Philip said to him, Come and see. *LEgei auT*O* ho PHIlip-pos, ERchou kai Ide. *f. 1:47 AN ISRAELITE INDEED* *Jesus saw Nathanael coming unto him, and said of him,* EIden I*e*SOUS ton Na-tha-na*E*L erCHOme-non pros auTON, kai LEgei peRI auTOU, *See, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!* Ide, a-l*e*TH*O*S [230] Is-ra-*e*LEIt*e*s [2475], en h*o* DOlos [1388] ouk EStin! *g. 1:48a Nathanael said to him, From where do you know me?* LEgei auT*O* Na-tha-na*E*L, POthen me giN*O*skeis? *h. 1:48b JESUS REVEALS TO NATHANAEL HIS OMNISCIENCE* *Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called you,* a-peKRIth*e* I*e*SOUS kai EIpen auT*O*, Pro TOU se PHIlip-pon ph*o*N*E*sai, *when you were under the fig tree* [4808]*, I saw you.* ONta huPO t*e*n suK*E*N, EI-DON se. *i. 1:49 Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, YOU are the Son of :God; YOU are King of :Israel.* a-peKRIth*e* auT*O* Na-tha-na*E*L, 'RabBEI, su ei ho huiOS tou TheOU; su ba-siLEUS ei tou Is-ra*E*L. *j. 1:50 JESUS FORETELLS YET GREATER REVELATION* *:Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to you that I saw you underneath the fig tree,* a-peKRIth*e* I*e*SOUS kai EIpen auT*O*, HOti EI-PON soi HOti eiDON se hu-poKAt*o* t*e*s suK*E*S, *do you believe? you shall see greater things than these.* piSTEUeis? MEIz*o* [3187] TOUt*o*n Ops*e*. *k. 1:51 JESUS DETAILS ANGELIC REVELATION* *And he said to him, Amen, Amen, I say unto you,* kai LEgei auT*O*, A-M*E*N, aM*E*N, LEg*o* huMIN, *You shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of :God* Opses-the ton ou-raNON a-ne-*o*GOta [455], kai tous anGElous [32] tou TheOU *ascending and descending upon the Son of :man.* a-naBAInon-tas [305] kai ka-taBAInon-tas [2597] ePI ton huiON tou anTHR*O* pou. *NOTE**:** * 1:35-42. Again, see the marvelous spirit of John. When he pointed out to two of his disciples who Jesus really was, he foreknew the strong possibility that they would leave *him*, and follow *Jesus* to become His disciples. That is generally speaking *not* the spirit of Christian leaders today. There is always the fear that the members and attendees we have may be attracted by another - to leave and join this other. But John knew the will of God for himself and for Jesus, and he *gladly* submitted to this will. And did this very thing happen? Yes - Andrew as one of the two - indeed left John, and immediately did his part in adding to the disciples of Jesus by inviting his brother Simon to meet Him. Notice the working of revelation and the word of knowledge through Jesus in giving Simon the surname Peter. Jesus saw the potential character development of Peter after three years, and how he would become apostle of the circumcision, just as He was to call Paul as apostle of the uncircumcision (Gentiles). 1:43-51. In this subdivision Jesus calls Philip from the Galilee area to be one of His disciples. And then immediately Philip finds Nathanael, and like Andrew did for his brother, Philip invites Nathanael to come and meet Jesus, who Philip believed was the One Moses prophesied was to come as the New Covenant! But Nazareth had the reputation of being worthless, just as some of our cities do today. Yet Philip in wisdom merely repeated his invitation - ?Come and see!? - Find out for yourself. The woman of Samaria later on did the same thing for her fellow-villagers at Sychar. Today, Jesus is not on earth - but His Spirit, the Holy Spirit - is in us; and through Him people can be introduced to Jesus. We can be just like Andrew and Philip, and be so convinced of the wonder and reality of Jesus, that we too can effectively introduce Him to many. Personal, passionate devotion to Jesus on our part, is the necessary ingredient to introduce others to Him. Normally, new converts and true disciples are so in love with Jesus, that they quickly introduce family and friends to this wonderful new Friend! Unfortunately, we then become like the church of Ephesus (Revelation 2), and *lose* that *first love*. O, may we then immediately seek Him in repentance and fasting and prayer, until that first love is completely renewed. Then this portion of scripture above can remain a reality in each one of our lives till our Home-call - or - His coming again. J.A.Watt *PS. Want to be a witness? Be enough in love with Jesus, and you'll find yourself sharing Him without being aware of it! J.* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Sep 30 09:57:47 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2011 09:57:47 -0700 Subject: John 11:17-53 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* September 30, 2011 *(From: JOHN #26 - 11:17-53)* *2. 11:17-44 RELATION OF INDIGNATION TO RESURRECTION* *a. 11:17 :Jesus therefore came and found that he had been in the tomb four days already.* El-TH*O*N oun ho I*e*SOUS HEUren auTON TESsaras *E*d*e* h*e*MEras Echon-ta en t*o* mn*e*MEI*o* [3419]. *b. 11:18-19 THE STATE OF BETHANY* *Now Bethany was nigh to :Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off;* *e*n de B*e*-thaNIa egGUS t*o*n Ie-ro-soLUm*o*n, h*o*s aPO staDI*o*n [4712]DEka PENte; *19 and many of the Jews had come to :Martha and Mariam,* polLOI de ek t*o*n IouDAI*o*n e-l*e*LUthei-san pros t*e*n MARthan kai Ma-riAM, *to console them concerning their brother.* HIna pa-ra-muTH*E*s*o*n-tai [3888] auTAS peRI tou a-delPHOU. *c. 11:20 MARTHA MEETS JESUS FIRST* *:Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming,* h*e* oun MARtha, h*o*s *E*kou-sin HOti ho I*e*SOUS ERche-tai, *met him: but Mariam still sat in the house.* huP*E*Nt*e*-sen auT*O*: Ma-riAM de en t*o* OIk*o* e-kaTHEze-to. *d. 11:21 :Martha therefore said unto Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my :brother had not died.* EIpen oun h*e* MARtha pros I*e*SOUN, KUri-e, ei *e*s H*O*de, ouk an aPEtha-nen ho a-delPHOS mou. *e. 11:22 And now I know that, whatever you shall ask of :God, :God will give you.* kai nun OIda HOti, HOsa an aiT*E*s*e* ton TheON, D*O*sei soi ho TheOS. *f. 11:23 :Jesus said to her, Your :brother shall rise again.* LEgei auT*E* ho I*e*SOUS, A-naST*E*se-tai [450] ho a-delPHOS sou. *g. 11:24 :Martha said to him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.* LEgei auT*O* h*e* MARtha, OIda HOti a-naST*E*se-tai en t*e* a-naSTAsei [386], en t*e* esCHAt*e* h*e*MEra. *h. 11:25-26a CHRIST - THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE* *:Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life:* EIpen auT*E* ho I*e*SOUS, E-G*O* ei-mi h*e* aNAsta-sis, kai h*e* z*o*-*E* [2222]: *who believes unto me shall live, even if he die; 26a and every one* ho piSTEU*o*n eis eME, ka' 'n a-poTHAn*e* Z*E*se-tai [2198]; kai pas *who lives and believes unto me shall nowise die unto the age.* ho z*o*n kai PiSTEU*o*n eis eME ou m*e* a-poTHAn*e* [599] eis ton ai*O*na. *i. 11:26b **Do you believe this? *piSTEUeis TOUto? *j. 11:27 MARTHA EXPRESSES HER FAITH IN CHRIST* *She said to him, Yes, Lord: I have believed that you are the Christ,* LEgei auT*O*, Nai, KUri-e: eG*O* pePIsteu-ka HOti su ei ho ChrisTOS, *the Son of :God, even he that comes into the world.* ho huiOS tou TheOU, ho eis ton KOSmon erCHOme-nos. *k. 11:28 MARTHA GOES FOR MARY* *And when she had said this, she went away,* kai TOUto eiPOUsa, aP*E*Lthen, *and called Mariam her :sister secretly saying,* kai ePH*O*n*e*-sen Ma-riAM t*e*n a-delPH*E*N auT*E*S LAthra EIpa-sa, *The Teacher is here, and calls you.* Ho diDAska-los PAre-stin, kai ph*o*NEI se. *l. 11:29 And SHE, when she heard it, arose quickly, and went unto him.* eKEIn*e* de, h*o*s *E*kou-sen, *e*GERth*e* taCHU [5035], kai *E*Rche-to pros auTON. *m. 11:30 JESUS APPROACHES BETHANY* *(Now :Jesus was not yet come into the village,* (OUp*o* de e-l*e*LUthei ho I*e*SOUS eis t*e*n K*O*m*e*n, *and was still in the place where :Martha met him.)* all' *e*n Eti en t*o* TOp*o* HOpou huP*E*Nt*e*-sen auT*O* h*e* MARtha.) *n. 11:31 THE JEWS FOLLOW MARY* *The Jews then who were with her in the house, and consoling her,* hoi oun IouDAIoi hoi ONtes met' auT*E*S en t*e* oiKIa, kai pa-ra-muTHOUme-noi [3888] auT*E*N, *when they saw :Mariam that she rose up quickly and went out,* Idon-tes t*e*n Ma-riAM HOti taCHE*o*s aNESt*e* kai eX*E*Lthen, *followed her, supposing that she was going unto the tomb to wail there.* *e*-koLOUth*e*-san [190] auT*E*, DOxan-tes HOti huPAgei eis to mn*e*MEIon HIna KLAUs*e* [2799] eKEI. *o. 11:32 MARY SHARES HER DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE DELAY OF JESUS* *:Mariam therefore, when she came where Jesus was,* h*e* oun MaRIam, h*o*s *E*Lthen HOpou *e*n I*e*SOUS, *and** saw him, fell down at his :feet, saying to him, Lord,* iDOUsa auTON, Epe-sen auTOU pros tous POdas, LEgou-sa auT*O*, KUri-e, *if you had been here, my :brother had not died.* ei h*e*s H*O*de, ouk AN mou aPEtha-nen ho a-delPHOS. *p. 11:33-34a THIS TROUBLES JESUS* *When Jesus therefore saw her wailing,* I*e*SOUS oun h*o*s EIden auT*E*N KLAIou-san, *and the Jews also wailing who came with her,* kai tous su-nelTHONtas auT*E* IouDAIous KLAIon-tas, *he was indignant in spirit and troubled himself, 34a and said, * a-ne-briM*E*sa-to [1690] t*o* PNEUma-ti kai eTAra-xen [5015] he-auTON, kai EIpen, *Where have you laid him?* Pou teTHEIka-te auTON? *q. 11: 34b They say to him, Lord, come and see.* LEgou-sin auT*O*, KUri-e, ERchou kai Ide. *r. 11:35 **:Jesus wept. *eDAkru-sen [1145] ho I*e*SOUS. *s. 11:36 The Jews therefore said, See how he loved him!* Ele-gon oun hoi IouDAIoi, Ide p*o*s ePHIlei [5318] auTON! *t. 11:37 THE JEWS ALSO QUESTION THE ACTION OF JESUS* *But some of them said, Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man,* tiNES de ex auT*O*N EIpan, Ouk eDUna-to HOUtos, ho aNOIxas tous oph-thalMOUS tou tuphLOU, *have done so that this man also should not die?* poi*E*sai HIna kai HOUtos m*e* a-poTHAn*e*? *u. 11:38a Jesus therefore again indignant within himself came to the tomb. * I*e*SOUS oun PAlin em-briM*O*me-nos [1690] en he-auT*O* ERche-tai eis to mn* e*MEIon. *v. 11:38b Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.* *e*n de SP*E*lai-on [4693], kai LIthos ePEkei-to ep' auT*O*. *w. 11:39a :Jesus said, Take you away the stone.* LEgei ho I*e*SOUS, Ara-te [142] ton LIthon [3037]. *x. 11:39b THIS COMMAND OF JESUS TROUBLES MARTHA* *Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, * LEgei auT*O* h*e* a-delPH*E* tou te-te-leu-t*e*KOtos [2348], MARtha, *Lord, he already stinks, for he is dead four days.* KUri-e, *E*d*e* Ozei [3605], te-tarTAIos GAR es-tin. *y. 11:40 JESUS QUESTIONS MARTHA * *:Jesus said to her, Did I not say to you, * LEgei auT*E* ho I*e*SOUS, Ouk EIpon soi, *that if you believe, you should see the glory of :God?* HOti eAN piSTEUs*e*s, Ops*e* t*e*n DOxan [1391] tou TheOU? *z. 11:41a **They took away therefore the stone. **E*ran oun ton LIthon. *aa. 11:41b THE PRAYER OF JESUS* *And :Jesus lifted up his :eyes, and said, * ho de I*e*SOUS *E*ren tous oph-thalMOUS An*o*, kai EIpen, *Father, I thank you that you heard me.* PAter, eu-cha-riST*O* [2168] soi HOti *E*kouSAS mou. *bb. 11:42 HIS CONFIDENCE IN HIS FATHER* *And I knew that you hear me always: but because of the crowd that stands around I said it,* eG*O* de *E*dein HOti PANtoTE mou aKOUeis: alLA diA ton OCHlon ton pe-ri-eST *O*ta [4026] EIpon, *that they may believe that you did send me.* HIna piSTEUs*o*-sin HOti SU me aPEstei-las [649]. *cc. 11:43 And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.* kai TAUta eiP*O*N, ph*o*N*E* meGAl*e* [3173] eKRAUga-sen [2905], LAza-re, DEUro Ex*o*. *dd. 11:44a THE UNUSUAL RESURRECTION* *The dead man came forth, bound :hand and :foot with grave-clothes;* eX*E*Lthen ho teth-n*e*K*O*S [2348], de-deMEnos [1210] tous POdas kai tas CHEIras keiRIais [2750]; *and his :face was bound about with a napkin.* kai h*e* Opsis [3799] auTOU sou-daRI*o* [4676] pe-ri-eDEde-to [4019]. *ee. 11:44b :Jesus said to them, Loose him, and let him go.* LEgei auTOIS ho I*e*SOUS, LUsa-te [3089] auTON, kai Aphe-te [863] auTON huPAgein [5217]. *3. 11:45-46 DIVISION AGAIN* *a. 11:45 BELIEF OF MANY JEWS: RESULT OF THIS RESURRECION* *Many therefore of the Jews, who came unto :Mariam* PolLOI oun ek t*o*n IouDAI*o*n, hoi elTHONtes pros t*e*n Ma-riAM *and beheld what he did, believed unto him.* kai the-aSAme-noi ho ePOI*e*-sen, ePIsteu-san eis auTOU. *b. 11:46 REPORT TO THE PHARISEES* *But some of them went away unto the Pharisees, * tiNES de ex auT*O*N aP*E*Lthon pros tous Pha-riSAIous, *and told them what things Jesus had done.* kai EIpan auTOIS ha ePOI*e*-sen ho I*e*SOUS. *4. 11:47-53 DIE IS CAST: DEATH FOR JESUS IS SURE* *a. 11:47 THE SANHEDRIN SEEKS A RESPONSE* *The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees* SuN*E*ga-gon [4863] oun hoi ar-chi-eREIS [749] kai hoi Pha-riSAIoi [5330] *gathered a Sanhedrin, and said, What do we? because this :man does many signs.* suNEdri-on [4892], kai Ele-gon, Ti poiOUmen? HOti HOUtos ho ANthr*o*-pos polLA poiEI s*e*MEIa. *b. 11:48 THEIR CONCERN IF JESUS IS NOT STOPPED* *If we let him thus alone, all will believe on him:* eAN aPH*O*men auTON HOUt*o*s, PANtes piSTEUsou-sin eis auTON: *and the Romans will come and take away both our :place and :nation.* kai eLEUson-tai hoi 'R*o*MAIoi [4514] kai aROUsin [142] h*e*M*O*N kai ton TOpon kai to ETHnos. *c. 11:49-50 THE PROPHECY OF CAIAPHAS* *But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest of that :year,* heis DE tis ex auT*O*N, KaiAphas, ar-chi-eREUS [749] *o*n tou e-ni-anTOU [1763] eKEInou, *said to them, YOU know nothing at all, 50 nor consider* EIpen auTOIS, HuMEIS ouk OIda-te ouDEN, ouDE loGIzes-the *that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people,* HOti sumPHErei huMIN HIna heis ANthr*o*-pos a-poTHAn*e* huPER tou laOU, *and the whole nation perish not.* kai m*e* HOlon to ETHnos aPOl*e*-tai [822]. *d. 11:51-52 THE PROPHETIC COUNSEL OF CAIAPHAS* *Now this he said not of himself: but being high priest of that :year,* TOUto de aph' he-auTOUouk EIpen: alLA ar-chi-eREUS *o*n tou e-ni-auTOU eKEInou, *he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation;* e-proPH*E*teu-sen [4395] HOti Emel-len [3195] I*e*SOUS a-poTHN*E*skein huPER tou ETHnous; *52 and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather* kai ouch huPER tou ETHnous MOnon, all' HIna kai ta TEKna [5043] *into one the children of :God that are scattered abroad.* tou TheOU ta di-e-skor-pisMEna [1287] su-naGAg*e* [4863] eis hen. *e. 11:53 From that :day on therefore they took counsel to kill him.* Ap' eKEIn*e*s oun t*e*s h*e*MEras e-bouLEUsan-to [4823] HIna a-pokTEIn*o*-sin [615] auTON. *NOTE**: *In one sense, it is scarcely necessary to write a *NOTE*. The Reason is - that the ?outline? inserted into the Interlinear text is almost self-explanatory. The idea for these outlines came to me first in 1945, after I ordered and received the 20 books or so either ?by? or ?on? Ivan Panin. When I read his introduction to his Greek Bible Numeric text, I found that Bible Numerics not only establishes what was the ?original? Greek Text from among 7 quite complete NT Greek Manuscript copies, plus thousands of fragments - but also it establishes what are *true* sentences, sub-divisions, paragraphs and sections (chapter equivalents). I like to summarize, and thought - What if I summarize each sentence; gather these summaries into the sub-divisions; the sub-divisions into paragraphs; the paragraphs into section, and the sections into Books - What would I discover? What might be for me the first of the 27 NT books to put to this test? Why not Ephesians? I was so amazed at the result, that I was ?hooked?. I typed up the entire Numeric English NT, and hand-wrote the complete Greek text underneath clause by clause. Then I summarized the entire NT. I used Roman Numerals - for the Sections, or chapter equivalents. Capital Letters - for Paragraphs Arabic numbers - for Sub-divisions Lower Case letters for Sentences This produced an *entirely different flavor* for each book of the NT! Check this out with the section above. It does *not* follow the regular Chapter and Verse division as found in our King James and other translations. To confirm the *great importance* of this discovery by Panin through Bible Numerics - I received help in University summaries in 1946 through Jock Davidson, a fellow student at St. Andrews College of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He was amused at my ?grousing? because I wasn't receiving the grades in University subjects I felt I was capable of. He offered: ?Come up to my room, give me an hour of your time - and I'll show you how to lift all your present grades by a full point. If you have a ?C? - it will become a ?B?; if a ?B? - an ?A?; if an ?A?, and ?A+?. I could scarcely believe him, but I thought, ?I can afford an hour to give it a trial.? ?First of all?, he said, ?when you take notes on class subjects, leave the upper ? of the right hand page blank. At the end of the day, summarize the left and right page into that corner. Two weeks before the exam, summarize the summary, and memorize it. ?When the exam comes up, and it says, Choose any 5 of the following 7 question, and answer fully in essay type answer, *Don't* start answering immediately. Instead, *outline* each of the 5 question you choose, leaving a space for the fuller answer later on. When all 5 are summarized, then go back to question one and start answering in essay style. If you don't finish this stage, not to worry. The professor will see by your summaries and the two or three answers you complete, that you know what you are doing. He'll be so glad that he doesn't have to read all 5 short essays, that he'll in gratitude give you an ?A?! ?Summarize text books in the same manner as the lecture notes. ?For term papers, make a careful outline of the development you plan to use. Then write it up according to the outline at the top.? Then he said ?Of course, I myself don't follow this plan rigidly.? His room-mate piped up, ?O yes he does! He's like a slave to the above!? I followed Jock's above 4 suggestions, won 3 scholarship the next semester, and graduated ?cum laude? (with honor). I could hardly believe it! I have taught over 1000 students the above, and many of them can testify of similar results. ?But? - and this is a *big* but - when you carefully follow Panin's Bible Numerics method of outlining the 27 books of the NT - you will be awarded by God a ?summa cum laude? - a graduation *with* *great* *honor*! Then you won't need a *NOTE* to give understanding of difficult passages. This Outline Method of summarizing the 27 NT Books - will be its own reward! As you can see, I leave a space above my summaries. By all means cross out any of mine that don't sit well with you, and substitute them with your own! You will never be the same again. We together will start to think God's thoughts after Him, and indeed enter into the mind of Christ. Especially when we take God's challenge to Joshua in 1:8, and read *aloud* these sentences and summaries, and meditate over them - even kneeling before God as we do so. George Muller did this. George Whitefield too. I do also. Blessings on you as you take this challenge. May we *all* end up in God's sight ?summa cum laude? - graduates with *great* Honor! - J.A.Watt *PS. If you have High School or College age students - the NOTE at the foot of this Outlined Interlinear Greek NT Section - could be a means of helping them lift their grades considerably! I have taught some 1000 Bible College Students this method, and have seen many of them so lift their grades! Also - you will note the reversal of Dr. Ivan Panin's Greek and English texts - to make for easier reading and study. J.* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Oct 1 11:40:27 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 1 Oct 2011 11:40:27 -0700 Subject: Jesus of Israel Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 1, 2011 *JESUS OF ISRAEL - 2011-08-29* *Dr. Theo Ben-Abraham Smilovici, Executive Director* *PO Box 23446 - Charlotte, North Carolina 2822-0277 * *Tel/Fax: 704-545-5008 - Email: Joi1ben at aol.com - * Beloved Prayer Partners, I returned from the Mission Field in Romania and Israel about a month ago, after spending 9 weeks with our workers on the field. It was great to be able to be with them after more than a year of absence. It was the first time in the history of 20 years of ?Jesus of Israel? Ministry that I was not able to travel overseas for such a long time. I hope I have recovered well enough to be able to travel again. By the end of my ministry there after about 9 weeks, I started having some pain in the abdominal area. All of these have ended now. Those were 9 weeks of summer without air-conditioning, with temperatures most of the times over 100 degrees F, but by His Grace I survived it. Biblically speaking, by the time you receive this letter we will be in the month of ELUL. When we look in the Scriptures this seems to be a month without much importance. Still this is a month of preparation for the days to come. It is a month of Repentance, before the month of TISHRI the month of the fall feasts, (the Feast of Trumpets, the Feast of the day of Atonement, and the Feast of the Tabernacles). By the way, Repentance and Acknowledgment of our sins, is exactly what the LORD is looking for, that we may receive HIS Grace of Propitiation for Salvation. It was by the end of June this year when the Jewish people of the city of Iasi (North East of Romania) remembered 70 years since one of the greatest massacres that ever happened on Romanian land, when in a few days over 14,000 (fourteen thousand) Jewish people were killed, just because they were Jewish. At this Anniversary came people from all over the world, many Jewish people, especially from Israel, but also from USA, Germany, etc. It was a chance of a life time for the Evangelicals to be a true witness to the Jewish people and they were indeed! SONday June the 26th I had the chance to speak in one of the Evangelical Churches of Iasi. The Church Body was ready for repentance of the sins of their fathers and forefathers. As I was preparing to preach, in the auditorium entered a tall elderly Jewish man, who was looking to meet with me and a group of people I was with. The 88 year old man was one of only four survivors who are still alive from that massacre. As I was preaching I asked him to come to the platform where the pulpit was, and then I told the body of believers: *?Now is the time to Repent, to ask forgiveness for the sins of our fathers or forefathers?*, and to Mr. Finkelstein's surprise, as much as mine, one by one each and every member of that church (about 300 of them) came down, asking forgiveness and embracing Mr. Finkelstein. *For the old Jewish man this meant much more than any one of us can imagine**.* That SONday night all Jewish people from the Jewish Community Center heard what happened in the Filocalia Church from Iasi. Most of them couldn't believe that something like that really happened. It was then that Mr. Finkelstein pointed to me and told them: ?That Israeli Doctor was the speaker in the Church this SONday morning.? In the following days, as the ceremonies took place in different parts of that county, we traveled to those mass graves where Jewish people were buried, two or three thousand in each of them. Again the Evangelicals had a chance to witness to their Jewish friends *and they did so again,* when hundreds of them took part in the march and the ceremonies. Most of them having a Star of David on their chest, in which was written the words: ?We love the Jewish people?. It was a great surprise for most of the Jewish people that for the ceremonies, and I may say that was a great beginning of repentance for their nation what those evangelicals from Iasi have done. *Now it is our time to stand for Israel.* Soon at the Untied Nations they will ask for the vote for a new Palestinian State in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. That land belongs to the people of Israel, by God's design. Please let your voices be known, let your Congressmen or Senators, or even the President know what side are you for. It is the first time I take sides, and this is just because I am on God's side. I know the Palestinian people need a land, but if they don't want to live in Israel side by side with the Jewish people, there is enough Arab land all around. It is interesting that land of Israel is probably less than 1% of all Arab land all around, but they want that 1% of land not to belong to the Jewish people. This is the Devilish fight from the beginning, when the Evil One is fighting against God's plan of Salvation for all mankind. Israel needs your prayers. Israel needs your support, and Missions working to bring the Good News to Israel needs you now more than ever, and when I say that, I do not mean ?Jesus of Israel? only. I mean the Jewish people need to hear about the Jewish Saviour, Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah. We do need your help. August 2011 was the worst financial month in the history of our ministry. We have received approximately only 25% of the monthly income we need to be able to do the job. To all of you that have supported ?Jesus of Israel? ministry during these summer months (time that I was not able to write to you), I do not know how to thank you enough. May the Lord Richly Bless You and yours, and what you have given, may He, the Great Giver, give you hundred times fold back. We need you and we need your prayers and your financial support. Another great request, *please pray for my elderly mother* too. She is 86 years old and lately she cannot eat, but drink only. She is very sick; she barely sees and in the last few years suffers from Alzheimer disease. Still she is very quiet and extremely good. Pray that if now is the time for her to pass, to be with the Lord, that this will be easier on her and without any other complications. Pray for my youngest brother from Jerusalem who is coming to be with our mother. Thanks for your understanding and your prayers. With all my love, in the One that gave us the real love, Yeshua Jesus, our Messiah, Theo Ben-Abraham Smilovici *NOTE**:* Marie and I met Dr. Theo Ben Abraham Smilovici and his wife Nora in1998 when we started leading Congregation Beth Chesed of Tacoma. Dr. Ben was so impressed at how Marie led the prayer time for Israel, that later that year when he started a new Messianic Jewish Congregation in Bucharest, Romania, he named it after us - Congregation Beth Chesed! Next year he had me come with him to Romania to minister in our daughter congregation! Dr. Ben was a medical doctor in Bucharest, but God called him to graduate from a Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He afterwards started some 7 or more Messianic Jewish Congregations in different parts of the world. He previously served in the Israel Defense Force (IDF), and is fluent in some 7 languages. We felt that if we shared his letter with you, it would not only raise prayer support, but even a nudge from the Lord might lead some of you to aid also in practical ways. Our congregation sent to the Bucharest congregation our Torah scroll and its containing ?ark?. Bless you for whatever God leads you to do - Jim & Marie Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Oct 3 13:03:13 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2011 13:03:13 -0700 Subject: October 3, 2011 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 3, 2011 *(From: ACTS #21 - 13:1-12)* *XV. 13:1-14:28 SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES OF CHURCH EXTENSION* *A. 13:1-3 THE HOLY SPIRIT AND MISSIONS* *a. 13:1 PROPHETS AND TEACHERS AT ANTIOCH* *Now in the church that was at Antioch were prophets* *E*san de en An-ti-oCHEIa kaTA t*e*n OUsan ek-kl*e*SIan proPH*E*tai [4396] *and teachers, both :Barnabas and Symeon :called Niger,* kai diDAska-loi [1320], ho te BarNAbas kai Su-me*O*N ho kaLOUme-nos NIger, *and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.* kai LOUki-os ho Ku-r*e*NAIos, Ma-na*E*N te H*e*R*O*dou tou teTRAar-chou SUNtro-phos, kai SAUlos. *b. 13:2 WORSHIP AND FASTING RELEASES THE HOLY SPIRIT* *And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted,* lei-tourGOUNt*o*n [3008] de auT*O*N t*o* KuRI*o*, kai n*e*-steuONt*o*n [3522], *the Holy :Spirit said, Separate me then :Barnabas and Saul* EIpen to PNEUma to HAgi-on, A-phoRIsa-te [873] d*e* moi ton BarNAban kai SAUlon *for the work unto which I have called them.* eis to ERgon ho proSKEkl*e*-mai [4341] auTOUS. *c. 13:3 Then, having fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.* TOte, n*e*STEUsan-tes kai pro-seuXAme-noi [4336] kai e-piTHENtes tas CHEIras auTOIS, aPElu-san. *B. 13:4-12 ACTIVITIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MISSIONS* *1. 13:4-5 MESSENGERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT* *a. 13:4 INITIAL OBEDIENCE TO LEADING OF HOLY SPIRIT* *THEY therefore, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit,* AuTOI men oun, ek-pemphTHENtes [1599] huPO tou HaGIou PNEUma-tos, *went down to Selucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.* kaT*E*Lthon [2718] eis Se-leuKIan; eKEI-THEN te aPEpleu-san [636] eis KUpron. *b. 13:5 GOD'S WORD PROCLAIMED IN SYNAGOGUES* *And when they were at Salamis, * kai geNOme-noi en Sa-laMIni, *they proclaimed the word of :God in the synagogues of the Jews:* kaT*E*Ggel-lon ton LOgon tou TheOU en tais su-na-g*o*GAIS t*o*n IouDAI*o*n: *and they had also John as attendant.* EIchon de kai I*o*ANn*e*n hu-p*e*REt*e*n [5257]. *2. 13:6-12 JUDGMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT* *a. 13:6-7a BAR-JESUS: A FALSE PROPHET TO THE PROCONSUL* *And having gone through the whole island unto Paphos,* Di-elTHONtes [1330] de HOl*e*n t*e*n N*E*son Achri PAphou, *they found a certain man, a sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus* HEUron ANdra tiNA, MAgon [3097], pseu-do-proPH*E*t*e*n [5578], IouDAIon, h*o * Ono-ma Bar-I*e*SOUS; *7a who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding.* hos *e*n sun t*o* an-thuPAt*o* [446], SerGI*o* PAUl*o*, anDRI su-neT*O* [5908]. *b. 13:7b HE called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of :God.* HOUtos pro-ska-leSAme-nos BarNAban kai SAUlon, e-peZEte-sen aKOUsai ton LOgon tou TheOU. *c. 13:8 ELYMAS OPERATES AS A SORCERER* *But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his :name interpreted) withstood them, * anTHIsta-to de auTOIS E-LUmas ho MAgos (HOUt*o*s gar me-ther-m*e*NEUe-tai to Ono-ma auTOU), *seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.* z*e*T*O*N di-aSTREpsai [1294] ton anTHUpa-ton aPO t*e*s PIste-*o*s. *d. 13:9-10 PAUL STRONGLY CONFRONTS THIS TOOL OF SATAN* *But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,* SAUlos de, ho kai PAUlos, pl*e*sTHEIS [4130] PNEUma-tos HaGIou, *fixed his eyes on him, 10 and said, O, Devil's son,* a-teNIsas [816] eis auTON, EIpen, *O*, PL*E*r*e*s [4134] panTOS DOlou [1388] *full of all guile and all villainy, enemy of all righteousness,* kai PAs*e*s 'ra-di-ourGIas [3973], huiE di-aBOlou [1228], echTHRE [2190] PAs *e*s di-kai-oSUn*e*s, *will you not cease to pervert the right :ways of the Lord?* ou PAUs*e* di-aSTREph*o*n [1294] tas hoDOUS tou KuRIou tas euTHEIas? *e. 13:11a PAUL PRONOUNCES GOD'S JUDGMENT* *And now, lo, the Lord's hand is upon you, * kai nun, iDOU, cheir KuRIou ePI se, *and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.* kai Ese tuphLOS [5185], me BLEpon ton HEli-on Achri kaiROU. *d. 13:11b JUDGMENT IMMEDIATELY CONSUMMATED!* *And immediately a mist fell on him and darkness;* pa-raCHR*E*ma [3916] de Epe-sen ep' auTON achLUS [887] kai SKOtos [4655]; *and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.* kai pe-riAg*o*n [4013] eZ*E*tei [2212] chei-ra-g*o*GOUS [5497]. *g. 13:12 THE EFFECT OF THIS JUDGMENT UPON THE PROCONSUL* *Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed,* TOte iD*O*N ho anTHUpa-tos [446] to ge-goNOS, ePIsteu-sen, *being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.* ek-pl*e*sSOme-nos [1805] ePI t*e* di-daCH*E* [1322] tou KuRIou. *NOTE**: *This mailing commences the beginning of the second half of the Book of Acts. Chapters 1-12 dealt primarily with the ministry of Peter - apostle to the circumcision. Chapters 13-28 deal primarily with the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul to the Gentiles, the uncircumcision. It starts out in 13:1-3 with the Holy Spirit inaugurating the beginning of a wider mission through the Presbytery of the church of Antioch, composed of Prophets and Teachers. In February of 1948, this ?Presbytery Concept? was restored in a clearer manner after some 1900 years, in the North Battleford, Saskatchewan Visitation. Concomitant, or along with this restoration, came the restoration of the 5-fold equipping ministry of Ephesians 4:11-12, majoring on Apostles and Prophets. Three of the five Presbytery members present, obeyed the Holy Spirit by first checking, but then launching Barnabas and Saul upon Paul's first missionary journey. Notice the word ?lei-tourGOUNton: - ?ministered?. This was one of the 5 chief callings for the OT Levitical ministry in type and shadows. Now it takes on a NT ?One New Man? mystery importance. It has been said by some that the church today has lost the secret working of the Holy Spirit in this concept, and often it is but empty hands on empty heads. But it was not this way in the beginning. We need to add to these 2 restored revival principles of 1948 with the other 10, - the 12 altogether linked with the 12 tribes of Israel, and the12 world-wide cultural groups. (To follow through on these 12 Revival Principles brought together in the 1948 Visitation, please turn to our Website <*www.2rbetter.org* >. Click on ?Embryonics?, and there you will find this triple listing of twelves.) The First Nations People I see linked with the tribe of Issachar, and the ?Sensitivity, Faithfulness and Obedience?, as one of the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles which today need to be brought to maturity. 7 of these 12 principles were strongly exemplified in the life of George Hawtin, who God was pleased to use to spearhead this 1948 Visitation; and this third one mentioned, appeared again and again in his life. Was he perfect? Of course not. None is perfect but God manifested in Jesus Christ, who is pleased to live out His perfect, resurrected life through all surrendered disciples. Paul makes this explicitly clear in Galatians 2:20. Acts 13:4-12 illustrates how the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus - used Saul and Barnabas in Cyprus. J.A.Watt *PS. As many of your are aware, a number of us have felt the Lord leading to reverse the order of Dr. Panin's 2 Bible Numeric texts: so that English is above the Greek. It is true that this is not the normal order for Interlinear Greek NT's - but because of the nature of his transliterated Greek text, and the fact that English words do not appear directly under their corresponding Greek words - this added divergence will help Laymen to make use of this type of Interlinear more efficiently.* *For those of you who are Greek scholars, we ask for your forbearance for the sake of greater ease for Layfolk. J.* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Oct 4 14:16:48 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 14:16:48 -0700 Subject: Acts 21:1-14 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 4, 2011 * * *(From: ACTS #35 - 21:1-14])* *D. 21:1-14 LESSONS ON WARNINGS FROM THE SPIRIT* *1. 21:1-6 WARNING OF THE SPIRIT* *a. 21:1-2 FROM MILETUS TOWARDS PHOENICIA* *And when it came to pass that we were parted from them and had set sail,* H*o*s de eGEne-to anachTH*E*nai [321] h*e*MAS a-po-spasTHENtas [645] ap' auT *O*N, *we came with a straight course unto :Cos,* eu-thu-droM*E*san-tes [2113] *E*Ltho-men eis t*e*n K*o*, *and the next day unto :Rhodes, and from there unto Patara:* t*e* de heX*E*S eis t*e*n 'ROdon, ka' 'KEIthen eis PAta-ra: *2 and having found a ship crossing over unto Phoenicia, we went aboard, andset sail. * kai heuRONtes PLOIon [4143] di-a-peR*O*N [1276] eis PhoiNIk*e*n, e-piBANtes [1910], aN*E*CHth*e*-men. *b. 21:3 PAST CYPRUS TO TYRE* *And when we had sighted :Cyprus, and leaving it on the left,* a-naPHAnan-tes [398] de t*e*n KUpron, kai ka-ta-liPONtes [2641] auT*E*N eu*O *nu-mon [2176], *we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre;* ePLEo-men eis SuRIan, kai kaT*E*Ltho-men [2609] eis TUron; *for there the ship was to unload her :cargo.* eKEIse gar to PLOIon *e*n a-po-phor-tiZOme-non [670] ton GOmon [1117]. *c. 21:4 PROPHETIC WARNING TO PAUL* *And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days:* a-neuRONtes [429] de tous ma-th*e*TAS, e-peMEIna-men [19611 auTOU h*e*MEras hepTA: *and these told :Paul through the Spirit, not to set foot in Jerusalem.* HOti-nes t*o* PAUl*o* Ele-gon diA tou PNEUma-tos, m*e* e-piBAInein [1910]eis Ie-roSOlu-ma. *d. 21:5-6 FROM TYRE - BACK ABOARD SHIP* *And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days,* HOte de eGEne-to h*e*MAS e-xarTIsai [1822] tas h*e*MEras, *we departed and went on; all, with wives and children,* e-xelTHONtes e-po-reuOme-tha [4198]; pro-pemPONt*o*n [4311] h*e*MAS PANt*o*n *bringing us on till out of the city:* sun gu-naiXI kai TEKnois, HE*o*s Ex*o* t*e*s POle*o*s: *and kneeling on the beach, we prayed, 6 and bade each other farewell;* kai THENtes ta GOna-ta ePI ton ai-gi-aLON, pro-seuXAme-noi, a-p*e*-spaSAme-tha [782] alL*E*lous; *and we went on board :ship, but they returned :home.* kai eNEb*e*-men eis to PLOIon, eKEInoi de huPEstre-psan [5290] eis ta Idi-a. *2. 21:7-14 FOREWARNINGS BUT STRENGTHEN TO DO GOD'S WILL* *a. 21:7 PAUL'S TEAM ARRIVES AT PTOLEMAIS* *And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre,* H*e*MEIS de ton ploun [4144] di-aNUsan-tes [1274] aPO TUrou, *we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the brethren,* ka-t*e*nT*E*sa-men [2658] eis Pto-lemaIda; kai as-paSAme-noi [782] tous a-delPHOUS, *and** abode with them one day.* eMEIna-men h*e*MEran MIan par' auTOIS. *b. 21:8 NEXT STEP: PHILIP'S HOME AT CAESAREA* *And on the morrow we departed, and came unto Caesarea:* t*e* de ePAUri-on e-xelTHONtes, *E*Ltha-men eis KaiSAri-an: *and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist,* kai ei-selTHONtes eis ton OIkon PhiLIPpou tou eu-ag-ge-liSTOU [2099], *who was one of the seven, we abode with him.* ONtos ek t*o*n hepTA, eMEIna-men [3306] par' auT*O*. *c. 21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.* TOUt*o* de *E*san thu-gaTEres TESsa-res parTHEnoi [3933], pro-ph*e*TEUou-sai [4395]. *d. 21:10 AGABUS FROM JUDEA* *And as we tarried some days, * e-pi-meNONt*o*n de h*e*MEras PLEIous, *a certain prophet came down from Judea, Agabus by name.* kaT*E*L-THEN tis aPO t*e*s IouDAIas proPH*E*t*e*s, oNOma-ti Aga-bos. *e. 21:11 MESSAGE OF AGABUS TO PAUL* *And coming unto us, and taking the girdle of Paul,* kai elTH*O*N pros huMAS, kai Aras [142] t*e*n Z*O*n*e*n [2223] tou PAUlou, *he bound his own :feet and :hands, and said,* D*E*sas [1210] he-auTOU tous POdas kai tas CHEIras, EIpen, *These things says the Holy :Spirit, Thus shall the Jews* TAde LEgei to PNEUma to HAgi-on, Ton ANdra HOU es-tin h*e* Z*O*n*e* *at Jerusalem bind the man whose this :girdle is,* HAUt*e* HOUt*o*s D*E*sou-sin [1210] en Ie-rou-saL*E*M hoi IouDAIoi, *and shall deliver him into the hands of the nations.* kai pa-raD*O*sou-sin eis CHEIras ethN*O*N. *f. 21:12 PAUL URGED NOT TO GO TO JERUSALEM* *And when we heard these things, both we and they* h*o*s de *e*KOUsa-men TAUta, pa-re-kaLOUmen [3870] h*e*MEIS te kai hoi *of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.* enTOpi-oi tou m*e* anaBAInein auTON eis Ie-rou-saL*E*M. *g. 21:13 PAULS READINESS TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST'S SAKE* *Then :Paul answered, What do you do, weeping and breaking my :heart?* TOte a-peKRIth*e* ho PAUlos, Ti poiEIte, KLAIon-tes kai sunTHRUPtonTES [4919] mou t*e*n karDIan? *for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem* eG*O* gar ou MOnon deTH*E*nai [1210], alLA kai a-po-thaNEIN [599] eis Ie-rou-saL*E*M *for the name of the Lord Jesus.* heTOIm*o*s Ech*o* huPER tou oNOma-tos tou KuRIou I*e*SOU. *h. 21:14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.* m*e* pei-thoMEnou de auTOU, h*e*-suCHAsa-men, eiPONtes, Tou KuRIou to THEl*e *ma giNESth*o*. *NOTE**: *21:9 - The four daughters of Philip prophesied (pro-ph*e*TEUou-sai), which would correspond with the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. But this would *not* place them in the *office* of prophet, as in Ephesians 4:11-12. The feminine equivalent form is #4398 proPH*E*tis, but Philip's 4 daughters are *not* in this category. 21:10-14 - Paul in the past mentioned that in city after city prophecies came forth of bonds that awaited him in Jerusalem. This was confirmed in Tyre (21:4). But Agabus in the latter part of this reading, like Ezekiel of old, acted out what would happen to Paul should he go up to Jerusalem. It is important to note here how Paul lived out these prophecies - he did * not* let them distract him from what *he* believed was the Lord's *guidance*at this time for his life. Were the prophecies true? Absolutely. But from Paul's viewpoint, they were *not* to take precedence over the more important guidance from God. There are believers today who will go a thousand miles to get a word from the Lord. But - do they know how to get *direct* guidance from Him, that supersedes prophetic words and revelation? This is a serious situation. Fully committed disciples like Paul - do not live on the level of prophetic guidance from others, even though authentic. They have so progressed into the Lord like Oswald Chambers, George Muller and Rees Howells - that *their* guidance is a direct word from the Lord. Does one often hear this distinction made today? Confirmation to Paul in the above - can be found in the life of Elisha when his mentor Elijah was about to be taken from him (2 King 2:3) - *?And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Do you know that Jehovah will take away your master from your head today? And he said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace.? *This happened again with the prophets from Jericho 2 verses later. Elisha did not need confirmation from the gift of prophecy. As a prophet, he like Paul had direct guidance from the Lord. We need to ?come up higher?, and not live in the realm of depending upon gifts of the Spirit for guidance. They can be true words as to what is about to happen should we follow a certain course - but *not* the personal word and guidance of the Lord for us. Many are confused over this passage with Paul, Agabus and the other prophets. Perhaps these words will help some to sort out the above, lead them to ?move to higher ground? like Paul and Elisha, and *not miss* the * true* guidance of the Lord. J.A.Watt *PS. This is a most relevant and important distinction to be seen between a gift of the Spirit - and - direct guidance from the Lord. I find few believers understanding this distinction between a mature believer like Paul and Elisha, and those who haven't yet come up to this stage of maturity. We need to know the will of the Lord for us - not what other believers sense will happen, even though a true word. * *Note also the reversal of Panin's two texts in this portion of his Outlined Interlinear Greek NT. J.* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Oct 5 17:06:14 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2011 17:06:14 -0700 Subject: Romans 1:1-17 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 5, 2011 *(From: ROMANS #1 - 1:1-17)* *ROMANS SUMMARY: GOD'S PLAN TO IMPART RIGHTEOUSNESS* *I. 1:1-4:25 LAW: DRIVES MAN TO RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH* *A. 1:1-7 OUR RELATIONSHIP TO JESUS CHRIST* *Paul, bondman of Jesus Christ, a called apostle,* PAUlos, DOUlos [1401] I*e*SOU ChrisTOU, kl*e*TOS [2822] a-POsto-los [652], *separated unto God's gospel,* a-ph*o*-risMEnos [873] eis eu-agGEli-on [2098] TheOU, *2 which he promised afore through his :prophets in the holy scriptures,* ho pro-e-p*e*gGEIla-to [4279] diA t*o*n pro-ph*e*T*O*N [4396] auTOU en graPHAIS haGIais, *3 concerning his :Son,* peRI tou huiOU auTOU, *who came to be of David's seed according to the flesh,* tou ge-noMEnou [1096] ek SPERma-tos [4690] DauID kaTA SARka, *4 determined as the Son of God with power,* tou ho-risTHENtos [3724] huiOU TheOU en duNAmei [1411], *according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead:* kaTA PNEUma ha-gi-*o*SUn*e*s [42], ex a-naSTAse-*o*s [386] neKR*O*N: *even **Jesus Christ our :Lord, **5 through whom we received grace and apostleship,* I*e*SOU ChrisTOU tou KuRIou h*e*M*O*N, di' hou eLAbo-men CHArin kai a-po-stoL*E*N, *unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his :name's sake;* eis hu-po-ko*E*N [5218] PISte-*o*s en PAsin tois ETHne-sin [1484], huPER tou oNOma-tos auTOU; *6 among whom are you also Jesus Christ's called ones:* en HOIS es-te kai huMEIS kl*e*TOI I*e*SOU ChrisTOU: *7 to all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called saints:* PAsin tois OUsin en 'R*O*m*e*, a-ga-p*e*TOIS TheOU, kl*e*TOIS haGIois: *Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.* CHAris huMIN kai eiR*E*n*e* aPO TheOU paTROS h*e*M*O*N kai KuRIou I*e*SOU ChrisTOU. *B. 1:8-17 HOW THE GOSPEL CONFIRMS AND SAVES* *1. 1:8-13 THE GOAL OF AN APOSTLE: CONFIRMATION OF DISCIPLES* *a. 1:8 TRUE FAITH WILL PRODUCE A WITNESS* *First, then, I thank my :God through Jesus Christ for you all,* PR*O*ton, men, eu-cha-risT*O* t*o* The*O* mou diA I*e*SOU ChrisTOU peRI PANt *o*n huM*O*N, *that your :faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.* HOti h*e* PIStis huM*O*N ka-tagGELle-tai [2605] en HOl*o* t*o* KOSm*o*. *b. 1:9-10 THE HEART OF AN APOSTLE: A DESIRE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL* *For :God is my witness,* MARtus gar mou esTIN ho TheOS, *whom I serve in my :spirit in the gospel of his :Son,* h*o* laTREU*o* [3000] en t*o* PNEUmaTI mou en t*o* eu-ag-geLI*o* tou huiOU auTOU, *how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my :prayers* h*o*s a-di-aLEIPt*o*s [89] MNEIan [3417] huM*O*N poiOUmai PANto-te ePI t*o*n pro-seuCH*O*N mou *10 requesting, if by any means now at length* deOme-nos [1189], ei p*o*s *E*d*e* poTE *I may be prospered in the will of :God to come unto you.* eu-o-d*o*TH*E*so-mai [2137] en t*o* theL*E*ma-ti tou TheOU elTHEIN pros huMAS. *c. 1:11-12 PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS: LEADS TO CONFIRMATION* *For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift,* e-pi-poTH*O* [1971] gar iDEIN huMAS, HIna ti me-taD*O* CHAris-ma huMIN pneu-ma-tiKON, *unto your being stablished; 12 and this is that I with you be comforted in you,* eis to st*e*-richTH*E*nai huMAS; TOUto DE es-tin sun-pa-ra-kl*e*TH*E*nai 4837] en huMIN, *each by our :mutual faith, both yours and mine.* diA t*e*s en alL*E*lois PISte-*o*s, huM*O*N te kai eMOU. *d. 1:13 PAUL'S DESIRE: TO HAVE FRUIT IN ALL NATIONS* *And I would not have you ignorant, brethren,* ou THEl*o* de huMAS ag-noEIN [50], a-delPHOI, *that oft I purposed to come unto you (and was hindered :hitherto),* HOti polLAkis pro-eTHEm*e*n [4388] elTHEIN pros huMAS (kai e-k*o*LUth*e*n ACHri tou DEUro), *that I might have some fruit in you also, even as in the rest of the nations.* HIna tiNA karPON sch*o* kai en huMIN, kaTH*O*S kai en tois loiPOIS ETHne-sin. *2. 1:14-17 THE GOSPEL: HOW GOD EFFECTIVELY PROVIDES SALVATION* *a. 1:14 I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to wise and foolish.* HELl*e*SIN te kai barBArois [915], soPHOIS 4680] te kai a-no*E*tois [453]o-pheiLEt *e*s [3781] eiMI. *b. 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also :in Rome.* HOUt*o*, to kat' eME, PROthu-mon [4289] kai huMIN tois en 'R*O*m*e*eu-ag-geLIsas-thai [2097]. *c. 1:16 ?I AM NOT ASHAMED?* *For I am not ashamed of the gospel:* ou gar e-paiSCHUno-mai [1870] to eu-agGEli-on: *for it is God's power unto salvation to every :believer;* DUna-mis gar TheOU es-tin eis s*o*-t*e*RIan [4991] panTI t*o* piSTEUon-ti; *to Jew first, also to Greek.* IouDAI*o* te PR*O*ton, kai HELl*e*-ni. *d. 1:17 THE GOSPEL: GOD'S METHOD OF IMPARTING RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH* *For herein is being revealed God's righteousness* di-kai-oSUn*e* [1343] gar TheOU en auT*O* a-po-kaLUPte-tai [601] *from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous man shall live by faith.* ek PISte-*o*s eis PIStin: kaTH*O*S GEgrap-tai, Ho de DIkai-os [1342] ek PIste-*o*s Z*E*se-tai [2198]. *NOTE:* It is important to note that Paul sets himself as ?bondman? first - before ?apostle.? And Paul says, ?Follow *me*, as *I* follow Christ! Jesus in John 13 places Himself, though Lord and Teacher, just as Paul. This is the mark and characteristic of *true* apostles. God has sent them to *serve*the Body of Christ. By their fruits shall we know them. Note too in 1:5 that the Gospel is given to us by God unto the *obedience of faith* among all nations. This is the way the Book of Romans begins, and it is also the way it ends! See 16:26 - Paul's gospel in the Book of Romans is made known unto all the nations *unto obedience of faith.* People who profess themselves to be on the way to heaven because they can quote scriptures - but do *not walk* in *obedience of faith* - are in for a rude shock up ahead! It's not what we *think* about these truths - it's how we walk in them in *obedience of faith* that counts! In the Spring of 1944 in HMCS Naden adjoining to Victoria BC, God revealed Himself to me according to a promise He gave me in the Fall of 1942 while attending the University of British Columbia. He said, ?Join the Navy, and I'll reveal Myself to you? according to Psalm 107:23-24. He then made Romans 1:16-17 so real to me, that I received a boldness not my own to proclaim the Gospel in Jesus to 100's of my fellow sailors, and saw numbers of them come to the Lord. Romans 10:9-10 became the key that God used to usher me into His Kingdom. I must confess that this Book of the Gospel of Paul brought me into the Kingdom; has powerfully illuminated me on the way; and continues to open up and reveal to me marvelous truths. I say, ?Open my eyes, that I might see wonderful things in Your Word!? And He *does*! J.A.Watt *PS. About 1/2 of Volume II of the Interlinear has had a reversal of Panin's texts, putting the English in the top position. This is primarily for the benefit of Laymen - and I trust the Greek scholars will understand and sympathize. This first section of Romans is rich indeed, and deserves much meditation in the spirit of George Muller and George Whitefield. J. * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Oct 6 09:15:37 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2011 09:15:37 -0700 Subject: Romans 1:18-32 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 6, 2011 *(From: ROMANS #2 - 1:18-32) * *C. 1:18-32 THE NATURE & CONSEQUENCES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS* *1. 1:18-23 THE NATURE OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS* *a. 1:18-19 UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS INEXCUSABLE* *For God's wrath is being revealed from heaven* A-po-kaLUPte-tai [601] gar orG*E* TheOU ap' ou-raNOU *against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,* ePI PAsan aSEbei-an kai a-diKIan anTHR*O*p*o*n, *who hold down the truth in unrighteousness;* t*o*n t*e*n aL*E*thei-an [225] en a-diKIa ka-teCHONt*o*n [2722]; *19 because what is known of :God is manifest in them; * di' HOti to gn*o*sTON tou TheOU pha-neRON [5318] es-tin en auTOIS; *for :God manifested it to them.* ho TheOS gar auTOIS e-phaNEr*o*-sen. *b. 1:20-21 PROOF THAT UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS INEXCUSABLE* *For his :invisible things since the world's creation* ta gar aOra-ta auTOU aPO KTIse-*o*s [2937] KOSmou *are clearly seen, being perceived through the things made,* tois poi*E*ma-sin noOUme-na [3539], ka-thoRAtai [2529], *both his everlasting :power and divinity;* h*e* te aIdi-os [126] auTOU DUna-mis kai theiOt*e*s [2305]; *that they be without excuse: 21 because, knowing :God,* eis to EInai auTOUS a-na-po-loG*E*tous [379]: di' HOti, GNONtes [1097] ton TheON, *they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks;* ouch h*o*s TheON eDOxa-san [1392], *e* *e*u-chaRISt*e*-san [2168] ; *but became vain in their :reasonings,* alLA e-ma-tai*O*th*e*-san [3154] en tois di-a-lo-gisMOIS auT*O*N, *and their senseless :heart was darkened.* kai es-koTISth*e* h*e* aSUne-tos auT*O*N karDIa. *c. 1:22-23 THE FOOLISHNESS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS* *Professing to be wise, they became fools,* PHASkon-tes [5335] EInai soPHOI, e-m*o*RANth*e*-san [3471], *23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God* kai *E*Lla-xan t*e*n DOxan tou aphTHARtou TheOU *for a likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds,* en ho-moi*O*ma-ti eiKOnos phtharTOU anTHR*O*pou, kai pe-teiN*O*N [4071], *and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.* kai te-traPOd*o*n [5074], kai her-peT*O*N [2062]. *2. 1:24-32 THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS* *a. 1:24-25a USELESSNESS: THE CONSEQUENCE OF CHOOSING UNRIGHTEOUSNESS* *Wherefore :God gave them up* Di' ho paREd*o*-ken [3860] auTOUS ho TheOS *in the lusts of their :hearts unto uncleanness, * en tais e-pi-thuMIais t*o*n kardi*O*N auT*O*N eis a-ka-tharSIan, *that their :bodies be dishonored among them:* tou a-tiMAzes-thai [818] ta S*O*ma-ta auT*O*N en auTOIS: *25a in that they exchanged the truth of :God for the lie,* HOIti-nes meT*E*Lla-xan [3337] t*e*n aL*E*thei-an tou TheOU en t*o* PSEUdei [5579], *and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator,* kai e-seBASth*e*-san [4573] kai eLAtreu-san [3000] t*e* KTIsei paRA ton KTIsan-ta [2936], *who is blessed unto the ages.* HOS es-tin eu-lo-g*e*TOS [2128] eis tous ai*O*nas. *b. 1:25b Amen. *A-M*E*N. *c. 1:26-27 THE VILENESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES* *For this cause God gave them up unto passions of dishonor:* DiA TOUto paREd*o*-ken [3860] auTOUS ho TheOS eis PAth*e* a-tiMIas [819]: *for both their females changed the natural use* HAI te gar TH*E*lei-ai [2338] auT*O*N meT*E*Lla-xan [3337] t*e*n phu-siK*E*N [5446] CHR*E*sin [5540] *into what **is** against nature: **27** and also the males,* eis t*e*n paRA PHUsin [5449]: hoMOI*o*s te kai hoi ARse-nes [730], *leaving the natural use of the female,* aPHENtes t*e*n phu-siK*E*N CHR*E*sin t*e*s th*e*LEIas, *burned in their :lust one toward another,* ex-eKAUth*e*-san [1572] en t*e* oRExei auT*O*N eis alL*E*lous, *males with males working the unseemliness,* ARse-nes en ARse-sin t*e*n as-ch*e*-moSUn*e*n [808] ka-ter-gaZOme-noi [2716] , *and receiving in themselves the needful recompense of their :error.* kai t*e*n an-ti-misTHIan h*e*n Edei t*e*s PLAn*e*s [4106] auT*O*N en auTOIS a-po-lamBAnon-tes [618]. *d. 1:28-32 A REPROBATE MIND: THE CONSEQUENCE OF REJECTING GOD* *And even as they refused to have :God in their knowledge,* Kai kaTH*O*S ouk e-doKIma-san [1381] ton TheON Echein en e-pigN*O*sei, *:God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do the things unbecoming;* paREd*o*-ken [3860] auTOUS ho TheOS eis aDOki-mon [96] noun, poiEIN ta m*e*kaTH *E*kon-ta [2520]; *29 filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice;* pe-pl*e*-r*o*MEnous [4137] PAs*e* a-diKIa [93], po-n*e*RIa [4189], ple-o-neXIa [4124], kaKIa [2549]; *full of envy, murder, strife, guile, malignity;* mesTOUS PHTHOnou [5355], PHOnou [5408], Eri-dos [2054], DOlou [1388], ka-ko- *e*THIas [2550]; *30 whisperers, backbiters,* psi-thu-risTAS [5588], ka-taLAlous [2637], *haters of God, insolent, haughty,* The-os-tuGEIS [2319], hu-brisTAS [5197], hu-pe-r*e*PHAnous [5244], *boastful, inventors of evils, disobedient to parents,* a-laZOnas [213], e-pheu-reTAS [2182] kaK*O*N, goNEUsin [1118] a-peiTHEIS [545], *31 without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, merciless:* a-suNEtous [801], a-sunTHEtous [802], a-STORgous [794], a-ne-le*E*mo-nas [415]: *32 they who, knowing the ordinance of :God,* HOIti-nes, to diKAI*o*-ma [1345] tou TheOU e-pigNONtes [1921], *that who practice the such are worthy of death,* HOti hoi ta toiAUta PRASson-tes [4238] Axi-oi thaNAtou eiSIN, *not only do them, but also consent with those practicing them.* ou MOnon auTA poiOUsin, alLA kai su-neu-doKOUsin [4909] tois PRASsou-sin [4238]. *NOTE**: *This is one of the most sober passages in Scripture, and cuts across elements of society in every age, from the days of Abraham to the present. Note what God says about such elements who do not want to have God or His Son Jesus in their thoughts, words or society: *He gives them up!*Alright, you want to have your own way? Then have it, and reap at last what you have sown! You have judged yourselves. Three times in this passage God by His Spirit says that *He gives them up!* There are fellowships of churches which seek to water down and re-interpret passages such as this. It can't honestly be done! If we let God say what He wants to say and the Bible mean what it wants to mean - then there's no dodging the issue.. Paul says in Ephesians - It's even a *shame* to speak of the acts of sin recounted in this passage - so unnatural - so filthy - and bringing into the body the righteous reward of such unrighteous acts - such as *Aids*. There are various articles and insights in this Website that reveal God's * Bible* - His Scriptures - as *unique* above all books in the world - religious or secular. *Only* the 66 books of the Bible reveal the Bible Numeric Phenomenon in exact accord with all *other sciences.* The Numeric features of James through Jude are *exactly* the same as those of our sun's 7 major planets! *Imagine*!. Let me lay a foundation for the above notes on this passage. Marie and I attended a High School in Port Alberni, BC of some 160 students from 1937-41. Who would have thought that a boys' basketball team from such a small school would win the Canadian Western Basketball Championship of the 4 Western Provinces of BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba? It wasn't because of the extraordinary prowess of the team - but of the ?Coach? - Bill Wiles, the H.S. Math, Science and P.A. teacher. He had a vision for extraordinary success for these boys; he had a format for training discipline; he had the ability to work out some 20 basic plays that he had the boys master; he talked a business into supplying them with great red and white uniforms; he produced in these ?Termites? a ?Team Spirit? of success. No team in Western Canada could stand against them. And for 50 years these boys and their Coach - as long as he lived - met together annually to reminisce on those glorious 4 years. Arthur Delamont with his parents and family emigrated from England to Canada in the early 1900's. He had a wonderful Salvation Army Band background. In his early 30's he moved with his wife and son from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Vancouver, BC. A boy approached him in 1928 for trumpet lessons. Arthur responded. Soon boy after boy was added, until he formed a band. For the next 50 years the Vancouver Kitsilano Boys Band traveled to Europe 15 times, plus 5 World Fairs, and won over 200 top band awards: in tone, deportment, marching and appearance. In Britain this boys band even came out on top over Mature Bands. Like Bill Wiles, he insisted on perfection as the goal. Punctuality was a sacred must! Appearance in pictures had to be perfect. The uniforms of a blue cape fastened back to show beautiful red satin linings, with black socks and highly polished black shoes - black pants with one red stripe - white long sleeved shirts, and a neat cap - these too contributed to awards. Their marching technique from 1930 on was second to none. Again - not just the 1000's of boys - but a bandmaster with a vision, promotional instincts, enthusiasm, ability - yes, again a leader brought success. In 1944 a Russian Jew introduced me to the Russian genius, Ivan Panin. He started out as a radical Nihilist and was forced to flee Russia in the later 1800's. He succeeded as a Philosopher, Mathematician and English expert. Albert Einstein was one of his Math students at Harvard. Both had probable I Q's upwards to 200. When he discovered the marvels of Bible Numerics he was hooked, and spent 50 years and 100,000 hours producing both a Greek and English New Testament based on this amazing discovery. Again - we find another man like Wiles and Delamont, possessed by a vision and an indomitable drive to succeed in his vision. How opposite to the sad list in Romans 1:24-32. Then consider Abraham, the founder of the nation of Israel, based on the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 17. But on the way to this goal, he rescued his nephew Lot from the extreme sinfulness of Sodom and Gomorrah. Another man committed to a vision to know, serve and obey God to the end, based on high moral and ethical goals. Again see the contrast with the latter part of Romans 1. King David was one of his illustrious descendants. He too had a vision to glorify God, and be a man after God's own heart. No hanky-panky here. When he slipped and sinned, he immediately confessed it, made it right with God, and continued on. God gave him a 7-fold program for the illustrious Temple that his son Solomon built. In a sense it is by vision - the Temple of David! God calls the beginning of a venture as if already complete. David's beginning here qualifies. He had a desire and a vision; he obtained the Temple location; God wrote the blueprint on his heart by the Spirit; he gathered tremendous amounts of material ahead of time. He taught and showed Solomon the plans; he provided the music and Temple worship; he and Samuel provided the Levitical order of service. Jesus, the greater Son of David, the Promised Messiah - came to minister as a servant, and give His life a ransom for many; he fulfilled the covenant of Abraham and the Mosaic and Temple typology. The 2 pillars of the Temple, Jachin and Boaz, typified God's Covenant and oath. He raised up 12 disciples for the 12 tribes of Israel, but prepared for the ?One New Man? by soon admission of Gentiles into the Church. See Benjamin in the latter chapters of the Book of Judges. Fit this into Romans 1:18-32. Benjamin was wiped out but for 600 young men, because of homosexual and heterosexual sin. See our Website * . *Under Archives, Embryonics, Outlines and Interlinear - lie a groundwork and framework to justify the emphasis God puts upon Himself, His Son and His Word! In Psalm 2 it says God in heaven will *laugh* at His enemies who seek to remove Him from their thoughts, words and society. In the end, remember Noah! Then a flood removed the wicked and saved 8 righteous; so soon, A fire will destroy the wicked, and preserve a remnant like David, who are people after God's own heart. J.A.Watt * SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Oct 7 09:49:50 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2011 09:49:50 -0700 Subject: Romans 13:1-14 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 7, 2011 *(From: ROMANS #17 - 13:1-14)* *2. 13:1-7 OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CIVIC AUTHORITY* *a. 13:1 OUR RESPONSIBILITY: OBEY CIVIC AUTHORITY* *Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers:* PAsa psuCH*E* e-xouSIais [1849] hu-pe-reCHOUsais [5242] hu-po-tasSESth*o* [5293]: *for there is no power but of God; and those that be are ordained of God.* ou gar EStin e-xouSIa ei m*e* TheOU; hai de OUsai huPO TheOU te-tagMEnai [5021] eiSIN. *b. 13:2 TO RESIST CIVIC POWER IS TO WITHSTAND GOD* *So that who resists the power, withstands the ordinance of :God:* H*O*Ste ho an-ti-tasSOme-nos [498] t*e* e-xouSIa, t*e* tou TheOU di-a-taG*E* [1296] anTHESt*e*-ken [436]: *and who withstand shall receive to themselves judgment.* hoi de an-thes-t*e*KOtes he-auTOIS KRIma [2917] L*E*Mpson-tai [2983]. *c. 13:3a For the rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil.* hoi gar ARchon-tes [758] ouk eiSIN PHObos t*o* a-gaTH*O* ERg*o*, alLA t*o*kaK *O*. *d. 13:3b-4a CIVIC POWERS: MINISTER TO DOERS OF GOOD* *And would you not fear the power? * THEleis de m*e* phoBEISthai [5399] t*e*n e-xouSIan? *do the good, and you shall have praise from it:* to a-gaTHON POIei, kai Exeis Epai-non [1868] ex auT*E*S: *4a for he is God's minister to you for the good.* TheOU gar diAkoNOS [1249] es-tin soi eis to a-gaTHON. *e. 13:4b RULERS: AVENGERS FOR EVIL DOERS.* *But if you do :evil, be afraid;* eAN de to kaKON poi*E*S, phoBOU; *for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is God's minister,* ou gar eiK*E* [1500] t*e*n MAchai-ran [3162] phoREI [5409]: TheOU gar diAkoNOS es-tin, *avenger for wrath to him that does :evil.* EKdi-kos eis [1558] orG*E*N t*o* to kaKON PRASson-ti. *f. 13:5 CONSCIENCE: A STRONG CAUSE FOR SUBMISSION* *Wherefore you must needs submit,* di' ho aNAGk*e*n [318] hu-poTASses-thai [5293], *not only because of the wrath, but also for :conscience.* ou MOnon diA t*e*n orG*E*N, alLA kai diA t*e*n suNEId*e*-sin [4893]. *g. 13:6 TAXES: DUE TO RULERS APPOINTED BY GOD* *For for this cause you pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service,* diA TOUto gar kai PHOrous [5411] teLEIte [5055]; lei-tourGOI gar TheOU ei-sin, *attending continually upon this very thing.* eis auTO TOUto pros-kar-teROUNtes [4342]. *h. 13:7 AN OBLIGATION: TO GIVE TO ALL THEIR DUES* *Render to all their dues: :tribute to whom :tribute is due; :custom to whom :custom;* aPOdo-te [591] PAsi tas o-pheiLAS [3782]: t*o* ton PHOron [5411] ton PHOron; t*o* to TElos to TElos; *:fear to whom :fear; :honor to whom :honor.* t*o* ton PHObon to PHObon; t*o* t*e*n tiM*E*N [5092] t*e*n tiM*E*N . *3. 13:8-10 SECOND COMMANDMENT: RESPONSIBILITY TO FELLOW MAN* *a. 13:8 LOVE: ALL THAT WE OWE* *Owe no one anything, save to love one another:* M*e*-deNI m*e*DEN oPHEIle-te [3784], ei m*e* to alL*E*lous a-gaPAN: *for who loves the other has fulfilled the law.* ho gar a-gaP*O*N ton HEte-ron NOmon [3551] pePL*E*r*o*-ken [4137]. *b. 13:9 LOVE: SUMMARIZES ALL THE COMMANDMENTS* *For :You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill,* to gar Ou moiCHEUseis [3431], Ou phoNEUseis [5407], *You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and if there be any other commandment,* Ou KLEpseis [2813], Ouk e-pi-thuM*E*seis [1937], kai ei tis heTEra en-toL*E* [1785], *it is summed up in this :word,* en t*o* LOg*o* TOUt*o* a-na-ke-pha-laiOUtai [346], *in the You shall love your :neighbor as yourself.* en t*o* A-gaP*E*seis ton pl*e*SIon [4129] sou h*o*s se-auTON. *c. 13:10 :Love works no ill to the neighbor: :love therefore is fulfilment of law.* h*e* aGAp*e* t*o* pl*e*SIon kaKON ouk erGAze-tai [2038]: PL*E*r*o*-ma [4128]oun NOmou h *e* aGAp*e*. *4. 13:11-14 THE DAY OF THE LORD: MOTIVATION FOR A CHRIST-WALK* *a. 13:11 WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND THE SEASON OF CONSUMMATION* *And this, knowing the season,* *that already it is the hour for you to awake out of sleep:* Kai TOUto, eiDOtes ton kaiRON, HOti H*O*ra *E*d*e* huMAS ex HUPnou [5258]e-gerTH *E*nai [1453]: *for now is our :salvation nearer than when we believed.* nun gar egGUte-ron h*e*M*O*N h*e* s*o*-t*e*RIa [4991] *e* HOte e-piSTEUsa-men. *b. 13:12 OUR TWO-FOLD OBLIGATION: IN THE LIGHT OF THE DAY OF THE LORD* *The night is far spent, and the day is at hand:* h*e* nux [3571] proEko-psen [4298], h*e* de h*e*MEra *E*Ggi-ken [1448]: *let us therefore cast off the works of :darkness, and let us put on the armor of :light.* a-poTH*O*me-tha [659] oun ta ERga tou SKOtous, en-duS*O*me-tha [1746] de ta HOPla tou ph*o*TOS. *c. 13:13 OUR WALK: AS SONS OF LIGHT* *Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness,* h*o*s en h*e*MEra, eu-sch*e*MOn*o*s [2156] pe-ri-paT*E*s*o*-men; m*e* K*O*mois [2970] kai MEthais [3178], *not in chamberings and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.* m*e* KOItais [2845] kai a-selGEIais [766], m*e* Eri-di [2054] kai Z*E*l*o* [2205]. *d. 13:14 CHRIST AND THE FLESH ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE* *But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,* alLA enDUsas-the [1746] ton KUri-on I*e*SOUN ChrisTON, *and make no provision unto the lusts of the flesh.* kai t*e*s sarKOS [4561] PROnoi-an [4307] m*e* poiEISthe [4160] eis e-pi-thuMIas [1939]. *NOTE**: *Romans 13 is the conclusion of chapter 12. They are both an integral whole according to the paragraphing of Bible Numerics. This week I rceived an Email from Australia concerning Ivan Panin and Bible Numerics. Because this is a difficult subject to understand its full significance from the mind of God, with your forbearance I am including here our exchange: Sat. Nov 22, 2008 at 3:52 PM - To: Jim (and all your team) - From: Australia Thank you so much! I have been familiar with Panin's work from my earliest days as a Christiian (I was baptised in water and received the Gift of the Holy Spirit as a young man of 16 in 1976.) I have a number of Panin's publications including his Numeric New Testament which I use when I stand in doubt about the rendering of a verse or whether it should even be included in the Bible at all ... The value of Panin's great labour is again being shown to me. I am very grateful for your website (which I have only this morning found...) with its Panin interlinear NT - It's a resource I'm sure to use again. Warm Regards - Australia *2008-11-23 - Jim Watt* *Web: www.2rbetter.org - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com * *Australia - Thanks for the Email. *Winkie Pratney from New Zealand is a very effective fan of Ivan Panin,- and so also was David duPlessis of S. Africa. Through the various Archive articles on our Website, you can glean my 64 year history in studying the works of Panin, up to 50,000 hours. I have no team for this work. I have the complete MS of Panin's Interlinear Greek NT, which is the basis for typing up the present format that appears on our Website. I completed this manuscript some 40 years ago. The 12 Embryonic Revival Principles I tie in with Panin and the 12 tribes of Israel, as you can see from that section. The Greek Word Studies are also based on Panin's 2 texts, which are available still from Toronto, and can be found under ?Links?, Ivan Panin. The Bible Outlines are also based on Bible Numerics - and the 52 Overviews will be completed this year and posted on the Website. Under each Overview, I have 7 subdivisions for each week of the year, 364 altogether, also based on Bible Numerics. The Greek Word Studies are based on Bible Numerics, Englishman's Greek Concordance and John Stegenga's Greek Lexicon. I will also put some Hebrew Interlinear sections and Word Studies on the Website, time permitting. I am 85, in good health, and will keep producing to the end. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was writing his last book at the age of 95. Why not? I have scarcely the tip of the iceberg on the Website at present. The vast majority of my work is yet in MS form. For folk like yourself who appreciate Panin's work in Bible Numerics, your prayers will be appreciated. Your friend - Jim Watt Sun. Nov 23, 2008 at 11:56 PM To: Jim Watt - Thanks for your reply. In another 35 years or so (when I am 85) I hope I am also able to point to a body of evidence that shows my dedication to the Gospel. I shall be visiting your site again and have passed on the site's details to my Pastor - who is also interested in (and has known about for many years) the works of Panin. I have a couple of questions relating to Panin about which you may be able to offer some clarity. Panin did seem to get caught up at times trying to link his numerics and various natural phenomena - especially in the realms of astronomy. I have always felt that this was a mistake. Based on the strength of his Bible Numerics work it seemed that the attempts to link in the astronomical data, for example, only served to weaken his case in the eyes of the scientific community - trying to establish a link was just a ?bridge too far?. I have my doubts also as to how such a linkage would now appear in the light of 65 years or so of scientific advances in the field of astronomy. The question is, I guess, ?What is your opinion about Panin's attempts to give his numerics a broader, outside-the-bible application?? Have you examined (or have access to the results of an examination) the actual statistical methodology employed by Panin? Would an unbiased mathematician or statistician find fault with his method?? I'm not a math wizard - his work does seem to be sound and logical to me - but I would not want to begin using his work in earnest only to find myself unable to defend his scholarship or methods. In any case, if nothing else, Panin's work has convinced *me* of the unerring accuracy and completeness of the original words of God. Thanks again - Australia *2008-11-24 - Jim Watt* *Web: www.2rbetter1.org - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Australia - I am no whiz at Math either. But neither was Einstein. He majored in Physics and slid in Math. Then later in life he discovered that without Math he couldn't accomplish his work in equations. * *So when he fled Hitler to US - he attended Math classes at Harvard, Boston, under Ivan Panin! Interesting! * *By chance, observatory findings in astronomy one day came into Panin's hands concerning their calculations on our 7 chief solar planets. Out of curiosity, Panin noted that none of the dimensions of radius, diameter, rate of rotation etc. showed any numerical phenomenon. Again out of curiosity, he adjusted these dimensions, until all 7 in all ways showed this phenomenon. He then submitted his findings to this observatory and asked for their evaluation.* *In a few months he received a reply: - What instruments did you use to establish these dimensions? We have nothing sufficiently accurate to come up with this. If you have any more statistics along this line, would you please send them to us also?* *The interesting thing about this was that the numeric phenomenon of the 7 epistles from James to Jude are exactly parallel to those of our 7 major solar planets.* *Panin also found that in the field of Physics, Chemistry, Biology as well as astronomy etc., - the pattern of Math in all mathematical sciences is exactly parallel to the numerics of the Bible.* *God by the Spirit through Paul in Romans does say that the universe (with all of its sciences) is an exact picture of His spiritual Kingdom. God's signature is numbers, and it is really not surprising that this same signature should appear in both His natural and spiritual universe.* *I suppose I have read most everything relevant to Panin and Bible Numeriecs that is available - and yes - I have come to agree with him in his judgment on the complete spread of God's mathematical signature in both natural and spiritual realms. I have used this with excellent effect on university campuses, and have personally won to the Lord America's leading ?Pharmacologist? this way. I have trained some 80 Bible students in Seattle some years ago how to witness this way, and they went on the campus of the University of Washington to witness, and won dozens to the Lord.* *As for the validity of the actual methods used by Panin on ?chance,? using Highest Common Factor and Lowest Common Multiples - These are the valid methods still used today to work out ?chance.? I have presented Panin and Bible and Science Numerics? during the 64 years I have been introduced to him by Dr. Jewell, a Russian Jew from Calgary, Alberta. I have read the work of his critics. In my opinion, they build a straw man according to their own thinking, knock it down, and then claim Panin and Numerics have been obliterated. These critics I have investigated have been woefully deficient in Mathematics, and really haven't a leg to stand on. They have doctorate and master's degrees - but that still doesn't always mean that much. I myself have a Master's degree, and probably have earned the equivalent of at least 2 doctorate degrees - but still do not regard that that highly.* *It was Panin's hope and conviction that the work on his discoveries would be a key to reaching the 6 million Math and Science scholars of Russia to the Lord. At the time of his death in 1942, no evidence was taking place to that effect. Part of my labors in Panin's Greek Interlinear Bible Numerics Outlined New Testament, is to hopefully help fulfill his hope and vision.* *Dr. Karl Sabiers' book is available in Toronto as a description and defense of Panin and Bible Numerics. It has done yeoman's service. Also Dr. Keith L. Brooks on ?Mathematical Proofs of the Divine Inspiration of the Bible.? I recommend both of these. * *Panin, Ivan - Bible Numerics* To learn more of the remarkable labors of this man, click on the following URL: *http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=4553&srcid=1979* There you will find an article I wrote, posted on the Website of ?The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.? They have added 5 links to my article, which substantially help readers in their understanding. Their link *<**Dr. Keith L. Brooks**> *gives full ordering information. More on Panin - ?UNLEAVENED BREAD MINISTRIES? - NNT at 2008 *www.americaslastdays.com* - ?David Eells? *Your friend - Jim Watt* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Oct 8 14:49:54 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 8 Oct 2011 14:49:54 -0700 Subject: Interlinear Introduction Part B Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 8, 2011 *INTERLINEAR INTRODUCTION - ?PART B? * At the suggestion of Timothy Johnson our Printer, I have divided the Interlinear Introduction into 2 parts: the more technical, helpful part; and the more personal, historical part. This week the following analogy came to me very early Wednesday morning July 13th. Some of you are no doubt aware that our forebear James Watt of Greenock, Scotland (1736-1819) - did not invent the steam engine. That was done 2100 years previously in 300 BC by Archimedes, and early in the 18thcentury, the Newcomen engine was operating in Scottish mines pumping out water early in the 1700's. When I was about 12, living with my family during Depression Days in 1935 in Murrayville BC, just East of Langley - my mother called me into our home to look at the genealogical papers my father had just received from Scotland, tracing out lineage directly back to James Watt of Steam Engine fame. He as a young man graduated from an Engineering College in London, England. He then received an appointment at the University of Glasgow. Shortly after receiving this appointment, he was sent down to one of their mines to repair a steam engine. He easily did so, but was dismayed to discover that it was but 5% efficient! On his own time he put on 6 improvements, chief of which was the ?condenser?. This enabled the Newcomen engine to repossess the steam without having to start over from scratch. This with 5 other improvements produced a steam engine some 45% efficient. Robert Fulton (1765-1815 from Pennsylvania) developed a commercially successful steam-ship, and George Stephenson (1781-1818) put the steam engine upon rails, making a practical steam locomotive. These among other usages, set off the Industrial Revolution - plus our ecological smog! In honor of the 100 inventions of James Watt, chief of which was the efficient steam-engine - the electrical ?watt? was named after him. My grandfather from Scotland, father and older brother - were all inventive steam and electrical engineers, building and operating power houses for smelters, lumber mills and pulp and paper mills. I was born in Crossett, Arkansas in 1923 at the time my father traveled to the US from Canada to construct a power-house for a Lumber Mill there. In 1929 my father's last construction job was a power-house for the University of Washington in Seattle. Soon afterwards the '29 Great Depression drove my Canadian parents back to Canada, where I received the major part of my education. As a preacher later on, I was often asked if I had any relationship to James Watt of Steam Engine fame. I would reluctantly confess that I had, but all the Watt genes jumped me. I could scarcely fix a bicycle. But one of my relatives in Anacortes, Washington said, ?Don't feel badly, Jim! Your ancestors majored in steam and electrical power. But God has chosen you to major in spiritual power!? I have felt better ever since! It was last Wednesday that I received the analogy above that I referred to. In the Fall of 1942, as an unbeliever, and as a student in the College of Commerce at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, I was reading Psalm 107. When I came to verses 23 and 24, for the first time in my life God by His Spirit spoke to my spirit: ?Join the Navy - and I'll reveal Myself to you.? In July of 1943 I did so, and 9 months later on Passover of 1944 *He* did! Then in July of that year a Russian Jew, Dr. Jewell from Calgary, Alberta, approached me in a church, and offered to teach me Greek in exchange for my promise to study the works of the great Ivan Panin. Never as a sailor had I heard of the great Ivan Panin. But when I was discharged from the Navy in 1945, I used a Navy discharge grant to purchase the 20 or so books?by? or ?on? Panin listed on the back of the 2 pamphlets given to me previously by Dr. Jewell. When I received the Bible Numeric Greek NT prepared by Panin, I was startled to learn from his Introduction - that not only did Bible Numerics establish the original NT text from some 3000 alternate readings - but it also established the sentence, sub-paragraph, paragraph and section (chapter equivalents) format for each of the 27 NT books, as well as for the 39 Old Testament Hebrew books. I am a great ?outliner?! A fellow student at St. Andrew's College, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, one of 9 seminaries of the United Church of Canada, was amused at my frustration at my university grades I felt should be higher. He said, Give me an hour of your time, and I'll show you how to raise all of your grades by one level. If you are a ?C?, you'll become a ?B?; if a ?B?, an ?A?; if an ?A?, an ?A+?. I didn't really believe him, but I felt an hour of my time could be given to his offer. He showed me how to outline my daily lecture notes; text-books; how to prepare an outline before writing a term paper; how to write an essay type exam. The following year I won 3 scholarships, and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan ?With Honors? (cum laude), and spent 1/3 less time doing so. I wasn't at the time even aware that such honors were offered. So when I discovered the power of outlines for university honors - I thought - what would happen should I take Panin's ?format? discovery, and summarize each sentence; gathering these summaries into sub-paragraphs; the sub-paragraph summaries into paragraphs; the paragraphs into section or chapter equivalents; and the sections into the 27 NT Book Summaries? I tried it out on Ephesians! It was so startling what I discovered, that I outlined the rest of God's Bible Numeric Greek and English New Testaments. I typed up his entire English NT according to the above 4-fold structure discovered by Panin. I then worked this structure back into his Greek text, which was printed too late to contain this discovery. Then I hand-copied the entire Greek NT to correspond with the English translation, not word for word, but clause by clause and sentence by sentence. Then I outlined the entire Interlinear NT according to the plan outlined above. I had to wait for computers to come out, so I could personally type up this complete discovery, and have a Web-master post it on a Website! This started in 2007, and in June 2008 my grandson transferred me from ?Windows? to ?Linux?. On December 31, 2010 I completed the first draft of ?God's Bible Numeric *Outlined* Interlinear Greek NT for Laymen.? It has now been proof-read 5 times, and the 4 gospels have been sent to the Printer. Before being printed, it was suggested that I reverse the text order, placing the English above the Greek text. Now back to Archimedes and James Watt. In a sense, Ivan Panin is Archimedes and the Newcomen engine in existence in his day. Panin's discovery of Bible Numerics and how it establishes the original Greek manuscript; plus the 4-fold discovery of sentence/paragraph formatting - is astounding. However - without the two texts becoming an Interlinear Greek NT; and without the formatting leading to and *Outlined* Interlinear Greek NT - it could but inefficiently pump water in a mine at but 5% efficiency. But by this Bible Numeric *Outlined* Interlinear Greek NT - plus some 10 other improvements, God now has a product parallel to the steam engine developed by James Watt of the 18th Century. In 2000 AD, a team released their list of 1000 outstanding world citizens for the last 1000 years. They placed James Watt in the top 100 or 10%. I believe this Bible Numeric *Outlined* Interlinear Greek NT for Laymen - has the potential to release the 2-fold discovery of Panin as a possibility. This possibility has been resident as a potential for an equivalent break-through. Reread Introduction Part A to see the mprovements put upon this 1890 discovery, and how 120 years later, we are about to see this parallel. Many are aware of the sinking of ?Titanic?. It was not the visible part of the iceberg that sank ?Titanic? on her maiden voyage. It was the ?8/9? of the invisible iceberg beneath the ocean surface that ripped out the side of this so-called ?unsinkable? ship. One said, ?Not even God could sink Titanic!? Now this is a negative analogy. For the 8/9 of the invisible part of the iceberg was the hidden danger! And the unknown other 6 parts of a 7-fold Organic Laser Telescope are necessary to make the *Outlined*Interlinear viable! In 1967 in answer to a request of my wife Marie concerning God's wisdom for our marriage - I asked Him for His input and answer. He gave me two visions that night. The first was of an Organic Laser Telescope of 7 component parts. The Lord as the Scientist and Director in an Observatory - said that Marie and I were present to see the assemblage of these 7 component parts - and what they then would do. This was because we had been responsible in part for the production of the first 2 parts: namely - the Bible Numeric * Outlined* Interlinear Greek NT discovered by Panin - and secondly - the City Church concept with an Eldership or Presbytery in the Gate of each city as in Acts 13 and Acts 15. In December 7 of 2009, He revealed the other 5 component parts over which we did not have a productive part: 3) Prayer Multiplication based on Vertical Covenant with God and horizontal covenant with partners. W.J.Ern Baxter brought out these concepts. 4) The 12 Embryonic Revival Principles linked with the 12 tribes of Israel from the 1948 North Battleford Visitation under the leadership of George R. Hawtin. See our Website on ?Embryonics? for details. 5) *Bible Meditation*. See George Muller and George Whitefield, with Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3 and Psalm 19:14. 6) Intercession - as set forth by ?Rees Howells, Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb, CLC Publication. 7) ?Focus on Jesus? - as seen through the eyes of Oswald Chambers, author of ?My Utmost for His Highest?. When the above 7 component parts in an organic unity function together - then the Lord Himself can do *anything* He desires through such an Eldership. On our Website, click on ?Archives?, and scroll down to ?2011-02-08 - An Undergirding Bibliography?. This sets this concept forth in a larger context and somewhat greater detail. In conclusion - ?God's Bible Numeric *Outlined* Interlinear Greek NT for Laymen? is but the key of 7 component parts to produce an Automated Laser Telescope for a ?Spiritual Star Wars? effect. Our Lord Jesus can then direct such an organic instrument at Satanic principalities and powers over cities, regions and nations - and effectively destroy them. With such evil spiritual influences removed, revival is then a distinct possibility. Through a second vision that same night, I saw 70 Canadian cities each functioning with an Eldership or Presbytery in its Gate, plus another 70 in the United States. In 1967, I also saw four key cities in Cascadia or the Pacific NW: Seattle/Tacoma; Vancouver/Victoria; Portland/Vancouver WA - as a bow - and Spokane in which to draw back the arrow string, and launch revival arrows to the Pacific-rim cities and countries. Much additional information on all of this appears in the ?Archives? of our *Website <*www.2rbetter.org*> *as well as the ?NOTES? following some 500 segments of the Interlinear NT now posted under ?Interlinear?. It is my conviction that the completion and functioning of this ?Interlinear? is the key that has been waiting for the above insights to become viable. James Watt - 2011-07-16 *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Oct 10 08:52:51 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:52:51 -0700 Subject: Bill Cosby is Tired Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 10, 2011 *Bill Cosby is Tired - 2011-10-08* *I believe most Senior Citizens feel the same way as Cosby!!!!!! and also perhaps some of the baby boomers.* *Bill Cosby ?I'm 76 and Tired? Worth Reading.....* *This should be required reading for every man, woman and child in the UK, United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand etc.* ?*I'm 76 and I'm Tired?* *I'm 76. *Except for a brief period in the 50's when I was doing my National Service, I've worked hard since I was 17. Except for some serious health challenges, I put in 50-hour weeks, and didn't call in sick in nearly 40 years. I made a reasonable salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, it looks as though retirement was a bad idea, and I'm tired, Very tired. *I'm tired *of being told that I have to ?spread the wealth? to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it. *I'm tired* of being told that Islam is a ?Religion of Peace,? when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family ?honour?; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christians and Jews because they aren't ?believers?; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for ?adultery?; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to. *I'm tired* of being told that out of ?tolerance for other cultures? we must let Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in Australia, New Zealand, UK, America and Canada, while no one from these countries are allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia or any other Arab country to teach love and tolerance.. *I'm tired* of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. *I'm tired* of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to fight if off? *I'm tired *of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of all parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes; when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor. *I'm really tired* of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems. I'm also tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their teens and early 20's bedeck them selves in tattoos and face studs, thereby making themselves un-employable and claiming money from the Government. *Yes, I'm damn tired. *But I'm also glad to be 76.. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter and her children. Thank God I'm on the way out and not on the way in. *There is no way this will be widely publicized, unless each of us sends it on!* *This is your chance to make a difference.* ?*I'm 76 and I'm tired. If you don't forward this you are part of the problem?.* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Oct 12 13:42:20 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:42:20 -0700 Subject: Titus 3:12-15 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 12, 2011 *(From: TITUS #3 - 3:12-15) * *D. 3:12-14 NEWS AND FINAL EXHORTATION* *a. 3:12 TITUS* *When I shall send Artemas unto you, or Tychicus,* HOtan PEMps*o* [3992] Ar-teMAN PROS se, *e* Tu-chiKON, *give diligence to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined to winter there.* SPOUda-son elTHEIN PROS me eis NiKOpo-lin: eKEI gar KEkri-ka [2919]pa-ra-cheiMAsai [3914]. *b. 3:13 HELP FOR ZENAS AND APOLLOS* *Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos diligently,* Z*e*NAN ton noMIkos [3944] kai A-polL*O*N spouDAI*o*s PROpem-pson [4311], *that nothing be wanting to them.* HIna m*e*DEN auTOIS LEIp*e*. *c. 3:14 GOOD WORKS* *And let :our people also learn to maintain good works* man-thaNEt*o*-san [3129] de kai hoi h*e*MEte-roi kaL*O*N ERg*o*n proIstas-thai [4291] *for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.* eis tas a-nagKAIas [316] CHREIas [5532], HIna m*e* *O*sin Akar-poi [175]. *E. 3:15 SALUTATIONS* *a. 3:15a **All th**os**e with me greet you. *AsPAzonTAI [782] se hoi met' eMOU PANtes. *b. 3:15b Greet them that love us in faith.* Aspa-sai tous phiLOUNtas [5368] h*e*MAS en PIstei. *F. 3:15c **The grace **be** with you all. *He CHAris [5485] meTA PANton huMON. *NOTE**: *These last 4 verses represent the last 3 paragraphs of this letter to Titus. The Holy Spirit through Paul does not address Titus in 3 chapters, but in 6 closely knit paragraphs, making a compact unity of these thoughts. Paragraph A & B of our Titus Chapter one - could represent as it were - the head of the pig or hog. Paragraph C, 2:1-3:11 - the body; and D through F, the tail or squeal. Yet, that is not accurate either, for no portion of Scripture is unimportant. What can you see here that from God's point of view is a fitting conclusion to this letter? For one thing we see the strong human interest for individuals on the part of the Apostle Paul, and that his needs also be met. Then too, he is concerned that all saints not be mere professors of the faith, but possessors that lead to action. And lastly, he has a concern for good human protocol in both receiving and giving greetings. The Christian faith, though in the world, is yet not of the world. But it at the same time works out the highest of good human relationships. If one did a ?word study? on these last few verses, I would choose the profession of Zenas as a ?*lawyer* - noMIkon? - to look at. An interesting email came this week on the contrast between Democrats and Republicans, as they relate to the ?lawyer? profession. See what you think of the following few excerpts. ?Today in the US we are drowning in laws; we are contorted by judicial decisions; we are driven to distraction by omnipresent lawyers in all parts of our once private lives. America has a place for laws and lawyers, but that place is modest and reasonable, not vast and unchecked. When the most important decision for our president is whom he will appoint to the Supreme Court, the role of lawyers and the law in America is too big. When house Democrats sue America in order to hamstring our efforts to learn what our enemies are planning to do to us, then the role of litigation in America has become crushing. ?We cannot expect the Lawyers' Party to provide real change, real reform or real hope in America. Most Americans know that a republic in which every major government action must be blessed by nine unelected judges, is not what Washington intended in 1789. Most Americans grasp that we cannot fight a war when ACLU lawsuits snap at the heels of our defenders. Most Americans intuit that more lawyers and judges will not restore declining moral values or spark the spirit of enterprise in our economy. ?Perhaps Americans will understand that change cannot be brought to our nation by those lawyers who already largely dictate American society and business. Perhaps Americans will see that hope does not come from the mouths of lawyers but from personal dreams nourished by hard work. Perhaps Americans will embrace the truth the more lawyers with more power will only make our problems worse. ?The United States has 5% of the world's population *and 66% of the world's lawyers!* Tort (Legal) reform legislation has been introduced in congress several times in the last several years to limit punitive damages in ridiculous lawsuits such as ?spilling hot coffee on yourself and suing the establishment that sold it to you,? and also to limit punitive damages in huge medical malpractice lawsuits. The legislation has continually been blocked from even being voted on by the Democrat Party. When you see that 97% of the political contributions from the American Trial Lawyers Association goes to the Democrat Party, then you realize who is responsible for our medical and product costs being so high!? We of course have many excellent lawyers who are ?straight arrows?, and live up to walking in the spirit of our Constitution as given to us by our Founding Fathers. Our son-in-law is one of these. But it does behoove us to look at our situation in America as it is, and to see that not all American lawyers walk in this spirit. I dare say that Zenas the lawyer of Paul's day was of this better caliber. *BILL COSBY TIRED - 2011-10-12 - *I wish to apologize to Bill Cosby and ask forgiveness for quoting him inaccurately without first checking with ?Snopes?. I normally do not send out such articles, but was asked in this case if I would, and in the pressure of preparing for a printing, did not clearly think this through. Sorry Bill, and you readers! Normally out of some 1000 readers I get 2 or 3 responses. This time over *30* responses came in! Thanks for your care in this case. So what can we learn from such a failure? For Himself Paul said in Romans 7:18 (7:13-25) ? For *I know that* *in me*, that is, in my :flesh, dwells no good.? I agree. Then in Philippians 3:3 (3:2-4) he said, ?for we are the circumcision, who worship by God's Spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, *and have no confidence in flesh*.? Again, I completely agree. Also in Galatians 2:20 (2:15-21) he says by the Spirit, ?I have been crucified with Christ; and no longer I live, *but Christ* *lives in me*: and what I live in *the*flesh I live by *faith* *which is in the Son of :God*, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.? David was a man after God's own heart, *not* because he was a perfect men - but because when he sinned he *confessed* his sin (Psalm 51), and was immediately cleansed from all unrighteousness! I have often been misquoted. People will say concerning me, ?As you have said in the past,? -- when I haven't even thought of such a thing that I have been accused of saying! That is what some of us have done with Bill Cosby! God in the past has been upset with the prophets of Israel. He has accused them - ?You have put words in My mouth, that *I* have not even thought of!? And yet, God in His mercy, and because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David - is going to forgive Israel her transgressions, and fulfill for a Remnant of that people - His Covenant promises to the above 4 fathers! One might call this ?*Unconditional Love*.? To ignore or misunderstand ?Covenant? from God's point of view - is to miss the whole point of the Bible! It is undergirded by *Covenant*! We too have forgiveness in our heart towards those sinning against us - even family members - *before* they ask for forgiveness! Very early this morning I meditated and pondered upon the above thought, as I considered the best way to present an apology and ask forgiveness for ?breaking protocol? in wrongfully quoting Bill Cosby. There is an old Proverb: ?To *err* is human; to forgive is divine!? Credit for this is given to Alexander Pope; but Benjamin Franklin put it like this: ?To err is human, to repent divine, to persist devilish!? So perhaps the most important lesson to learn from this - Is to ensure that such an error is not repeated! J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Oct 14 12:24:25 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:24:25 -0700 Subject: Luke 15 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 14, 2011 *MAR 7 - LUKE 15 - THE LOST: VALUABLE IN GOD'S SIGHT* *1. 15:1-2 SINNERS: DISDAINED BY PHARISEES. ? Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near to him to hear him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying that, This man receives sinners, and eats with them.? *When the Kingdom of God is presented with demonstration and power, it brings forth questioning, controversy and persecution. This Father, is because of the fallen nature of man, and because some are tares! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 17:7 (15:3-7) SINNERS: LIKE LOST SHEEP. ?I say unto you, that thus morejoy shall be in :heaven over one repenting sinner, than over ninety-nine righteous, who need no repentance.? *We see from heaven's vantage point how angels and saints look upon the repentance and return of lost sinners. Father, this glorifies You, and fits into *Your* pattern! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 15:10 (15:8-10) SINNERS: LIKE A LOST COIN. ?Thus, I say unto you, thereis joy before the angels of :God over one repenting sinner.? *We realize the value of a coin, and when it is lost, we appreciate greatly its restoration. Angels feel the same about a repenting sinner. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 15:11-12 (15:11-16) PRODIGAL: WASTED HIS OPPORTUNITY. ?And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 and the younger of them said to the father, Father, give me the portion of the substance that falls to me. And he divided for them his :living.? *Many individuals and movements commercialize God's free gifts, even as did the prodigal son. O forgive us Father, that in our immaturity and selfishness, we fail to see the example of Jesus, and how He put stewardship and a servant spirit above Himself! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 15:18-19 (15:17-21) PRODIGAL: HIS REPENTANCE. ?I will arise and go to my :father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against :heaven, and in your sight: 19 I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired :servants.? *Father, may we learn like the Prodigal not to say first 'Give me,' but '*make me*'. May we not be tempted by the standards of the world, or of our own carnality! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 15:23b-24 (15:22-24) PRODIGAL: HIS FATHER'S ACCEPTANCE. ?and let us eat, and make merry: 24 for this my :son was dead, and is revived; was lost, and is found. And they began to make merry.? *This is *Your* heart, O great Jehovah Father. How we rejoice at Your response to our repentance! *And bring us not into temptation! * *7. 15:32 (15:25-32) PRODIGAL: HIS BROTHER'S REACTION. ?But it was fitting to make merry and be glad: because this your :brother was dead, and is alive; and was lost, and is found.? *The hardheartedness of this older brother does not stop *You* Father, from showing compassion upon Your prodigal sons. How we thank You for this. *But deliver us from the evil one! * *NOTE**: 15:3-4 (15:3-7) LOST SHEEP: HAVE THE FATHER'S ATTENTION! ?And he spoke unto them this :parable saying, **4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, leaves not the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the lost, until he find it?? *This is the natural reaction of the shepherd; but how much more is it Your reaction for Your people Father, in reaching out to the lost and wandering! It is good to *continually* have before us the compassionate heart of our heavenly Father! *This* was a reason for the great success of Moody and Sankey in touching the hearts of multitudes in their world-wide meetings. Sankey had a little portable organ that he led worship from, and accompanied himself when he sang specials. When they were in the Aberdeen area of Scotland on one occasion, Sankey happened to spot in a paper the words of ?The Ninety and Nine.? They gripped him, and he immediately set them to music. That very day he sang it to an outdoor crowd of tens of thousands of people. It deeply stirred the audience, and brought many of them to tears. Countless numbers came to Christ through such meetings - and many were returned to a close walk with the Lord. George Muller of Bristol, England was deeply stirred by the multitudes who were awakened to the reality of the Kingdom of God through these meetings by D.L. Moody and Sankey of America. But he was at the same time disturbed that there was not follow-up to disciple and preserve these initial decisions. For 17 years starting at the age of 70, Mr. Muller traveled 200,000 miles to 42 different countries, establishing believers in foundation truths of the Kingdom of God, which he had demonstrated in his various missionary agencies - especially that of 10,000 orphans! Many of these meetings were follow-up on Moody and Sankey. He would often spend 4-6 weeks in a city where the Americans had spent but a few days. We need to remember that in the Great Commission, Jesus did not command us to make ?converts? - but *disciples*! ?Born to Reproduce? by Dawson Trotman - founder of ?The Navigators? - was another illustration of discovering the importance of immediately ?discipling? all converts - until they in turn were enabled to win and * disciple* converts - even down to the *20th Generation*! J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Oct 14 16:31:01 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:31:01 -0700 Subject: "Study" - OC Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 14, 2011 ?*STUDY? p. 404 - From ?DISCIPLES INDEED? - Oswald Chambers - 2011-10-14* *INTRODUCTION - Oswald Chambers' sermon class at the Bible Training College was a combination of lecture and practical experience. Since each student had to prepare and present a sermon before the other members of the class, no visitors were permitted. Oswald wanted everyone to be on an equal footing, as well as being sympathetic listeners, knowing their turn to speak was coming.* * Because of the give and take nature of the class, Oswald's lectures were short and practical. Rather than giving a detailed process to follow in sermon preparation, he sought to motivate students to think, study and prepare. He often stressed that the behavior and words of the person who preaches are inseparable.* * From the BTC Journal articles, Mrs. Chambers selected thoughts on twenty-one topics and published them as Disciples Indeed. There is a surprising amount of material that appears here and nowhere else in the books by Oswald Chambers.* *STUDY* Study to begin with can never be easy; the determination to form systematic mental habits is the only secret. Don't begin anything with reluctance. Beware of any cleverness that keeps you from working. No one is born a worker; men are born poets and artists, but we have to make ourselves ?laborers.? The discipline of our mind is the one domain God has put in our keeping. It is impossible to be of any use to God if we are lazy. God won't cure laziness; we have to cure it. More danger arises from physical laziness (which is call ?brain fag?) than from almost any other thing. Inspiration won't come irrespective of study, but only because of it. Don't trust to inspiration; use your own ?axe? (Psalm 74:5). Work! Think! Don't luxuriate on the mount! The demand for inspiration is the measure of our laziness. Do the things that don't come by inspiration. It is difficult to get yourself under control to do work you are not used to; the time spent seems wasted at first, but get at it again. The thing that hinders control is impulse. Your mind can never be under control unless you bring it there; there is no gift for control. You may pray till Doomsday, but your brain will never concentrate if you don't make it concentrate. In the most superficial matters put yourself under control, your own control. Be as scrupulously punctual in your private habits as you would be in a Government office. Don't insult God by telling Him He forgot to give you any brains when you were born. We all have brains; what we need is *work*. It is better for your mental life to study several subjects at once rather than one alone. What exhausts the brain is not using it, but abusing it by nervous waste in other directions. As a general rule, the brain can never do too much. You can never work by impulse; you can only work by steady, patient plod. It is the odd five minutes that tells. To learn a thing is different from thinking out a problem. The only way to learn a thing is to keep at it uninterruptedly, day after day, whether you feel like it or not; and you will wake up one morning and find the thing is learned. Beware of succumbing to failure as inevitable; make it the stepping-stone to success. In beginning to study a new subject, you do it by repeated starts until you get your mind into a certain channel; after that the subject becomes full of sustained interest. Beware of mental lounging. Whenever we see notebooks for study, or work of any kind waiting to be done, we either go into dreamland, or we gather everything around us in an enormously bustling style; but we never do good solid work. It is nothing in the world but a habit of nerves which we have to check, and take time to see that we do. *A subject has never truly gripped you until* *you are mentally out of breath with it.* We have no business to go on impulses spiritually; we have to form the mind ?which was also in Christ Jesus.? People say their impulses are their guide - ?I feel impelled to do this, or that;? - that may be sufficient indication that they should not do it. *Remember, there must always be a mechanical outlet* *for spiritual inspiration.* We infect our surroundings with our own personal character. If I make my study a place of stern industry, it will act as an inspiration every time I go into it; but if I am lazy there, the place will revenge itself on me. Note two things about your intelligence: first, when your intelligence feels numb, quit at once, and play or sleep; for the time being the brain must recuperate; second, when you feel a fidget of associated ideas, take yourself sternly in hand and say, ?You shall study, so it's no use whining.? Mental stodge is different. Mental stodge is the result of one of three forms of over-feeding - too much dinner, too much reading, or too much meetings. Irritation may be simply the result of not using your brain. Remember, the brain gets exhausted when it is not doing anything. Beware of saying, ?I haven't time to read the Bible, or to prayer?; say rather, ?I haven't disciplined myself to do these things.? Before any habit is formed you must put yourself under mechanical laws of obedience, and the higher the emotion started by the Spirit of God, the keener must be the determination to commit yourself. If we have no system of work we shall easily come to think we are working when we are only thinking of working; that we are busy when we are only engaged. *The more we talk about work, the less we work,* *and the same with prayer.* We must be willing to do in the spiritual domain what we have to do in the natural domain if we want to develop, viz., discipline ourselves. Vision is an inspiration to stand us in good stead in the drudgery of discipline; the temptation is to despise the discipline. *Enchain your body to habitual obedience.* Beware of being haunted by a suppressed dissatisfaction with the arrangements of your actual life - *get* the right program! The secret of slacking is just here. *NOTE**: *The insights of Oswald Chambers can be shocking. His students in the Bible Training College of London, England from 1911-1915 were often brought up short by sayings as above! They would catch him at meal-times to argue over these shocking statements! He would smile and say, ?Put it on a back burner; it will come clear after a while! As a boy in Scotland he showed little of the tremendous discipline that characterized his later years, starting about his 18th year in London. His biography by David McCasland, ?Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God? - is worth its weight in gold. It is the third biography written on this man, and is the most illuminating. For those of you who fit into his article on ?Study? - ?The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers? compiled by David McCasland will be a fitting life investment. On the ?Net? it can be often found for under $40.00 - 1492 pages of over 50 books, of which the one noted above is included. Oswald live 43 years, and died in 1917 as a Chaplain of the YMCA for British Forces in Egypt during World War II - of complications that arose from appendicitis. J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Oct 15 14:40:50 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:40:50 -0700 Subject: Luke 16:1-17:10 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 15, 2011 *MAR 8 - LUKE 16:1-17:10 - PARABLES: SNARE OF RICHES* *1. 16:8 (16:1-13) RICHES A HINDRANCE TO SERVING GOD. ?And the lord commended the steward of :unrighteousness for doing wisely: for the sons of this :age are for their :own :generation wiser than the sons of the light.? *We are to be as prudent and zealous in our service for You Father, as the steward in this parable for this age. We apply the principles of Your Kingdom to our daily lives. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 16:14. RICHES: DESIRED BY THE COVETOUS. ?And the Pharisees, being lovers of money, heard all these things; and scoffed at him.? *Why is it that the religiously scrupulous people are so worldly-minded concerning riches? Father, deliver us from greed! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 16:16 (16:15-18) RICHES: LIKE ADULTERY. ?The law and the prophets wereuntil John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of :God is preached, and every one enters violently into it.? *This Good News is like the pearl of great price, for which a man sold all that he had to possess it. It is like the treasure hid in a field. These things come to us when we put Your Kingdom first. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 16:31 (16:19-31) RICHES: CONTRASTED WITH LAZARUS. ?And he [Abraham] said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.? *Father, forgive us that we so often place more importance upon signs and wonders - than upon Your written word. O may we feed on Your Word, until we are saturated and soaked in it, until it drops from our head to our heart, and until we know that man does *not*live by bread alone, but by *every* word that proceeds out of the mouth of God! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 17:3 (17:1-4) OFFENCES: CANCELLED BY FORGIVENESS. ?Take heed to yourselves: if your :brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.? *We *are* our brother's keeper, Father; You in *Jesus* have made us so. Yet it is redemptive in Your sight, leading to repentance and restoration. May we always deal with one another in Kingdom spirit, careful lest we fall in similar manner. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 17:5-6 LITTLE FAITH: GROWS BY USE. ?And the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you would say to this :sycamine tree, Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea; and it would obey you.? *It takes the obedience of faith to both confront and forgive. The attitude of continual forgivness is the victory, which grows out of unconditional love. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 17:10 (17:7-10) HUMILITY: MAKES SERVICE ACCEPTABLE. ?So you also, when you shall have done all the things commanded you, say [that], We are unprofitable bondmen; we have done what was our duty to do.? *Father, help us to *ever* maintain this attitude. We can add nothing to Your Atoning work that grants merit to us; nor do our good works add to our importance. We acknowledge Your right alone in this. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 16:13 (16:1-13) RICHES VERSUS GOD. ?No domestic can serve two lords: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.? *We see the analogy Jesus is making here, Father. We submit to His application. For many, this is an objectionable insight. It causes scoffing today, just as it did among the Pharisees of Jesus' day. And our day is so oriented to making money and riches, especially in America! And Jesus makes clear that riches in themselves are not evil - it is the *love* of money that is our enemy. There are and always have been those that have made their wealth a blessing to God and His Kingdom. It is that subtle shift into a *love* of this wealth - that becomes such an enemy to us. It is the entire 16th chapter of Luke that majors on this insidious danger. Luke 17:1-10 strikes out in a different direction. Here our Lord sets before us our need to forsake the bad spirit of Cain - and to become our brother's keeper! When our brother sins, we *are* responsible to rebuke him. It is parallel to disciplining our children, which to the liberal mind is so unpleasant. But from God's point of view, both these areas are necessary. We are responsible and guilty if we fail here - for God chastises *every* son He receives! He sets us the *correct* example! And Jesus shows how little faith - when exercised - grows into greater faith. Start out with what you have! Bloom where you are planted! Increase comes when we accept what we have - and *use* it! And lastly in this section - we are to understand that *all* we have is a gift from God - both natural and spiritual. When we effectively make use of all of our gifts - this for us is *not* for our glory or credit. We are merely exercising the talents given to us by God, and to give back to Him all the glory! God says through Isaiah - ?*My Glory* I will *not* give to another!? Holy Ann learned this through trying to reward a chicken that merely obeyed God! Let us then make sure that whatever success God gives us in the exercise of *His* gifts - *all* the credit in this - and all the glory - *must* be returned to Him! And our Psalm for the day: *68:18 (68:1-36) GOD SHALL SCATTER HIS ENEMIES. ?You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.? *How this ascribes praise unto You, O great Jehovah Father! In Christ You have blessed man with gifts, and given him dominion. You have made him Your habitation! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Oct 17 15:16:48 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:16:48 -0700 Subject: Torah Observant? Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 10, 2011 *TORAH OBSERVANT: A DECEPTION? - 2011-10-17* *Andrew Strom's Note: Below is an excellent study of this subject by Jim Pruitt. We already discussed the dangers of the 'Hebrew Roots' movement some time ago. I truly don't mind people calling Jesus ?Yeshua? - unless they want to force us all to do it. Paul certainly wrote in Greek, and ?Iesous? (or 'Jesus') was the word he used. But Yeshua is fine too. However I certainly DO mind when people start telling Gentile Christians to become ?Torah Observant? - back under the Old Law. This is deadly deception in my view - directly opposed to the New Testament. But this movement has been growing and we need to be aware of what the Bible clearly teaches on this subject. Jim Pruitt's study below will help us to that.* *The ISIDIOUS NATURE of FALSE DOCTRINE by Jim Pruitt* Three issues have popped up in other areas within the public arena and it is important to address them before they become defacto doctrine. In the first century some of the Jewish Christians sought to impose these behaviors on Gentile Christians and they were addressed in several places in the New Testament (most notably in Acts 15). They are the doctrinal view that all Christians should worship on Saturday (as opposed to Sunday), should abstain from non-kosher foods, and that the Jewish holidays and festivals should still be observed. Adherence to these behaviors were explicitly commanded by God of the Hebrews in the Old Testament and most were found from the book of Leviticus. However, when Christ came He fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17-20) and ?things which were a mere shadow of what was to come? were no longer applicable. Here are verses which specifically address the Sabbath and Jewish holidays and festivals: Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day - things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Romans 14:15 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. John 9:16 Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, ?This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.? But others were saying, ?How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?? And there was a division among them. Mark 2:27 Jesus said to them, ?The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.? If you read these verses without preconception (i.e., without a doctrine that you're trying to rationalize), then their meaning is perfectly clear and self-explanatory. It's wrong to consider someone as sinning because they don't keep the Old Testament definition of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is made for man. If you want to consider every day holy then that's fine. If you want to pick one day or a series of days as above others to worship God, then that's fine, too. You won't find any verses in the New Testament which contradicts this Here are verses which specifically address food (in addition to Colossians 2:16, 17): Mark 7:18-20 And He said to them, ?Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?? (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, ?That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.? 1 Timothy 4:3-5 Men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. Romans 14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself ... Colossians 2:20-23 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, ?Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!? (which all refer to things destined to perish with use) - in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. 1 Corinthians 8:8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. Again, These verses are self-explanatory and you will find nothing in the New Testament which offers any contradictory stance concerning food. Jesus declared all foods clean. The dietary restriction delineated in Leviticus no longer apply. *How Is It That You Compel the Gentiles To Live Like Jews? *In Acts 15, Jewish Christians tried to get the Gentiles to follow their traditions. However, after a heated discussion between those who advocated having them observe Jewish customs and the Apostles (including Paul), they only advised them to keep a minimal set of rules. There was no mention of having them observe the Sabbath, restricting their diet to kosher foods, or observing Jewish holidays. In addition, in all of Paul's epistles to the Gentiles, there is no mention of it. In fact, I can find no indication in the New Testament or in historical records of the early church of any time where Christian Gentiles were instructed to do so. It is not mentioned much less commanded in the New Testament; why is it important for us to re institute in now? Looking at these three issues brings to mind Galatians 2 where some Jews had secretly infiltrated the Gentile Christians in order to ?spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.? When Paul met with the Apostles, Peter began to refuse to sit or speak with the Gentiles (which he would normally and which was against Jewish tradition) because he was trying to keep from offending the Jewish Christians who were present. But Paul wouldn't let it slide: Galatians 2:13-16 The rest of Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, ?If you being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews. We who are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.? I find no evidence in the New Testament or in the early church histories where Gentile Christians worshiped on Saturday, ate only kosher foods, or observed Jewish holidays. Scripture clearly indicates that these subjects are a matter of personal choice and that we are not to allow anyone to try and bring us into bondage by saying that God's Word says otherwise. *Causing A Brother To Stumble. *However, there is clear guidance concerning not offending someone by what you eat or by what days you worship in Romans 14: Romans 14:2-4 One persona has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:5-6 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. Romans 14:14-17 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what is for a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:20-23 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin. *Personal Choice versus Doctrine. * How should we interpret Romans 14 in light of the other scriptures we find in the New Testament concerning food? Should we allow doctrines such as we are discussing to be taught and promoted without challenging them? If so, where does the deviation from sound doctrine end? Hasn't history taught us that error uncorrected only increases in magnitude over time? I think the key is the phrase ?one person.? Romans 14 is talking about how to interact with a Christian brother who has made a personal choice concerning diet or observance of one day over another. If someone chooses to eat only vegetables or restrict their diet in some other way because they believe it is better for them, or they feel God leading them to do so for a time, or any other personal reason, then we should respect that. To try and get them to eat something which they don't want to (for whatever reason) would be to try and cause your brother to stumble or sin because they would be doing something that they believe is wrong. The same goes for religious observances on a certain day. If they feel God leading them to pray, or study the Bible, or worship on a certain day or days, then we should respect that. However, it is entirely another matter when someone begins to teach their fellow brethren that God has commanded these behaviors, and to do otherwise is to disobey God. It then is no longer a matter of respecting personal choice, but a matter of legalism and the ?leaven of the Pharisees? creeping in to restrict our liberty in Christ and begin to put us back into the bondage of the law. Although its initial effects may be innocuous, such thinking inevitably leads to further restrictions until at last we find ourselves back trying to earn God's favor through works. *All Things To All Men. *One reason put forth as justification for such restrictions is that our liberty gives offense to Jews and Muslims who still adhere to these sorts of doctrines. Granted, it is entirely scriptural to avoid giving offense to those of another culture or religion where it is possible without disobeying God when trying to minister to that group: 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being with the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. But to say that such restrictions are to be observed at all times as a way of life in order to avoid offending anyone is to misrepresent the meaning of the passage. Paul himself didn't live like a Jew except when he was trying to reach Jews. Paul didn't stay ?weak? in order to avoid offending those who were weak but only when he was trying to reach them. *What Does Christ-Like Mean? *Another rationalization given for these doctrines is that they make you more ?Christ-like? since these were behaviors that we believe Jesus observed since he was, after all, Jewish. However, if that is the reason for doing these things then where does it end? There are many rituals and customs which were commanded by God in the Old Testament and which were observed by the Jews of Jesus' time. Are we now to say that God commands all Christians to observe the following: Christians are to be considered unclean and untouchable for period of time after having had contact with a dead non-kosher animal (for instance, touching bacon), during menstruation, after giving birth, and after a seminal emission (Leviticus 1l, 12 and 15). * Women can't wear men's clothing and vice-versa (Deuteronomy 11:5) * It is forbidden to wear a garment where wool and linen are mixed (Deuteronomy 22:11) * You can't eat the fruit of a tree for the first three years after you plant it (Leviticus 19:23) * Anyone who works on the Sabbath shall be put to death (Exodus 35:2) * Anyone who curses their mother or father, commits adultery, or has sexual relations with someone in their immediate family or of the same sex shall be put to death (Leviticus 20:9-13) * If you're in full time ministry, then you can't shave your head or trim your beard (Leviticus 21:5) * If you have a garden or are a farmer, then every seventh year you are forbidden from sowing any seed, gathering any crops, or weeding and trimming (Leviticus 25:4-5) These are just a handful of the restrictions found. If the commandments concerning observing the Sabbath only on a certain day, eating only kosher foods, and observing Jewish festivals are still in effect then it stands to reason that all the others are also still in effect. Isn't it hypocrisy to pick out one or two and choose to just obey them? Isn't that part of the ?leaven of the Pharisees? that Jesus spoke against? There are many aspects of Jesus' life which differs from most people today. Unlike Jesus, most of us drive when going long distances, have homes and mortgages, bathe daily, and use deodorant. It is obvious to even a casual student of the Bible that trying to be ?Christ-like? means to emulate His character and not his cultural customs. *The Appearance of Wisdom. *There is something in our ?old self? (Colossians 3:9) which longs for religious ritual and self-abasement. It has to do with the same reason that Christ and salvation by grace is a stumbling block to those of other religions and non-Christians. We have trouble accepting the fact that there isn't something which we can do to earn our own salvation. If we can do things to show how pious we are, then we can feel better about ourselves. It's all part of a ?works? mentality (Ephesians 2:8-9) and helps to feed the most common of sins ... pride. The pride we take in how devout we are is something which all the other religions of the world can relate to. Those who sincerely seek to follow those religions must by nature focus on discipline and what they can outwardly achieve. When your spiritual future is entirely up to what you can accomplish by the force of your own will then you can count on many tasks and rituals being required so that you have a means of measuring your success. Again, this is one of the reasons that followers of other religions hold much of Christianity in such contempt, because we insist that we are saved by grace alone and that there is nothing we can do to merit it. Within Christianity, the concept of being saved by grace alone often causes people to stumble into extremes at both ends of the spectrum. On the one hand you find those who believe they have their ?fire insurance? so they can pretty much do what they feel is right (often phrased as ?being led by the Spirit? in order to make it sound spiritual). On the other hand, there are those who set out to offset that very perception and go right past sanctification and wind up in the same techniques used by other religions to curry God's favor. Of course, we should be led by the Spirit; but the Holy Spirit will never lead you to ignore the Word of God. And we should seek sanctification as we continue in the process of repentance and maturity, but that doesn't mean seeking to revive restrictions from the Old Testament which the New Testament has removed. Doing so may have the ?appearance of wisdom? (Colossians 2:23), but is actually just a step towards putting yourself back into the bondage of the Law. *Conclusion. *There appears to be a wider (and more bizarre) variety of false doctrines among Pentecostals and Charismatics (which I consider myself a member of). I think the reason for this is that we have swung more towards the experiential in our efforts to know God, and have begun to neglect the Word of God. The Word of God should be our standard against which we measure any experience or compulsion which we believe is from the Spirit. If we did so, then many of these aberrations could be avoided. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone into the world. In summary, we need to respect the personal choices of our fellow Christians even if we find no Biblical basis for them as long as they do not actually conflict with God's Word. However, when false doctrines begin to be taught which go beyond personal choice and declare that God has commanded something which His Word contradicts, then we need to address it before it multiplies and mutates. Satan (although better known for his tactical methods eliciting immediate gratification) has been around for thousands of years and acts strategically as well. He can take the long view to achieve his means and, failing to get us to abandon our faith outright, he will use methods both subtle and gross in an attempt to bend our passion for God. Remember brothers, that each bizarre doctrine, sect, and denomination which is in the world today started but with a single man. Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. Galatians 5:1-4 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if your receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Romans 7:6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. *NOTE**: * In 1 Corinthians 9:1-27 Paul is revealing most clearly his position as Apostle to the Nations - we Gentiles. He became like us - to win us - just as our Lord Jesus became man that as Son of God He could become Savior of the human race - the lost seed of Adam - both Jews and Greeks. Marie and I have attended a Messianic Jewish Congregation since 1990. When I noted that our Jewish leaders were treating us as Gentile believers - as 2 nd class citizens - and not giving us the right to vote - I challenged such leaders, but received a silent response. In the light of Paul's teaching of the *Mystery* of the One New Man of Ephesians 2:11-22; 3:1-13 - that * Gentiles* are equal fellow-heirs with Jews in this unfolding mystery, such needs to be challenged. Then when we read Acts 15 and the Book of Galatians, we realize that legalizing Torah Observance is entirely contrary to the New Testament Gospel and Covenant. I wrote the above Note early in 2008, and give it now as an appendage to this article by Jim Pruitt, forwarded by Andrew Strom of New Zealand. To read my full note - open our Website **, click on ?Interlinear? - and scroll down to 1 Corinthians 9:1-27 and the Note at its close. As many of you are aware - I have as a motto: ?Let God say what *He* wants to say - and let the Bible mean what *it* want to mean.? So I believe the above article ought to be read. *Jesus* and His New Covenant takes precedence over Moses' Old Covenant word. The latter is a *shadow* or *type*, and must be interpreted in the light of the New. When Peter and Barnabas were led astray in this area - it should not be surprising that we still have modern Judaizers leading congregations of the ?One New Man? astray. And Jesus said that when such Judaizers make converts from Gentiles, they often become twice the sons of Gehenna as their Judaizing mentors. It is important to note that today *not even Jews* can be fully Torah Observant since the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. Of the 613 commandments to observe in the Torah, 200 can no longer be observed since the Temple Destruction. So how can Jews and Gentile converts to this, require Gentiles to be Torah Observant, when not even Jews can now do so? In the light of this, the article by Jim Pruitt becomes yet more relevant. From 1998-2007 I led as a rabbinical pastor Congregation Beth Chesed in Tacoma. It was clear to my wife and myself that many of our people had a strong penchant to lay a legalistic burden upon us to come under the bondage of becoming Torah Observant. We stood against this - and because of our past experience feel we have the right to add this note to the above article, and with Jim Pruitt add our warning also. J.A.Watt * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Oct 18 11:08:39 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:08:39 -0700 Subject: Luke 17:11-19:48 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 18, 2011 *MAR 9 - LUKE 17:11-19:48 - SUNDAY: TRIUMPHAL ENTRY* *1. 17:17-19 (17:11-19) JESUS: TEACHES THANKSGIVING. ?And :Jesus answered, and said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 Were none found that returned to give glory to :God, save this alien? 19 And he said to him, Arise and go: your :faith has made you whole.? *Faith is the key to release the healing power of God. Thanksgiving for what You do for us gladdens Your heart, Father! O let us always have grateful hearts! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 17:20-21 (17:20-37) JESUS' INWARD NATURE OF KINGDOM. ?And asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of :God comes, he answered them and said, The kingdom of :God comes not with observation: 21 neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of :God is among you.? *There is a *now * Kingdom of manifesting Your Son through us, Father! At His Coming it will be manifested openly in all the earth! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 18:6-8a (18:1-14) JESUS: NATURE OF PRAYER. ?And the Lord said, Hear what the judge of :unrighteousness said. 7 And shall not :God avenge his :elect, that cry to him day and night, and he long suffering over them? 8a I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily.? *Importunity is shameless faith! As little children Father, we shamelessly come and call on You! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 18:29-30 (18:15-34) JESUS: ENTERING THE KINGDOM. ?And he [Jesus] said to them, Amen I say unto you that there is none that has left house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of :God's sake, 30 who shall not receive manifold more in this :season, and the age to :come eternal life.? *Father, we would deny ourselves and take up our cross daily, that Christ might reign *supremely* in us today! Forgive us, Sovereign Lord, that we so often hold back some part of ourselves from You! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 18:42-43 (18:35-43) JESUS: RELATION OF FAITH AND HEALING. ?And :Jesus said to him, Look up: your :faith has made you whole. 43 And immediately he looked up, and followed him, glorifying :God: and all the people seeing itgave praise to :God.? *The ?obedience of faith? is the Key to release Your healing through Jesus, Father! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 19:9-10 (19:1-10) JESUS: TEACHES THROUGH ZACHAEUS. ?And :Jesus said unto him [that], today is salvation come to this :house, inasmuch as he also is Abraham's son. 10 For the Son of :man came to seek and to save what is lost.? *Not the self-righteous, but the *lost*, You seek O Father. You also seek worshipers. For Your sake, we seek what *You* seek! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 19:26 (19:11-28) JESUS: DELAY OF THE KINGDOM. ?I say unto you, that to every one that has shall be given, but from him that has not, even what he has shall be taken away.? *We see the long time lapse Father, between Your invisible Kingdom *now* within us, and its open manifestation at Christ's coming. Both aspects are important. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 19:39b-40 (19:29-48) JESUS: TRIUMPHAL ENTRY. ?Teacher, rebuke your :disciples. **40 And he answered and said, I tell you if these shall be silent, the stones will cry out.? *Jesus wept over the unbelieving city, Father. Give us tears for *our* cities, and prayers for *Your* city churches, that they be *salt* and *light*. The Scriptures are *so rich*, and have *so many nuggets*, that it is difficult at times to fix on what to emphathize! Just look at the above selected portions. Each one could receive complete emphasis. But the last week of Jesus on earth in His humanity commences with this day - Palm Sunday. Between one fifth and one third of the 4 Gospels major on this last week of Jesus - starting with this day. By quantity of space, God shows us what is important in *His* sight! He and the Eternal Word, Jesus in His pre-incarnate state - planned His coming to earth in human form to redeem Adam's lost race through his sin of disobedience. He allowed Satan to give him that subversive nature - that has infected every member of the human race ever since. *But* - as by *one man* sin entered the world - by *one man*, the *second Adam*, at Calvary, the penalty of the first disobedience was paid for. - *?It is finished!?* Satan's stratagem has been broken over the human race. All who believe and receive Jesus as their Atonement, also receive a *new heritage*, the nature of the Son of God - the Holy Spirit - and though redemption is not complete till the resurrection at Christ's return - *yet*- the ?arB *O*na? the ?d*o*-reA? - the third part of the ?Peter Package? (Acts 2:38) - allows us to be ?overcomers? *now*, even though *not yet* sinlessly perfect. And the last week of this mighty victory of our Christ - commences with this day! Palm Sunday. And we must *not forget* that like Jeremiah was chosen for this prior to his conception (Jeremiah 1:5), and before the apostle Paul was separated from his mother's womb (Galatians 1:15-16) - so the Lord *called* him - and just so - because God is no respecter of persons - from eternity past He has foreknown each one of us - who He has effectively called into His Kingdom! George Muller of the Bristol Orphanage of England - at first called this a devilish doctrine. Then being challenged to see what *God* said concerning it - verse by verse and word by word he searched out this doctrine in the New Testament. To his great surprise and chagrin, for every 5 verses on this subject, 4 out of the 5 clearly confirmed for each of us what also happened to Jeremiah and Paul! And once Mr. Muller was convinced of God's thinking on this, he learned that with study and meditation, the other one out of five really said the same thing. George Muller was proficient in Greek and Hebrew, as well as German, and French. The last 10 years of his life he read the Bible on his knees 4 to 5 times a year! He has had 50,000 distinct answers to prayer to meet the needs of 10,000 orphans, plus 180 missionaries a year, plus some 4 other challenging projects - totaling over $8 million - all before 1900! On the teaching of the Second Coming of Christ as the Blessed Hope - he *also* was forced to change his mind in the light of careful and prayerful Bible study and meditation. His book ?Answers to Prayer? - a Moody Colportage edition, was placed in my hands in 1944 - the year God revealed Himself to me. I have made Mr. Muller one of my chief 3 mentors. All 3 put God and His Word supreme in their lives. I do too. I encourage each of you as readers - let God and His Word be the touchstone in solving *all* problems and controversies. It is interesting to note that George Muller in the 1800's held exactly the same view on ?Torah Observance? as I sent out yesterday. Our Psalm for the day - 69:8-9 (69:1-36) *JESUS: ASSUMED THE REPROACHES OF HIS FATHER! ?I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. 9 For zeal of your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.? *Father, Your Son our Lord Jesus, perfectly identified Himself with You and with us. We marvel at His humility and condescension! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Oct 19 13:58:00 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:58:00 -0700 Subject: Luke 20-21 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 19, 2011 *MAR 10 - LUKE 20-21 - MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY* *1. 20:25-26 (20:1-26) JESUS: CONFUTES HIS ENEMIES. ?And he [Jesus] said unto them, Then render to Caesar Caesar's things: and to :God, :God's. 26And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people: and they marveled at his :answer, and were silent.? *Here is the *wisdom* and * power* of Your Kingdom in Jesus, Father! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 20:37-38 (20:27-44) JESUS: SILENCES HIS ENEMIES. ?But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the Bush passage, when he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and God of Isaac, and God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living: for all live to him.? *From now on there is nothing Jesus' enemies can do to Him apart from His destruction. May we too risk martyrdom if need be. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 20:46-47 (20:45-47) JESUS: WARNS AGAINST THE SCRIBES. ?Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in robes, and love salutations in the markets, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at the feasts; 47 who devour the houses of the widows, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation.? *Let us, Father, speak as Your Son Jesus! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 21:3-4 (21:1-4) JESUS: SPIRIT OF STEWARDSHIP. ?And he said, I tell you truly that this :poor :widow cast in more than they all: 4 for all these did of their :superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but SHE of her :want cast in all the living that she had.? *This is an *important* revelation! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 21:8 (21:5-9) JESUS FORETELLS DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE. ?And he said, See you be not led astray: for many shall come in my :name, saying, I am he; and, The season is near; go you not after them.? *Father, deliver us from deception, delusion and seduction! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 21:32-33 (21:10-36) JESUS: SIGNS OF THE END. ?Amen I say unto you that this :race shall not pass away, till all be accomplished. 33 The heaven and the earth shall pass away: but my :words shall not pass away.? *See the two generations in this passage: one for the Kingdom within; one for the Kingdom fully manifested. Help us Father to rightly divide the Word of Truth! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 21:37-38 JESUS: ENDS THURSDAY. ?And every :day he was teaching in the temple; and every :night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet. 38 And the whole people came early in the morning unto him in the temple, to hear him.? *Father, we would be close to Jesus, as were His disciples each night. His *passion* is about to begin! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 21:14-15 (21:10-36) JESUS PROMISES TIMELY WISDOM! ?Settle **ittherefore in your :hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer: 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your :adversaries shall not be able to withstand or gainsay.? *Can we trust You this way, Lord Jesus? Indeed we can! Father, we glorify Your Son by trusting Him for *Your* words through Him in time of testing! This is the heart of the last week of Jesus' ministry on earth. God His Father, as the Master Chess-player - has everything arranged for the death of His Son, so that Reconciliation through Redemption might be made between Adam's fallen race and our great Triune God! Jesus' teaching becomes increasingly pointed against the Scribes and Pharisees throughout His three year ministry - but reaches its *climax*during this last week. Though Satan used them to accomplish the Redemptive Crucifixion of God's only begotten Son - yet it is *no merit* to them for their perfidy. The selected verses above from the 7 passages, clearly show what God wants us to read and understand. Will we truly comprehend these wonderful lessons - and the nuggets of truth - and the daily challenge of praying the Lord's prayer? And really, this is the ?disciples' prayer? - the true Lord's Prayer is John 17. The disciples asked Jesus - ?Would You teach *us* to pray, the way John the Baptist taught *his* disciples to pray?? - So Matthew 6:5-15 is really what should be centered in its 7-fold content in each prayer we pray - especially the first 3 requests. And we need to remember - this is *not*optional. For Jesus said in the imperative mood as a command, ?After *this* manner *pray*! And then 6 of the 7 requests are *also* in the imperative mood, making them *double* commands. It is for this reason I put these 7 requests in *each* of the 366 ?Through the Bible in a Year? daily readings! I follow this myself! and since it pleases God, may it be an equal blessing for each one of us! And now our Psalm for the day - *70:5 (70:5) O LORD, DO NOT DELAY! ?But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God, You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!? *Father, we call the things that are not as though they were! In *You* we see it already done. In the present we have unfulfilment and tribulation; but in *You* we shall *yet* triumph gloriously! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Oct 20 12:22:38 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:22:38 -0700 Subject: Luke 22:1-23:56a Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 20, 2011 *MAR 11 - LUKE 22:1-23:56a - FRIDAY: TRIAL & CRUCIFIXION* *1. 22:3-4 (22:1-6) JESUS: HIS BETRAYAL PLANNED. ?And Satan entered into Judas, the one called Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4 And he went away, and conversed with the chief priests and captains, :how he might deliver him to them.? *Satan was created by You Father, as Your servant! You created the waster to destroy! But as in the days of Job, *he can go no further* than You permit, yet *always* furthers Your purposes (Romans 8:28)! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 22:20 (22:7-38) JESUS: HIS LAST SUPPER. ?And the cup in like manner after :supper, saying, This :cup is the new covenant in my :blood, :shed for you.? *Atonement of Jesus cannot be understood in fullness apart form * Passover* and its fulfillment in Jesus in the Lord's supper. Father, we bless you for *Jesus our Passover* (1 Corinthians 5:7). We identify with Him completely (Romans 5:5-7). *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 22:41-42 (22:39-53) JESUS: AGONY AND BETRAYAL. ?'And HE was parted from them about a stone's throw; and he knelt and prayed, 42 saying, Father, if you will, remove this :cup from me: nevertheless not my :will, but :yours, be done.? *Father, our heart is broken when we see what Jesus had to endure to effect reconciliation between us and You. We are humbled and chastened. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 22:61-62 (22:54-65) JESUS: DENIED BY PETER. ?And the Lord turned, and looked upon :Peter. And :Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said to him [that], Before the cock crow this day you shall deny me thrice. 62 And going [out] outside he wept bitterly.? *Peter presumptuously thought he could stand, apart from watching and praying. O forgive us Father, for * our* presumption! *Only** *in the *exchanged life* can we stand (Galatians 2:20). *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 23:22-23 (22:66-23:25) JESUS: DELIVERED TO PILATE. ?And he said unto them a third time, Why, what evil has this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise and release him. 23 But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he be crucified. And their :voices prevailed.? *What a miscarriage of justice! But we too reject Your Son Jesus, Father, when we have areas of our life we refuse Him the right to reign over! O be with us in our temptation of judging others in the very area that we also transgress! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 23:34 (23:26-49) JESUS: HIS CRUCIFIXION. ?And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his :garments among them, they cast a lot.? *Father, we thank You for this request of Jesus, for we sense that we too are included. Show us by Your Spirit that no good thing dwells in our flesh. We need this spirit of humility on our part! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 23:55-56a (23:50-56a) JESUS: HIS BURIAL. ?And the women, who had come with him out of :Galilee, followed after and beheld the tomb, and how his :body was laid. 56a And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.? *Thank God this was *not* the end! Father, You raised Your Son Jesus on the third day! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 22:28-30 (22:7-38) JESUS: FORETELLS HIS KINGDOM! ?But YOU are they that have continued with me in my :trials; **29 and I appoint unto you, even as my :father appointed unto me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my :table in my :kingdom and shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of :Israel.? *Israel will be grafted back (Romans 11:13-36). Could the 24 elders of Revelation be here? What does the Spirit share with us as we read the above passage? Is it about Judas, and the prophetic part of the Psalms that foretell what this man did? And the judgment pronounced upon him? Or does He make more real to us what our Savior went through in accomplishing plenteous redemption for us? And how Mel Gibson majored on His physical suffering, but missed the horrendous soul travail through which He endured unto death? And what of Pilate - who *three times* testified that he found *no evil* in this Man? And the horrendous miscarriage of justice that took place on the part of the Jewish leaders - the Jewish people - and the Roman governor? Oswald Chambers exhorts us to enter into travail and agony of soul on Jesus behalf. Some are offended at such exhortation. But true repentance enables us to more fully understand the extraordinary cost Jesus endured to accomplish Reconciliation through Redemption for us of Adam's race. We honor our Father for us to understand a little more the cost of this by His Son. God *does* want us to understand that Jesus appreciated those who continued with Him in His temptation! He indeed wanted His 3 close disciples to watch with Him for that last hour in the Garden of Gethsemane. And now our Psalm for the day - *71:16-17 (71:1-24) FORSAKE ME NOT WHEN MY STRENGTH IS SPENT. ?With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. 17 O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.? *This is the way Your Son Jesus walked toward Calvary, Father! You *delivered* Him from * all* His enemies. Satan became a squatter indeed after this hour! *It was finished*! J.A.Watt * * * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Oct 21 09:31:34 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:31:34 -0700 Subject: The Bible - Oswald Chambers Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 21, 2011 *?THE BIBLE?** 2011.10.21* *(From: ?Disciples Indeed? by Oswald Chambers)* ?The Word? is Jesus Himself (John 1:1); therefore we must have an experimental knowledge of Him before we understand the literal words of the Bible. The danger today is that people are being nourished not with the Bible so much as with conceptions which ignore Jesus Christ. Bible facts are either revelation facts or nonsense. It depends on me which they are to me. God does not thunder His truth into our ears; our attitude of mind must be submissive to revelation facts. Each one of us bring certain prejudices, civilized pre-judgments, which greatly hinder our understanding of revelation facts. Our attitude to the Bible is a stupid one; we come to the Bible for proof of God?s existence, but the Bible has no meaning for us until we know that God does exist. The Bible states and affirms facts for the benefit of those who believe in God; those who don?t believe in God can tear it to bits if they choose. People can dispute the Bible as they like, but get a soul in whom the craving for God has come, and the words of the Bible create the new life in him. ??being born again,?by the word God? (1 Peter 1:23). If we understood what happens when we use the Word of God, we would use it oftener. The disablement of the devil?s power by means of the Word of God conveyed through the lips of a servant of His, is inconceivable. The main characteristic which is the proof of the indwelling Spirit is an amazing tenderness in personal dealing, and a blazing truthfulness with regard to God?s Word. There is no true illumination apart from the written Word. Spiritual impressions generated from my own experience are of no importance, and if I pay attention to them I will pay no attention to the words of Jesus. The test of God?s truth is that it fits you exactly; if it does not, question whether it is His truth. *BEWARE OF BARTERING THE WORD OF GOD FOR A * *MORE SUITABLE CONCEPTION OF YOUR OWN* Every impulse must wed itself to the express statements of the Bible; otherwise they will lead astray. The thing to ask yourself is, ?Does the Bible say it?? not, ?I don?t think that is a good view of God.? Profoundly speaking, it is not sufficient to say, ?Because God says it,? or, ?Because the Bible says it,? unless you are talking to people who know God and know the Bible to be His Word. If you appeal from the authority of God or of the Bible to a man not born again, he will pay no attention to you because he does not stand on the same platform. You have to find a provisional platform on which he can stand with you, and in the majority of cases you will find that the platform is that of moral worth. If Jesus Christ is proved Worthy on the plane men are on, they will be ready to put Him as the Most Worthy One, and all the rest will follow. Whenever human nature gets driven to the end of things the Bible is the only Book, and God the only Being, in the world. The reason some of us are not healthy spiritually is because we don?t use the Bible as the Word of God but only as a text-book. Beware of making a fetish of a word God once spoke to you; if you stick to the word God spoke you will leave Him, and the result is harshness and stagnation, a refusal to budge from the precedent you have established. Watch every time the Word of God is made a sacrament to you through someone else; it will make you re-tune your ears to His Word. There are saints who are being rattled out of holiness by fussy work for God; whereas one five minutes of brooding on God?s truth would do more good than all their work of fuss. *IT IS WHAT THE BIBLE IMPARTS TO US THAT IS OF VALUE* The Bible does not thrill; the Bible nourishes. Give time to the reading of the Bible and the recreating effect is as real as that of fresh air physically. If I have disobeyed, the Word of God is dried up; there is ?no open vision.? Immediately I obey the Word is poured in. To read the Bible according to God?s providential order in your circumstances is the only way to read it, viz., in the blood and passion of personal life. The statements of Scripture apart from the Holy Spirit?s illumination are dull; it needs no spiritual insight to regard Jesus Christ as a Man who lived beyond His time. But when I am born again I have insight into the Person of Jesus, an insight that comes through communion with God by means of the Bible. Beware of interpreting Scripture in order to make it suit a pre-arranged doctrine of your own. Exegesis is not torturing a text to agree with a theory of my own, but leading out its meaning. *BEWARE OF REASONING ABOUT GOD?S WORD ? OBEY IT!* An absurd thing to say is ? ?Give me a text to prove it.? You cannot give a text to prove any one of God?s revelations; you can only give a text to prove your simplification of those revelations. A text-proof is generally used to bolster up a personal spiritual affinity of my own. We are to be servants and handmaids of the Gospel, not devotees of the Bible. Then God can make us living mediums whereby His Word becomes a sacrament to others. *NOTE**: * ?Disciples Indeed? is available in ?The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers? ? through Alibris, Amazon, E-Bay and ?Christian Book Distributors? of Massachusetts ? *www.christianbook.com** * In 1945 I came across a book that confirmed to me how important it is to understand the nature of the Bible from God?s Viewpoint. He wants us to let the Bible mean what it wants to mean, and for God to say what He wants to say. For the first several years of my life as a believer, I gave this type of emphasis to God and His Word. Later as I did Greek research I discovered through E.W. Kenyon that God and His Word are one. John 1:1 states that Jesus and the Word (Logos) are one. Oswald Chambers in the above article makes this same point abundantly clear. This puts the complete ?kibosh? to the unbelief, rebellion and pride of Modernism or the New Theology. The Bible is NOT the book for unbelievers! It is God?s book for BELIEVERS. Chambers also exhorts us to ?brood on the tragedy of Calvary!? Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Oct 23 14:22:53 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:22:53 -0700 Subject: Proclamation over Cascadia - Elvin Gladney Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 23, 2011 *Proclamation of Elvin Gladney - 2008-02-22* *Over Seattle and Cascadia Region* *At the 60**th** Anniversary Celebration of the Latter Rain Revival* *Monday February 11**th**, 2008 at St. Luke?s, Seattle* I was born and raised here in Seattle. I?ve been watching a lot of changes in Seattle. I?ve always had a heart for the city. When you?ve been born and raised here and with a lot of new people, it has not been quite the same. Jim (Watt) was asked a question about the barriers and the blocks to the City Church (and it?s something that Jim & Marie have talked to me about)... something we?ve prayed about? wondered about? speculated? but tonight, if you?d stand with me? Seattle has a destiny. God chose that destiny? Seattle didn?t! Many five-fold leaders have come from other regions to speak to the destiny of Seattle? but it?s different when people that are here speak it? It?s OK for others to come in and say what they?re going to say but they don?t live here and eat here? sleep here? work here? go through the day to day things? whereas most of us here I believe are? But for those of you here tonight, if we will collectively unify corporately and make some declarations, I think things will happen? One of the first things I want to declare ? you see there has to be and there has begun already ? a fundamental shift in the foundation of churches. This is a very difficult task because what it means is that there has to be (according to Jim Watt, my papa, I call him) a willingness of the agendas of man to be laid down for the agenda of God. So Lord, we declare tonight over Seattle and the Pacific North West and the Cascadia Region (including Spokane, Vancouver, BC, Portland, Seattle/Tacoma, and Victoria, BC) that You are raising and have raised up a people who will embrace Your agenda and release their agenda to You. And Lord, we believe tonight as we declare this thing? we?re going to pray (like the man said) there?s a great mountain that needs to be conquered in Seattle. And so, Lord, like Caleb said, ?Give me this mountain!? Where the giants live? Lord, there are giant circumstances in the way of a city church but we?re going to declare tonight -- Lord, give us this mountain? our heritage and our destiny? our inheritance. The revival is tied to occupying the mountain? So Lord, tonight we declare over this place that the mountain shall be ours! Because it is not a work of man but a work of the living God? We make that declaration tonight! Lord, we also declare and we thank You even now that this very night has been a key to a transformation of the people who have been here. Lord, there were people who were here last night and people who are here tonight not just by circumstance but by divine appointment. Therefore, Lord, all of us are going to be catalysts? as intercessors? as prayer warriors?and as prophetic ministers to pray in what Your agenda is? until there is revelation, through worship, in every church that would bring Your Church together. So Lord, tonight we also declare a fundamental shift in worship all over the Cascadia Region. Angels would begin to fill every worship house. Your Spirit would fall on every worship leader. And the Holy Spirit would take full control. And where man?s plans have come to plan an event, they will be released to the plans of Heaven. Lord, we declare that tonight? that You would take over the meeting? You would take over Sunday morning? You would take over Sunday night? and that people would be enveloped with Your presence as the worship goes forth? And Lord, we also declare (as Marie also said it) revelation would come as the angels and the Holy Spirit descend on houses of worship all over this city? all over the North West? revelation would come (just like it did on Jim).You spoke those words to him? 64 years ago! Before it ever started to come to pass and You told him he would be part of something? Lord, You said to Seattle, ?You?re going to be part of something!? As a matter of fact, it was prophesied that the revival coming out of Seattle would get the world?s attention? and that we would be a prototype city for all the other port cities around the nation? Lord, we also declare this thing to be true! We?re going to take the prophetic words and we?re going to declare them and we?re going to pray them until they begin to come to pass! And so Lord, develop Your prototype! Use us, Lord! Start in us tonight! Transform us tonight! Give us revelation tonight! Let us be houses of worship? every one of us ? individually! Set us free! And Lord, in every church that?s represented here? we would go and we would be a catalyst in that church for change and reformation. We declare that tonight! Wherever we go? whatever body we belong to... as we worship You? You will honor it, Lord, and begin to come into that house? and You will bring revelation and understanding? and people will begin to move towards Your will, Your purposes, and Your agenda? and we thank You this very night for the shift? the shift? the shift? not only in the Heavens but in the natural? that we are about to see! And Lord, we declare Seattle a Jesus-City! We declare Seattle a Kingdom City! We declare Seattle will have a city presbytery. You have spoken it, Lord, and it shall come to pass! In Yeshua?s Name. In the Name of Jesus! Amen. *NOTE:* I have come to know Elvin Gladney in the last 20 years, and have recognized him as an apostolic prophet ? or a prophetic apostle. The word of the Lord is with him. I believe that he has been strategically placed in Seattle for this very special Last Days? time. Marie and I were slated to be in Minnesota at a special 60th Celebration of the 1948 February 11th Outpouring. Because of failure to obtain a suitable meeting place, this convention was cancelled. Father John Roddam of St. Luke?s Episcopal Church of Seattle immediately picked up the slack, and reconvened this celebration in their church. Last December he took leadership with Stuart Spani of North Vancouver, BC in producing ten 30 minute teaching sessions with Marie and me to document some of the high points of 1948 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. You can obtain this package of 3 DVD?s by turning to *Norlynn Audio Visual Services, 1858 Beaulynn Place, N. Vancouver, BC V7J 2T1* *www.reason-for-hope.com** ? *Click on Biography, and ?The Fire Continues ? Sixty Year Later? ? Jim and Marie Watt on the ?48 Revival. At the close of the two day celebration of the above anniversary, Father John felt led to have Elvin Gladney come forward. Elders present formed a Presbytery and ministered to Elvin with the laying on of hands and prophecy. Then Brother John asked him to prophetically make proclamations over Seattle and the Pacific North West. As he promised, he has now sent out a copy of these prophetic proclamations, which in a sense continue to bring to maturity what God embryonically initiated in a 12-fold manner 60 years ago. I do appreciate this fruit of Father John?s ministry, and sense that many of you our readers would appreciate the revelation and insight of these proclamations. Your friends ? Jim & Marie Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Oct 24 14:52:32 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:52:32 -0700 Subject: Luke 23:56b-24:53 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 24, 2011 *MAR 12 - LUKE 23:56b-24:53 - SUNDAY: THE RESURRECTION* *1. 24:6-7 (23:56b-24:11) JESUS' RESURRECTION: REPORTED TO WOMEN. ?He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spoke to you when he was yet in :Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of :man must be delivered up into sinful men's hands, and be crucified, and the third day rise again? (NNT). *What a message from the angels! What wonder, consternation and joy must have been in the minds of these women!* Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 24:12 JESUS' RESURRECTION: MISUNDERSTOOD BY PETER. ?But :Peter arose, and ran unto the tomb; and stooping over, he sees the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering at what was come to pass.? *Apart from divine understanding and revelation, we cannot see things from Your point of view, Father. Peter should have known because of the prophetic words of Jesus. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 24:25-27 (24:13-32) JESUS' RESURRECTION: REVEALED TO MR. & MRS. CLEOPAS. ?And HE said unto them, O foolish, and slow of :heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his :glory? 27 And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.? *Ah, here it is. In the breaking of the Bread, Father, Your Son Jesus was revealed to these two! Every time You give us our daily bread, may it be blessed to us with fresh revelation of You! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 24:34-35 (24:33-35) JESUS' RESURRECTION: CONFIRMED BY PETER & CLEOPAS. [They said that], ?The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon. 35And THEY rehearsed the happenings on the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread.? *O forgive us Father, for being so slow to believe all things concerning Your Son Jesus! We hear, and we do not believe. We see, and then slowly faith seeps in. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 24:39-40 (24:36-43) JESUS: REVEALS HIS RESURRECTION BODY! ?See my :hands and my :feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; because a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you behold me having. 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his :hands and :feet.? *When the invisible becomes visible; when heaven is manifested on earth; when Your Kingdom Father, becomes ?Now?; then let us be sensitive and understand what we hear and see! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 24:49 (24:44-49) JESUS: RELATES HIS RESURRECTION TO SCRIPTURES. ?And lo, I send forth the promise of my :Father upon you: but tarry YOU in the city, until you be clothed with power from on high.? *Here is the secret, Father: the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ! We are *not* living letters and witnesses apart from this experience. Only then are You able to take and use us! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 24:50-51 (24:50-53) JESUS: HIS ASCENSION. ?And he led them out until over against Bethany: and he lifted up his :hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he :blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into :heaven.? *This was not an idle gesture or symbol of blessing, but a reality (Habakkuk 3:4). Father, we bless You for the present reality of Your Kingdom. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 24:31-32 (24:13-32) JESUS: EFFECT OF RESURRECTED STATE ON CLEOPAS & FRIEND. ?And their :eyes were opened, and they knew him; and HE vanished out of their sight. **32 And they said one unto another, Was not our :heart burning, while he spoke to us in the way, as he opened to us the scriptures?? *Yes, Father! This ought to be our experience daily, whenever the Spirit of Christ takes the written word and transforms it into a living word of understanding! Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse was minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia in the 40's and 50's - and often President Charles W. Koller of Northern Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago would have him as guest speaker at our Chapel service. He usually made our 400 students either ?mad or glad!? Neutral we could not be! He was the one who said, ?If you have a plaque at home saying, 'Prayer Changes Things'; go home and turn it to the wall! Prayer *doesn't* change things! Prayer changes *you*!? He was also the one who said, ?Though the Scriptures only name Cleopas as one of the two leaving Jerusalem and joined by Jesus following His resurrection - it is quite reasonable to deduce his partner to be Mrs. Cleopas!? He did not say a ?Thus saith the Lord? for this; and neither do I - though it might possibly be! Next to Jesus being our Passover on Calvary - comes His Resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15 clearly states that Jesus would have died in vain had He not been resurrected - and our faith would be in vain! Jesus' Resurrection is therefore an integral part of His death! As a matter of fact, the early Christian greeting was not, ?Jesus died;? - but ?Jesus is Risen!? ?He is risen indeed!? Luke 24 not only includes these too critical events, but also Jesus' Ascension, with a promise of His soon gift of the Holy Spirit to replace Him! All these 4 events took place within a 50-day time-frame. As a matter of fact, in God's 7 Feasts of Leviticus 23 which He gave to Israel - Passover/Resurrection and Pentecost are integrally tied together in the 50-day counting of the Omer, saying that Passover and Resurrection are *not complete* until Pentecost! Acts 2:38 has been called ?The Peter Package? by one - again showing that until the Holy Spirit as a gift (d*o*-reA) is received *subsequent* to water baptism, we are *not complete*! Then see how careful the apostles were in the book of Acts to baptize converts immediately following their repentance and faith; and then to follow this up with the laying on of hands for the gift (do-reA) of the Holy Spirit. Why is it then that many Evangelical Christians do not follow this apostolic order? And now our Psalm for the day! *72:6, 8 (72:1-20) GIVE THE KING YOUR JUSTICE! ?May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! 8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth? (ESV)! *King Jesus: Reign in us! Father, we bless You for Your Son as King of Your Kingdom! On July 1, 1867 the Premier of New Brunswick during his early morning devotions was given Psalm 72:8 to find the name for the *Dominion* of Canada. This verse appears in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, at the National Parliament Buildings. It was 128 years later on July 1st at Whistler, BC, that Freda Cooper, granddaughter of Chief of the Coast Salish First Nations People - led some 20 tribes of her people in restoring vertical relationship with God. This was followed with 2200 representatives from 37 countries restoring horizontal relations with the First Nations People. A representative of Britain, Canada and the United States each knelt, apologized and asked forgiveness for the sins of their people against the host people of this great land of Canada and the United States. Some 500 to 800 nations are represented by this host people. This 128th Anniversary in 1995 is two to the 7th power! David Mainse of 100 Huntley Street, Toronto, said it was the most outstanding celebration he had ever attended! J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Oct 25 11:23:17 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:23:17 -0700 Subject: Numbers 1-4 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 25, 2011 *MAR 13 - NUMBERS 1-4 - THE NUMBERING* *1. 1:3-4 (1:1-19) PREPARATION FOR CENSUS ?From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company. 4 And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers? (ESV). *You are forming an army Father, not a hospital. Your Son, our Lord Jesus, is building His church to manifest His Kingdom through us. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 1:53 (1:20-54) CENSUS FOR THE TWELVE TRIBES. ?But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.? *Father, You have made the Levites a buffer state to protect all Israel. You have made the 5-fold ministry to protect the local churches, and the City Church. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 2:1-2 (2:1-34) ARRANGEMENT OF THE CAMP. The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 ?The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.? *Again we see Your order Father: the standard of each tribe, and the ensign of each father's house! We marvel at Your care and wisdom. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 3:11-12 (3:1-20) LEVITES: THEIR SERVICE. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12 ?Behold, I have taken the LEVITES from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the people of Israel. The Levites shall be mine.? *May we not forget Father, that the 5-fold ministry (EPH 4:11-12) plus all deacons are Yours: they are not numbered with the local churches. The apostles and prophets are Your foundation (EPH 2:20). Forgive us for being so careless in these matters. May we see 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus for our New Testament order! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 3:44-45 (3:21-51) LEVITES: THEIR NUMBERING. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 ?Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. The Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.? *We hear You in this, Father. There is none like You in all of this. We see the Levites as types and shadows - and the 5-fold ministries and deacons as our reality! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 4:15a (4:1-33) LEVITES: THEIR WORK. ?And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die.? *Just as Uzzah could not touch the ark on the new cart, so Levites could not cover the furniture of the tent of the congregation. And then only Kohathites could carry the furniture on their shoulders. We are protected when we do things according to Your New Covenant word in the power of Your Spirit! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 4:49 (4:34-49) LEVITES: NUMBERING ACCORDING TO SERVICE. ?According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses they were listed, each one with his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were listed by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.? *Again we marvel at Your order and details Father, and the care Moses took in walking out every detail as You commissioned him. In like manner we submit to Your New Testament plan for the One New Man, the Church! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE: 2:17 (2:1-34) THE ORDER OF THE MARCH! ?Then the tent of meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps; as they camp, so shall they set out, each in position, standard by standard.? *Again, see the superb order set up by God for the moving of the entire camp. Following the first 3 tribes, came the boards and tents brought by two of the clans of the Levites. Then following the sixth tribe, came Kohath bearing the furniture of the tent of meeting upon their shoulders. The last 6 tribes brought protection to this mid part. How wonderful You are, O LORD! God does not desire New Covenant saints - members of the ?One New Man? - the Church - to keep the type and shadow commandments of the Old Covenant. The moral law? Yes! The parable type order of the Old Testament? No! Torah Observance is no longer possible to follow since the Temple destruction in 70 AD, when 200 of the 613 Torah commandments can no longer be kept! This * God* arranged, that we may see in Christ and His Finished Word - the pattern for us to follow in the New Covenant. George Muller of Bristol, England, saw this clearly, and clearly presented it in all of his writings and churches. So as we see in the first 4 chapters of Numbers - God had a pre-pattern type for Israel. Jesus showed through His teachings through the New Testament apostle how to apply OT types and shadows for NT application. Acts 15 and Galatians spell out the difficulty in making this transition! There are always those of the ?old? who seek to bring into bondage and legalism those of the ?new?. Paul courageously and boldly confronted these. He even confronted Peter and Barnabas. They were eating with Gentiles, just as Peter did previously with Cornelius. But when Judaizers came to Antioch from Jerusalem, Peter feared - and was unable to follow through with Gospel liberty. Paul then incisively pointed out his hypocrisy! If he as a Jew ate with Gentiles according to the 3-fold vision of the sheet let down from heaven - *how then* could he command Gentiles to live as Jews? Is this a problem today? Unfortunately, yes. Torah Observant for Gentiles today? No! New Covenant observant? Yes! And at the same time make *full use*of the OT types and shadows - *not* for observance - but for *application* as did Paul and the NT apostles! Did Paul when with Jews become Torah Observant? Of course! To win them! See 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Recently I sent out an article from New Zealand entitled ?Torah Observant?? For every 4 responding to say ?Thank you - for freeing us from legalism and bondage? - there has been one like those in Acts 15 and Galatians - who would bring Gentile believers into legalism and bondage through Torah Observance. J.A.Watt To *what* must NT saints supremely observe? *?The law of the Spirit of the life in Christ Jesus has freed you from the law of :sin and of :death?*Romans 8:2 (8:1-11). The Bible Numeric context that takes in this verse - makes this position abundantly clear! Our Psalm for the day! *73:28 (73:1-28) GOD IS MY STRENGTH AND PORTION FOREVER! ?But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.? *Father, we will not be of those who see things from earth's point of view; rather we will receive quickening, and understand from heaven's vantage-point. We will not senselessly fret over the prosperity of the wicked, but hallow Your Name - that You reign, and all will work out in righteousness in the end! J.A.Watt* * * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Oct 25 14:14:23 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:14:23 -0700 Subject: "Thinking" Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 25, 2011 *2011-10-24 - ?THINKING? - From ?Disciples Indeed? - Oswald Chambers, p.408 * ?*For who among men knows the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him?? *A man discovers intellectual things for himself, but he cannot discover God by his intellect. *? ... even so the things of God none knows, save the Spirit of God? (1 Corinthians 2:11 RV).* * *Think of the labor and patience of men in the domain of science, and then think of our lack of patience in endeavoring to appreciate the Atonement; and you see the need there is for us to be conscientious in our thinking, basing everything on the reality of the Atonement. We prefer to be average Christians; we don't mind it having broken God's heart to save us; but we do object to having a sleepless night while we learn to say ?Thank you? to God, so that the angels can hear us. We need to be staggered out of our shocking indolence. *We have no business to limit God's revelations* *to the bias of the human mind.* ?I can't alter my thinking.? You can. It is actually possible to identify your mind with the highest point of view, and to habituate yourself by degrees to the thinking and the living in accordance with it. *A man's mental belief will show sooner or later* *in his practical living.* If I make my life in my intellect, I will certainly delude myself that I am as good as I think I am. ?As [a man] thinks *in his heart? - *that means ?me,? as I express my thinking in actual life; *?so is he.?* I can think out a whole system of life, reason it all out well; but it does not necessarily make any difference to my actual life; I may think like an angel and live like a tadpole. *Note the things your thinking does not account for.* Truth is discerned by moral obedience. There are points in our thinking which remain obscure until a crisis arises in personal life where we ought to obey; immediately we obey, the intellectual difficulty alters. Whenever we have to obey, it is always in something immensely practical. Obedience is the basis of Christ thinking. Never be surprised if there are whole areas of thinking that are not clear; they never will be until you obey. Every new domain into which your personal life is introduced, necessitates a new form of responsible intelligence. *Watch what you say you don't understand -* *you understand only too clearly!* Learn to be glad when you feel yourself a chaos, that makes you bitterly disappointed with yourself; because from that moment you will begin to understand, that God alone can make your ?order? and ?beauty.? *Young life must be in chaos* *or there is no development possible.* Until you get an answer that satisfies your best moods only, don't stop thinking; keep on querying God. The answers that satisfy you go all over you, like health, or fresh air. Don't shut up any avenue of your nature; let God come into every avenue, every relationship; and you will find the nightmare curse of ?secular and sacred? will go. Intellectual obstinacy produces the sealed mind - *?Jesus said unto them, If you were blind, you would have no sin: but now you say, We see: your sin remains? (John 9:41 RV).* * *There is no jump into thinking; it is only done by a steady determined facing of the facts brought by the engineering of circumstances. God always insists that I think *where I am*. Beware of that abortion of Providence - ?If I were you ...? With regard to other men's minds, take all you can get, whether those minds are in flesh-and-blood editions or in books; but remember: the best you get from another mind is not that mind's verdict, but its standpoint. Note the writers who provoke you to do your best mentally. *Never cease to think, until you think things home* *and they become character.* * *Very few of us are real as God is real; we are only real in spots - awake morally and spiritually and dead intellectually, or *vice versa*; awake intellectually and dead morally and spiritually. It takes the shaking of God's Providence to awaken us up as whole beings; and when we are awakened we get growing pains in moral senses, in spiritual muscles we have never used. It is not the devil; it is *God* trying to make us appreciative sons and daughters of His. Our thinking is often allowed to be anti-Christian, while our feelings are Christian. The way I think will color my attitude towards my fellow-men. Always make it a practice of provoking your mind to think about what it easily accepts. A position is not yours until you make it yours through suffering. If you have ever done any thinking, you don't feel very complacent after it; you get your first touch of pessimism; if you don't, you have never thought clearly and truly. An appalling thing is that men who ignore Jesus Christ have their eyes open, in a way many a preacher of The Gospel has not. Ibsen, for instance, saw things clearly: he saw the inexorable results of sin, but without any deliverance or forgiveness, because he saw things apart from the Atonement. The first thing that goes when you begin to think, is your theology. If you stick too long to a theological point of view, you become stagnant, without vitality. *Never try to pillory Incarnate Reason* *by your own petty intelligence* *?I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now? (John 16:12 RV).* These words are true in our mental life as well as in our spiritual life. *Doubt is not always a sign that a man is wrong;* *it may be a sign that he is thinking.* Keep the powers of your mind going full pace, always maintaining the secret life right with God. *If you teach anything out of an idle intellect,* *you will have to answer to God for it.* Never be distressed at the immediate result of thinking on the deep truths of religion, because it will take of profound familiarity with such truths, before you gain an expression sufficient to satisfy you. God never simply gives us an answer; He puts us on a line where it is possible for Truth to break more and more as we go on. Before the mind has begun to grapple with problems, it is easy to talk; when the mind has begun to grapple with problems, it is a humiliating thing to talk. *Unless you think,* *you will be untouched, unbroken, by the truths you utter.* A logical position is satisfying to the intellect, but it can never be true to life. Logic is simply the method man's intellect follows in making things definable to himself; but you can't define what is greater than yourself. We command what we can explain; and if we bring our explanation into the spiritual domain, we are in danger of explaining Jesus away - *?and every spirit which annuls Jesus is not of God? (1 John 4:3 RV mg). *We have to be intelligently more than intelligent, intellectually more than intellectual; that is, we have to use all our wits in order not to worship our wits, but be humble enough to worship God. Don't run away with the idea that everything that runs contrary to your complacent scheme of things is of the devil. As you go on with God, He will give you thoughts that are a bit too big for you. God will never leave a servant of His with ideas he can easily express; He will always express through him more than he can grasp. *It takes a long time to get rid of atheism in thinking.* *NOTE**: *What is *your* ?take? on the above? Mine is that I am reading the 32nd chapter of Proverbs! It is like the book of Acts, which was *not* finished at the 28th chapter, but has continued being added unto. Oswald Chambers wife after her husband's death at 43, chose 21 of his short addresses to Missionary Bible College Students in London, England from 1911-15, before they preached in front of one another in homiletic class. No visitors were permitted because of the sensitive nature of such a class. The short, pungent addresses given by the Principal at this time - had a disturbing effect in the short run on the students - but in the long run - deeply endeared him to their hearts. The best way to enhance one's understanding of the author of this address is to read his biography - ?Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God?, 1993, by David McCasland. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Oct 26 13:28:12 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:28:12 -0700 Subject: Numbers 5-9 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 26, 2011 *MAR 14 - NUMBERS 5-9 - THE INSTRUCTION* *1. 5:1-2 (5) RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL LAWS. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2?Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous or has a discharge and everyone who is unclean through contact with the dead? (ESV). *Obedience in separation: this is a mark of Your people, Father. We are not to touch the unclean thing, as we walk in Your Word by the power of Your Spirit. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 6:21 (6:1-21) VOLUNTARY NAZIRITE LAWS. ?This is the law of the Nazirite. But if he vows an offering to the LORD above his Nazirite vow, as he can afford, in exact accordance with the vow that he takes, then he shall do in addition to the law of the Nazirite.? **Holiness* is first *separation * from, as seen in this example. Then it is separation *to* God, where His Holy Spirit imparts unto us the life of the Holy Christ living His life through us. Father, we cleave to Christ our Holiness! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 6:24-26 (6:22-27) PRIESTLY BENEDICTION. ?The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.? *This puts Your Name Father, upon Israel with Your blessing. You do the same for us in Jesus!* Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 7:89 (7) DEDICATION OF THE ALTAR. ?And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.? *This is a most impressive 12-fold offering for this dedication. O forgive us Father, that we so often fail to see Calvary as our altar, and fail to offer suitable praise to You for what Christ died there for us in His Atonement. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 8:21 (8) PRIESTLY SERVICE. ?And the Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes, and Aaron offered them as a wave offering before the LORD, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.? *May we always Father, be careful to accept the leadership You give, that we transgress not. And keep us back from presumptuous sin. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 9:5 (9:1-14) SECOND PASSOVER. ?And they kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, in the wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the people of Israel did.? *There is a proper way to observe the Passover. There is a proper way to observe the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist. We would walk carefully in Your ways, Father. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 9:23 (9:15-23) GUIDANCE OF THE CLOUD. ?At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses.? *We marvel at the wonder of Your order Father, and submit to it. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 6:27 (6:22-27) THE PLACING OF THE NAME. ?So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.? *The 5-fold ministry has a duty to bless Your Church Father, that is parallel to what the priests did for Israel. All liturgical Old Testament worship has a parallel for New Testament saints. We do not offer the 5-fold sacrificial offerings of Leviticus - but instead our part is to offer the *praise* of the *calves* of our lips! All OT instructions fit this pattern! Look on each instruction as a parable as it were - that has a reality to be achieved by us. Don't seek to go back to OT Types and Shadows - rather seek to discover and walk in NT equivalents. Stay free from OT bondage and legalism. May God bless us as we seek to understand these relations, and cease to be caught up by those who would legalize us. And - our Psalm for the Day! *74:2 (74:1-23) ARISE, O GOD, DEFEND YOUR CAUSE! ?Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.? *What a Psalm of intercession for Your people, Father! Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth here is speaking. This is a true watchman speaking. This is one of Your remembrancers. He is praying a prayer in season. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Oct 27 11:41:20 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:41:20 -0700 Subject: Numbers 10-14 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 27, 2011 *MAR 15 - NUMBERS 10-14 - THE JOURNEYING* *1. 10:9 (10:1-10) TRUMPETS AND FEASTS. ?And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies? (ESV). * Father, we lift up our voice like trumpets against the enemy! And You will remember and save us! We use the Keys of the Kingdom! * Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 10:35-36 (10:11-36) ORDER OF THE MARCH. And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, ?Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.? 36 And when it rested, he said, ?Return, O LORD, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.? *Father, we submit to Your ways of moving. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 11:1 (11:1-15) MURMURING AND JUDGMENT. ?And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.? *O the curse of murmuring and complaining! Father, deliver us from this sin of the tongue! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 11:25 (11:16-35) THE SEVENTY AND PROPHECY. ?Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it.? *O forgive us Father, for limiting You, the Holy One of Israel! Whatever you promise, Yours is the Power to bring it to pass! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 12:6-8a (12) REBELLION OF AARON AND MIRIAM. And he said, ?Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8a With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD.? *O preserve us Father, from failing to see You in Your chosen servants! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 13:1-2 (13) THE TWELVE SPIES. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 ?Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.? *What an evil report the 10 spies brought concerning the Promised Land, Father! If only Israel had listened to Joshua and Caleb! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 14:34 (14) MURMURING AND JUDGMENT. ?According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.? *This is judgment indeed! Teach us Your fear O LORD. Let us know intuitively how to please You! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 14:18 (14) THE BALANCE OF THE LORD. ?The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (CHEsed), forgiving iniquity and and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.? *Thank You Father, that You are a merciful and forgiving God. May we ever cling to You according to Your attributes! This passage is rich in truths, principles and examples - that are transferable for NT saints! *We* are to use our *voice* as trumpets! What Israel did in type - the church is to do in Reality! But murmuring - whether in OT or NT - is equally reprehensible! It is to be condemned! We need to learn the blessing of being *positive* according to the Word of God! The 8 NT writers accurately and helpfully show us how to use the OT as Types and Shadows - as parables as it were - to understand NT truth. The NT is in the Old contained; *the OT is by the New explained*! Blessed the person and church who understands and practices this blessed truth! Is it possible to see the sin of Aaron and Miriam duplicated in this church age? Indeed, yes! Lesser leaders today are *still* jealous of God's choice of putting greater leaders like Moses over them. Note that lesser leaders depend on dreams and visions to understand the ways of the Lord. Higher leaders receive insights Spirit to spirit by the word (R*E*ma) of the Lord. My 3 main mentors: George Muller, Rees Howells and Oswald Chambers - are of this ?Moses type?. The historical example of the 12 spies: 2 good and 10 evil - still has application for us today. See how Caleb was blessed to follow the successful conquest of Canaan-land under Joshua. He received at the age of 85 the mountain at Hebron - and successfully defeated and drove out the 3 giants. Canaan-land is modern Palestine. It is *God's* land, and He gave it to Israel, *not* to Yasser Arafat. A sad day for the latter and his people rapidly approaches, when God will exact judgment upon *all* nations who would lightly hold His people Israel, and His land that He gave to them! Much more in this passage, but this is sufficient. And now - our Psalm for the day - *75:9-10 (75:1-10) GOD WILL JUDGE WITH EQUITY! ?But I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.? *Father, how righteous, just and merciful You are in all Your ways! *Hallowed be your :name!* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Oct 28 13:45:43 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:45:43 -0700 Subject: Lewis Agonistes Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 28, 2011 * * *March 7, 2007 * *?LEWIS AGONISTES? ? by Louis Markos* November 22, 1963 stands out as a day of tragic memory for the world. It is the day of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But it is also the day of the death of C.S. Lewis. It passed practically unnoticed because of the former. Yet this man of 64 years, of Irish birth, but professor at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, has made a mark in the world because of his writings that should be well known. His ?Screwtape Letters? came to my attention many decades ago. I noted that the insights of Lewis on this subject were most unusual and helpful. It is slated to come out as a movie in 2008 along with the second book of ?The Tales of Narnia.? His ?Mere Christianity,? ?The Tales of Narnia,? and his 3 Sci-Fi novels are also most insightful. In 2000 ?The Teaching Company? came out with ?The Life and Writings of C.S. Lewis? ? taught by Professor Louis Markos, Houston Baptist University. I encouraged my daughter to purchase this Great Course on Religion. Search it out on *www.TEACH12.com ** . *This 12 lesson course can be purchased once a year at a special price just under $20.00, including a 73 page ?Course Guidebook? prepared by Professor Markos. Following is the ?Scope? of this Course: In the twelve lectures that follow, we shall explore the life and writings of C. S. Lewis and consider why Lewis?s works have continued to gain in power and popularity over the last half-century. After an introductory lecture that considers Lewis?s remarkable range as a writer and surveys some of the events and people that shaped his thought and his works, we jump headlong into a four-lecture consideration of his key apologetical works. We begin in Lecture Two with a close analysis of both his fictional and nonfictional autobiographies (*The Pilgrim?s Regress *and *Surprised by Joy*, respectively) that will explore not only the nature of Lewis?s own conversion to Christianity but also the nature of his most powerful and persistent apologetic: the argument by desire. In Lecture Three, we shift from this desire-based apologetic to one grounded in ethics and morality. Through a close look at *Mere Christianity *and *The Abolition of Man,* we explore Lewis?s belief that the code of ethics by which Christians live is not a manmade construct but constitutes a set of divinely revealed standards, the truth and relevance of which is universal, absolute, and cross-cultural (a set of standards that Lewis dubbed the Tao). With Lectures Four and Five, we move away from the more general apologetics of Lectures Two and Three to study closely Lewis?s answers to such perennial spiritual questions as: why (and whether) miracles happen; why, if God is good, there is so much pain in our world; whether heaven and hell exist and what role our choices play in determining our final destination; what exactly is the nature of sin and evil and how does it separate us from God and salvation? Our texts for these two lectures will include *Miracles, The Problem of Pain, The Screwtape Letters, *and *The Great Divorce.* Lecture Six functions as a transitional lecture that takes up Lewis?s role as scholar and academic. Through a look at such critical classics as *The Discarded Image* and *A Preface to Paradise Lost,* we will explore how Lewis, in his scholarly works, sought to breakdown modern prejudices concerning the past and replace them with a vivid, accessible view of the medieval and Renaissance world that is true to those who lived in those oft-misunderstood ages. With Lecture Seven, we turn to Lewis the novelist. Lectures Seven and Eight will consider his Space Trilogy: *Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, *and *That Hideous Strength. *Lectures Nine, Ten, and Eleven will focus on his best-known and loved works, The Chronicles of Narnia: *The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; The Horse and His Boy; The Magician?s Nephew; *and *The Last Battle. *All five of these lectures will offer synopses of the key plot elements in each work and explore the rich, often profound, Christian allegories that lurk just below the surface of each tale. The final lecture will take up Lewis?s last and strangest novel, *Till We Have Faces, *a mature and profound reworking of the classical myth of Cupid and Psyche. The heroine of this work was patterned after Lewis?s wife, Joy Gresham. The lecture, and the series, will conclude with a poignant look at *A Grief Observed, *Lewis?s personal and moving account of his despair over the death of Joy and his long, painful road back to faith. I find this Course to be a most valuable answer to Modernism, Marxism, Darwinism, Nietzsche and the Enlightenment. It also is a most satisfying answer to the inadequacy and bankruptcy of Rousseau that I have come across. But in 2003 Louis Markos came out with a 170 page 6 chapter book entitled ?Lewis Agonistes.? This can be purchased through *www.Amazon.com ** *, new or used at a reasonable price. A friend of Markos was introduced to C.S. Lewis in a new way, and highly recommends the above volume. Following is his most interesting review of this book: *Lewis Agonistes: How C.S. Lewis Can Train Us to Wrestle With the Modern and Postmodern World** by Louis Markos* 31 of 34 people found the following review by Stanley P. Santire of Houston Texas helpful: ***** *A Scholar?s Brilliant Gift, *September 3, 2003 This book will be required reading for any university class on C.S. Lewis. The warm combination by Louis Markos of biographical portrait, intimate analysis of the subject?s ideas, and a panoramic sweep of Western Philosophy and Judeo-Christian thought assure this. Destiny holds another rightful place for it outside the classroom as insight into the wisdom of Christianity with deep roots in the Hebrew legacy. It is the gift of a brilliant scholar to those with, as he describes in this book, ? ? the heart that yearns for God and the mind that seeks to know him.? A small caveat. The author is a friend of mine. I am even mentioned in the credits, a discovery that surprised me when I read the preface just after buying the book. I attribute the honor to discussions I have been privileged to have with Louis Markos, explorations of ideas in which I always find him a warm and wise companion. More to the point, I did not review the manuscript before publication. I knew Markos was working on a book about C.S. Lewis. That is all I knew. We did not discuss it and for this I am thankful. Otherwise, I would have started my reading with some predisposition and less objectivity. Indeed, in our little talks I have always disagreed with Markos on some points. As a consequence, I picked up Lewis Agonistes not knowing what I would find. It is a rare blend of intellect, knowledge and fervor. Before meeting Louis Markos, I never paid much attention to C.S. Lewis. I thought the author of the Chronicles of Narnia and the Screwtape Letters was just a pioneering science fiction writer who periodically ventured into theology. Then I began those little conversations with Markos. Suddenly I found that C.S. Lewis was a thinker that, much to my loss, I had minimized. Still, he had always been a small part of our conversations ranging from Genesis and Plato to Dante and Nietzsche. This book brings to me the full force of C.S. Lewis? genius. As I read Lewis Agonistes I felt like Bilbo Baggins before Gandalf and the Dwarfs dragged him off. Bilbo was so comfortable in his little Hobbit hole. Still, even as he protested against leaving for far off dangers, he heard the call to adventure. Like Bilbo, many of us are comfortable in the ideas to which we are accustomed. Markos is a Gandalf, happily pulling us up to another level of the world, a place that many of us only pretend to know. His enthusiasm draws us to the heights of Christianity with C.S. Lewis as a lively companion. This role of Markos as Gandalf is appropriate. As the book points out, C.S. Lewis and T.R.R. Tolkien were friends, a relationship that enriched the works of both men. Though I have escaped into the sensuousness of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, my mind has long been saturated with scenes of the world drawn from the philosophers of reason and idealism, ancient pagans and modern atheists. This book wrenches me out of my complacency. It opens a vibrant window into a different worldview. With a blend of faith and rigorous analysis, Louis Markos raises C.S. Lewis from the dead. He makes the Christian ideas of Lewis march like soldiers contending against the faithless and the cynic. In the preface Markos cautions us when he writes ?There will, therefore, be long passages in this book where Lewis?s name is not mentioned.? The author points out that in those stretches he will ?either be working through an examination of the precise challenges leveled by the modern and post modern reader ? or constructing an argument of my own that is guided by Lewis?s method and approach ?? Here, though he is my friend, I must disagree with the author. Much of the brilliance in the book he attributes to his hero C.S. Lewis. I am more objective. In the public light of his lectures and the private moments of our conversations, I have found Louis Markos to stand on his own as a great adventurer in ideas. More to the point, in the book I found that the thoughts of a living Markos and a long dead C.S. Lewis blend so intimately that the effort to differentiate one from the other is best traded in by the reader for the experience of bearing witness to soaring visions of God *NOTE:* I have to confess that Markos has done for me concerning C.S. Lewis ? the same as he has done for Stanley P. Santire. I have some 144 mentors that I have benefited from. The four that stand out have been ?George Muller of Bristol? by Dr. A.T. Pierson, ?Rees Howells, Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb, Oswald Chambers, and ?One New Man? by Reuven Doron. I sense already that I am going to have to add C.S. Lewis to this abbreviated list. But as a key to benefit adequately from him, one will need to add Louis Markos as his interpreter. I am sensing that those who take this recommendation sufficiently serious to act upon it ? you like myself are going to discover a new C.S. Lewis ? and an exciting and profitable voyage of discovery. Your friend ? Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Oct 29 09:46:29 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2011 09:46:29 -0700 Subject: Numbers 15-16 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 29, 2011 *MAR 16 - NUMBERS 15-16 - THE NUMBERING* *1. 15:15 (15) LAW OF OFFERINGS AND REMEMBRANCES. ?For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the LORD? (ESV). *The last shall be first, and the first last. The Gentile follows the Jew, but now is favored. Both come into the Kingdom through the blood of the Lamb. Both now follow the word of Jesus over and above the word of Moses. We submit to your ways Father, and say, *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 16:28, 30 (16) KORAH, DATHAN AND ABIRAM. And Moses said, ?Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. 30 But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD.? *We quake before Your judgments Father, and say, *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 17:5 (17) AARON'S ROD. ?And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from the the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you.? *Your sign Father, confirmed Your choice of Aaron from among the sons of Levi - as priest! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 18:19 (18) CHARGE FOR PRIESTS AND LEVITES. ?All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the LORD I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD for you and for your offspring with you.? *Father, You adequately reward those who serve You. O forgive us that we often doubt You concerning provisions. *Our :daily :bread, Give us this day.* *5. 19:20 (19) WATER OF SEPARATION. ?If the man who is unclean does not cleanse himself, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, since he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD, Because the water for impurity has not been thrown on him, he is unclean.? *Inadvertent sin requires this cleansing under OT law for Israel. Be with us Father, in times of temptation, and may we keep our vessels holy for Your Name's sake. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 20:12 (20:1-21) MOSES' FAILURE. And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ?Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.? *May Your fear grip our hearts because of this instance, Father! You are a *holy* God, requiring the obedience of faith in all of Your words, and You are no respecter of persons! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 20:24 (20:22-29) DEATH OF AARON. ?Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.? *Aaron shared guilt with Moses in the smiting of the Rock, instead of speaking to it. How dreadful is Your fear, O LORD! *But deliver deliver us from the evilone! * *NOTE**: 18:28 (18) THE LORD'S TITHE: FOR THE 5-FOLD MINISTRY. ?So you shall also present a contribution to the LORD from all your tithes, which you receive from the people of Israel. And from it you shall give the LORD'S contribution to Aaron the priest.? *The 12 tribes tithe to the Levites; the Levites tithe to the priests; and the priests tithe to the LORD! In all things Father, You have remembered to provide. The following by Oswald Chambers is not only important to understand, but necessary. There is too often a failure to understand the true place of the Atonement of Jesus Christ - and how repentance and believing properly relate to this event orchestrated by the Father. *JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH - Oswald Chambers, October 28, MUFHH* ?*If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, *** *much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.? Romans 5:10.* I am not saved by believing - I simply realize I am saved by believing. And it is not repentance that saves me - repentance is only the sign that I realize what God has done through Christ Jesus. The danger here is putting the emphasis on the *effect*, instead of on the *cause*. Is it my obedience, consecration, and dedication that make me right with God? It is *never*that! I am made right with God because, *prior to all of that*, *Christ died*. When I turn to God and by belief accept what God reveals, the miraculous atonement by the Cross of Christ instantly places me into a right relationship with God. And as a result of the supernatural miracle of God's grace I stand justified, not because I am sorry for my sin, or because I have repented, but *because of what Jesus has done*. The Spirit of God brings justification with a shattering, radiant light, and I know that I am saved, even though I don't know how it was accomplished. The salvation that comes from God is not based on human logic, but on the sacrificial death of Jesus. We can be born again solely because of the atonement of our Lord. Sinful men and women can be changed into new creations, not through their repentance or their belief, but through the wonderful work of God in Christ Jesus which preceded all of our experience (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-19). The unconquerable safety of justification and sanctification is *God Himself*. We do not have to accomplish these things ourselves - they have been accomplished through the atonement of the Cross of Christ. The supernatural becomes natural to us through the miracle of what Jesus Christ has already done - *?It is finished!? *(John 19:30). And now - our Psalm for the day! *76:1-2 (76:1-12) WHO CAN STAND BEFORE YOU? ?In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. **2** His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.? *You are a fearful God O Father, and Your Name Jehovah is awesome and majestic. Your dwelling place is sanctified by Your presence. * **Hallowed be your :name!* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Oct 30 10:33:20 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2011 10:33:20 -0700 Subject: Numbers 21-25 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 30, 2011 *MAR 17 - NUMBERS 21-25 - THE NEW JOURNEYING* *1. 21:3 (21:1-3) VICTORY OVER THE CANAANITES. ?And the LORD heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah [destruction]? (ESV). *How faithful You are to Your promises Father, to fulfill them. Yes, we can trust You and Your Almighty power implicitly! *Reign in us, Sovereign Lord*! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 21:8 (21:4-9) FIERY SERPENT JUDGMENT. And the LORD said to Moses, ?Make a fiery serpent and set in on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.? **Look* and *Live*! You made this a type of Jesus Father, so that all who look to Your only begotten Son and call on Him, should be saved. We submit to Your wise plan in this! *Your :kingdom come!* 3. 21:17-18a (21:10-20) THIRD SONG OF ISRAEL. Then Israel sang this song: ?Spring up, O well! - Sing to it! - 18a the well that the princes made, that the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter and with their staffs.? You Father, are the Giver of all good gifts. We submit to You! You give water when needed, and all other necessary food! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 21:24 (21:21-35) DEFEAT OF SIHON AND OG. ?And Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong.? *There is nothing too difficult for You, Father! You can harden the heart of our enemy that he might fall, and fit into Your purposes. O forgive us that we can ever doubt You! Help us to remember Pharaoh. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 22:18 (22-24) BALAK AND BALAAM. But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, ?Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more.? *Not even Balaam could go against Your prophetic word, Father; Yet his counsel concerning Midianitish women and Israel was evil! How evil we can be in heart! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 25:3 (25:1-9) PHINEHAS: REVERSES COUNSEL OF BALAAM. ?So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.? *Thank God for Phinehas! May we too Father, have a zeal for Your Name, Your honor, Your people, Your Jealousy and Your holiness! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 25:12-13 (25:10-18) REWARD OF PHINEHAS: COVENANT OF PEACE! Therefore say, ? Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, **13** and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.? *Formerly You gave Levi a covenant of salt, Father. Now You add to it, for as the Potter to the clay - it is Your right to do with us whatever is in Your mind! *But deliver us from the evil **one!* *NOTE**: 23:19 (22-24) THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD TO HIS WORD! ?God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? *This is absolutely true of You, Father. May we evermore live in this truth! And even though this word was spoken by an enemy of the LORD - yet it has absolute truth! The lessons in this passage are valuable in the sight of the LORD! Can we give ourselves to search them out? The 3 chapters dealing with Balak and Balaam are especially interesting and rewarding. They were brought to my attention in 1944 by a Jewish convert and missionary to her own people. Imagine that in this passage some of the greatest Messianic prophecies in the Bible came through a false prophet! Sometimes it appears to me that the testimonies of the enemies of the Lord have deeper and more valuable insights than those coming from our friends! In the case of Balaam for Israel and their coming Messiah, they are *so insightful* that it drove Balak to extreme anger. Just count up in these 3 chapters the number of extraordinary prophecies God forced Balaam to give! We read in the NT book of Jude just what God thought of Balaam, even though He used him! And think of how He used Judas to further His purposes through Jesus for man's redemption! And in Isaiah He says that *He created the waster (Satan) to destroy*. See how He used Satan in the book of Job to perfect His righteous man! And each one of us as true foreordained saints are strengthened and perfected by fiery trials that God permits Satan to bring upon us - just as He did upon Job! So - let us not think it strange concerning the fiery trials God permits Satan to unleash upon us! But according to Job 1 & 2, Satan can do *no more*than God permits! The 5 chapters of this portion for the March 17th reading will yield rich dividends to each of us, who like George Muller - will kneel and read aloud this passage back to God in our own words - transforming insights into prayer! In 1987-89, I completed these 366 readings of ?Through the Bible in a Year? in manuscript form. I am just now editing these readings, and updating them with God's Bible Numeric English NT, and the English Standard Version (ESV) for the Old Testament. (I am able to turn my attention to this, having completed the editing of God's Bible Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek NT prepared by Ivan Panin prior to 1941). This discipline has proven for me a *rich blessing*, as by the help of the Spirit I made these 366 divisions, and chose these verses for the 9 divisions of each of the 366 readings. And now - our Psalm for the Day! *77:13-14 (77:1-20) IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE I SEEK THE LORD. ?Your way, O God is holy. What god is great like our God? * *14** You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.? **Jesus* is your true and living *way* Father, and You have made Him in His humanity to be so! You have put Your Name - Jehovah - upon Him - *Adonai Jehovah* the Savior! All the fullness of the Godhead bodily dwelt in *Him*! *Hallowed be your :name! * J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Oct 31 09:03:09 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:03:09 -0700 Subject: Numbers 26-27 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* October 31, 2011 *MAR 18 - NUMBERS 26-27 - THE NEW NUMBERING* *1. 26:10 (26:1-51) NEW GENERATION NUMBERED. ?And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning? (ESV). ** Murmuring* and *Rebellion*: Sins that cannot be tolerated! *Your judgment*Father: a *sign* of Your displeasure! Sovereign Lord, Reign in us Your way! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 26:55-56 (26:52-56) DIVISION OF THE LAND. ?But the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. 56 Their inheritance shall be divided according to lot between the larger and the smaller.? *By Urim and Thummim shall all contentions cease, Father. Through the lot shall decisions be made. Yes, we submit. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 26:61 (26:57-62) LEVITES NUMBERED. ?But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.? *With You Father, is no respect of persons. You are not a man that You should lie. You set forth Your word with its blessings and penalties, and violation brings forth the appropriate penalty. We bless You for Your righteousness and faithfulness in this. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 26:64-65 (26:63-65) NONE LEFT OF FORMER NUMBERING. ?But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. 66 For the LORD had said of them, 'They shall die in the wilderness.' Not one of them was left, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.? *O forgive us Father, for not taking You seriously when You speak Your Word! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 27:6-7 (27:1-11) DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD. And the LORD said to Moses, 7?The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them.? *How fair You are Father, in *all* things! We bless You for what You are and Who You are. You are altogether righteous, just and fair! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 27:12-13 (27:12-14) MOSES PREPARES FOR DEATH. The LORD said to Moses, ?Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel. 13 When you have seen it, you shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was.? *How awesome and fearful is this word; yet it is righteous and just altogether. When we walk with You Father, in the light of Your word, we know that *all* you do on our behalf will be just and true. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 27:16-17 (27:15-23) JOSHUA: MOSES' SUCCESSOR. ?Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation 17 who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.? *This was Your doing Father, by the hand of Moses! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 27:18 (27:15-23) THE LORD APPOINTS JOSHUA AS MOSES' SUCCESSOR. So the LORD said to Moses, ?Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.? *Moses did all that You Father, commanded him. He set for JESUS: Joshua, Jehovah the Savior; *Joshua*: a fitting type of Your Son to come! Probably few who have read this book have not noted and been impressed that both the beginning and end numbering of Israel during these 40 years - both came our so remarkably even. What is God saying? Can we hear its significance? I like the seventh section of 27:15-23 where God is called the God of the * spirits* of *all* flesh. It matters not our color or racial origins. We are *all* of Adam - and right down to 2011 when we are told that the world's population will number 7 billion - yet - every individual from Adam to the present - we are *all* of one spirit; and *all* of one blood! In heaven we will *know* the full truth of this revelation. O that we might *receive*and *act upon* that truth today! In 26:1-51 we are reminded of the seriousness of the sin of Korah - and how God especially made such a lesson of it, that mankind of all races should never forget this lesson! Korah was a Levite who wanted the priestly office of Moses and Aaron. We *must* learn that *God* appoints us to our ministry, gifts and calling. We are to *bloom* where we are planted. We are *not* to lust after the calling of others! *God* is the Potter who makes us thus - *we* are the clay who *must* yield to His plan and desire. It was not Moses and Aaron that Korah actually challenged - it was *God*! And when a believer of the church is persecuted - it is *really* Christ the Head who is persecuted! How is it that so often there are those who misunderstand this - and force themselves in a position of disobedience and rebellion? The earth consuming Korah and his 250 alive - is but a type of hell - to alert all those of like spirit of the dangerous trail they tread! ?Oh - but *God* is a God of love!? some would say, ?and would never do such a thing! And anyway - that is the OT, and not the days of the New.? Then let such read the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to see Him as the Judge at work! Or - let them remember that in the Gospels - Jesus spoke *more* of hell than heaven; and spoke likewise of hell more than any other New Testament writer! Many more lessons in this passage that await us as readers to search out for ourselves! And finally - our Psalm for the day - *78:38-39 (78:1-72) TELL THE COMING GENERATION! ?Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. **39** He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.? *O Father, how great are Your mercies and covenant love unto Your people. *Hallowed be your :name!* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Nov 1 09:39:38 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2011 09:39:38 -0700 Subject: Numbers 28-36 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 1, 2011 *MAR 19 - NUMBERS 28-36 - THE NEW INSTRUCTING* *1. 28:16-17 ((28-29) SACRIFICES AND FEASTS. ?On the fourteenth day of the first month is the LORD'S Passover, 17 and on the fifteenth day of this month is a feast. Seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.? *Here You set forth for Israel Your feasts Father, and here You set forth the * Passover*, to be fulfilled by Your only begotten Son in some 1500 years. You are Sovereign Lord, and we submit to Your right, Father. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 30:2 (30) LAW OF VOWS. ?If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.? *Father, You lead us in the paths of righteousness *for Your Name's sake*! We profane Your Name when we profane our word. You teach us as sons to be like Yourself. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 31:7-8 (31) RETRIBUTION ON MIDIAN. ?They warred against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every male. 8 They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. And they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.? *What poetic justice upon Balaam, who put Balak up to the stratagem of the Midianitish women! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so one earth.* *4. 32:23 (32) POSSESSIONS EAST OF JORDAN. ?But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.? *If we renege on a vow, we have sinned against You Father, and the sin will be exposed. O forgive us for taking so lightly Your will, Your ways and Your Word! May we *tremble* at Your Word (Isaiah 66:2)! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 33:9 (33:1-49) SUMMARY OF JOURNEYS. ?And they set out from Marah and came to Elim; at Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.? *Elim must have been one of the most pleasant stops for Israel in all their 40 years of journeying in the wilderness. And during this time *all but two of the old generation died off *! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 33:51b-52 (33:50-35:15) PREPARATION TO ENTER CANAAN. ?When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places.? *This is one very important preparation to understand before entering the promised land,. We honor You Father, in Your right to demand this of Israel; we know that this is evidence of our *obedience of faith*. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 35:33-34 (35:16-36:13) LAWS OF CANAAN. ?You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34 You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the LORD dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.? *O forgive us Father in our day, for polluting Your land which You gave us - especially through abortions! Our judges favor the criminal above the injured so often! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 29:7 (28-29) A HOLY COMMAND. ?On the tenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation and afflict yourselves. You shall do no work.? *This is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a most holy day, a day that emphasizes all the Passovers of the year. Thank You Father, that * Jesus* fulfilled this too! *OSWALD CHAMBERS - Abandoned To God* Oswald Chambers was a man for all time. His mind was the mind of Christ and so his words are compelling because they reflect the thoughts of our Savior. I am not the first to say that no book outside the Bible has influenced me as much as *My Utmost for His Highest*. In David McCasland's book we have, at last, the story of this remarkable man's life and how, having honored God, God is now honoring him with the only fame that really matters. *CAL THOMAS - Syndicated Columnist* Whoever has read or heard about *My Utmost for His Highest* must buy and read this book from cove to cover. Your tears will flow, your heart will be moved, the Holy Spirit will speak a word of peace, and your Christian life will never be the same. *HAROLD LINDSELL - Editor Emeritus, **Christianity Today* So many millions of us have read his words - been deepened by his prayers, been brought before God by his writing. And now we get to know him. I had no idea what a magnificent life was present behind these marvelous words. Oswald Chambers' writing is validated in detail after detail by his life. *EUGENE H. PETERSON - James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology, Regent College - and author of ?The Message?* If you are one of those who know and love Oswald Chambers' famous book of devotional readings, *My Utmost for His Highest* - edited and published by his faithful widow, ?Biddy?, in the late 1920's - you will want to become intimately acquainted with this giant among Christian devotional writers. This new biography offers you that opportunity. *D. JAMES KENNEDY - Senior Minister, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church* *Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God* is a magnificent description of how one man sought God and lived out that relationship in the realities of life. It will stimulate your heart to follow God more fully. For years I have used Oswald Chambers? *My Utmost for His Highest*. In this biography I see where that depth of input was born and developed. *JERRY E. WHITE - General Director, The Navigators* *My Utmost for His Highest* has become an essential part of the process of maturity for countless Christians over many decades, but we have known little about this man of God whose life has meant so much to so many. I welcome David McCasland's contribution, which goes a long way toward showing everyone how contemporary Chambers' writings really are. *JAMES ENGEL - Distinguished Professor of Marketing, Research, and Strategy, Easter College* *OSWALD CHAMBERS (1874-1917) was born in Scotland and spent much of his boyhood there. His ministry of teaching and preaching took him for a time to the United States and Japan. The last six years of his life were spent as principal of the Bible Training College in London, and as a chaplain to British Commonwealth troops in Egypt during World War I. After his death, the books which bear his name were compiled by his wife from her own verbatim shorthand notes of his talks.* *David McCasland** is a writer whose research for this book took him to the scenes of Oswald Chambers' life and ministry throughout Britain, the United States, and Egypt. David and his wife, Luann, have four daughters and live in Liberty Hill, Texas. This biography of 1993 was published by Discovery House Publishers, Grand Rapids, Michigan.* And now - our Psalm for the day! *79:13 (79:1-13) ?But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise? (ESV). *Father, You are a Covenant-keeping God, according to your Name Adonai Jehovah. You deliver us from our enemies. You fulfill Your Word. Your Name is *faithfulness*. *Hallowed be your :name!* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Nov 2 08:59:45 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2011 08:59:45 -0700 Subject: John1:1-2:11 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 2, 2011 *MAR 20 - JOHN 1:1-2:11 - JESUS: ETERNAL WORD AND MESSIAH!* *1. 1:1-2 (1:1-13) JESUS THE WORD: LIGHT AND LIFE. ?In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with :God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with :God? (NNT). *According to Your eternal Word Father, You created all things by Him! You gave Christ as the last Adam to head up Your New Creation. You enfleshed Your Word with Him. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 1:16-17 (1:14-18) JESUS MADE FLESH: GRACE AND TRUTH. ?Because of his :fullness we all received, and grace upon grace. 17 Because the law was given through Moses; the grace and the truth came to be through Jesus Christ.? **Jesus came to die*! Through His Atoning work, reconciliation with You Father, is possible. He was the pure and spotless Lamb of God. We fall at Your feet. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 1:23 (1:19-28) JESUS: WITNESSED TO BY JOHN. What do you say of yourself? He said, ?I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.? (Isaiah 40:3) *Jesus bears Your Name Father, Adonai Jehovah the Savior. John prepared His way by proclaiming repentance and the Kingdom of God at hand. We make straight Your way in Jesus. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 1:29 (1:29-34) JESUS: LAMB OF GOD AND SON OF GOD. ?On the morrow he sees :Jesus coming unto him, and says, See, the lamb of :God, that takes away the sin of the world!? *John knew Your Son Jesus Father, because of the sign of the Spirit-dove. And he boldly witnessed concerning Him as Your Lamb and Son. O forgive us that we so often lack boldness in proclaiming the same message. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 1:35-36 (1:35-42) JESUS: GATHERS DISCIPLES. ?Again on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples; 36 and he looked upon :Jesus as he walked, and says, ?See, the Lamb of :God!? *Again because of John's bold witness concerning Jesus, he lost two of his disciples. May we too have boldness to proclaim the truth, no matter what the cost. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 1:51 (1:43-51) JESUS: REVEALS HIMSELF TO NATHANAEL. And he [Jesus] says to him, Amen, Amen, I say unto you, ?You shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of :God ascending and descending upon the Son of :man.? *This is what Jacob saw at Bethel (Genesis 28:12). Now Your Son Jesus Father, promises it to this new disciple. Give us an open heaven too, *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 2:11(2:1-11) JESUS' FIRST MIRACLE. ?This beginning of :signs did :Jesus in Cana of :Galilee, and manifested his :glory; and his disciples believed on him.? *The fullness of the Godhead bodily dwelt in Jesus, and shone forth glorifying You Father, at this first Sign. O may we be one in You as You and Jesus are one. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 1:12-13 (1:1-13) JESUS: THE NATURE OF THE NEW BIRTH HE GIVES. ?But as many as received him, to them gave he authority to become children of God, **even to them that believe unto his :name: 13 who were begotten, not of bloods, nor of the will of flesh, nor of man's will, but of God.? *Father, Your Son was the Lamb of God, given by You to take away the sins of the world! *You* accepted His Redemptive act, His Propitiatory act, and made Him Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36), giving Him a Name above every Name. You give us the new birth through our faith in Him. Thank You, Father! Back in the 1950's I was working on the Interlinear Greek NT MS, and came to John 1:1. It was important for me to see that *Jesus** *is the *Word* - the *LOgos*, praying it back to God in our own words - something *miraculous * takes place. The LOgos becomes something *living* in our spirit - a R*E*ma word! It all started out this way as a *Living Word*, a R*E*ma . Then over time it settled down, was written, and the entire Bible became a LOgos word. But Jesus in John 6:63 says - ?The words - R*E*ma-ta - I have spoken to you are *spirit*, and are *life*! *MEDITATION* over the LOgos transforms it back into the R*E*ma! The Word of God is *dynamic*. It moves back and forth from LOgos to R*E*ma, as believers by faith wait upon God in a meditative stance. Joshua, David, Jeremiah, George Whitefield and George Muller were but a few who discovered this secret, mastered it, and entered into a dominion of victory and overcoming life! LOgos and R*E*ma are but 2 aspects of the same word of God, but in different states! You and I have the privilege of transforming the LOgos into a R*E*ma through meditation. In the 10th year of George Muller's Christian life he learned this secret by reading the biography of George Whitefield. From that year on, he left the ?yo-yo? type of his first 10 Christian years - and entered into that dynamic life that to this day is yet speaking to believers like you and me. So for me - John 1:1 became one of the significant verses of the Bible. It also became a verse to help me witness effectively to Jehovah's Witnesses - a cult. They point out in this verse that the definite article ?the? does not appear before the second reference to ?God?, where Jesus is called ?a? god, not ?the? God. I challenged a Jehovah's Witness leader: ?If I could show you from the Bible that Jesus is referred to as ?*the*? God? - would you acknowledge that you have been in error?? He confessed that he would, but that it was impossible for me to find such a verse. ?Turn with me to John 20:28, I challenged, where Thomas on seeing Jesus following His Resurrection said, 'My ?the? Lord and my ?*the*? God.'? This young JW leader capitulated, and confessed that he was in error - and our church member attending his classes had her eyes fully opened, and was delivered from this cultic error. But think - *this* is only *one* verse from this section with these astounding nuggets. What will we find as we continue on in meditation - verse by verse? J.A.Watt And now - our Psalm for the Day! *80:1 (80:1-19) RESTORE US, O GOD! ?Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth? (ESV). * Father, we hear the cry of Your people Israel in their tribulation. And though they brought their troubles upon themselves - still You have pity upon them, and for Your covenant love (CHEsed), hear them. No wonder we *Hallow Your Name!* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Nov 3 09:55:07 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 09:55:07 -0700 Subject: John 2:12-3:21 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 3, 2011 *MAR 21 - JOHN 2:12-3:21 - JESUS: NEW BIRTH AND ITS NECESSITY* *1. 2:12 JESUS AND HIS FAMILY. ?After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his :mother, and the brethren, and his :disciples; and there they abode not many days? (NNT). *Soon Jesus' family forsook Him, leaving Him with the 12 alone. Those who hear God's word and *do* it, *these* are Jesus' true family, because they are built on a rock. Father, we honor Your Son, and Your Word through Him. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 2:16-17 (2:13-17) JESUS PURGES THE TEMPLE. And to the :dove-sellers he said, ?Take these hence; make not the house of my :Father a house of merchandise. 17 His :disciples remembered that it is written, 'The zeal for your :house is devouring me.'? *Jesus cleansed His Father's house twice. But we are Your true inner temple, Father! We submit to the cleansing of Your Son! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 2:21-22 (2:18-22) JESUS: ASKED FOR A SIGN. ?But HE spoke of the sanctuary of his :body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his :disciples remembered that he said this, and believed the scripture, and the word which :Jesus had said.? *When You raised Jesus from the dead Father, it was a sign that cannot be spoken against to this day. How powerful You are, Father! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 2:24-25 (2:23-25) JESUS: MAKES BELIEVERS. ?But Jesus himself did not trust himself to them, for that he knew all men, 25 and because he had no need that any one bear witness concerning :man; for himself knew what was in :man.? *You in Christ Father, revealed unto Him all He needed to know. And You were in Him in Your fullness; we only have You and Christ in us in measure. O forgive us that we do not extol, praise and worship You more than we do! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 3:5 (3:1-8) JESUS AND NICODEMUS. Jesus answered, ?Amen, Amen, I say unto you, Except one be born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of :God.? *Apart from a genuine birth of the Spirit, Your Kingdom Father, is a mystery to us. But once we are born from above, we see and enter, and cease to doubt the reality of these great truths! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 3:11-12 (3:9-15) JESUS' ATONEMENT: BASIS OF SALVATION! ?Amen, Amen, I say unto you [that], We speak what we know, and witness what we have seen; and you receive not our :witness. 12 If I told you he earthly things and you believe not, how shall you believe if I tell you :heavenly?? *Jesus' true being, and His true relationship to You Father, are heavenly things only seen by the new birth. And You long to reveal these truths unto us. *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 3:16 (3:16-21) JESUS: DIED FOR THE WORLD. ?For :God so loved the world, that he gave his :only begotten :Son, that whoever believes unto him perish not, but have eternal life.? *This was Your purpose in Jesus Father, to reconcile the world to Yourself. He was born to die. He made an atonement, and a redemption, and a propitiation that was acceptable to you. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 3:17 (3:16-21) JESUS: SENT FIRST TIME AS SAVIOR. ?For :God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world be saved through him.? *Father, we bless You for Your purposes fulfilled through Jesus, Your only begotten Son. We honor Him and You, that in Him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily! The first coming of Jesus 2000 years ago was to become our Savior through His Atoning death! His second coming will be as Judge! and King of kings and Lord of lords! Old Testament prophets did not see this 2000 year time-lapse for the church, the One New Man - composed of a remnant of Jews and then us Gentiles. This was a *mystery*! God chose Paul to be the apostle for the Gentiles, and many of the 27 NT mysteries were revealed to him in his 3-year time in the desert following his conversion on the Damascus road. For many of us, John 3:16 is a key verse in the whole Bible. It is usually the first one memorized. We may not understand the fullness of its meaning, but we do appreciate the new life in the Kingdom into which it introduces us. It is the verse that brought D.L. Moody into the Kingdom of God. Most of us probably see ?eternal life? as the promise of heaven. Actually, it is a promise for the *now*, not the future. For ?eternal life? is the life of the Holy Spirit which comes to us as part of the Peter Package in Acts 2:38. It is the very ?heredity? of Jesus - which He shares with each member of His spiritual body, the Church, the One New Man! As we meditate upon these truths, and ponder over them - God is pleased to open to our understanding many of the deep ?mysteries? of the Kingdom of God, which prophets of old desired to look into - but which were reserved to be understood by those of us living in these latter days. J.A. Watt Today's Psalm: *81:9-10 (81:1-1-16) ?There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. 10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it? (ESV). *Father, as with Israel of old, all our needs are met in You, and in You alone. George Muller realized the truthfulness of this word, and by faith saw You meet every need of his 10,000 orphans! *Hallowed be your :name!* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Nov 4 14:31:52 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2011 14:31:52 -0700 Subject: John 13:1-30 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 4, 2011 *MAR 27 - JOHN 13:1-30 - JESUS: HIS SERVANT SPIRIT* *1. 13:1 JESUS: HIS LOVE UNTO THE END. ?Now before the feast of the passover, :Jesus knowing that his :hour was come for him to depart out of this :world unto the Father, having loved his :own, those in the world, he loved them unto the end? (NNT). *We marvel Father, at the love of Your Son for us, - that in the face of impending death, yet He could prepare them too! O what love and grace! Yes, we crown Jesus as our King! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 13:4-5 (13:2-5) JESUS: WASHES HIS DISCIPLES' FEET. ?He rises from :supper, and sets aside his :garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself. 3 Then he pours water into the basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.? *What an awesome example this must have been to the 12, who had refused to do this for one another! O Father, we are humbled by the humility of Jesus! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 13:6-7 (13:6-11) JESUS AND PETER. ?He comes therefore unto Simon Peter. He says to him, Lord, do YOU wash MY feet? 7 Jesus answered and said to him, What I do YOU know not now; but shall understand afterwards.? *How many things from You Father, we must first do in faith, and only afterwards receive understanding! O teach us to trust and obey; then we will learn that You are always the faithful One! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 13:13-15 (13:12-17) JESUS: AN EXAMPLE. ?YOU call me the Teacher and the Lord: and you say well; for I am. 14 If I therefore, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed YOUR :feet, you also ought to wash the feet of one another. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do even as I have done to you.? *What a humiliating lesson from the hands of the Son of God! Father, we would never forget what Jesus has taught us as disciples here. O forgive us that we so often do forget, and dishonor You through our selfishness. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 13:19-20 (13:18-20) JESUS: FORETELLS HIS BETRAYAL. ?From henceforth I tell you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, you may believe that I am he. 29 Amen, Amen, I say unto you, Who receives whoever I shall send receives me; and who receives me receives him that sent me.? *Jesus' foreknowledge of Judas ought to convince us thoroughly that He *was* fully indwelt by You, Father! He acknowledged that Your Name was in Him. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!* *6. 13:21 (13:21-27) JESUS: INDICATES HIS BETAYER. ?When Jesus had said these things he was troubled in the spirit, and witnessed, and said, Amen, Amen, I say unto you, that one of you shall deliver me up.? *How strongly You had Your Son make this betrayal understood, Father! It is something we must never forget, for we too will be betrayed for the Son of God's sake. But forewarned is to be forearmed. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 13:30 (13:28-30) JESUS: PERMITS JUDAS TO GO OUT. ?HE then having received the sop went out straightway: and it was night.? *What a terrible decision! Woe to the betrayers of the Son of man and his followers! Give us boldness to winsomely confess Your Son Father, as Lord of lords and King of kings! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 13:8 (13:6-11) JESUS: A SOBER WORD TO PETER. ?Peter said to him, You shall never wash my :feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash you not, you have no part with me.? *We must humble ourselves to permit Your Son Father, to do those things for us that we cannot do ourselves. Only HE can cleanse us and set us free! Washing feet for guests - was a normal and necessary custom in the Middle East in Jesus' day. It was something one of Jesus' disciples should have volunteered to do because of such a custom. That they forced Jesus to do what one of them should have done, was *most embarrassing*. Today some make a necessary custom of that time and place, something we must do today. This is probably something in line with having Gentile believers follow all the OT Jewish customs - being Torah Observant. It is true that in OT times Gentiles living with Jews in Israel were required to live like Jews if they were to partake of such Feasts as Passover. But Gentiles *not* living in Israel who were interested in Judaism, were *not*required to keep the full Torah. Then when Jesus as Son of man came, men like Paul, the apostle to Gentiles, protected Gentile believers from the necessity of becoming Torah Observant. *Only* the 4 requirements of the latter part of Acts 15 became obligatory. I see foot-washing in this same category. For those still living in the Middle East - yes- such a custom should not be overlooked. But to require it as a religious necessity out of that environment - no - such should not be obligatory. However - any who voluntarily choose to adopt such a custom for special occasions - no sin. And now - our Psalm for the day: *87:5-6 (87:1-7) GLORIOUS THINGS OF YOU ARE SPOKEN! And of Zion is shall be said, ?This one and that one were born in her?; for the Most High himself will establish her. 6 The LORD records as he registers the peoples, ?This one was born there? (ESV). *Jesus, for the travail of His soul for us, shall be satisfied. Out of Zion have we been spiritually conceived and birthed by Your will O Father, by an incorruptible seed! You have prepared us as the bride of the Lamb. *Hallowed be your :name!* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Nov 5 09:18:00 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2011 09:18:00 -0700 Subject: John 3:22-4:54 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 5, 2011 *MAR 22 - JOHN 3:22-4:54 - JESUS REVEALS HOLY SPIRIT: TRUE DRINK* *1. 3:29-30 (3:22-30) JESUS: WITNESSED TO BY JOHN. ?Who has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that stands and hears him, joys in joy because of the voice of the bridegroom: this my :joy therefore is made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease? (NNT). *John saw that redeemed man is Your bride for Your Son, Father! May we be unselfish like John, and give ourselves to increase Christ! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 3:36 (3:31-36) JESUS: OBJECT OF OUR FAITH. ?Who believes unto the Son has eternal life; but who disobeys the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of :God abides on him.? *You gave the Spirit to Jesus Father, *without measure*! *All* of You abides in Him! No other man, but the last Adam, has been so favored. We will believe in Him and *obey Him*. *Your :kingdom come! * *3. 4:10 (4:1-26) JESUS AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. Jesus answered and said to her, ?If you knew the gift of :God, and who it is that says to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water.? *Your Son baptizes us into Your Spirit Father, and makes us fountains of living water! *This* is what Jesus offered the Samaritan woman! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 4:28-29 (4:27-30) JESUS: WITNESSED TO BY SAMARITAN WOMAN. So the woman left her :water-pot and went away into the city, and said to the men, 29?Come, see a man, who told me all things that I did: can this be the Christ?? *Here is an instant convert, and an instant evangelist! Father, we marvel at what Your Son Jesus accomplished. O forgive us that we limit Him, the Holy One of Israel, and prevent Your Son from doing such works through us! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 4:35 (4:31-38) JESUS: ON THE HARVEST. ?Say not YOU that there are yet four months, and then comes the harvest? Lo, I say unto you, Lift up your :eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white unto harvest.? *Probably the disciples saw the Samaritan village streaming to Jesus! Father, how You would be with us in Christ to accomplish similar things through us for the nations of the world! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 4:39 (4:39-42) JESUS: BELIEVED ON BY SAMARITANS! ?And from that :city many of the Samaritans believed unto him because of the word of the woman, who witnessed [that], He told me all things that I did.? *What grace! Believers coming from the words of a new convert! Others she brought believed for Jesus' words. Father, we would move in You in this same Spirit and see fruit for you. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 4:53-54 (4:43-54) JESUS: HEALS A NOBLEMAN'S SON. ?The father therefore knew that it was at that :hour in which :Jesus said unto him, Your :son lives: and himself believed, and his whole :house. 54 Now this is again a second sign that :Jesus did coming out of :Judea into :Galilee.? *This Treasure is in earthen vessels; but what Treasure we contain : It is *You*Father in Christ by the Spirit! O we magnify You for this *sign* of your Son! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 4:23-24 (4:1-26) JESUS: DEFINES **TRUE WORSHIPERS. ?But an hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for even such the Father seeks as his :worshipers. 22:God is Spirit: and who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.? *O let us hear Your heart's cry, Father! You *seek* little, but You *do seek * for us as worshipers. We would gladden Your heart and fulfill Your desire! For me - the introduction of the word ?gift - d*o*-reA? by Jesus is the significant part of this section. In *pedagogy*, repetition is a key part of teaching. Derek Prince used this principle again and again. Each time he resumed a teaching, he would recapitulate the high points of his preceding talk. He knew that sometimes it was on the 100th hearing of a subject, that someone would say - ?O - *that's* what he's been getting at all this time!? So those of you who have received and understood this truth - bare with me and those who have not yet had it ?click? in their understanding! 11 times in the NT this word appears. The law of first reference normally gives us the definition of that word. Here Jesus tells the woman of Samaria that the gift - d*o*-reA is like an artesian well. Once received, it continues to bubble up in our being as long as we give it opportunity. To fail in this exercise - is to fall into the category of Hebrews 6:4-6, which is the 11th and last reference to this word. *?For as to those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly :gift, and became partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6 and fell away, it is impossible to renew themagain unto repentance; they crucifying again to themselves and openly shaming the Son of :God.? * Does God know who of us will *endure* until the end? Of course. This is soil 4 of the parable of the soils. There is no promise of salvation in soil 1, 2 or 3 - only in soil 4! And in soil 4 Jesus points out that there is a 3-fold possibility: 30, 60 and 100-fold. Soil one doesn't even enter into the picture before the birds of the air (a type of Satain) take the good seed. You and I are unable to tell who is of soil 2 & 3 - but - time quickly exposes soil 2; and later on soil 3 becomes apparent with its 3-fold attack. Jesus clearly said - *?He that endures to the end - the same shall be saved.? *Eternal Security only abides in the endurance of soil 4. So is there eternal security? Of course. But it is more difficult than some would make it in truly declaring it - and not as impossible as others would make it, as a distinct possibility. A new book is soon to come out by Lyndell Enns of Canada entitled ?Catholics and Protestants in Hell?? It will not make easy reading for many - though it is a relatively short book. But it will be one of the most important books to digest and act upon - that has come out in a long time. It hews true and close to the Word of God - cutting through the smog of human thinking and denominationalism. It particularly majors on the 11threference to our word under consideration in this article. Acts 2:28 is its second NT appearance, which reads, *?And Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto remission of your :sins; and you shall receive the gift - do-reA - of the Holy Spirit.? *Note that repentance and faith, the two words required to experience true conversion, precede baptism. When repentance alone is mentioned, it assumes the presence of faith, for the two are two sides of the same coin - producing conversion. *Then* follows baptism, which does not save, for the dying thief on the cross beside Jesus did not experience it. It is Jesus' ?Finished Word? on Calvary that *alone* saves. Repentance and Faith are the keys to open the door to Christ's provision. Baptism was a command, and follows true conversion. See how carefully the apostles in the book of Acts obeyed this. But then, comes and immediately follows the promise of the gift - d*o*-reA. In NT times it normally followed the laying on of hands, but not entirely. For in Acts 10 & 11, we read that Cornelius and his Roman friends and family received the d*o*-reA directly from God in heaven! The other 8 reference to this gift one can find in Strong's Concordance. J.A.Watt And now our Psalm for the day: *82:3-4 (82:1-8) RESCUE THE WEAK AND NEEDY. ?Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.? *Father, this is near to Your heart. Make us like the good Samaritan. *Hallowed be your :name!* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Nov 6 16:52:58 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2011 16:52:58 -0800 Subject: John 5:1-47 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 6, 2011 *MAR 23 - JOHN 5:1-47 - JESUS: CONTROVERSY THROUGH A HEALING* *1. 5:1 JESUS: AT A JEWISH FEAST. ?After these things was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem? (NNT). *We will *not* have this man reign over us (Luke 19:14). This was Your will Father, for Jesus. You sent Him as a King to reign; but His own, the Jews, rejected Him. But we recognize Him as Messiah, King of kings and Lord of lords! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 5:8-9a (5:2-9a) JESUS: HEALS AN IMPOTENT MAN. ?:Jesus said to him, Arise, take up your :bed, and walk. 9a And straightway the man became whole, and took up his :bed and walked.? *What power! What Majesty You manifested through Your Son Jesus, Father! Not one word He spoke; not one miracle He did - but was initiated by *You*! He was a *perfect servant*, the Son of God, the Son of man! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 5:24 (5:9b-27) JESUS: PERSECUTED BY THE JEWS. ?Amen, Amen, I say unto you [that], Who hears my :word, and believes him that sent me, has eternal life, and comes not into judgment, but has passed out of :death into :life.? *How this must have angered the Jews who received not Your Son Father, as Your choice as the Son of man! But we believe He *is* the Son of God, the Messiah; and that life comes through faith in Him and in His Name! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 5:28-29 JESUS: CONFIRMS THE RESURRECTION. ?Marvel not at this: for thehour comes, in which all they in the tombs shall hear his :voice, 29 and shall come forth; who have done the good things, unto resurrection of life; who have practiced the evil things, unto resurrection of judgment.? *What an amazing revelation! But we believe it! O forgive us Father, that ofttimes our faith is weak! *Help* our unbelief! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 5:30 JESUS: PERFECT SERVANT OF THE FATHER. ?I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and :my :judgment is righteous; because I seek not MY :will, but the will of him that sent me.? *We marvel at the humility and perfect servant spirit of Your Son, Father! He is a personification of * all* the Beatitudes! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 5:33-35 (5:31-40) JESUS: HIS DOUBLE WITNESS. ?You have sent unto John, and he has witnessed to the truth. 34 But I receive not the witness from man: however, I say these things, that YOU be saved. 35 HE was the burning and shining :lamp; and YOU were willing to rejoice for an hour in his :light.? *The prophecies of the Old Covenant point to Your Son Jesus, Father. We pray to You in heaven and in Him. We worship You and trust You! *And lead us not into temptation.* *7. 5:44 (5:41-47) JESUS: HONORED BY MOSES. ?How can YOU believe, receiving glory one of another, and the glory :from the only God you seek not?? *For many, the fear of man exceeds the fear of You, Father! How tragic! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 5:19 (9b-27) JESUS' EYE ON THE FATHER! ?:Jesus therefore answered **and said to them, Amen, Amen, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing: for whatever things HE does, these the Son also does likewise.? *Father, as Jesus did nothing apart form You, we would please You by doing nothing apart from Him! Jesus was born a Jew into a Jewish family (descendants of King David) - as the ?Son of man.? But as a true Jew - not a Pharisee, he was Torah Observant, but not man's ?Tradition Oriented rules.? He kept the Torah, but not the Talmud or Mishnah. But He came to inaugurate a New Covenant, namely Himself! which made Him * Lord* of the Sabbath - not captivated by the Torah. And in 70 AD, just as He prophesied, the Temple was destroyed by Titus, Roman Caesar, and no longer could Jews be fully Torah Observant, for 200 of the 613 Torah commands were Temple oriented. *Now* - what Jesus accomplished in His Finished Work at Calvary, fulfilled all Torah Types and Shadows! Gentiles were freed from being Torah Observant - and even Paul and Peter when with Gentiles - *ate with them*! So - all this controversy Jesus underwent in His 3-year earthly ministry - was really the death-pangs - and birth-pangs of the ending of the Old Covenant and the birthing of the New. The Book of Hebrews spells this out theologically speaking in a *full* manner. So why did God have Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration with His Son - speaking of His rejection and death for the *sin* of the world? For it was the *sin-question* Adam introduced to the world through disobedience through the medium of Satan - that Jesus looked after. Individual sins are merely the fruit that naturally follows the sin that entered the world through Adam - namely the nature and essence of Satan. We are *all* born with this. See Ephesians 2:2, which reveals that we once walked according to *the prince of the power of the air*, of *the spirit*that now works in the sons of disobedience. (The Book of Hebrews contrasts Jesus with Moses, to answer the above question.) To thoroughly understand the significance of *this* verse, is to understand the above. The law, the Torah, was given as a schoolmaster to keep our sin and disobedient nature *in check*, until Jesus came as *our New Covenant* Himself, and through fulfilling the Type of Passover and Pentecost, imparted into us *His nature*, *His heritage*, which replaces all the types and Shadows of the Old Covenant - and all the wickedness and deception of Satan through Adam. George Muller saw this Truth extremely clearly. God would have us to see and understand it clearly also. The Book of Galatians is a key book to help us from again being enslaved in the Old. The Book of Hebrews also. We today are in a day of transition. The Invisible Kingdom of God ushered into the hearts of believers 2000 years ago, is about to be manifested openly by the Return of Jesus as Judge, King of kings and Lord of lords - to rule in peace for 1000 years over all the earth through Israel. This will be a *true* replacement of the unworthy United Nations. Even so, come *quickly*, Lord Jesus! And now - our Psalm for the day! *83:5b-8 (83:1-18) O GOD, DO NOT KEEP SILENCE! ?Against you they make a covenant - 6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, 7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Asshur also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah? *O Jehovah Father, it is for the honor of Your Name that we ask You to deliver us from our enemies! And Israel from the above 10 nations also! *Hallowed be your :name! * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Nov 7 09:48:09 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2011 09:48:09 -0800 Subject: A Brave Rabbi Speaks Out Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 7, 1911 *A Brave Rabbi Speaks Out - Posted by Front Page Magazine October 21, 2011* *Editor's note: The sermon below, delivered by Rabbi Schlomo Lewis of Atlanta on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, 2011, has been referred to as the ?Sermon of the Century?* ?*Ehr Kumt? (Yiddish for ?He's Coming?)* I thought long and I thought hard on whether to deliver the sermon I am about to share. We all wish to bounce happily out of shul on the High Holidays, filled with warm fuzzies, ready to gobble up our brisket, our honey cakes and our kugel. We want to be shaken and stirred - but not too much. We want to be transformed but not too much. I get it, but as a rabbi I have a compelling obligation, a responsibility to articulate what is in my heart and what I passionately believe must be said and must be heard. And so, I am guided not by what is easy to say but by what is painful to express. I am guided not by the frivolous but by the serious. I am guided not by delicacy but by urgency. We are at war. We are at war with an enemy as savage, as voracious, as heartless as the Nazis but one wouldn't know it from our behavior. During WWII we didn't refer to storm troopers and freedom fighters. We didn't call the Gestapo, militants. We didn't see the attacks on our Merchant Marine as acts by rogue sailors. We did not justify the Nazis rise to power as our fault. We did not grovel before the Nazis, thumping our hearts and confessing to abusing and mistreating and humiliating the German people. We did not apologize for Dresden, nor for the Battle of the Bulge, nor for El Alamein, nor for D-Day. Evil - ultimate, irreconcilable, evil threatened us and Roosevelt and Churchill had moral clarity and an exquisite understanding of what was at stake. It was not just the Sudetenland, not just Tobruk, not just Vienna, not just Casablanca. It was the entire planet. Read history and be shocked at how frighteningly close Hitler came to creating a Pax Germana on every continent. Not all Germans were Nazis - most were decent, most were revolted by the Third Reich, most were good citizens hoisting a beer, earning a living and tucking in their children at night. But, too many looked away, too many cried out in lame defense - ?I didn't know.? Too many were silent. Guilt absolutely falls upon those who committed the atrocities, but responsibility and guilt falls upon those who did nothing as well. Fault was not just with the goose steppers but with those who pulled the curtains shut, and said nothing. In WWII we won because we got it. We understood who the enemy was and we knew that the end had to be unconditional and absolute. We did not stumble around worrying about offending the Nazis. We did not measure every word so as not to upset our foe. We built planes and tanks and battleships and went to war to win ... to rid the world of malevolence. We are at war ... yet too many stubbornly and foolishly don't put the pieces together and refuse to identify the evil doers. We are circumspect and disgracefully politically correct. Let me mince no words in saying that from Fort Hood to Bali, from Times Square to London, from Madrid to Mumbai, from 9/11 to Gaza, the murderers, but barbarians are radical Islamists. To camouflage their identity is sedition. To excuse their deeds is contemptible. To mask their intentions is unconscionable. A few years ago I visited Lithuania on a Jewish genealogical tour. It was a stunning journey and a very personal, spiritual pilgrimage. When we visited Kovno we davened Maariv at the only remaining shul in the city. Before the war there were thirty-seven shuls for 38,000 Jews. Now only one, a shrinking, gray congregation. We made minyon for the handful of aged worshipers in the Choral Synagogue, a once majestic, Jewel in Kovno. After my return home I visited Cherry Hill for Shabbos. At the oneg and elderly family friend, Joe Magun, came over to me. ?Shalom,? he said, ?Your abba told me you just came back from Lithuania.? ?Yes,? I replied. ?It was quite a powerful experience.? ?Did you visit the Choral Synagogue in Kovno? The one with the big arch in the courtyard?? ?Yes, I did. In fact, we helped them make minyon.? His eyes opened wide in joy at our shared memory. For a moment he gazed into the distance and then, he returned. ?Shalom, I grew up only a few feet away from the arch. The Choral synagogue was where I davened as a child.? He paused for a moment and once again was lost in the past. His smile faded. Pain filled his wrinkled face. ?I remember on Shabbos in 1938 when Vladimir Jabotinsky came to the shul? (Jabotinsky was Menachim Begin's mentor - he was a fiery orator, an unflinching Zionist radical, whose politics were to the far right.) Joe continued, ?When Jabotinsky came, he delivered the drash on Shabbos morning and I can still hear his words burning in my ears. He climbed up on the shtender, stared at us from the bima, glared at us with eyes full of fire and cried out. 'EHR KUMT. YDN FARLAWST AER SHTETL - He's coming. Jews abandon your city.'? We thought we were safe in Lithuania from the Nazis, from Hitler. We had lived there, thrived for a thousand years; but Jabotinsky was right - his warning prophetic. We got out but most did not.? We are not in Lithuania. It is not the 1930s. There is no Luftwaffe overhead. No U-boats off the coast of Long Island. No Panzer divisions on our borders. But make no mistake; we are under attack - our values, our tolerance, our freedom, our virtue, our land. Now before some folks roll their eyes and glance at their watches let me state emphatically, unmistakably - I have no pathology of hate, nor am I a manic Paul Revere, galloping through the countryside. I am not a pessimist, nor prone to panic attacks. I am a lover of humanity, all humanity. Whether they worship in a synagogue, a church, a mosque, a temple or don't worship at all. I have no bone of bigotry in my body, but what I do have is hatred for those who hate, intolerance for those who are intolerant, and a guiltless, unstoppable obsession to see evil eradicated. Today the enemy is radical Islam but it must be said sadly and reluctantly that there are unwitting, co-conspirators who strengthen the hands of the evil doers. Let me state the the overwhelming number of Muslims are good Muslims, fine human being who want nothing more than a Jeep Cherokee in their driveway, a flat screen TB on their wall and a good education for their children; but these good Muslims have an obligation to destiny, to decency that thus far for the most part they have avoided. The Kulturkampf is not only external but internal as well. The good Muslims must place ads in the NY Times. They must buy time on network TV, on cable stations, in the Jerusalem Post, in Le Monde, in Al Watan, on Al Jazeera condemning terrorism, denouncing unequivocally the slaughter of the innocent - thus far, they have not. Their silence allows the vicious to tarnish Islam and define it. Brutal acts of commission and yawning acts of omission strengthen the hand of the devil. I recall a conversation with my father shortly before he died that helped me understand how perilous and how broken is our world; that we are living on the narrow seam of civilization and moral oblivion. Knowing he had little time left he shared the following - ?Shal. I am ready to leave this earth. Sure I'd like to live a little longer, see a few more sunrises, but truthfully, I've had it. I'm done. Finished. I hope the Good Lord takes me soon because I am unable to live in this world knowing what it has become.? This startling admission of moral exhaustion from a man who witnessed and lived through the Depression, the Holocaust, WWII, Communist Triumphalism, McCarthyism, Strontium 90 and polio, - Yet his twilight observation was - ?The worst is yet to come.? And he wanted out. I share my father's angst and fear that too many do not see the authentic, existential threat we face nor confront the source of our peril. We must wake up and smell the hookah. ?Lighten up, Lewis. Take a chill pill, some of you are quietly thinking. You're sounding like Glenn Beck. It's not that bad. It's not that real.? But I am here to tell you - ?It is.? Ask the member of our shul whose sister was vaporized in the Twin Towers and identified finally by her charred teeth, if this is real or not. Ask the members of our shul who fled a bus in downtown Paris, fearing for their safety from a gang of Muslim thugs, if this is an exaggeration. Ask the member of our shul whose son tracks Arab terrorist infiltrators who target - pizza parlors, nursery schools, Pesach seders, city buses and play grounds, if this is paranoid hyperbole. Ask them, ask all of them - ask the American GI's we sit next to on planes who are here for a brief respite while we fly of on our Delta vacation package. Ask them if it's bad. Ask them if it's real. Did anyone imagine in the 1920's what Europe would look like in the 1940's. Did anyone presume to know in the coffee houses of Berlin or in the opera halls of Vienna that genocide would soon become the celebrated culture? Did anyone think that a goofy-looking painter named Schickelgruber would go from the beer halls of Munich and jail, to the Reichstag as Fuhrer in less than a decade? Did Jews pack their bags and leave Warsaw, Vilna, Athens, Paris, Bialystok, Minsk, knowing that soon their new address would be Treblinka, Sobibor, Dachau, and Auschwitz? The sages teach - ?Aizehu chacham - haroeh et hanolad - Who is a wise person - he who sees into the future.? We dare not wallow in complacency, in a misguided tolerance and naive sense of security. We must be diligent students of history and not sit in ash cloth at the waters of Babylon weeping. We cannot be hypnotized by eloquent-sounding rhetoric that soothes our heart but endangers our soul. We cannot be lulled into inaction for fear of offending the offenders. radical Islam is the scourge and this must be cried out from every mountain top. From sea to shining sea, we must stand tall, prideful of our stunning decency and moral resilience. Immediately after 9/11 how many mosques were destroyed in America? None. After 9/11, how many Muslims were killed in America? None. After 9/11, how many anti-Muslim-rallies were held in America? None. And yet, we apologize. We grovel. We beg forgiveness. The mystifying litany of our foolishness continues. Should there be a soul in Hebron on the site where Baruch Goldstein gunned down twenty-seven Arabs an noonday prayers? Should there be a museum praising the U.S. Calvary on the site of Wounded Knee? Should there be a German cultural center in Auschwitz? Should a church be build in the Syrian town of Ma'arra where Crusaders slaughtered over 100,000 Muslims? Should there be a thirteen story mosque and Islamic Center only a few steps from Ground Zero? Despite all the rhetoric, the essence of the matter can be distilled quite easily. The Muslim community has the absolute, constitutional right to build their building wherever they wish. I don't buy the argument - ?When we can build a church or a synagogue in Mecca they can build a mosque here.? America is greater than Saudi Arabia. And New York is greater than Mecca. Democracy and freedom must prevail. Can they build? Certainly. May they build? Certainly. But should they build at that site? No - but that decision must come from them, not from us. Sensitivity, compassion cannot be measured in feet or yards or in blocks. One either feels the pain of others and cares, or does not. If those behind this project are good, peace-loving, sincere, tolerant Muslims, as they claim, they should know better, rip up the zoning permits and build elsewhere. Believe it or not, I am a dues-paying, card carrying member of the ACLU; yet from start to finish, I find this sorry episode disturbing to say the least. William Burroughs, the novelist and poet, in a wry moment wrote - ?After one look at this planet, any visitor from outer space would say - ?I want to see the manger.? Let us understand that the radical Islamist assaults all over the globe are but skirmishes, fire fights, and vicious decoys. Christ and the anti-Christ. God V 'Magog. The Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness; the bloody collision between civilization and depravity is on the border between Lebanon and Israel. It is on the Gaza Coast and in the Judean Hill of the West Bankaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. It is on the sandy beaches of Tel Aviv and on the cobblestoned mall of Ben Yehuda Street. It is in the underground schools of Sderot and on the bullet-proofed inner-city buses. It is in every school yard, hospital, nursery, classroom, park, theater - in every place of innocence and purity. Israel is the laboratory - the test market. Every death, every explosion, every grisly encounter is not a random, bloody orgy. It is a calculated, strategic probe into the heart, guts and soul of the West. In the Six Day War, Israel was the proxy of Western values and strategy while the Alliance was the proxy of Eastern, Soviet values and strategy. Today too, it is a confrontation of proxies, but the stakes are greater than East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Israel in her struggle represents the civilized world, while Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Queda, Iran, Islamic Jihad, represent the world of psychopathic, loathsome evil. As Israel, imperfect as she is, resists the onslaught, many in the western World have lost their way displaying not admiration, not sympathy, not understanding, for Israel's galling plight, but downright hostility and contempt. Without moral clarity, we are doomed because Israel's galling plight ultimately will be ours. Hanna Arendt in her classic Origins of Totalitarianism accurately portrays the first target of tyranny as the Jew. We are the trial balloon. The canary in the coal mine. If the Jew/Israel is permitted to bleed with nary a protest from ?good guys? then tyranny snickers and pushes forward with its agenda. Moral confusion is a deadly weakness and it has reached epic proportions in the West; from the Oval Office to the UN, from the BBC to Reuters to MSNBC, from the New York Times to Le Monde, from university campuses to British teachers' union, from the International Red Cross to Amnesty International, from Goldstone to Elvis Costello, from the Presbyterian Church to the Archbishop of Canterbury. There is a message sent and consequences when our president visits Turkey and Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and not Israel. There is a message sent and consequences when free speech on campus is only for those championing Palestinian rights. There is a message sent and consequences when the media deliberately doctors and edits film clips to demonize Israel. There is a message sent and consequences when the UN blasts Israel relentlessly, effectively ignoring Iran, Sudan, Venezuela, North Korea, China and other noxious states. There is a message sent and consequences when liberal churches are motivated by Liberation theology, not historical accuracy. There is a message sent and consequences when murderers and terrorists are defended by the obscenely transparent, ?One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.? John Milton warned, ?Hypocrisy is the only evil that walks invisible.? A few days after the Gaza blockade incident in the spring, a congregant happened past my office, glanced in as asked in a friendly tone - ?Rabbi, How're y' doing?? I looked up, sort of smiled and replied - ?I've had better days.? ?What's the matter? Is there anything I can do to cheer you up?? he inquired. ?Thank you for the offer but I'm just bummed out today, and I showed him a newspaper article I was reading. ?Madrid gay parade bans Israeli group over Gaza Ship Raid.? I explained to my visitor - ?The Israeli gay pride contingent from Tel Aviv was not allowed to participate in the Spanish gay pride parade because the mayor of Tel Aviv did not apologize for the raid by the Israeli military.? The only country in the entire Middle East where gay rights exist, is Israel. The only country in the entire Middle East where there is a gay pride parade, is Israel. The only country in the Middle East that has gay neighborhoods and gay bars, is Israel. Gays in the Gaza would be strung up, executed by Hamas if they came out - and yet Israel is vilified and ostracized. Disinvited to the parade. Looking for logic? Looking for reason? Looking for sanity? Kafka on his darkest, gloomiest day could not keep up with this bizarre spectacle and we ?useful idiots? pander and fawn over cutthroats, sinking deeper and deeper into moral decay, as the enemy laughs all the way to the West Bank and beyond. It is exhausting and dispiriting. We live in an age that is redefining righteousness where those with moral clarity are an endangered, beleaguered specie. Isaiah warned us thousands of years ago - ?O ye Lehem Sheh-KIoim Layome, Laila v'Laila, yome - Woe to them who call the day, night and the night, day.? We live on a planet that is both Chelm and Sodom. It is a frightening and maddening place to be. How do we convince the world and many of our own, that this is not just Antisemitism, that this is not just anti-Zionism but a full throttled attack by unholy, radical Islamists on everything that is morally precious to us? How do we convince the world and many of our own that conciliation is not an option, that compromise is not a choice? Everything we are. Everything we believe. Everything we treasure, is at risk. The threat is so unbelievably clear and the enemy so unbelievably ruthless, how anyone in their right mind doesn't get it is baffling. Let's try an analogy. If someone contracted a life-threatening infection and we not only scolded them for using antibiotics but insisted that the bacteria had a right to infect their body and that perhaps, if we gave the invading infection an arm and a few toes, the bacteria would be satisfied and stop spreading. Anyone buy that medical advice? Well, folks, that's our approach to the radical Islamist bacteria. It is amoral, has no conscience and will spread unless it is eradicated. - There is no negotiating. Appeasement is death. I was not a great fan of George Bush - didn't vote for him. (By the way, I'm sill a registered Democrat.) I disagreed with many of his policies but one thing he had right. His moral clarity was flawless when it came to the War on Terror, the war on Radical Islamist Terror. There was no middle ground - either you were friend or foe. There was no place in Bush's world for a Switzerland. He knew that this competition was not Toyota against G.M., not the Iphone against the Droid, not the Braves against the Phillies, but a deadly serious war, winner take all. Blink and you lose. Underestimate, and you get crushed. I know that there are those sitting here today who have turned me off. But I also know that many turned off their rabbis seventy five years ago in Warsaw, Riga, Berlin, Amsterdam, Cracow, Vilna. I get no satisfaction from that knowledge; only a bitter sense that there is nothing new under the sun. Enough rhetoric - how about a little ?show and tell?? A few weeks ago on the cover of Time magazine was a horrific picture with a horrific story. The photo was of an eighteen year old Afghani woman, Bibi Aisha, who fled her abusive husband and his abusive family. Days later the Taliban found her and dragged her to a mountain clearing where she was found guilty of violating Sharia Law. Her punishment was immediate. She was pinned to the ground by four men while her husband sliced off her ears, and then he cut off her nose. This is the enemy. If nothing else stirs us. If nothing else convinces us, let Bibi Aisha's mutilated face be the face of Islamic radicalism. Let her face shake up even the most complacent and naive among us. In the holy crusade against this ultimate evil, picture of Bibi Aisha's disfigurement should be displayed on billboards, along every highway from route 66 to the Autobahn, to the Transarabian Highway. Her picture should be posted on every lobby wall from Tokyo to Stockholm to Rio. On every network, at every commercial break, Bibi Aisha's face should appear with the caption ?Radical Islamic savages did this.? And underneath - ?This ad was approved by Hamas, by Hesbollah, by Taliban, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, by Islamic Jihad, by Fatah al Islam, by Magar Nodal Hassan, by Richard Reid, by Ahmajinidad, by Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, by Osama bin Laden, by Edward Said, by the Muslim Brotherhood, by Al Queda, by CAIR.? ?The moral sentiment is the drop that balances the sea? said Ralph Waldo Emerson. Today, my friends, the sea is woefully out of balance and we could easily drown in our moral myopia and worship of political correctness. We peer into the heavens sending probes to distant galaxies. We peer down into quarks discovering particles that would astonish Einstein. We create computers that rival the mind, technologies that surpass science fiction. What we imagine, with astounding rapidity, becomes real. If we dream it, it does, indeed, come. And yet, we are at a critical point in the history of this planet that could send us back into the cave, to a culture that wold make the Neanderthal blush with shame. Our parents and grandparents saw the swastika and and recoiled, understood the threat and destroyed the Nazis. We see the banner of Radical Islam and can do no less. A rabbi was once asked by his students ... ?Rabbi. Why are your sermons so stern?? Replied the rabbi, ?If a hous is on fire and we chose not to wake up our children, for fear of disturbing their sleep, would that be love? Kinderlach, 'di hoyz brent.' Children, our house is on fire and I must arouse you from your slumber.? During WWII and the Holocaust was it business as usual for priests, ministers, rabbis? Did they deliver benign homilies and lovely sermons as Europe fell, and the Pacific fell, and North Africa fell, as the Mideast and South America tottered, as England bled? Did they ignore the demonic juggernaut and the foul breath of evil? They did not. There was clarity, courage, vision, determination, sacrifice, and we were victorious. Today, it must be our finest hour as well. We dare not retreat into the banality of our routines, glance at our headlines and presume that the good guys will prevail. Democracies don't always win. Tyrannies don't always lose. My friends - the world is on fire and we must awake from our slumber. ?EHR KUMT.? - ?*He's coming*!? *NOTE**: Both my wife and I commend this rabbi's sermon. Of course we do not follow his homosexual/gay position - but **that makes his total discourse all the more damning to Radical Islam! We lived through the Great Depression and WWII. I served in the Navy during the latter time. And - the parallel between Hitler & Nazism to Radical Islam is well-taken! Today - ?Mein Kampf? by Adolph Hitler - is a best-seller among Radical Islamists. Read that back into the Rabbi's sermon! - Jim & Marie Watt* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Nov 8 09:33:30 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 09:33:30 -0800 Subject: Elvin Gladney & Pilot Prayer Team Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 8, 2011 *2011-08-24 - PILOT PRAYER TEAM - ELVIN GLADNEY* *On Saturday August 20, 7:00 pm - 5 of our team met in Sumner at headquarters for Jim Ray and John Hwang. On Friday August 19 Julie Baxter recommended strongly that Elvin be brought into the hospital ASAP. He had a serious case of dehydration and high blood sugar. One report on Saturday was that he was doing better.* *I talked to his wife Wanda, and she confirmed that the Pilot Prayer Team should meet, focusing primarily on the healing of Elvin. We did so, and I asked Jim Ray to take Elvin's place and lead us in prayer on his behalf. Jim felt led to have us consider Nehemiah and his rebuilding of the broken down walls of Jerusalem. He reminded us that key leaders were assigned separate portions of the wall, with a member on each side. He suggested that we set Elvin as it were in our center, and pray for each specific member at our sides, so that there would be no opening for the enemy to gain access. After we prayed in this manner, Jim then read Psalm 27, putting in Elvin's name for the first 10 verses.* *We sensed a strong presence of the Lord descend upon us as we prayed. Terry Brown became a sixth member through a special phone connection. Later Wanda told me that at the time we were praying for Elvin, she felt a very strong presence of the Lord in the hospital room.* *It seemed to us that God had answered prayer on behalf of Elvin, just as He had for the 25 year old friend in Placerville, CA when we prayed in 2009 at the request of Cindy Cowper.* *However, we received a report that 3 angels appeared in Elvin's hospital room mid-Sunday morning, and took him to his heavenly home. The question arose - Didn't we sense answered prayer for Elvin Saturday evening in the same manner as in 2009 for the Placerville young lady? And the answer was, Yes. Then - how do we explain the Sunday morning event?* *In 2009 I was leading that meeting, with Elvin strongly standing with me, as well as the other team members. But Saturday August 20, Jim Ray was leading the meeting as Leader for the first time. In ?Rees Howells, Intercessor? by Norman P. Grubb, Rees relates the first in the Mission to sleep in Jesus on p. 81. He follows up this account with, ?It was after that the Holy Spirit revealed why it had been necessary to take this case - 'that no flesh should glory in His presence.' In a great position like this, God would not be free to use it through a person who had not first 'died' to it. It is death first and then resurrection. As the first-born and the first-fruits were to be given back to the Lord, so the first case of healing, the first-fruits of this intercession, belonged to the Lord and had to go to the altar.?* *Then on p. 99 Rees relates the difference between a prayer warrior and an intercessor. ?During his address Mr. Howells also touched on divine healing, and told of the Lord's dealings with him over the consumptive woman: how the first gained case had to go to the altar, because the first-fruits belong to God; and how, although the Holy Spirit witnessed in him that he had gained it, he had to walk it as a failure; and how through that the Lord gave such a sentence of death to the flesh, that in all future cases of healing self would take no glory.* *In telling this, he had no idea that Lord Radstock had been led the same way. The story was afterwards recorded in his biography. He had accepted the truth of divine healing, through James 5:15, ?The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him ?, and pledged himself to act on it; indeed he believed the Church's neglect of this command was the cause of much suffering. After he had taken this stand, his eldest daughter fell seriously ill. He had many doctors among his religious friends, but felt led to refuse their help, yet in spite of his faith in God's word, ?heaven was silent and the child died?. Standing over her death-bed, he was enabled to say, ?Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.? It was a tremendous test to his faith, and caused him great personal agony; but out of the affliction he came forth more than a conqueror, and was afterwards used in hundreds of cases of divine healing. However, he had never understood why his daughter had died, until he heard Mr. Howells. He took immediate hold on the word about the first-fruits going to the altar; but it made him wonder how the Lord had been able to reveal these laws to his young servant. It made such an impression on him that he told Rees Howells God had given him light which should be passed on to the church of Christ, and as a university training would be an advantage, he would like him to go to College at his expense. He also took him to see many of his friends, and asked him to repeat this same point to them. But as Mr. Howells said concerning God's claim on the first-fruits: ?Only a person near it would see it.?* *God immediately reminded me of these two occurrences, and it came to me that for Jim Ray as our new leader, that his first case gained had to go to the altar as a first-fruit. Following cases in the life of Rees Howells and Lord Radstock would stand as a testimony to the faithfulness of God!* *Then I sensed a second Spirit-intimation. Elvin was a tremendous help to me personally. We met indirectly in 1990 at Beth Simcha through Les Carr. He later introduced us to Elvin and Wanda in the early '90's. Then in the early 2000's we became yet closer. But when I called together the Pilot Prayer Team on October 31, 2009, I did so because God said He was about to activate the Laser-Telescope vision of 1967 on behalf of City Churches and Presbyteries (Elderships) through Canada and the US.* *Elvin immediately agreed, and became the second of 8 members according to the second vision of 1967. Within a year I asked if he would take over the leadership of the PPT, which he did. He sensitively moved us to have the leading of God's Spirit for each of our prayer requests, in line with the teaching of Rees Howells.* *When I laid out before the Team the 7 Component Parts of the Laser-Telescope of the '67 vision, he immediately laid hold of it, and had all 8 of us move daily in light of this.* *Ivan Panin's ?Outlined Interlinear Greek NT for Laymen? was the first of those Component Parts. In the Fall of 2007 Marie and I resigned from our leadership at Congregation Beth Chesed in Tacoma. I immediately started typing up the Interlinear on our Website. My grandson Keelan Long updated this Website by undergirding it with data-processing. For my birthday on July 5, 2008, my wife Marie gave me an HP Laptop to expedite this, and Keelan put on it Linux software, so he could help me from Mt. Vernon. With the insistence of Elvin, I completed this project on December 31, 2010. In the meantime, Elvin contacted his friend Timothy Johnson of Moses Lake, a Printer, and so sold him with the importance of this Number One component part of the Laser-Telescope, that Timothy felt God leading him to print this Interlinear Greek NT, and has Volume I, the Gospels, about ready for me for proof-reading. Through the help of my grandson, he also has the rest of the NT readied for printing. I have proof-read all of this 4 times since December 31, 2010.* *Component Part 4 from the Laser-Telescope - are the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles that came together in 1948 at North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Elvin sensed the importance of these 12 also. In July of 1992 the Lord commissioned me to believe Him to bring these 12 Embryonic Principles to ** Maturity**. Elvin saw himself as a key to bring the City Churches and Eldership in the Gate Concept - into reality throughout Cascadia (the Pacific NW), Canada and Kenya. This is linked with the tribe of Naphtali. He had me come to Moses Lake with him in January 2011 to share the challenge and vision of the Interlinear Greek NT, and its place in God's Organic Laser-Telescope. He used one of my ?Overhead Pictures? of this to illustrate this vision: in Cultus Lake, Canada; Portland Oregon, and Abbotsford BC, I presented the vision of 1967; Elvin showed the picture of it, and in a fiery Motivational challenge - in all 3 cities - saw no one left in a seat! Everyone (scores including children) came forward at his challenge to receive an impartation to be part of this Vision! I on occasion told Elvin - ?Brother - I think sometimes you see the Commissions God has given me - more clearly than even I see them myself!*? *You can imagine my feeling when I heard that God had translated Elvin from this life to the Higher! Humanly speaking one can ask - who can replace this man who effectively wore 7 hats?* *But God! His glory He will not give to another. Elvin walked in all of the 5-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11-12. I was well aware of the 3-fold area in which I was supported by this man.* *But God! Elvin is now with Him. The cloud of witnesses of Hebrews 12:1-2 has been joined by one more - pulling for all of us. God will not fail. It may take a number down here to fill all 7 of the hats Elvin wore. But God can do it. The Interlinear will be published! The PPT will multiply, and through the Laser-Telescope vision and the 12-fold Embryonic Truths of 1948 coming to maturity - we will see 70 cities in Canada joined with Elderships of 8 in each Gate, and - the US - and in the nations of the world prior to the return of Jesus as Lord of lords and King of kings.* *Another hat Elvin wore: husband and father of two. Here we all can pray and believe that Wanda and the children will more than be looked after. Elvin was a humble man. Few knew the high gifting God placed upon him and the many hats he wore. He did not blow his own horn. As Solomon in Proverbs exhorted - ?Let another man praise you - and not your own mouth? - so Elvin walked. This word above may be for many the first time you have become aware of our great loss from a human stand-point.* *So that we not depend unduly on His human instrument, God will have all the glory by taking him unto Himself.* *And thirdly - a ?Solution? we can learn from this - is ?Multiplication of Administration?. Elvin may have found it difficult in the rush of needs - to delegate and raise up a Joshua as did Moses - for each of the areas of his effective ministry. It is difficult to maintain proper rest, wise diet, exercise etc., when so many are looking to us as one - for the areas of gifting we possess. It is possible that this Home-call may not have happened so suddenly, had these other areas been strongly maintained.* *George Whitefield said for himself that it was better to burn out than rust out, and in his early 50's, he went home to be with the Lord after an exceedingly fruitful ministry in both Great Britain and America. Perhaps Elvin and Whitefield were spiritual brothers at this point.* *You will sense from above some of the areas of prayer that each of us can engage in - because of this sudden promotion.* *On behalf of the Pilot Prayer Team of the Sea-Tac Metroplex - Jim Watt* * * * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Nov 9 13:11:04 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2011 13:11:04 -0800 Subject: John 6:1-71 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 9, 2011 *MAR 24 - JOHN 6:1-71 - JESUS: THE TRUE MANNA!* *1. 6:11 (6:1-13) JESUS: FEEDS THE 5000. :Jesus therefore took the loaves, and having given thanks, he distributed to those sitting down; likewise also of the fishes as much as they would? (NNT). *O the order of Your Kingdom, Father! The multitude were seated in 50's and 100's; all were fed, with food left over. When Your King of the Jews is in charge, *all things are possible*! *Hallowed be your name!* *2. 6:19-20 (6:14-21) JESUS: WALKS ON THE SEA. ?When therefore they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they behold :Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near the boat: and they were afraid. 20 But he said to them, It is I (E-GO ei-mi); be not afraid.? *You, Father Jehovah, were in Christ manifesting Yourself by signs and wonders and mighty deeds. Greater things You would do through us! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 6:32-33 (6:22-40) JESUS: TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN. ?:Jesus therefore said to them, Amen, Amen, I say unto you, Not Moses gave you the bread out of :heaven; but my :Father gives you the true :bread out of :heaven. 33 For the bread of :God is he that comes down out of :heaven, and gives life to the world.? *It was *You* Father, Who fed Israel for 40 years in the wilderness. It was *You* who gave us *Jesus* as our Living Bread. * Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 6:43-44 (6:41-51) JESUS: CAUSES JEWS TO MURMUR. ?Jesus answered and said to them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No one can come unto me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.? *The Jewish leaders did not want to accept Your Son Father, as Your Messiah, Your Servant, this Son of David, to reign over them. They did not like His claims of His relationship to You. O forgive us that so often we too have an inadequate revelation and understanding of Your Son! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 6:53-54 (6:52-59) JESUS: PRESSES HOME HARD TEACHING. ?:Jesus therefore said to them, Amen, Amen, I say unto you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of :man and drink his :blood, you have not life in yourselves. 54 Who feeds on my :flesh and drinks my :blood has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.? *What a hard saying for even His disciples! Yet by submission and revelation we can see it and *perceive* it! Father, uphold us from having low concepts of Your Son! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 6:63 (6:60-65) JESUS: CAUSES DISCIPLES TO MURMUR. ?It is the Spirit that makes alive; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life.? *We receive these living words from Your Son, Father. We believe He *is* the Son of God, and that He is in You and You in Him. To see *Jesus* is to *know You* (14:9). *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 6:66-67 (6:66-71) JESUS: SEES MANY DISCIPLES GO BACK! ?Upon this many of his :disciples went :back, and walked no more with him. 67 :Jesus said therefore to the twelve, Would you also go away?? *Father, even many of the disciples of Your only begotten Son went back on Him! If they forsook Him, they will forsake us also! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE: 6:68-69 (6:66-71) JESUS: SOLE POSSESSOR OF WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE! ?Simon Peter answered him, Lord, unto whom shall we go? you have the words of eternal life. 69 And WE have believed and know that YOU are the Holy One of :God.? *O Holy Father, there are those truly Yours, who forsook *not*Your Son. And *there will be* the true remnant faithful to You through us! Amen!* * John 6 sets Jesus forth as God's true Manna, and whose shed blood effectively makes the basis for our Redemption and the coming of the Holy Spirit - *true drink* - and the very ?heritage? of our Lord Jesus entering into our lives! Our first responsibility is *always* to make and maintain a vital relationship with our Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The need of mankind is secondary. If we put that first, we will burn out and be unfruitful. If we put God first - *He* will lead us into fruitful pastures. Remember Elijah - he had the widow and her son make *him* first some bread - and then prophesied that the meal and oil would *not* fail till rain came! God first - mankind second! See again John 15:16 (1-16) - *You did not choose me, but **I chose you**, and appointed you, that you go and bear fruit, and **that** your :fruit abide: that **whatever** you shall ask of the Father **in my :name**, he may give it you.? *But first - we must be in the relationship of the branch to the vine. Then fruit-bearing becomes effortless on our part - for the sap of the vine causes the branch to be fruitful. The great temptation for us - is to look at the human needs, and put them first in priority; and we then neglect that intimate relationship and fellowship of the branch to the vine. E. Stanley Jones well understood this principle. Just before preaching any one of his sermons, he *always* quoted and prayed over the above verse. The fruitfulness of his life is easily understood in this light! J. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, for the first 20 years or so of his Chinese service, saw little fruit with much labor. Then God showed him where his first priority must be - through opening up John 15:1-16 to him. From then on, with one third less toil and labor, he became fruitful in a multiplied manner! From then on in every letter he sent out, he exhorted his readers to have a John 15:1-16 experience! *Then* they would be like Jesus - and through Him - become broken bread and poured out wine to others! John 6 was a hard message for Jesus' disciples - and *many* turned back and walked no more with Him. They were not of Soil Four! But his 12 disciples saw the necessity of a true relationship with Jesus - and 11 of them stuck with Him! How about you and me? J.A.Watt And our Psalm for the day! *84:1-2 (84:1-12) MY SOUL LONGS FOR THE COURTS OF THE LORD! ?How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! **2** My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God? (ESV). *Father, David was a man after Your own heart, himself a true and amiable tabernacle of God! O that we each one might have such a heart after You, and thereby *Hallow your :name!* * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Nov 10 13:02:45 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:02:45 -0800 Subject: John 7:1-10:21 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 10, 2011 *MAR 25 - JOHN 7:1-10:21 - JESUS: CAUSES BITTER OPPOSITION* *1. 7:6-7 (7:1-13) JESUS: DISBELIEVED BY HIS BROTHERS. ?:Jesus therefore said to them, ?:My :season is not yet come; but your :season is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hates, because I witness of it, that its :works are evil? (NNT). *Division is in one's own house because of unbelief and fear of man above fear of God! All these things Jesus prophesied, and experienced. Yet it did not change Him, or *You*, Father! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 7:16-17 (7:14-36) JESUS: TEACHES IN THE TEMPLE. ?Jesus therefore answered them, and said, My :teaching is not mine, but his that sent me. 17If any wills to do his :will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of :God, or whether I speak from myself.? *What sublime confidence in You, Father! How far short of Your glory we come! O help our unbelief. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 7:37-38 (7:37-52) JESUS: LIVING WATER SERMON. ?Now on the last, the great day of the feast, :Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any thirst, let him come unto me and drink. 38 Who believes unto me, as the scripture has said, our of his :belly shall flow rivers of living water.? *What a promise, and what a *gift*! What opposition this word created among the rulers! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 8:10b-11 (7:53-8:11) JESUS: ACCUSERS CONVICTED. ?Woman, where are they? did no one condemn you? 11 And she said, No one, Lord. And :Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you: go; from now on sin no more.? *What grace and forgiveness! How different from the accusers and rulers! Satan is the accuser of brothers through *us*! O forgive us Father, that we yield to him, and speak against those made in Your image! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 8:12 (8:12-20) JESUS: LIGHT OF THE WORLD. ?Again therefore :Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world: who follows me shall in no wise walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of :life.? *Father, You have made Jesus *Light* and *Bread*! This was a cause of stumbling and offense to both people and rulers. Only *You* restrained them at this time. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 8:31-32 (8:21-59) JESUS: THREATENED WITH STONES. ?:Jesus therefore said to the Jews that had believed him, If YOU abide in my :word, you are truly my disciples; 32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.? *Father, we *believe* these words of Your Son. We believe on the Son of God. We confess that You have made Him both Lord and Messiah, and that He has a Name above every name, even Your Name: Jehovah the Savior! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 10:14-15 (9:1-10:21) JESUS: THE GOOD SHEPHERD. ?I am the good :shepherd; and I know :mine, and :mine know me, 15 even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my :life for the sheep.? *The true shepherd cares for his sheep, even if his own life is jeopardized. Your Son Father, risked His life to care for such a sheep as this blind man. We exalt you in Jesus! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 10:16 (9:1-10:21) JESUS: SHEPHERD FOR GENTILES TOO! ?And other sheep I have which are not of this :fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my :voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.? *Gentiles would soon press in to become part of Messiah's Kingdom (12:20-24). We bless You Father, for Your Plan and Purpose in Jesus! He that lives godly in Christ Jesus - *shall* suffer persecution. Make no mistake - don't be led into deception - he who is bold in the Kingdom of God with word and life and example - *will* be hated and suffer persecution. Jesus told his brothers: *You* the world does not hate - but Me it hates, because I tell it that its deeds are evil! *This* is politically incorrect! But Peter told their religious persecutors - It is better for us to *obey God* than *you*! Jesus was persecuted for clearly and explicitly exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and they hated Him for it - even to plotting and carrying through with His death! Christian believers who are not being persecuted - may be lacking in godliness, or perhaps are not exposing sin and hypocrisy. Even our kids don't like to be told of disobedience - and punishment to follow. So this passage of 4 chapters shows the steady development and growth of hatred against Jesus. Look at our world of today and America. See how they are trying to remove all trace of God. ?Jesus? cannot be used in public prayer. ?In God we trust? - may be removed and replaced with something innocuous. The oath of allegiance - hurts the feelings of atheists and some other religions. Islam looks on Christians as enemies. So what else is new? But many professing Christians are almost totally ignorant of these issues! But when we look at the above selections from the Gospel of John - and how clearly and boldly Jesus proclaimed the truth - we cannot fail to observe why the world hated Him. Read the 4 Gospels carefully with these thoughts in mind - and full corroboration and agreement will come. But - *true* believers in Jesus - His *true* sheep - *hear* His voice, love Him and follow Him - *and* join Him in living and speaking like Him - even unto death. Not so much in America - but in most of the rest of the world - martyrdom in ever increasing numbers is taking place. And by the time the Antichrist takes over - *never* will it be seen so bad. Yet - *Jesus is coming*! He is *returning*! He will slay Antichrist and the false prophet. He will cast Satan into the bottomless pit for 1000 years. Even so - come quickly - Lord Jesus! J.A. Watt And now our Psalm for the day - *85:12-13 (85:1-13) REVIVE US AGAIN. ?Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way? (ESV). *What sublime faith in You, Father! You will do this for Israel; You will do it for the Church also. You are *true* to Your Word, and *faithful*altogether. *Hallowed be your :name! * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Nov 11 18:10:15 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:10:15 -0800 Subject: John 10:22-12:50 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 11, 2011 *MAR 26 - JOHN 10:22-12:50 - JESUS: ENEMIES PLAN HIS DEATH* *1. 10:27-28 (10:22-39) JESUS: SECURITY FOR HIS SHEEP. ?:My :sheep hear my :voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 and I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my :hand? (NNT). *In Your eternal purpose and plan Father, we are in Your Son, the last Adam, the Head of Your *new creation*. You were in Christ reconciling the world to Yourself. In this we see Your Majesty! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 10:41-42 (10:40-42) JESUS: MANY BELIEVE ON HIM. ?And many came unto him, and they said [that], John indeed did no sign: but all things whatever John spoke of this man were true. 42 And many believed unto him there.? *How wonderful is Your Son Jesus, Father! We magnify You for Him, and You *in Him *! We too believe in Him. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 11:25-26 (11:1-53) JESUS: RESURRECTS LAZARUS! ?:Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: who believes unto me shall live, even if he die; 26 and every one who lives and believes unto me shall nowise die unto the age.? *Father, Jesus is in You, and You are in Your *fullness* in Your Son! Resurrection Life flows out of this union in tremendous power! Your Son granted Lazarus life from the dead. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 11:57 (11:54-57) JESUS: HIS LIFE THREATENED. ?Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders, that, if any knew where he was, he should show it, that they might take him.? *The Jewish rulers could not stand Jesus. They did not know You Father, and in their fear of man they feared for their carnal position in Israel. O forgive us, that this same spirit sometimes permeates us also! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 12:3 (12:1-11) JESUS: HIS DEATH CONSULTED. ?:Mariam therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of :Jesus, and wiped his :feet with her :hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.? *Father, we bless You that Your Son received this sacrifice with approval. How it showed up the evil heart of Judas and the lack in the rest of the disciples! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 12:13 (12:12-19) JESUS: HIS TRIUMPHAL ENTRY. ?[As Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, the great crowd] took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet him, and shouted, Hosanna: Blessed who comes in the Lord's Name, Even the King of :Israel.? *Yes Father, we join the multitude in glorifying Your Son Jesus, Your chosen. In Him all Your purposes find fulfillment! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 12:23-24 (12:20-50) JESUS: GREEKS PRECIPITATE HIS DEATH. ?And :Jesus answers them, saying, The hours is come, that the Son of :man should be glorified. 24 Amen, Amen, I say unto you, Except the grain of the wheat fall into the earth and die, it abides by itself alone; but if it die, it bears much fruit.?* This is the secret of Your Kingdom, Father: Out of death comes life. We identify ourselves with Christ by denying ourselves and taking up our cross. *But deliver us from the evil **one!* *NOTE**: 12:49 (12:20-50) JESUS: SPOKE ONLY FROM THE FATHER. ?Because I spoke not from myself; but the Father that sent me, HE has given me commandment, what I should say, and what I shall speak.? *O Father, we magnify You in Your Son for His great faithfulness! May we too glorify You in like measure. The Raising of Lazarus from the dead, was followed soon by the Palm Sunday accolades and glorification of Jesus. These two events in the mind of the Pharisees absolutely required the death of Jesus. They felt their whole position in Israel was in jeopardy because of Jesus, and therefore He had to go. It was just finding the proper time and occasion. Judas provided the latter. Then when Jesus heard from Philip that Greeks were seeking Him - He knew that He could not produce the church, the One New Man, composed of Jew and Gentile in a new Covenant - namely Himself through His blood! - except through His immediate death. Therefore John 12 points out His full understanding that He as a kernel of wheat must fall into the ground and die. Then in His Resurrected form, He would be able to bear much fruit, and as Head of this spiritual body, He could in the Father bring each one of us into His Kingdom; and upon His return we would each one receive resurrected bodies like His! As the Great High Priest of our *confession* - after the order of Melchizedek - He also as our Great Intercessor - is about to pray through and into effect all things foretold in Scripture. Also, the end of this section opens up for us John 13-17 - one unit, majoring on the Paraclete - the coming Holy Spirit - to take Jesus' place during the church age. *Better* the Holy spirit abiding *within* us, than Jesus being *with us*! And now - our Psalm for the day: *86:8-9 (86:1-17) GREAT IS YOUR STEADFAST LOVE - YOUR **CHE**SED! ?There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. **9** All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O LORD, and glorify your name.? *In this prayer of David, we see also the prayer of his Greater Son: son of David, Son of God, Messiah. We honor You Father, for Your faithfulness, and *Hallow your :name!* * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Nov 12 10:47:27 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:47:27 -0800 Subject: John 13:31-14:31 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *MAR 28 - JOHN 13:31-14:31 - JESUS: FOUNDATION FOR HOLY SPIRIT* *1. 13:34-35 (13:31-35) JESUS: SPEAKS OF HIS GLORIFICATION. ?A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; even as I love you, that you also love one another. 35 By this shall all know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another? (NNT). **This* is the great fruit of the Atonement and indwelling Holy Spirit! If Jesus is glorified in You Father, and we are in You; then we *must love* one another! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 13:38 (13:36-38) JESUS: PREDICTS DENIAL OF PETER. ?Jesus answered, Will you lay down your :life for me? Amen, Amen, I tell you, The cock shall in nowise crow, till you have denied me thrice.? **Presumption* is not faith! Claiming what we do not truly understand is not necessarily faith, but often is presumption. Help us to be humble in these areas, Father! *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 14:6 (14:1-7) JESUS: HIS PREPARED PLACE. ?Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes unto the Father, but through me.? *Father, You have made Your Son Jesus to be the true and living way! Only through Him can we find You. Only by Him can we become Your corporate dwelling place on earth. You have given Jesus to us, Father! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 14:10 (14:8-14) JESUS: UNITY WITH HIS FATHER. ?Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? the words that I say to you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me does his :works.? *Father You want to abide is us *just as* You abide in Your Son. He is Your tent on earth. *We* are to be Your many-roomed mansion now, and in the resurrection Jesus will return with the dead and make Your Kingdom glorious on earth. O forgive us that we selfishly put off this Glory as pie in the sky! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 14:21 (14:15-21) JESUS: PROMISES THE COMFORTER. ?Who has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and who loves me shall be loved of my :Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.? *Here is the Key! O Father, help us to hear and perceive these words of Your Son Jesus! The early disciples understood and manifested their faith. May we believe that the Glory of the *Latter House* shall be greater than the Former! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 14:23-24 (14:22-24) JESUS: ANSWERS JUDE'S QUESTION. ?Jesus answered and said to him, If any love me, he will keep my :word: and my :Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 Who loves me not keeps not my :words: and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.? *Here is the mansion; here is the abode: You Father, and Your Son abiding in us in Your fullness upon earth. The *meek*shall inherit the *earth*! By Your Spirit You will help us to understand. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 14:26 (14:25-31) JESUS: WORK OF THE COMFORTER. ?But the Comforter, the Holy :Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.? *Your Spirit Father, is our Paraclete, our Comforter. We rest in You and trust You to lead us into all truth. We bless You for Your Spirit, for Pentecost following Passover. Now we await *Tabernacles*, the Harvest, the Greatest Feast of all, when *openly* you will show Your Kingdom and power and glory! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 14:12 (14:8-14) JESUS: PROMISE TO US OF GREATER WORKS! ?Amen, Amen, I say unto you, Who believes unto me, the works that I do shall HE do also; and greater that these shall he do; because I go unto the Father.? *You Father, with Your Son abiding in us together, will enable us to do more than Your Son alone. He said so. We believe Him! John 13-17 majors on the Holy Spirit. Jesus primarily came to Redeem and Reconcile lost mankind back to God - who created us. Satan through Adam's sin put *his* nature into Adam and *all* his progeny, including you and me. Jesus by His Atoning death legally made it possible to put *His heritage into us* - namely the Holy Spirit. No other section in the Bible more clearly sets forth the nature and function of the Paraclete, the one set to come alongside of us and inside of us. Many of His functions as Teacher and Remembrance are set forth here. The washing of the disciples' feet by Jesus - when *they* failed to demonstrate a ?servant spirit? - is the very basis for us becoming candidates for the Holy Spirit. The whole nature of God and Jesus is so contrary to the nature of Satan, which was injected into us through Adam in the Garden of Eden! Jesus promises all of us through His disciples - the New Jerusalem and Paradise. Many have received visions of the reality of John 14:6 - but for me - ?Visions Beyond the Veil? by H.A. Baker - more fully and clearly confirms this promise than any other. I know the daughter-in-law of this author - who also confirms this - and her son, grandson of this writer, has put forth an updated edition of this classic volume. You can obtain it through *>*, Rolland and Heidi Baker. The Holy Spirit in these 5 chapters is also called the Comforter! Just as Jesus was a comfort to His disciples through His brief 3-year ministry - so the Holy Spirit would be a *Comfort* to us the church through the next 2000 years - Jews and Gentiles together. Israel is the ?firstborn? in the One New Man - and therefore has a place of precedence that is normal for the firstborn to receive. Paul in Romans 11 exhorts us as Gentiles to perceive and act upon this truth. Not that Israel is better - but God in His Sovereignty has *chosen* her for this position! Do we recognize Him as the Potter - and we the clay? Then we will have no difficulty accepting His choice in this. John 17 is the Key and Conclusion to this section. It is the High Priestly prayer of our Lord Jesus after the order of Melchizedek. The Father abundantly answered His prayer - by giving us the same glory as a part - that His Son on earth had in fullness! The Glory - the Shekinah - is closely related to the Holy Spirit. And now our Psalm for the day - *88:13 (88:1-18) I CRY OUT DAY AND NIGHT BEFORE YOU! ?But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you? (ESV) *For even if the fig tree does not blossom ... still, I will rejoice in the LORD. I will take joy in the God of my salvation .... The LORD my God is my strength (Hab. 3:17a, 18-19a). Yes, we *will* *Hallow your :name*, Father! *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Nov 13 09:59:10 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2011 09:59:10 -0800 Subject: Preaching! - Oswald Chambers Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 13, 2011 ?*PREACHING? ? From ?Disciples Indeed? ? Oswald Chambers - March 15, 2007 * These lectures were given to students in the sermon class at the Bible Training College, in London, between 1911 and 1915 Because of the give and take nature of the class, Oswald?s lectures were short and practical. Rather than giving a detailed process to follow in sermon preparation, he sought to motivate students to think, study, and prepare. He often stressed that the behavior and words of the person who preaches are inseparable. *FOREWORD ? *Oswald Chambers was above all else a teacher of spiritual truth. Our Ascended Lord?s promise was to give His Church ?some to be ? teachers; for the perfecting of the saints? (Ephesians 4:11 RV). This book contains messages spoken by such a teacher, full of wisdom and instruction in righteousness. Teachers call for learners. Some of us who heard the spoken word became humble and eager learners. Many who never saw or heard the speaker are learning from him now. In a recent letter the writer said, ?It is not generally known how these books came into being, and the time seems favorable for revealing God?s providence in it all.? Oswald Chambers received his Home-call in 1917 when working with the Y.M.C.A. among the Troops in Egypt. It seemed like the end of a fruitful ministry. Then it was that Mrs. Chambers realized that her custom of taking down in shorthand her husband?s lectures and addresses for her own profit had left her with a great store of spiritual wisdom which could be shared with the wider world by the printed page. So began a remarkable ministry of spreading in book form the original spoken words. As the writer of the above-mentioned letter says, ?The whole matter is a sheer miracle, especially as the only planning has been God?s.? DISCIPLES INDEED, the latest book to be issued, speaks for itself. Other volumes show by the outlines and headings given what careful preparation was made for every spoken message. But often the spontaneous word of a Spirit-filled man, whether the subject was Christian Doctrine, Psychology, Biblical Ethics or Homiletics, would be added, and appear in the shorthand notes. Many of these not included in the earlier publications are printed here. They touch a wide range of subjects, and take us to the heart of Oswald Chambers? message. They make this book a kind of VADE MECUM of sainthood. ? David Lambert *PREACHING ? *A personal testimony feeds you from hand to mouth; you must have more equipment that that if you are to preach the Gospel. The preacher must be part of his message; he must be incorporated in it. That is what the baptism of the Holy Spirit did for the disciples. When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost He made these men living epistles of the teaching of Jesus, not human gramophones recording the facts of His life. If you stand true as a disciple of Jesus He will make your preaching the kind of message that is incarnate as well as oral. To preach the Gospel makes YOU a sacrament; but if the Word of God has not become incorporated into you, your preaching is ?a clanging cymbal? (RV); it has never cost you anything, never taken you through repentance and heartbreak. We have not to explain how a man comes to God, instead of bringing men to God, that hinders; an explanation of the Atonement never drew anyone to God; the exalting of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified does draw men to God (see John 12:32). *REMEMBER, YOU GO AMONG MEN* *AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF JESUS CHRIST.* The preacher?s duty is not to convict men of sin, or to make them realize how bad they are, but to bring them into contact with God until it is easy for them to believe in Him. No man is ever the same after listening to the truth; he may say he pays no attention to it; he may appear to forget all about it; but at any moment the truth may spring up into his consciousness and destroy all his peace of mind. The great snare in Christian work is this ? ?Do remember the people you are talking to.? We have to remain true to God and His message, not to a knowledge of the people; and as we rely on the Holy Spirit we will find God works His marvels in His own way. *LIVE IN THE REALITY OF THE TRUTH* *WHILE YOU PREACH IT.* Most of us prefer to live in a particular phase of the Truth, and that is where we get intolerant and pigheaded, religiously determined that everyone who does not agree with us must be wrong. We preach in the Name of God what He won?t own. God?s denunciation will fall on us if in our preaching we tell people they must be holy and we ourselves are not holy. If we are not working out in our private life the messages we are handing out, we will deepen the condemnation of our own souls as messengers of God. *OUR MESSAGE ACTS LIKE A BOOMERANG;* *IT IS DANGEROUS IF IT DOES NOT.* A good clear emotional expression contains within it the peril of satisfactory expression while the life is miles away from the preaching. The life of a preacher speaks louder than his words. There is no use condemning sensuality or worldly-mindedness and compromise in other people if there is the slightest inclination for these in our own soul. It is all very well to preach, the easiest thing in the world to give people a vision of what God wants; it is another matter to come into the sordid conditions of ordinary life and make the vision real there. Beware of hypocrisy with God, especially if you are in no danger of hypocrisy among men. Penetration attracts hearers to God, ingenuity attracts to the preacher. Dexterity is always an indication of shallowness. A clever exposition is never right because the Spirit of God is not clever. Beware of cleverness; it is the great cause of hypocrisy in a preacher. Don?t be impatient with yourself, because the longer you are in satisfying yourself with an expression of the Truth the better will you satisfy God. Impressive preaching is rarely Gospel-preaching: Gospel-preaching is based on the great mystery of belief in the Atonement, which belief is created in others, not by my impressiveness, but by the insistent conviction of the Holy Spirit. There is far more wrought by the Word of God than we will ever understand, and if I substitute anything for it, fine thinking, eloquent speech, the devil?s victory is enormous, but I am of no more use that a puff of wind. The determination to be a fool if necessary is the golden rule for a preacher. We have to preach something which to the wisdom of this world is foolishness. If the wisdom of the world is right, then God is foolish; if God is wise, the wisdom of this world is foolishness (see 1 Corinthians 1:18-25). Where we go wrong is when we apologize for God. If you are standing for the truth of God you are sure to experience reproach, and if you open your mouth to vindicate yourself you will lose what you were on the point of gaining. Let the ignominy and the shame come; be ?weak in Him.? Never assume anything that has not been made yours by faith and the experience of life; it is presumptuous to do so. On the other hand, be ready to pay the price of ?foolishness? in proclaiming to others what is really yours. People only want the kind of preaching which does not declare the demands of a holy God. ?Tell us that God is loving, not that He is holy, and that He demands we should be holy.? The problem is not with the gross sinners, but with the intellectual, cultured, religious-to-the-last-degree people. All the winsome preaching of the Gospel is an insult to the Cross of Christ. What is needed is the probe of the Spirit of God straight down to a man?s conscience till his whole nature shouts at him, ?That is right, and YOU are wrong.? It is the preacher?s contact with Reality that enables the Holy Spirit to strip off the sophistries of those who listen; and when He does that, you find it is the best people who go down first under conviction. A great psychological law too little known is that the line of appeal is conditioned by the line of attraction. If I seek to attract men, that will be the line on which my aggressive work will have to be done. To whom is our appeal? To none but those God sends you to. You can?t get men to come; nobody could get you to come until you came. ?The wind blows where it lists, ? so is every one that is born of the Spirit.? Many of the theological terms used nowadays have no grip; we talk glibly about sin, and about salvation; but let the truth be presented along the line of a man?s deep personal need, and at once it is arresting. Some of us are rushing on at such a headlong pace in Christian work, wanting to vindicate God in a great Revival; but if God gave a revival we would be the first to forget Him and swing off on some false fire. Don?t exhaust yourself with other things. Beware of the devil of good taste being your standard in presenting the truth of God. ?Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh? (2 Corinthians 5:16); that is the way we do know men ? according to our common-sense estimates. The man who knows God has no right to estimate other men according to his common-sense judgments; he has to bring in revelation facts which will make him a great deal more lenient in his judgment. To have a little bit only of God?s point of view makes us immensely bitter in our judgment. Beware lest your reserve in public has the effect of God Almighty?s decree to the sea ? ?Hitherto shall you come, but no further.? I have no business in God?s service if I have any personal reserve; I am to be broken bread and poured-out wine in His hands. If you are living a life of reckless trust in God, the impression given to your congregation is that of the reserve power of God; while personal reserve leaves the impression that you are condescending to them. We should give instruction unconsciously; if you give instruction consciously in a dictatorial mood ? you simply flatter your own spiritual conceit. Have you never met the person whose religious life is so exact that you are terrified at coming near him? Never have an exercise of religion that blots God clean out. Remember two things: be natural yourself, and let God be naturally Himself through you. Very few of us have got to the place of being worthily natural; any number of us are un-worthily natural; that is, we reveal the fact that we have never taken the trouble to discipline ourselves. Don?t be discouraged if you suffer from physical aphasia; the only cure for it is to go ahead, remembering that nervousness overcome is power. Beware of being disappointed with yourself in delivery; ignore the record of your nerves. Learn to be vicarious in public prayer. Allow two rivers to come through you: the river of God, and the river of human interests. Beware of the danger of preaching in prayer, of being doctrinal. When you preach, you speak for God, and from God to the people; in prayer, you talk to God for the people, and your proper place is among the people as one of them. It is to be a vicarious relation, not the flinging of theology at their heads from the pulpit. Always come from God to men; never be so impertinent as to come from the presence of anyone else. How do interruptions affect you? If you allot your day and say, ?I am going to give so much time to this, and so much to that,? and God?s Providence upsets your time-table; what becomes of your spirituality? Why, it flies out of the window! It is not based on God; there is nothing spiritual about it; it is purely mechanical. The great secret is to learn how to draw on God all the time. Whenever you are discovered as being exhausted, take a good humiliating dose of John 21:15-17. The whole secret of shepherding is that someone else reaches the Savior through your heart as a pathway. *BEWARE OF MAKING GOD?S TRUTH SIMPLER* *THAN HE HAS MADE IT HIMSELF.* By the preaching of the Gospel God creates what was never there before, namely, faith in Himself on the ground of the Redemption. People say, ?Do preach the simple Gospel;? if they mean by ?the simple Gospel? the thing we have always heard, the thing that keeps us sound asleep; then the sooner God sends a thrust through our stagnant minds the better. If any man?s preaching does not make me brace myself up and watch my feet and my ways, one of two things is the reason ? either the preacher is unreal, or I hate being better. A joyous, humble belief in your message will compel attention. Sermons may weary ? the Gospel never does. *NOTE:* Did the thought occur to you as you read the above ? ?This seems as if I am reading an extension of the Book of Proverbs?? Good! ? Then it will have the power to grip us, motivate us and shape us. Though it is directed to those called to preach ? yet we can all pray for all preachers. What a difference answered prayer on this line will make in our churches! ?The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers? was published by Discovery House Pulishers in 2000 and is available through Christian Book Distributors, Alibris or Amazon. It contains 50 books, prepared posthumously by his wife Biddy. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Nov 16 10:12:48 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:12:48 -0800 Subject: Clan & Household Salvation Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 16, 2011 *2011-11-14 - CLAN & HOUSEHOLD SALVATION (2010-03-16)* *CLAN SALVATION FIRST INTRODUCED* On the first Wednesday of August 1982, our Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Arcata, California invited Pastor Jack Hayford to speak at our prayer service. We normally had 13 or so present. Some 500 to 600 crowded into our auditorium, including 150 more in a basement room with Closed circuit television. He told us how his mother in June of that year recounted how her husband and Jack's father of Oakland, California - in 1969 - was reading Exodus 28 for his devotions. The Holy Spirit took over and said to him, ?My son, if you take Judah's name off the red Sardius stone on Aaron's Breastplate of Judgment, and replace it with your Clan name of 'Hayford'; and if you take Issachar's name off the Topaz stone next to it, and replace it with your wife's maiden name of 'Smith'; and if you and your wife will agree to pray twice a day for your two clans, *I** *will make an effective witness to every member of these two clans throughout the world, and those of open heart, I will bring into My Kingdom!? His wife agreed, and within 6 months 4 Hayfords and 2 Smiths, of whom they had no previous acquaintanceship - contacted them as new converts! Then for the next year, - no contacts. When queried, God said - ?I confirm every word in the mouth of 2-3 witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1); I have given you six! How can you walk by faith if I keep confirming this word? Keep praying and believing; when you get to heaven, you'll see what I have done.? Pastor Jack confirmed what his father and mother had done until the former's death in 1979. His mother continued with this prayer challenge until June of 1982, when she informed their son of this. He asked, ?Why didn't Dad tell me this years ago?? ?You know your Dad,? his mother answered; ?If God showed this to a layman, how much more would every pastor know of it? Why waste your time, son?? Pastor Jack was astounded. He researched this out, and found it entirely scriptural. He then said, ?Whenever I have a one service stand, and unless the host pastor or the Holy Spirit says otherwise, I will *always* speak on Clan Salvation!? Thursday morning after he had spoken, my wife Marie and I knelt in prayer for our devotions. I presented the ?Watt? clan to God, and the ?Gaudet? Clan representing Marie's maiden name. But I am a Canadian Scot in my background, and it seemed a shame to do nothing with the other 10 stones on the breastplate! So I added my mother's maiden name of Mosher; and Marie's maternal grandfather's name ?Chartrand?; Next the names of the spouses of our 3 children - and the names of the spouses of the brothers and sisters of Marie and myself. I had to add 6 more stones to the breastplate of judgment to contain them all! Within 16 months, God in Manitoba opened the door for Marie to discover the family tree of the Lacerts going back 6 generations - her maternal grandmother's name. 16 months later He opened the door for her Chartrand heritage. Soon she discovered that she is related to one half of French Canadian Manitoba. Then in 1996 she was led to seek her unknown and older half brother in Quebec. God miraculously led her and a younger brother to him at the age of 75. He gave all the glory to God, and witnessed for 20 minutes of this miracle to a Pentecostal church in Quebec. As a Catholic, his life was transformed, and many of the lives of his 5 children and their families were affected. A few weeks after Jack Hayford shared this ?find? with us in Arcata, I read in the San Francisco Chronicle of a Chinese clan by the name of ?Hu?, that met annually, 500 of them, to celebrate their clanship in that city. But the newspaper article added that there are 60 million ?Hu's? on mainland China! I prayed, ?O God - lead me to a 'Hu' to win to you, and get him praying for his 60 million clan members.? Later in Vancouver BC, I was preaching near the UBC campus, and at the close of the service, a lovely Chinese lady told me - ?I am Monica Hu, and this morning I started praying for my 60 million clan members in China! *HOUSEHOLD SALVATION* But the above is only half the story. In 1944 in Victoria BC, God had just saved me as a Canadian sailor. Somebody gave me a copy of ?Herald of His Coming?, and the lead article was ?Household Salvation?. As soon as one member of a household is saved, he can claim the rest of his household! Noah in Genesis 7:4 and Hebrews 11:7 built an ark to the saving of his * household*; *L. 11:1-40 OT EXAMPLES OF ENDURING AND TRIUMPHAND FAITH* *2. 11:3-12 FAITH IS BASED ON A LIVING (REma) WORD* *d. 11:7 NOAH ACTED ON GOD'S WORD CONCERNING COMING JUDGMENT* *By faith Noah, warned concerning the things not seen as yet,* PIstei chr*e*-ma-tisTHEIS [5537] N*O*e peRI t*o*n m*e*DEp*o* ble-poMEn*o*n [991], *with godly fear prepared an ark to the saving of his :house;* eu-la-b*e*THEIS [2125] ka-teSKEUa-sen [2680] ki-b*o*TON [2787] eis s*o*-t*e*RIan [4991] tou OIkou auTOU; *through which he condemned the world,* di' H*E*S kaTEkri-nen [2632] ton KOSmon, *and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.* kai t*e*s kaTA PIstin di-kai-oSUn*e*s [1343] eGEne-to kl*e*-roNOmos [2818]. God said concerning Abraham in Genesis 18:19 - ?I know him that he will bring up his *household* to serve me; Abraham used this faith to reach out to his nephew Lot (Genesis 19:12-13), and saved him out of Sodom and their enemies; Exodus 12 let Israel know that God saves by *households*, if the blood of the Lamb is on the lintel and doorposts of their homes; Rahab the harlot saw her whole *household* saved by Joshua at Jericho: her father, mother, brothers and sisters and all their kids (Joshua 2 & 6); Joshua believed God for the saving of his entire *household* (Joshua 24:15); Cornelius believed God for all his relatives plus close friends (Acts 10 & 11)! *XII. 10:1-11:18 GOD EXPANDS THE GOSPEL NET TO INCLUDE GENTILES* *B. 11:1-18 GOD'S SOVEREIGN CHOICE ACCEPTED BY JEWS* *j. 11:12b-14 SIX WITNESSES WITH PETER WHO HEARD CORNELIUS' VISION* *And these :six brethren also went with me; and we went in into the man's :house:* *E*Lthon de sun eMOI kai hoi hex a-delPHOI HOUtoi; kai eiS*E*Ltho-men eis ton OIkon tou anDROS: *13 and he reported to us how he had seen the angel* aP*E*Ggei-len [518] de h*e*MIN p*o*s EIden ton AGge-lon *standing in his :house, and saying, Send to Joppa,* en t*o* OIk*o* auTOU staTHENta, kai eiPONta, A-POstei-lon [649] eis IOpp*e* n, *and fetch Simon, whose surname is Peter;* kai meTApem-psai [3343] SIm*o*-na, ton e-pi-kaLOUme-non [1941] PEtron; *14 who shall speak unto you words, by which YOU shall be saved, and all your :house.* hos laLEsei 'REma-ta pros se, en hois soTHEse su, kai pas ho OI-KOS sou. Lydia believed God for her entire *household* (Acts 16:15) *XVII. 15:36-19:20 GROWING EFFECTIVENESS OF PAUL'S MINISTRY* *C. 16:11-40 RESULTS WHEN SPIRIT-GUIDANCE FOLLOWED* *d. 16:15a THE HOSPITALITY OF LYDIA * *And when she was baptized, and her :house, she besought us,* h*o*s de e-bapTISth*e* [907], kai ho OIkos auT*E*S, pa-reKAle-sen [3870], *saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my : house, and abide.* LEgou-sa, Ei keKRIkaTE me piST*E*N t*o* KuRI*o* EInai, ei-selTHONtes eis ton OI-KON mou, MEne-te. The Philippian jailer saw his entire *household* saved and baptized before breakfast (Acts 16:3l); *3:16-40 PERSECUTION RESULTS IN CONVERSIONS* *m. 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and YOU shall be saved and your :household.* hoi de EIpan, PIsteu-son ePI ton KUri-on I*e*SOUN, kai s*o*TH*E*s*e* [4982]su kai ho OI-KOS [3624] sou. and Crispus the same (Acts 18:18). All these are *most* encouraging for us. Charles Haddan Spurgeon wouldn't let God alone until all 300 of his * household* were saved; Jonathan Edwards claimed God's covenant promise to the 3rdand 4thgeneration of all his family tree. A check after his death found over 1600 saved, while another family of unbelievers had some 1400 costing tax payers money through all their crimes and jail sentences. A pastor friend of mine told how his mother in Alberta wouldn't let God alone till all 12 of her sons were saved! In February 1946 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, at 3:00 am, and 38 degrees below zero outside, God awoke me and said, ?Ask me for *your family*, and I will give them to you.? I leaped out of bed on a very cold cement floor, and said, ?My father, my mother and my brother!? God's answer: ?You've got them!? If it hadn't been so cold I might have thought of all my aunts and uncles and other relatives. Within a few years all 3 of the above were gloriously saved! A lady in Chicago (originally from Georgia) - attended our Baptist church. She pestered me to get her husband C.B. Caple saved, - a most ungodly man. She wouldn't set a right example, but loved him and didn't want him to go to hell. God in mercy to get her off my back, gave me a tract, ?How I Learned to Pray for the Lost.? As a missionary in China, the author wanted help from God to win 40 unsaved relatives back in England. God gave her 3 verses: Mark 10:27 - the *strong* Possibility: *N. 10:17-31 LORDSHIP: THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE* *2. 10:23-27 WARNING TO RICH MEN* *f. 10:27 GOD'S RESCUE* *:Jesus looked upon them and said, Impossible with men,* emBLEpsas auTOIS ho I*e*SOUS LEgei, PAra anTHR*O*pois aDUna-ton [102], *but not with God: for all things are possible with :God.* all' ou paRA The*O*: PANta gar du-naTA [1415] paRA t*o* The*O*. 1 Timothy 4:10 - Jesus' complete *Purchase price*: *D. 4:1-10 FOREWARNING OF LAST DAY APOSTASY* *2. 4:6-10 THE CORRECTIVE TO THE FALSE TEACHER* *d. 4:10 HOPE IN GOD: AN INCENTIVE TO GODLINESS* *For unto this we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on a living God,* eis TOUto gar ko-pi*O*men [2872] kai a-g*o*-niZOme-tha, HOti *e*lPIka-men [1679] ePI The*O* Z*O*Nti, *who is Savior of all men, specially of the faithful.* HOS es-tin s*o*T*E*R [4190] PANt*o*n anTHR*O*p*o*n, MAli-sta [3122] piST*O* N. and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - How to *possess* the promises. All 40 were then saved. *M. 10:1-18 PAUL'S DEFENSE AGAINST FALSE APOSTLES* *b. 10:3-6 PAUL: THE STRENGTH IN HIS WEAPONS* *For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh* En sarKI gar pe-ri-paTOUNtes, ou kaTA SARka stra-teuOme-tha [4754] *4 (for the weapons of our :warfare are not of flesh,* (ta gar HOPla [3696] t*e*s straTEIas [4752] h*e*M*O*N ou sar-kiKA [4559], *but mighty before :God unto casting down of strongholds);* alLA du-naTA t*o* The*O* pros kaTHAIre-sin [2506] o-chu-r*o*MAt*o*n [3794]); *5 casting down reasonings, * lo-gisMOUS ka-thaiROUNtes, *and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of :God,* kai pan HUps*o*-ma [5313] e-paiROme-non [1869] kaTA t*e*s GN*O*se-*o*s tou TheOU, *and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of the Christ;* kai aich-ma-l*o*TIzon-tes [163] pan NO*e*-ma [3540] eis t*e*n hu-pa-ko*E*N [5218] tou ChrisTOU; *6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience,* kai en heTOIm*o* [2092] Echon-tes ek-diK*E*sai [1556] PAsan pa-ra-ko*E*N [3876], *when your :obedience shall be made full.* HOtan pl*e*-r*o*TH*E* [4137] huM*O*N h*e* hu-pa-ko*E*. We had Pearl come over the following Monday morning, and went over these 3 verses for *Household salvation*. In 5 minutes we got off our knees, because we had the witness that God had heard. Then C.B. Caple got glomular nephritis from over-drinking during his army days, went into a coma, had visions of heaven and hell, and was *soundly saved* by the time he came out of the coma! Pearl asked him, ?C.B. - What did you see?? ?I saw heaven and hell,? he replied, ?and I made up my mind which place I would go! And I saw the Book of Revelation. Believe it - it's just as is written!? J. A. MacMillan - who wrote the article on ?Household Salvation? became missionary supervisor for the Philippines, as a representative of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Their publication society in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has reprinted this article in pamphlet form. It was still available the last time I recommended it. At the close of presenting the above two messages, we have a closing Anglican/Episcopal type of prayer, mentioning each of our unsaved loved ones by their relationship and Christians name. Example, ?My mother Sue; my brother George; my son Peter; my sister Anna; my grandfather John; my great grandson Luke. - Nothing more. Then write them down with 3 dates. Date written; date witness given that God has heard; date now in God's Kingdom. We stand and name each softly but vocally, followed by the clan names connected with us. One church in one year had its members report to the pastor 100 new in the Kingdom - because of the above challenge! Some 20-30 years ago, my wife Marie and I had recorded 3000 such converts. We stopped recording them after this point. We are not evangelists, but possibly have seen as many converts as many evangelists, through faithfully presenting Clan and Household Salvation over the years. May this challenge be as profitable for you! Jim and Marie Watt P.S. You can thank an unknown Canadian friend who found my Website by ?surfing the Net? for information on J. A. MacMillan and his article ?Household Salvation? in ?Herald of His Coming?. She could not find back copies of this publication containing this article, and contacted me for help. The above is my answer as best as I could give it. But it took sufficient time and effort - that I felt you on my mailing list might like to receive it also. J. & M. W. P.P.S. - It is now 2011-03-13. - The above message is so important for families and clans - that even though it is but a year since we last sent it out - we are repeating this mailing. Many new ones have subscribed themselves on our mailing list since then, and no doubt will appreciate receiving this most helpful and successful means of bringing loved ones into the Kingdom of God. J. P.P.P.S. It is now 2011-11-14. - I am adding for the NT references above, information from the upcoming ?Outlined Interlinear Greek NT? using Ivan Panin's Bible Numeric Greek transliterated text, and his translation from that text, and guided by his 10 year production of a Bible Numeric Lexicon prior to starting work on his Greek text. One individual has written an article on Panin and entitled it ?Russia's Gift to Christianity!? Keep in touch with our Website for the timing when the above Interlinear will be published and available. J. *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Nov 17 11:24:55 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:24:55 -0800 Subject: Greek Word Study on "Gift" (do-reA) Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 17, 2011 GOD?S GIFT: AN ARTESIAN WELL - 2002-06-17 *INTRODUCTION: *This Gift is the third baptism of the third foundation of Hebrews 6:1-2. John 4:10 (1-26). *B. 4:1-42 SPIRIT-WITNESS AND SIGNS BRING SOULS TO JESUS* *1. 4:1-26 JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF AS BAPTIZER IN HOLY SPIRIT* *i. 4:10 CHRIST: A FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATER* *Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of :God,* a-peKRIth*e* I*e*SOUS kai EIpen auT*E*, Ei *E*deis t*e*n d*o*-reAN [1431]tou TheOU, *and who it is that says to you, Give me to drink;* kai TIS es-tin ho LEg*o*n soi, DOS moi pein; *you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water.* su an *E*t*e*-sas auTON, kai Ed*o*-ken AN soi HUd*o*r z*o*n [2198]. THE GIFT: A LIVING EXPERIENCE. The law of first reference is important. Definition: The gift is an artesian well. It satisfies spiritual thirst. It is the basis for true worship. *THEME*: The Gift of the Father and the Son is a well of gushing water, rivers of living water. This gift is called the ?doreA,? and appears only 11 times in the New Testament. All references are given in this outline. *One. ACTS 2:38 (37-42). THE GIFT: AND ITS CONDITIONS.* *III. 2:1-47 THE THEOLOGY OF PENTECOST* *6. 2:37-42 RESULTS OF CONVICTION* *b. 2:38 THE PETER PACKAGE* *And Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized each of you* PEtros de pros auTOUS, Me-ta-no*E*sa-te [3340] kai bap-tisTH*E*t*o* [907]HEka-stos huM *O*N *in the name of Jesus Christ unto remission of your :sins;* en t*o* oNOma-ti I*e*SOU ChrisTOU eis Aphe-sin t*o*n ha-mar-ti*O*N huM*O*N; *and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.* kai L*E*Mpses-the [2983] t*e*n d*o*-reAN [1431] tou HaGIou PNEUma-tos. The atonement is its basis: first the blood and then the oil. Repentance is a condition. Water baptism is a prerequisite and condition. Two. ACTS 8:20 (14-24). THE GIFT: AND ITS VALUE. *IX. 8:4-40 RESULTS OF PERSECUTION: SPREADS EVANGELISM* *A. 8:4-25 SAMARIA RECEIVED THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT* *d. 8:20 SIMON REBUKED FOR PRICING THE HOLY SPIRIT* *But Peter said unto him, Your :silver perish with you,* PEtros de EIen pros auTON, To arGUriON [694] sou sun soi EI*e* eis aP*O*lei-an [684], *because you have thought to obtain the gift of :God with money.* HOti t*e*n d*o*-reAN [1431] tou TheOU eNOmi-sas [3543] diA chr*e*MAt*o*n KTASthai [2932]. It is equal to the life Jesus gave for it. It is above value of silver or money. It is dangerous to have a low conception of its value. Three. ACTS 10:45 (44-48); 11:17 (1-18). THE GIFT: AN EVIDENCE OF SALVATION. *5. 10:44-48 GOD'S STARTLING ACCEPTANCE OF GENTILES* *b. 10:45 THE GIFT ON GENTILES AMAZES JEWS* *And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed,* kai eXEst*e*-san [1839] hoi ek pe-ri-toM*E*S [4061] piSTOI, *who came with :Peter, because that on the nations also* hoi suN*E*Lthan t*o* PEtr*o*, HOti kai ePI ta ETHn*e* *was poured out the gift of the Holy :Spirit.* h*e* d*o*-reA [1431] tou PNEUma-tos tou HaGIou ekKEchu-tai [1632]. *B. 11:1-18 GOD'S SOVEREIGN CHOICE ACCEPTED BY JEWS* *m. 11:17 PETER'S SOUND REASONING IN DEFENSE OF HIS ACTION* *If then :God gave them the like gift as also to us,* ei oun t*e*n Is*e*n d*o*-reAN [1431] Ed*o*-ken auTOIS ho TheOS h*o*s kai h*e *MIN, *who had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand :God?* piSTEUsa-sin ePI ton KUri-on I*e*SOUN ChrisTON, eG*O* tis *E*m*e*n, du-naTOS k*o*LUsai ton TheON? The Spirit outpoured on Gentiles convinced the Jews. The Spirit manifested in tongues convinced them. The Spirit?s coming demanded baptism. The Spirit?s acceptance demanded man?s acceptance. The Spirit?s acceptance showed repentance was granted. *Four. ROMANS 5:15, 17 (12-21). THE GIFT: AND ITS BLESSINGS.* *II. 5-8 JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH: ITS OUTWORKING* *B. 5:12-21 HOW VITAL RIGHTEOUSNESS OVERTURNS SIN, DEATH & CONDEMNATION* *d. 5:15b GRACE BY JESUS OVERTURNS DEATH THROUGH ADAM* *For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much rather did the grace of :God,* ei gar t*o* tou heNOS pa-rapT*O*ma-ti hoi polLOI aPEtha-non, polL*O* MALlon h*e* CHAris tou TheOU, *and the gift by grace which is of the one man,* *Jesus Christ, * kai h*e* d*o*-reA en CHAri-ti t*e* tou heNOS anTHR*O*pou, I*e*SOU ChrisTOU, *abound unto the many.* eis tous polLOUS e-peRISseu-sen. *f. 5:17 AUTHORITY IS RESTORED THROUGH THE GIFT OF VITAL RIGHTEOUSNESS* *For if, by the trespass of the one, :death reigned through the one;* ei gar, t*o* tou heNOS pa-rapT*O*ma-ti, ho THAna-tos e-baSIleu-sen [936]diA tou heNOS; *much rather shall they that receive the abundance of grace* polL*O* MALlon hoi t*e*n pe-risSEIan [4050] t*e*s CHAri-tos *and of the gift of :righteousness* kai t*e*s d*o*-reAS [1431] t*e*s di-kai-oSUn*e*s lamBAnon-tes *reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.* en z*o*-*E* ba-siLEUsou-sin diA tou heNOS, I*e*SOU ChrisTOU. * *The gift undoes the effects of Adam?s sin! The gift brings ABOUNDING grace. The gift brings righteousness! The gift brings authority to reign! *Five. 2 CORINTHIANS 9:15 (6-15). THE GIFT: ITS EFFECT ON GIVING.* *L. 8-9 TEACHING ON THE MINISTRY OF GIVING* *5. 9:6-15 PRINCIPLES OF GIVING* *f. 9:15 Thanks to :God for his unspeakable :gift.* CHAris [5485] t*o* The*O* ePI t*e* a-nek-di-*e*G*E*t*o* [411] auTOU d*o*-reA [1431]. The giving of the Corinthians was bountiful. The giving of the Corinthians was cheerful. The giving of the Corinthians brought thanksgiving. The giving of the Corinthians was based on the doreA (v. 15). *Six. EPHESIANS 3:7 (1-13). THE GIFT: ITS IMPACT ON PAUL?S MINISTRY.* *E. 3:1-19 THE NATURE OF PAUL'S MINISTRY* *1. 3:1-13 PAUL'S MINISTRY TO THE GENTILES* *6 that the nations are fellow-heirs, and fellow-bodied and fellow-partakers * EInai ta ETHn*e* sun-kl*e*-roNOma [4789], kai SUNs*o*-ma [4954] kai sunMEto-cha [4830] *of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, **7** whereof I became a minister,* t*e*s e-pag-geLIas [1860] en ChrisT*O* I*e*SOU diA tou eu-ag-geLIou, hou e-geN*E*th*e*n diAko-nos [1249], *according to the gift of the grace of :God :given me* kaTA t*e*n d*o*-reAN [1431] t*e*s CHAri-tos tou TheOU t*e*s doTHEIs*e*s moi *according to the working of his :power* kaTA t*e*n eNERgei-an [1753] t*e*s duNAme-*o*s auTOU * *Paul had a dispensation of the Gospel. Paul?s dispensation came through revelation. Paul?s empowerment came through the doreA (v. 7). Paul?s experience enabled him to preach with miracles. *Seven. EPHESIANS 4:7 (1-16). THE GIFT: ITS EFFECT ON OUR MINISTRY.* *G. 4:1-16 CHRIST'S WAY TO PERFECT HIS CHURCH* *c. 4:7 But to each of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of the Christ.* heNI de heKASt*o* h*e*M*O*N eDOth*e* h*e* CHAris kaTA to METron [3358] t*e*s d*o*-reAS tou ChrisTOU. * *Members of the body of Christ walk worthily. Members function by grace through the doreA (v. 7). Ministry-gifts (v. 11) are empowered by the doreA. Ministry-gifts develop members to minister. Christ is built into His church in this manner. *CONCLUSION: HEBREWS 6:4 (5:11-6:8). THE GIFT: CARRIES A WARNING. *The gift must be developed; (Remember the unused talent!) it must not be neglected. Neglect of this gift brings strong judgment. *E. 5:11-6:20 ABRAHAMIC COVENANT: BASIS FOR INHERITANCE IN CANAAN* *1. 5:11-6:8 FOUNDATION TRUTHS: SHED LIGHT ON MELCHEZIDEK AND COVENANT* *g. 6:4-6 THE SERIOUS STATE OF APOSTATES* *For as to those who were once enlightened* aDUna-ton gar tous HApax ph*o*-tisTHENtas [5461] *and tasted of the heavenly :gift,* geu-saMEnous [1089] te t*e*s d*o*-reAS [1431] t*e*s e-pou-raNIou, *and became partakers of the Holy Spirit,* kai meTOchous [3353] ge-n*e*THENtas PNEUma-tos HaGIou, *5 **and tasted the good word of God,* kai kaLON geu-saMEnous TheOU 'R*E*ma [4487], *and the powers of the age to come, **6** and fell away,* duNAmeis te MELlon-tos ai*O*nos, kai pa-ra-peSONtas [3895], *it is impossible to renew **them** again unto repentance;* PAlin a-na-kaiNIzein [340] eis meTAnoi-an; *they crucifying again to themselves and openly shaming the Son of :God.* a-na-stauROUNtas [388] he-auTOIS ton huiON tou TheOU kai pa-ra-deig-maTIzon-tas [3856]. OUTLINE OF THE WORD STUDY FOR doreA, (11), GIFT ? from DIdomi* Research Paper #335 ? Strong #1431 JOHN 1. 4:10 (1-26) If thou knewest the GIFT (IE. doreAN) of God, THE GIFT: LIKENED TO AN ARTESIAN WELL THE GIFT: GIVEN UPON REQUEST ACTS 1. 2:38 (37-42) ye shall receive the GIFT (IE. doreAN) of the Holy Ghost. THE GIFT AND ITS CONDITIONS THE GIFT: A PROMISE TO GOD?S ELECT 1. 8:20 (4-24) hast thought that the GIFT (IE. doreAN) of God may THE GIFT THAT CAN?T BE BOUGHT SIMON?S SIN: TRYING TO BUY GOD?S GIFT 1. 10:45 (44-48) poured out the GIFT (IE. doreA) of the Holy Ghost THE GIFT: GIVEN TO GENTILES TOO! 1. 11:17 (1-18) AS God gave them the like GIFT (IE. doreAN) as THE GIFT: PROVIDED FOR ALL BELIEVERS THE GIFT THAT WAS MEANT FOR ALL NATIONS! ROMANS 1. 5:15 (12-21) the grace of God, and the GIFT (IE. doreA) by grace, ADAM BROUGHT SIN: JESUS BROUGHT THE GIFT 1. 5:17 (12-21) of the GIFT (IE. doreAS) of righteousness shall THE GIFT: LEADS TO A RIGHTEOUS REIGN OVER LIFE 2 CORINTHIANS 1. 9:15 (6-15) Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable GIFT (IE. doreA). THE RIGHTEOUS GIFT: PRODUCES RIGHTEOUS GIVING HAVING THE GIFT: LEADS TO ABUNDANT GIVING EPHESIANS 1. 3:7 (1-12) according to the gift (i.e. doreAN) of the grace of THE GIFT: GOD?S ENABLEMENT FOR PAUL?S MINISTRY 1. 4:7 (1-16) the measure of the GIFT (IE. doreAS) of Christ THE GIFT: MEASURED AND GIVEN TO ASKERS HEBREWS 1. 6:4 (5:11-6:8) have tasted of the heavenly GIFT (ID. doreAS), THE GIFT: ONLY A TASTE OF WHAT?S TO COME THE GIFT THAT CRIES: ?STRAIGHT AHEAD!? *EDITORIAL NOTE: * The above outline came to me in 1947 in Canora, Saskatchewan, where I served as a student minister for the United Church of Canada. It was the first of 100?s of Greek Word Studies prepared by my associate, DFS and myself. The format in its preparation came unexpectedly in a split second on a Saturday of March 18, 1967. It took me two hours to write down the instructions of preparation that the Holy Spirit gave me. He required a merging of Englishman?s Greek Concordance, John Stegenga?s ?The Greek-English Analytical Concordance of the Greek-English New Testament,? and Ivan Panin?s, ?The New Testament from the Greek Text as established by Bible Numerics,? and the English translation of it. I have trained some one thousand how to use these 3 texts in doing this labor of love. One of these was DSF, who did the greater part of the legwork in the preparation of these word studies. I have at times passed on his titles, and the Tentative Evaluation, but placed a disclaimer on some of them. The text itself is inspired. Both his notes and mine are subject to evaluation. We leave spaces so that you the reader can put in your own titles and evaluation if you choose. I have been using the English and Greek Numeric New Testaments of Ivan Panin since 1945, and John Stegenga and Englishman?s Greek Concordance since 1963. Over 40,000 hours have gone into this production. Our prayer is that it might not only be a blessing to many of you, but that you may find it an effective tool to pass truth on to others. J.A.Watt P.S. 2011.11.17 - I have inserted relevant portions of Panin's Interlinear Greek NT above. The *Outlined* Interlinear Greek NT using Ivan Panin's Bible Numeric Greek Text and translation are used practically as he had them printed over 80 years ago. The *Outlined* aspect based on Panin's discovery of the Bible Numeric sentence and paragraph structure is *unique*. The Outlining is mine, and not inspired. I leave a space above each one, so that you the reader can cross out mine when you deem it possible to improve, and replace with your own. Panin's Bible Numeric Greek Text has been transliterated according to the Berlitz method. All the above is to help Laymen make use of what formerly has belonged to scholars having Greek through Bible College and Seminary. The Interlinear text should appear in print early in 2012. Keep in touch with our Website * *for this information. Click on ?Interlinear? on our Website; the complete Interlinear is there already, plus notes on each mailing - that will not appear in the printed edition. You will find that by using George Muller's example of *Bible Meditation*over the Interlinear text - *much* help from the Holy Spirit will then be available. J. * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Nov 18 09:26:15 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:26:15 -0800 Subject: John 15-16 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 18, 2011 *(From JOHN #34 - 15:1-16)* *C. 15:1-16:33 RESULTS FROM THE SPIRIT?S COMING* *3. 15:1-16 FRUIT: PURPOSE OF THE SPIRIT* *a. 15:1 I am the true :vine, and my :Father is the husbandman.* E-G*O* ei-mi h*e* AMpe-los [288] h*e* a-l*e*-thiN*E*, kai ho paT*E*R mou ho ge-*o*rGOS [1092] es-tin. *b. 15:2 THE TWO-FOLD PURPOSE OF PRUNING* *Every branch in me that bears not fruit, he takes it away:* pan KL*E*ma en eMOI m*e* PHEron [5342] karPON [2590], AIrei [142] auTO: *and every one that bears :fruit, he prunes it, that it bear more fruit.* kai pan to karPON PHEron, kaTHAIrei [2538] auTO, HIna karPON PLEIo-na PHEr*e *. *c. 15:3 Already YOU are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you.* *E*d*e* huMEIS ka-thaROI es-te diA ton LOgon [3056] hon leLAl*e*-ka huMIN. *d. 15:4a **Abide in me, and I in you. *MEIna-te [3306] en eMOI, ka? ?G*O*en huMIN. *e. 15:4b FRUITFULNESS: PURPOSE OF ABIDING* *Even as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,* kaTH*O*S to KL*E*ma ou DUna-tai [1410] karPON PHErein aph? he-auTOU, *unless it abide in the vine; thus neither you, unless you abide in me.* eAN m*e* MEn*e* en t*e* amPEl*o*; HOUt*o*s ouDE huMEIS, eAN m*e* en eMOI MEn *e*-te. *f. 15:5 IMPOTENCY: RESULT OF NON-ABIDING* *I am the vine, you **are** the branches: Who abides in me, and I in him,* eG*O* ei-mi h*e* AMpe-los, huMEIS ta KL*E*ma-ta: ho MEn*o*n en eMOI, ka? ?G* O* en auT*O*, *the same bears much fruit: for apart from me you can do nothing.* HOUtos PHErei karPON poLUN: HOti ch*o*RIS [5565] eMOU ou DUnas-the poiEIN [4160] ouDEN. *g. 15:6 THE PENALTY FOR NOT ABIDING* *Unless one abide in me, he is cast forth as the branch, and is withered;* eAN m*e* tis MEn*e* en eMOI, e-BL*E*th*e* Ex*o* h*o*s to KL*E*ma, kai e-x*e* RANth*e* [3583]; *and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.* kai suNAgou-sin auTA, kai eis to pur [4442] BALlou-sin, kai KAIe-tai [2545]. *h. 15:7 THE LIVING WORD: A CONDITION FOR ANSWERED PRAYER* *If you abide in me, and my :words abide in you,* E-AN MEIn*e*-te en eMOI, kai ta 'R*E*maTA [4487] mou en huMIN MEIn*e*, *ask whatever you will, and it shall be done to you.* ho eAN THEl*e*-te aiT*E*sas-the [154], kai geN*E*se-tai [1096] huMIN. *i. 15:8 FRUITFULNESS IN GOOD WORKS: GLORIFIES THE FATHER* *Herein was my :Father glorified,* en TOUt*o* e-doXASth*e* [1392] ho paT*E*R mou, *that you bear much fruit, and become my disciples.* HIna karPON poLUN PHEr*e*-te, kai geN*E*Sthe eMOI ma-th*e*TAI [3101]. *j. 15:9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you: abide you in :my :love.* kaTH*O*S *e*GAp*e*SEN me ho paT*E*R, ka? ?G*O* huMAS *e*GAp*e*-sa: MEIna-te en t*e* aGAp*e* t*e* eM*E*. *k. 15:10 THE SECRET OF ABIDING IN LOVE* *If you keep my :commandments, you shall abide in my :love;* eAN tas en-toLAS [1785] mou t*e*R*E*s*e*-te [5083], meNEIte en t*e* aGAp*e*mou; *even as I have kept the commandments of my :Father, and abide in his :love. * kaTH*O*S eG*O* tou paTROS tas en-toLAS teT*E*r*e*-ka, kai MEn*o* auTOU en t* e* aGAp*e*. *l. 15:11 These things have I spoken to you, that :my :joy be in you, and your :joy be made full.* TAUta leLAl*e*-ka huMIN, HIna h*e* chaRA h*e* eM*E* en huMIN *e*, kai h*e*chaRA huM *O*N pl*e*-r*o*TH*E*. *m. 15:12 This is my :commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.* HAUt*e* es-TIN h*e* en-toL*E* h*e* eM*E*, HIna a-gaPAte alL*E*lous, kaTH*O*S *e*GAp*e*-sa huMAS. *n. 15:13 THE ULTIMATE OF LOVE* *Greater love has no one than this, * MEIzo-na TAUt*e*s aGAp*e*n ouDEIS Echei, *that a man lay down his :life for his :friends.* HIna tis t*e*n psuCH*E*N auTOU th*e* huPER t*o*n PHIl*o*n auTOU. *o. 15:14 YOU are my friends, if you do what I command you.* huMEIS PHIloi mou esTE, eAN poi*E*te ho eG*O* enTELlo-mai [1781] huMIN. *p. 15:15 CHRIST?S FOLLOWERS: HIS FRIENDS* *I call you no longer bondmen; for the bondman knows not what his :lord does:* ouKEti LEg*o* huMAS DOUlous [1401]; HOti ho DOUlos ouk OIden ti poiEI auTOU ho KUri-os: *but you I have called friends; because all **things* huMAS de EIr*e*-ka PHIlous; HOti PANta *that I heard from my :Father I have made known to you.* a *E*kou-sa paRA tou paTROS mou egN*O*ri-sa [1607] huMIN. *q. 15:16 THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION EXPLAINED* *You did not choose me, but I chose you,* ouch huMEIS me e-xeLExas-the [1585] all? eG*O* e-xe-leXAm*e*n huMAS, *and appointed you, that you go and bear fruit,* kai Eth*e*-ka [5087] huMAS, HIna huMEIS huPAg*e*-te kai karPON PHEr*e*-te, *and that your :fruit abide:* kai ho karPOS huM*O*N MEn*e*: *that whatever you shall ask of the Father in my :name, he give you. * HIna HOti an aiT*E*s*e*-te [154] ton paTEra en t*o* oNOmaTI [3686] mou, d*o*huMIN. *NOTE:* 12 Embryonic Revival Principles came together in 1948 as Restoration Truths ? 7 of them through George R. Hawtin. God started to form them in his life in a specific manner in 1935 in Star City, Saskatchewan. One of them is in our text ? John 15:5b ? ?For apart from Me you can do nothing!? In 1945 God sovereignly led me following my Navy discharge to Bethel Bible Institute of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, founded by George R. Hawtin. Often Brother Hawtin led the Chapel worship in the morning. One of his favorite choruses was ? *Without You ? we can do nothing;* *Without You ? we?d surely fail;* *Without You ? we?d only be drifting ?* *Like a boat without a sail.* This was the heart of Brother Hawtin, and like King David of old, he desired to walk in an abiding relationship with Jesus. Did David walk perfectly in this relationship? No ? and neither did George Hawtin or any other human being. J. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission and close friend of George Muller ? was another who treasured the truth of this verse. But it didn?t happen until 20 years after he started walking with the Lord. Then one day he was ascending the Yangtze River on a Chinese Junk. And as he sat on the deck watching the passing mountains ? without warning the Lord dropped into his heart the absolute truth of John 15:1-16. Mrs. Howard Taylor wrote ?Hudson Taylor?s Spiritual Secret? on the basis of this revelation. Scarce a letter he wrote following this revelation, but he did not challenge his readers to receive and walk in the truth of us as branches ? effortlessly bearing fruit by abiding in the Vine! Following this revelation, he saw the Lord through him accomplish 2-3 times the fruitfulness of the past through him, with but one half the effort on his part. And finally, John 15:16 is probably the key verse to this passage. Dr. E. Stanley Jones released God to move through him each time he preached ? on the basis of the truth of this verse. It is *not us* ? but *Jesus* who initiates His plan through us ? and uses us. And our abiding fruitfulness is because of *Him*, not us. Oswald Chambers effectively and powerfully sets forth this truth in his writings. For me then ? *this passage* shines forth as a powerful example of how Jesus releases the Holy Spirit through us to accomplish His Father?s purposes and to let His Glory shine forth. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Nov 19 09:39:00 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2011 09:39:00 -0800 Subject: John 17 - Outline Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 19, 2011 *MAR 30 - JOHN 17 - JESUS: HIS HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER* *1. 17:4-5 (17:1-5) JESUS: PRAYER FOR HIMSELF. ?I glorified you on :earth, having accomplished the work which you have given me to do. 5 And now YOU glorify me with yourself, Father, with the glory which I had with you before the world was? (NNT). *Father, we accept the word of Your Son. He had glory with You before the world was; before His physical birth He had a relationship with You. In His humanity You have made Him King of kings! *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. 17:6 (17:6-10) JESUS: PRAYER FOR THOSE GIVEN TO HIM. ?I manifested your :name to the men whom you gave me out of the world: yours they were, and you gave them to me; and they have kept your :word.? *What a gracious prayer on our behalf, Father! And in Your Name - JEHOVAH the Savior. *That*is the essence of the name *Jesus*, that You gave to Your only begotten Son, in which we are kept! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 17:11 (17:11-13) JESUS: FOR THEIR PRESERVATION AND ONENESS! ?And I am no more in the world, and THEY are in the world, and I come unto you. Holy Father, keep them in your :name, in which you have given them to me, that they be one, even as we are.? *Father, we are kept by Your Power through faith unto salvation (1 Peter 1:5), and we are also kept by Your Name! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 17:15-16 (17:14-19) JESUS: PRAYER FOR THEIR SANCTIFICATION. ?I ask not that you take them out of the world, but that you should keep them out of the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.? *First You separate us unto Yourself through Reconciliation in answer to Jesus' prayer, Father! Then You make Him to be unto us Holiness inwardly, that through Him You might conform us unto His image, and bring many sons into glory! O forgive us that we perceive Your purposes so dimly! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 17:20-21 (17:20-23) JESUS: PRAYER FOR ONENESS OF ALL BELIEVERS. ?And not for these only do I ask, but them also that believe unto me through their :word; 21 that all be one; even as you, Father, in me, and I in you, that THEY also be in us: that the world believe that you did send me.? *We, the living believers today, are also included in Jesus' prayer. Father, we bless You for the all-encompassing nature of this prayer! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 17:24 JESUS: PRAYER FOR BELIEVERS TO BE WITH HIM! ?Father, what you have given me, I desire that where I am, they also be with me, that they may behold :my :glory, which you have given me: because you loved me before the world's foundation.? *You foreknew Your Son in the flesh, and You foreknew us in Him! Such knowledge is too wonderful for us: we cannot attain unto it! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 17:25-26 JESUS: HIS FINAL APPEAL FOR LOVE. ?Righteous Father, the world also knew you not, but I knew you; and these knew that you did send me; 26 and I made known to them your :name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me be in them, and I in them.? *Your Name Father, is the Key whereby Your love may abide with us! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 17:22-23 (17:20-23) JESUS: ON THE NATURE OF GOD'S GLORY. ?And I have given them the glory which you have given me; that they be one, even as we **are one; 23 I in them, and you in me, that they be perfected into one; that the world know that you did send me, and loved them, even as you loved me.? *These are key verses in this whole chapter. O that in our spirits - we may comprehend the majesty and truly heavenly nature of this prayer! From 1949-1952 I attended and graduated from the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago. In 1950 I became assistant pastor at the Tabernacle Baptist Church of Chicago, from which the Conservative Baptist Movement was birthed. During that time, Dr. A.W. Tozer of a church on Chicago's south side, preached a series of sermons on John 17 for his congregation of some 500. Seldom have we heard such a depth of insight into the High Priestly prayer of Jesus. *This* is truly the *Lord's Prayer*. The prayer in Matthew 6:9-15, is really ?The Disciples' Prayer?, which Jesus gave to them in answer to their request. John the Baptist gave his disciples a model prayer pleasing to the Father. Jesus did the same for His disciples. But John 17 is a prayer after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4). It is a High Priestly Prayer! It is a window into the relationship of Jesus the Son of Man and Son of God to His heavenly Father. Perhaps there is no other chapter in the entire Bible that reveals the relationship of the Father and His Son, and their heart for us - the Redeemed from the lost race of Adam! Perhaps it would be proper and correct to say no more concerning this most holy window of revelation in the heart of our Father and Savior. Our Psalm for the day - *90:11-12 (90:1-17) FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING. ?Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom? (ESV). *This is a good prayer by Moses for us in the closing years of our lives. You have left us but a short time Father, and we don't want to beat the air blindly before the return of Jesus. O please answer this prayer for us. *Hallowed be your :name!* * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Nov 20 09:41:31 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2011 09:41:31 -0800 Subject: John 18-19 - Outline Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 20, 2011 *MAR 31 - JOHN 18-19 - JESUS: REDEMPTION THROUGH DEATH. * *1. 18:5b-6 (18:1-11) JESUS: IN GETHSEMANE. ?Jesus said to them, I am he. And Judas also, who delivered him up, was standing with them. 6 When therefore he said to them I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground? (NNT). *By this we see that all the fullness of the Godhead bodily dwelt in Jesus! What Power and Majesty is here exhibited, Father! We pray that Your Kingdom be manifested in all the earth in this same measure! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 18:12-14 (18:12-27) JESUS: BEFORE THE HIGH PRIEST. ?The band therefore and the colonel, and the officers of the Jews, seized :Jesus and bound him, 13 and led him unto Hannas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that :year. 14 Now Caiaphas was he that gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man die for the people.? *Father, You make even the wrath of man to praise You. Even an evil man like Balaam prophesies. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 18:36 (18:28-40) JESUS: BEFORE PILATE. ?Jesus answered, ?:My :kingdom is not of this :world: if :my :kingdom were of this world, :my :servants would fight, that I be not delivered to the Jews: but now is :my :kingdom not hence.? *How troubling this word was to Pilate! The judge became the judged! Father, we bless You for the spiritual Kingdom You gave to Jesus! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 19:11 (19:1-16a) JESUS: SCOURGED, JUDGED AND DELIVERED. ?Jesus answered him, You would have no authority against me, except it were given you from above: therefore who delivered me unto you has greater sin.? *Pilate had the fear of man greater than the fear of God, and therefore resorted to political expediency. What compromise to truth and principle! O forgive us Father, that when we fail to practice Your Presence, and when the fear of man predominates, we too act like Pilate! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 19:26-27a (19:16b-27) JESUS: CRUCIFIED AND GARMENTS DIVIDED. ?When Jesus therefore saw his :mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he said to his :mother, Woman, behold, your :son! 27a Then said he to the disciple, Behold, your :mother!? *Even in the midst of His soul travail on our behalf, even unto death, Your Son Jesus thought of and looked after human need! Father, we bless You for Your Son, and thank You that You are with us in temptation's hour. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 19:30 (19:28-37) JESUS: HIS DEATH AND PIERCING. ?When :Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head andgave up his :spirit.? *Jesus accomplished Your will on our behalf for which You sent Him, Father. How thankful we are that He *finished* the great work of Redemption. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 19:38 (19:38-42) JESUS: HIS BURIAL. ?And after these things Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of :Jesus, but secretly for :fear of the Jews, asked :Pilate that he might take away the body of :Jesus: and :Pilate gave leave. He came therefore, and took away his :body.? *Father, You provided aforehand for the proper care of the body of Your Son. How tenderly and carefully Joseph did Your bidding! You leave nothing to *chance*.* **But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 18:8-9 (18:1-11) JESUS: ALL TRUE DISCIPLES KEPT! ?Jesus answered, I told you that I am **he; if therefore you seek me, let these go, 9 that the word be fulfilled which he said, [that] Of those whom you have given me I lost not one.? *What a glorious fulfillment demonstrating Your Keeping Power O Father! We rest in Your Omnipotence, and know that we too are secure in Christ. ?*IT IS FINISHED? - My Utmost for His Highest - Oswald Chambers - November 22* ?*I have finished the work which You have given Me to do? - John 17:4* The death of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment in history of the very mind and intent of God. There is no place for seeing Jesus Christ as a martyr. His death was not something that happened to Him - something that might have been prevented. His death was the very reason He came. Never build your case for forgiveness on the idea that God is our Father and He will forgive us because He loves us. That contradicts the revealed truth of God in Jesus Christ. It makes the Cross unnecessary, and the redemption ?much ado about nothing.? God forgives sin *only* because of the the death of Christ. God could forgive people in no other way than by the death of His son, and Jesus is exalted as Savior because of His death. *?We see Jesus ... **for the suffering of death** crowned with glory and honor ...? *(Hebrews 2:9). The greatest note of triumph ever sounded in the ears of a startled universe was that sounded on the Cross of Christ - *?It is finished!? *(John 19:30). That is the final word in the redemption of humankind. Anything that lessens or completely obliterates the holiness of God, through a false view of His love, contradicts the truth of God as revealed by Jesus Christ. Never allow yourself to believe that Jesus Christ stands with us, and against God, out of pity and compassion, or that He became a curse for us out of sympathy for us. Jesus Christ became a curse for us by divine decree. Our part in realizing the tremendous meaning of His curse is the conviction of sin. Conviction is given to us as a gift of shame and repentance; it is the great mercy of God. Jesus Christ hates the sin in people, and Calvary is the measure of His hatred. Our Psalm for the day: *91:9-10 (91:1-16) MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS. ?Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place - the Most High, who is my refuge - **10** no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent? (ESV). *In *Jesus* You have made us *more than conquerors*, Father! You were in Christ reconciling the world to Yourself, and in *You*we do valiantly! *Hallowed be your :name!** * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Nov 21 10:20:50 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:20:50 -0800 Subject: John 20 - Outline Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 21, 2011 *APR 1 - JOHN 20 - JESUS: HIS RESURRECTION* *1. 20:1 (20:1-2) JESUS' SEPULCHRE: VISITED BY WOMEN. ?Now on the first **day **of the week comes Mary :Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and sees the stone taken away from the tomb? (NNT).* How gracious Father, that Jesus revealed Himself after His resurrection to women first! Indeed in Christ, there is neither male nor female. We accept Your right to do whatever You purpose! *Hallowed be your :name.* * * *2. 20:8-9 (20:3-10) JESUS: HIS BODY REMOVAL REPORTED. ?Then went in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.? *Father, grant us sensitivity to You; so that when we see, we may *perceive* its true significance! *You :kingdom come!* *3 20:17 (20:11-18) JESUS: APPEARS TO MARY MADGALENE. ?Jesus said to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go to my :brethren, and tell them, I ascend unto my :Father and your Father, and my God and your God.? *How *one* Your Son has made Himself with us, Father! We marvel at His condescension, grace and love. And *You* were in Him reconciling the world to Yourself! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 20:22-23 (20:19-23) JESUS: IMPARTS HOLY SPIRIT TO DISCIPLES. ?And on saying this, he breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit; 23 whoever :sins you forgive, they are forgiven them; whoever you retain, they are retained.? *This is the breath of Jesus. Soon came the breath of the Spirit. When *You* breathe on us at the end of this age in Tabernacles, Father, it will be *life from the dead*! O forgive us that we are so blind in perceiving the significance of these things. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day!* *5. 20:24-25 JESUS: DISBELIEVED BY THOMAS. ?But Thomas, one of the twelve, :called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Except I shall see in his :hands the print of the nails, and put my :finger into the print of the nails, and put my :hand into his :side, I will in nowise believe.? *Many men believed the Samaritan woman without seeing Jesus. But some like Thomas had to see Him to believe. Your Son Father, is most glorified when we believe without seeing! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 20:27 (20:26-29) JESUS: CONVINCES THOMAS. ?Then said he to :Thomas, Reach here your :finger, and see my :hands; and reach your :hand, and put itinto my :side: and be not unbelieving, but believing.? *Thomas would not touch when he saw. Yet he would have been more blessed had he believed without seeing. Father, we would be most pleasing to Jesus, with *complete abandonment*! *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 20:30-31 JESUS: SIGNS ENCOURAGE BELIEF. ?Many other signs therefore did :Jesus before the disciples, which are not written in this :book: 31but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of :God; and that believing you may have life in his :name.? *The signs of Jesus always pointed to a deeper truth. Father, open our eyes that we might see! *And deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 20:28-29 (20:26-29) JESUS: MILDLY REBUKES THOMAS. ?Thomas answered and said to him, My :Lord and my :God. **29 :Jesus said to him, Because you have seen me, have you believed? blessed they that have not seen, and have believed.? *This is a searching response by Jesus! The Holy Spirit through Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 makes it eminently clear that the sacrificial death of Jesus is sealed and made effective by His Resurrection. See a portion of this in 15:12-34, which is self-explanatory. *B. 15:12-34 RESURRECTION: AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THE GOSPEL* *1. 15:12-19 CHRIST'S RESURRECTON: BASIS FOR OUR RESURRECTION* *a. 15:12 CHRIST'S RESURRECTION: PROOF THAT WE TOO SHALL RISE* *Now if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead,* Ei de ChrisTOS k*e*RUSse-tai [2784] HOti ek neKR*O*N [3498] eG*E*ger-tai [1453], *how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?* p*o*s LEgou-sin en huMIN tiNES HOti aNASta-sis [386] neKR*O*N ouk EStin? *b. 15:13-14 CHRIST'S RESURRECTION: ESSENTIAL LEST GOSPEL IN VAIN* *But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised:* ei de aNAsta-sis neKR*O*N ouk EStin, ouDE ChrisTOS eG*E*ger-tai: *14 and if Christ has not been raised, then is our preaching void, and our faith also is void.* ei de ChrisTOS ouk eG*E*ger-tai, keNON Ara to K*E*rug-ma h*e*M*O*N, keN*E*kai h *e* PIStis h*e*M*O*N. *c. 15:15 APOSTLES: FALSE WITNESSES IF CHRIST ROSE NOT* *Yes, we are found false witnesses of :God;* heu-risKOme-tha de kai pseu-doMARtu-res [5575] tou TheOU; *because we witnessed for :God that he raised the Christ:* HOti e-mar-tuR*E*sa-men [3140] kaTA tou TheOU HOti *E*gei-ren ton ChrisTON: *whom he raised not, if so be that the dead are not raised.* hon ouk *E*gei-ren, EIper Ara neKROI ouk eGEIron-tai. *d. 15:16-17 VANITY OF FAITH: IF CHRIST ROSE NOT* *For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised:* ei gar neKROI ouk eGEIron-tai, ouDE ChrisTOS eG*E*ger-tai: *17** and if Christ has not been raised, your :faith is vain; * ei de ChrisTOS ouk eG*E*ger-tai, maTAIa [3152] h*e* PIStis huM*O*N esTIN; *you are yet in your :sins.* Eti esTE en tais ha-marTIais huM*O*N. *e. 15:18 Then also those fallen asleep in Christ have perished.* Ara kai hoi koi-m*e*THENtes [2837] en ChrisT*O* aP*O*lon-to [622]. *f. 15:19 CHRIST'S RESURRECTION IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR FUTURE* *If we have in this :life only hoped in Christ,* ei en t*e* z*o*-*E* [2222] TAUt*e* en ChrisT*O* *e*l-piKOtes [1679] esMEN MOnon, *we are of all men rather pitiable.* e-le-eiNOte-roi [1652] PANt*o*n anTHR*O*p*o*n esMEN. *2. 15:20-28 ORDER OF EVENTS PRIOR TO AND AFTER RESURRECTION* *a. 15:20 But now has Christ been raised from the dead, first fruit of those asleep.* NuNI de ChrisTOS eG*E*ger-tai ek neKR*O*N, a-parCH*E* [536] t*o*n ke-koi-m*e *MEn*o*n [2837]. *b. 15:21 For since by man is death, by man is also resurrection of thedead. * e-peiD*E* gar di' anTHR*O*pou THAna-tos, kai di' anTHR*O*pou aNAsta-sis neKR *O*N. *c. 15:22 ADAM BROUGHT DEATH: CHRIST BRINGS LIFE* *For as in :Adam all die,* H*O*Sper gar en t*o* A-DAM PANtes a-poTHN*E*skou-sin [599], *so also in the Christ shall all be made alive.* HOUt*o*s kai en t*o* ChrisT*O* PANtes z*o*-o-poi-*e*THN*E*son-tai [2227]. *d. 15:23 CHRIST'S RESURRECTION IS FIRST IN ORDER: THEN OURS* *But each in his :own order: Christ a first fruit;* HEkas-tos de en t*o* iDI*o* TAGma-ti [5001]: a-parCH*E* [536] ChrisTOS; *then they that are the Christ's, at his :presence.* Epei-ta hoi tou ChrisTOU, en t*e* pa-rouSIa [3952] auTOU. *e. 15:24 AFTER OUR RESURRECTION, GOD BECOMES ALL IN ALL* *Then the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to the God and Father;* EIta to TElos [5056], HOtan pa-ra-diD*O* [3860] t*e*n ba-siLEIan [932] t*o*The *O* kai paTRI; *when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.* HOtan ka-tarG*E*s*e* [2673] PAsan arCH*E*N [746] kai PAsan e-xouSIan [1849]kai DUna-min [1411]. *f. 15:25 For he must reign, till he put all his :enemies under his :feet.* dei gar auTON ba-siLEUein, Achri hou th*e* PANtas tous echTHROUS huPO tous POdas auTOU. *g. 15:26 The enemy to be abolished last is :death.* EScha-tos echTHROS [2190] ka-tarGEItai [2673] ho THAna-tos [2288]. *h. 15:27a. For, He subjected all things under his :feet.* PANta gar huPEta-xen [5293] huPO tous POdas auTOU. *i.. 15:27b CHRIST IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANYTHING* *But when he says that all the things are subjected, * HOtan de EIp*e* HOti PANta hu-poTEtak-tai [5293], *it is evident that he is excepted who did subject :all things to him.* D*E*lon HOti ekTOS tou hu-poTAxan-tos auT*O* ta PANta. *j. 15:28 AFTER OUR RESURRECTION, CHRIST WILL SUBJECT HIMSELF TO GOD* *And when all the things have been subjected to him,* HOtan de hu-po-taG*E* auT*O* ta PANta, *then also the Son shall himself be subjected to him* TOte kai auTOS ho huiOS hu-po-taG*E*se-tai *that did subject all the things to him, that :God be all in all.* t*o* hu-poTAxan-ti auT*O* ta PANta, HIna *e* ho TheOS PANta en PAsin. *3. 15:29-34 APART FROM RESURRECTION, HOLY LIVING IS FUTILE* *a. 15:29a Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead?* E-PEI ti poi*E*sou-sin hoi bap-tiZOme-noi [907] huPER t*o*n neKR*O*N? *b. 15:29b-30 IF NO RESURRECTION, BAPTISM IS MEANINGLESS* *If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?* ei HOl*o*s neKROI ouk eGEIron-tai [1453], ti kai bapTIzon-tai huPER auT*O*N? *30 why are WE also in peril every hour?* ti kai h*e*MEIS kin-duNEUo-men [2793] PAsan H*O*ran [5610]? *c. 15:31 PAUL MAKES HIS BAPTISM VALID DAILY* *I protest by your glorying, brethren,* kath' h*e*MEran a-poTHN*E*Sk*o* [599], n*e* t*e*n hu-meTEran KAUch*e*-sin [2746], a-delPHOI, *which I have in Christ Jesus our :Lord, I die daily.* h*e*n Ech*o* en ChrisT*O* I*e*SOU t*o* KuRI*o* h*e*M*O*N. *d. 15:32a If :after man's manner I fought beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me?* ei kaTA ANthr*o*-pon e-th*e*-ri-oMAch*e*-sa [2341] en E-PHEs*o*, ti moi to Ophe-los [3786]? *e. 15:32b If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.* ei neKROI ouk eGEIron-tai, PHAg*o*-men [5315] kai PI*o*-men, AUri-on gar a-poTH*E*Sko-men [599]. *f. 15:33 Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.* m*e* plaNASthe [4105]: PHTHEIrou-sin [5351] *E*th*e* chr*e*sTA ho-miLIai [3657] kaKAI. *g. 15:34 WITHOUT RESURRECTION KNOWLEDGE, WE ARE TEMPTED TO SIN* *Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not;* ekN*E*psa-te [1594] diKAI*o*s [1345], kai m*e* ha-marTAne-te [264]; *for some have no knowledge of God: I speak to shame you.* ag-n*o*SIan [56] gar TheOU tiNES Echou-sin: pros en-troP*E*N [1791] huMIN laL*O*. *NOTE**:* 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. Our Lord Jesus knew what He was doing when He chose Paul to be His apostle to the Gentiles. For though He was able through the fully submitted Paul to say exactly what He wanted this primarily Gentile church to hear - yet at the same time He was able to use all the natural giftings of Paul to say His word through him! *This* is the miracle of the infallible inspiration of the 66 books of our Bible. It is * God* using *men* to infallibly set forth *His thinking* on all subjects expressed. Bible Numerics undergirds and confirms this great miracle. This particular passage shows forth this rare combination of God speaking through man to express the tremendous importance of Christ's resurrection as the basis of ours to follow. 15:22 became a rare verse to answer George Hawtin's dilemma. *How* could *one man* answer the need of every man of the human race? But if *one man*, Adam, brought sin's contamination into the entire human race, then God could use one man, His only begotten Son, to atone for all what Adam introduced into our human race! Scriptures clearly teach that God is the Father of the *spirits* of all men. It matters not our racial background as human beings - we are *all* of one family. We are all of one blood. Each individual can safely receive blood transfusions from any other individual of the human race. (Of course, differences in blood types must still be considered.) According to *spirit* and according to *blood*, I am brother to every other member of the human race. Then when we enter the Kingdom of God by justification by faith, we enter into another and higher dimension. 15:29-34. The Lord's final concluding thought here through Paul is clear. The resurrection of Christ and His Ascension, and the Father sending the Holy Spirit through the Son, successfully erases the futility that otherwise would render holy living impossible. And of course, the difficult passage of 15:29-30 and baptism for the dead - finds answer through the above. Various commentators have clearly seen how to make clear and simple this passage, and it is *not* the Mormon answer. Then - 15:33-34 shows that we must fellowship with friends who are vertically related with God and Christ - and horizontally one with another - in the light of this passage. Friends *not* related by *vertical*covenant with God, and *horizontal* covenant with one another - will have their morals in jeopardy. Lastly, our Psalm for the day: *91:14-15 (91:1-16) MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS. ?Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. **15** When he calls to me, I will answer him; I** will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him? (ESV). *Father, You did this for Your only begotten Son in His flesh; and because we are in Him, in Christ, You will do it for us also! Therefore with great joy and gratefulness we *Hallow your :name!** * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Nov 25 16:24:24 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:24:24 -0800 Subject: Clan & Household Salvation Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 25, 2011 *2011-11-14 - CLAN & HOUSEHOLD SALVATION (2011-03-16)* *CLAN SALVATION FIRST INTRODUCED* On the first Wednesday of August 1982, our Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Arcata, California invited Pastor Jack Hayford to speak at our prayer service. We normally had 13 or so present. Some 500 to 600 crowded into our auditorium, including 150 more in a basement room with Closed circuit television. He told us how his mother in June of that year recounted how her husband and Jack's father of Oakland, California - in 1969 - was reading Exodus 28 for his devotions. The Holy Spirit took over and said to him, ?My son, if you take Judah's name off the red Sardius stone on Aaron's Breastplate of Judgment, and replace it with your Clan name of 'Hayford'; and if you take Issachar's name off the Topaz stone next to it, and replace it with your wife's maiden name of 'Smith'; and if you and your wife will agree to pray twice a day for your two clans, *I* will make an effective witness to every member of these two clans throughout the world, and those of open heart, I will bring into My Kingdom!? His wife agreed, and within 6 months 4 Hayfords and 2 Smiths, of whom they had no previous acquaintanceship - contacted them as new converts! Then for the next year, - no contacts. When queried, God said - ?I confirm every word in the mouth of 2-3 witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1); I have given you six! How can you walk by faith if I keep confirming this word? Keep praying and believing; when you get to heaven, you'll see what I have done.? Pastor Jack confirmed what his father and mother had done until the former's death in 1979. His mother continued with this prayer challenge until June of 1982, when she informed their son of this. He asked, ?Why didn't Dad tell me this years ago?? ?You know your Dad,? his mother answered; ?If God showed this to a layman, how much more would every pastor know of it? Why waste your time, son?? Pastor Jack was astounded. He researched this out, and found it entirely scriptural. He then said, ?Whenever I have a one service stand, and unless the host pastor or the Holy Spirit says otherwise, I will *always* speak on Clan Salvation!? Thursday morning after he had spoken, my wife Marie and I knelt in prayer for our devotions. I presented the ?Watt? clan to God, and the ?Gaudet? Clan representing Marie's maiden name. But I am a Canadian Scot in my background, and it seemed a shame to do nothing with the other 10 stones on the breastplate! So I added my mother's maiden name of Mosher; and Marie's maternal grandfather's name ?Chartrand?; Next the names of the spouses of our 3 children - and the names of the spouses of the brothers and sisters of Marie and myself. I had to add 6 more stones to the breastplate of judgment to contain them all! Within 16 months, God in Manitoba opened the door for Marie to discover the family tree of the Lacerts going back 6 generations - her maternal grandmother's name. 16 months later He opened the door for her Chartrand heritage. Soon she discovered that she is related to one half of French Canadian Manitoba. Then in 1996 she was led to seek her unknown and older half brother in Quebec. God miraculously led her and a younger brother to him at the age of 75. He gave all the glory to God, and witnessed for 20 minutes of this miracle to a Pentecostal church in Quebec. As a Catholic, his life was transformed, and many of the lives of his 5 children and their families were affected. A few weeks after Jack Hayford shared this ?find? with us in Arcata, I read in the San Francisco Chronicle of a Chinese clan by the name of ?Hu?, that met annually, 500 of them, to celebrate their clanship in that city. But the newspaper article added that there are 60 million ?Hu's? on mainland China! I prayed, ?O God - lead me to a 'Hu' to win to you, and get him praying for his 60 million clan members.? Later in Vancouver BC, I was preaching near the UBC campus, and at the close of the service, a lovely Chinese lady told me - ?I am Monica Hu, and this morning I started praying for my 60 million clan members in China! *HOUSEHOLD SALVATION* But the above is only half the story. In 1944 in Victoria BC, God had just saved me as a Canadian sailor. Somebody gave me a copy of ?Herald of His Coming?, and the lead article was ?Household Salvation?. As soon as one member of a household is saved, he can claim the rest of his household! *Noah* in Genesis 7:4 and Hebrews 11:7 built an ark to the saving of his * household*; *L. 11:1-40 OT EXAMPLES OF ENDURING AND TRIUMPHAND FAITH* *2. 11:3-12 FAITH IS BASED ON A LIVING (REma) WORD* *d. 11:7 NOAH ACTED ON GOD'S WORD CONCERNING COMING JUDGMENT* *By faith Noah, warned concerning the things not seen as yet,* PIstei chr*e*-ma-tisTHEIS [5537] N*O*e peRI t*o*n m*e*DEp*o* ble-poMEn*o*n [991], *with godly fear prepared an ark to the saving of his :house;* eu-la-b*e*THEIS [2125] ka-teSKEUa-sen [2680] ki-b*o*TON [2787] eis s*o*-t*e*RIan [4991] tou OIkou auTOU; *through which he condemned the world,* di' H*E*S kaTEkri-nen [2632] ton KOSmon, *and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.* kai t*e*s kaTA PIstin di-kai-oSUn*e*s [1343] eGEne-to kl*e*-roNOmos [2818]. God said concerning *Abraham* in Genesis 18:19 - ?I know him that he will bring up his *household* to serve me; Abraham used this faith to reach out to his nephew Lot (Genesis 19:12-13), and saved him out of Sodom and their enemies; *Exodus 12* let Israel know that God saves by *households*, if the blood of the Lamb is on the lintel and doorposts of their homes; *Rahab the harlot* saw her whole *household* saved by Joshua at Jericho: her father, mother, brothers and sisters and all their kids (Joshua 2 & 6); *Joshua* believed God for the saving of his entire *household* (Joshua 24:15); *Cornelius* believed God for all his relatives plus close friends (Acts 10 & 11)! *XII. 10:1-11:18 GOD EXPANDS THE GOSPEL NET TO INCLUDE GENTILES* *B. 11:1-18 GOD'S SOVEREIGN CHOICE ACCEPTED BY JEWS* *j. 11:12b-14 SIX WITNESSES WITH PETER WHO HEARD CORNELIUS' VISION* *And these :six brethren also went with me; and we went in into the man's :house:* *E*Lthon de sun eMOI kai hoi hex a-delPHOI HOUtoi; kai eiS*E*Ltho-men eis ton OIkon tou anDROS: *13 and he reported to us how he had seen the angel* aP*E*Ggei-len [518] de h*e*MIN p*o*s EIden ton AGge-lon *standing in his :house, and saying, Send to Joppa,* en t*o* OIk*o* auTOU staTHENta, kai eiPONta, A-POstei-lon [649] eis IOpp*e* n, *and fetch Simon, whose surname is Peter;* kai meTApem-psai [3343] SIm*o*-na, ton e-pi-kaLOUme-non [1941] PEtron; *14 who shall speak unto you words, by which YOU shall be saved, and all your :house.* hos laLEsei 'REma-ta pros se, en hois soTHEse su, kai pas ho OI-KOS sou. *Lydia* believed God for her entire *household* (Acts 16:15) *XVII. 15:36-19:20 GROWING EFFECTIVENESS OF PAUL'S MINISTRY* *C. 16:11-40 RESULTS WHEN SPIRIT-GUIDANCE FOLLOWED* *d. 16:15a THE HOSPITALITY OF LYDIA * *And when she was baptized, and her :house, she besought us,* h*o*s de e-bapTISth*e* [907], kai ho OIkos auT*E*S, pa-reKAle-sen [3870], *saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my :house, and abide.* LEgou-sa, Ei keKRIkaTE me piST*E*N t*o* KuRI*o* EInai, ei-selTHONtes eis ton OI-KON mou, MEne-te. *The Philippian jailer* saw his entire *household* saved and baptized before breakfast (Acts 16:3l); *3:16-40 PERSECUTION RESULTS IN CONVERSIONS* *m. 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and YOU shall be saved and your :household.* hoi de EIpan, PIsteu-son ePI ton KUri-on I*e*SOUN, kai s*o*TH*E*s*e* [4982] su kai ho OI-KOS [3624] sou. and *Crispus* the same (Acts 18:18). All these are *most* encouraging for us. *Charles Haddan Spurgeon* wouldn't let God alone until all 300 of his * household* were saved; *Jonathan Edwards* claimed God's covenant promise to the 3rdand 4thgeneration of all his family tree. A check after his death found over 1600 saved, while another family of unbelievers had some 1400 costing tax payers money through all their crimes and jail sentences. A pastor friend of mine told how his mother in Alberta wouldn't let God alone till all 12 of her sons were saved! In February 1946 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, at 3:00 am, and 38 degrees below zero outside, God awoke me and said, ?Ask me for *your family*, and I will give them to you.? I leaped out of bed on a very cold cement floor, and said, ?My father, my mother and my brother!? God's answer: ?You've got them!? If it hadn't been so cold I might have thought of all my aunts and uncles and other relatives. Within a few years all 3 of the above were gloriously saved! A lady in Chicago (originally from Georgia) - attended our Baptist church. She pestered me to get her husband C.B. Caple saved, - a most ungodly man. She wouldn't set a right example, but loved him and didn't want him to go to hell. God in mercy to get her off my back, gave me a tract, ?How I Learned to Pray for the Lost.? As a missionary in China, the author wanted help from God to win 40 unsaved relatives back in England. God gave her 3 verses: Mark 10:27 - the *strong* Possibility: *N. 10:17-31 LORDSHIP: THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE* *2. 10:23-27 WARNING TO RICH MEN* *f. 10:27 GOD'S RESCUE* *:Jesus looked upon them and said, Impossible with men,* emBLEpsas auTOIS ho I*e*SOUS LEgei, PAra anTHR*O*pois aDUna-ton [102], *but not with God: for all things are possible with :God.* all' ou paRA The*O*: PANta gar du-naTA [1415] paRA t*o* The*O*. 1 Timothy 4:10 - Jesus' complete *Purchase price*: *D. 4:1-10 FOREWARNING OF LAST DAY APOSTASY* *2. 4:6-10 THE CORRECTIVE TO THE FALSE TEACHER* *d. 4:10 HOPE IN GOD: AN INCENTIVE TO GODLINESS* *For unto this we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on a living God,* eis TOUto gar ko-pi*O*men [2872] kai a-g*o*-niZOme-tha, HOti *e*lPIka-men [1679] ePI The*O* Z*O*Nti, *who is Savior of all men, specially of the faithful.* HOS es-tin s*o*T*E*R [4190] PANt*o*n anTHR*O*p*o*n, MAli-sta [3122] piST*O* N. and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - How to *possess* the promises. All 40 were then saved. *M. 10:1-18 PAUL'S DEFENSE AGAINST FALSE APOSTLES* *b. 10:3-6 PAUL: THE STRENGTH IN HIS WEAPONS* *For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh* En sarKI gar pe-ri-paTOUNtes, ou kaTA SARka stra-teuOme-tha [4754] *4 (for the weapons of our :warfare are not of flesh,* (ta gar HOPla [3696] t*e*s straTEIas [4752] h*e*M*O*N ou sar-kiKA [4559], *but mighty before :God unto casting down of strongholds);* alLA du-naTA t*o* The*O* pros kaTHAIre-sin [2506] o-chu-r*o*MAt*o*n [3794]); *5 casting down reasonings, * lo-gisMOUS ka-thaiROUNtes, *and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of :God,* kai pan HUps*o*-ma [5313] e-paiROme-non [1869] kaTA t*e*s GN*O*se-*o*s tou TheOU, *and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of the Christ;* kai aich-ma-l*o*TIzon-tes [163] pan NO*e*-ma [3540] eis t*e*n hu-pa-ko*E*N [5218] tou ChrisTOU; *6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience,* kai en heTOIm*o* [2092] Echon-tes ek-diK*E*sai [1556] PAsan pa-ra-ko*E*N [3876], *when your :obedience shall be made full.* HOtan pl*e*-r*o*TH*E* [4137] huM*O*N h*e* hu-pa-ko*E*. We had Pearl come over the following Monday morning, and went over these 3 verses for *Household salvation*. In 5 minutes we got off our knees, because we had the witness that God had heard. Then C.B. Caple got glomular nephritis from over-drinking during his army days, went into a coma, had visions of heaven and hell, and was *soundly saved* by the time he came out of the coma! Pearl asked him, ?C.B. - What did you see?? ?I saw heaven and hell,? he replied, ?and I made up my mind which place I would go! And I saw the Book of Revelation. Believe it - it's just as is written!? J. A. MacMillan - who wrote the article on ?Household Salvation? became missionary supervisor for the Philippines, as a representative of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Their publication society in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has reprinted this article in pamphlet form. It was still available the last time I recommended it. At the close of presenting the above two messages, we have a closing Anglican/Episcopal type of prayer, mentioning each of our unsaved loved ones by their relationship and Christian name. Example, ?My mother Sue; my brother George; my son Peter; my sister Anna; my grandfather John; my great grandson Luke. - Nothing more. Then write them down with 3 dates. Date written; date witness given that God has heard; date now in God's Kingdom. We stand and name each softly but vocally, followed by the clan names connected with us. One church in one year had its members report to the pastor 100 new in the Kingdom - because of the above challenge! Some 20-30 years ago, my wife Marie and I had recorded 3000 such converts. We stopped recording them after this point. We are not evangelists, but possibly have seen as many converts as many evangelists, through faithfully presenting Clan and Household Salvation over the years. May this challenge be as profitable for you! Jim and Marie Watt P.S. You can thank an unknown Canadian friend who found my Website by ?surfing the Net? for information on J. A. MacMillan and his article ?Household Salvation? in ?Herald of His Coming?. She could not find back copies of this publication containing this article, and contacted me for help. The above is my answer as best as I could give it. But it took sufficient time and effort - that I felt you on my mailing list might like to receive it also. J. & M. W. P.P.S. - It is now 2011-03-13. - The above message is so important for families and clans - that even though it is but a year since we last sent it out - we are repeating this mailing. Many new ones have subscribed themselves on our mailing list since then, and no doubt will appreciate receiving this most helpful and successful means of bringing loved ones into the Kingdom of God. J. P.P.P.S. It is now 2011-11-14. - I am adding for the NT references above, information from the upcoming ?Outlined Interlinear Greek NT? using Ivan Panin's Bible Numeric Greek transliterated text, and his translation from that text, and guided by his 10 year production of a Bible Numeric Lexicon prior to starting work on his Greek text. One individual has written an article on Panin and entitled it ?Russia's Gift to Christianity!? Keep in touch with our Website for the timing when the above Interlinear will be published and available. *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Nov 26 10:25:43 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2011 10:25:43 -0800 Subject: John 21 - Outline Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 26, 2011 *APR 2 - JOHN 21 - JESUS: PROVIDES FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW* *1. 21:6 (21:1-8) JESUS: WORKS A FISHING MIRACLE! And he said to them, ?Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of :fishes? (NNT). *Father, You in Christ supercede all of us in our professions. You know *all* things, and do *all* things well. We magnify You in Your Son! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 2:12 (21:9-14) JESUS: PREPARES A BREAKFAST. Jesus said to them, ?Come break your fast. None of the disciples dared inquire of him, Who are you? knowing that it was the Lord.? *Jesus did not need their fish to make their breakfast! We are in awe of You, Father. Your ways are past finding out. We worship You in humility. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 2:17 (21:15-17) JESUS: TESTS THE LOVE OF PETER. He [Jesus] said to him the third time, ?Simon, son of John, do you love me? :Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love (phLEo) me? and he said to him, Lord, YOU know all things; YOU know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my little sheep.? *It wasn't the third question of Jesus that bothered Peter: it was that Jesus moved down the third time from ?Agape? love to ?Phile? love. O help us too to receive Your searching questions, Father! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 21:19 (21:18-19) JESUS: FORETELLS THE DEATH OF PETER. ?Now this he spoke, signifying by what manner of death he shall glorify :God. And when he had spoken this, he said to him, ?Follow me.?* Father, You know all things! You know both the time and the manner of our death. For some of us like Peter, it helps to know these things aforetime: for some it is better that we walk by naked faith! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *5. 21:22 (21:20-23) JESUS: DISCOURAGES INTEREST IN FUTURE OF OTHERS. :Jesus said to him, ?If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? YOU follow me.? *Personal, passionate devotion to Jesus: *this* is Your will for us Father, and *not* that we should have undue concern with Your dealings for our brother! O forgive us that we fail to maintain that abiding place with You in Your presence, when we become unduly interested in Your dealings with others! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 21:24 JESUS: CAREFULLY WITNESSED TO BY JOHN. ?This is the disciple that witnesses of these things, and wrote these: and we know that his :witness is true.? *Father, we thank You for the faithfulness, spirituality and deep perception of John. We covet to be close to Jesus the way John was. *And bring us not into temptation.* 7. 21:25 JESUS: AMAZING NUMBER OF HIS MIRACLES. ?And many other *things*also are which :Jesus did, the which if they be written every one, I suppose that not even the world itself would contain the books written.? This is an amazing testimony, Father. The world is full of books, but the three years of Jesus' ministry outshines them all! *But deliver us from the evil*one. *NOTE**: 21:23 (21:20-23) JESUS: HIS REPLY TO PETER MISINTERPRETED. ?This :saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that :disciples does not die: yet :Jesus said not to him, that he does not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what **is that to you?? *And who started this rumor based on misconception? Peter? Father, keep us careful with our words. Set a watch before our lips! So we finish together the last chapter of John. The part in it that intrigues me the most - is Jesus' 3-fold question to Peter. I have shared insights on this in the past. Some may wonder - does he remember that he has gone into this before? Yes - and in doing so I am following the example of Derek Prince who said - ?One of the laws of Pedagogy is *Repetition*.? Sometimes it's the 100th time we hear something that it clicks, and we truly see the significance of it all. It's *not* the fact that Jesus questioned Peter 3 times concerning his love to his Master that disturbed him - it was that He changed the Greek word for ?love? the third time! The first time He asked Peter if he loved (a-gaPA*o*) Him? Yes - Peter replied. I love You on the human level (phiLE*o *), not the divine level. Feed my little lambs, Jesus responded. The second time of questioning went through the same use of Greek verbs, with the response, ?Tend my little sheep?. *But* - *the third time* - Jesus came down to Peter's human level and asked, ?Peter - do you even love (phiLE*o*) Me on the human level? This deeply wounded Peter, and he responded with grief - ?Yes Lord, You *know*that though I can't yet love You on the divine level (a-gaPA *o*) - at least - I truly do love you on the human level (phiLE*o*). And Jesus' response was, ?Feed my little sheep.? I suppose the significance of this 3-fold questioning was in line with Peter's previous *3-fold denial*! I am sure Peter caught this significance. If you look up on our Website ** and click on ?Interlinear? and scroll down to John 21, you can see very clearly there the context for the above. And now - our Psalm for the day - *91:14-15 (91:1-16) MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS. ?Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him? (ESV). *Father, You did this for Your only begotten Son in His flesh; and because we are in Him, in Christ, You will do it for us also! Therefore with joy and gratefulness *we hallow your :name!* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Nov 28 10:20:41 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:20:41 -0800 Subject: Part "A" of Laser-Telescope Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 28, 2011 *ORGANIC LASER-TELESCOPE COMPONENT PARTS - Part A - 2011-11-25* There are 7 Component Parts, but the first and seventh major on our Lord Jesus Christ! Oswald Chambers in all of his writings majors on Jesus. He sees him in all scriptures and in all circumstances. He was continually giving ?his utmost? for ?the Lord's Highest!? He constantly was seeking to maintain a ?personal, passionate devotion? to Jesus! Now contrast this attitude with the following. A young man had just preached his first sermon, and felt that he had done pretty well. He was fishing for compliments after the service, and sought a good word from one of the elderly preachers. This latter tried to get out of having to say what he thought. But the young man put such pressure on him for a response, that he finally said, ?Well son, you didn't mention Jesus in your sermon!? The young man replied - ?Jesus wasn't in my text!? ?Young man, until you learn to see Jesus in every text, you are not going to make a great preacher!? Jesus and His Redemption - *must be* understood behind *all* teaching and preaching. See John 1:1 to more fully understand this: *JOHN'S SUMMARY: THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, SON OF THE LIVING GOD* *I. 1:1-2:11 JESUS COMMENCES HIS MIRACULOUS MINISTRY* *A. 1:1-18 PURPOSE OF JESUS: TO REVEAL GOD TO MAN* *1. 1:1 In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with :God, and the Word was God.* En arCH*E* [746] *e*n ho LOgos [3056], kai ho LOgos *e*n pros ton TheON, kai TheOS *e*n ho LOgos. *2. 1:2-13 PURPOSE OF WORD: LIGHT AND LIFE FOR MEN* *a. 1:2 **The same was in **the** beginning with :God. *HOUtos *e*n en arCH* E* pros ton TheON. *b. 1:3 All things became through him; and without him nothing became that had become.* PANta di' auTOU eGEne-to [1096]; kai ch*o*RIS auTOU eGEne-to ouDE hen ho GEgo-nen. *c. 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of :men.* en auT*O* z*o*-*E* [2222] *e*n; kai h*e* z*o*-*E* *e*n to ph*o*s [5457] t*o*n anTHR*O*p*o*n. The whole written Bible of 66 books by 33 known writers was in the beginning a *R**E**ma *word - but once written down became a *LOgos Word! *And *Jesus* is the LOgos! He and the Word are One therefore! Therefore everything in our Bible is connected with our Lord! So the old preacher was correct when he exhorted the young preacher with his first sermon to understand this! Now another aspect to see Jesus in the 4 Gospels. Each Gospel is represented by one of the four faces found in Ezekiel 1:10 (1:4-21): - *THE GLORY OF THE LORD!* *1:10 THE FOUR FACES!* *As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face.* vu-deMUTH [1823] pe-nehHEM [6440] peNEY aDAM [120]. *The four had the face of a lion on the right side,* vu-peN*E*Y arY*E*H [738] el - ha-yaMIYN le-ar-baoT*A*M, *the four had the face of an ox on the left side,* vu-pe-n*e*y - SH*O*R [7794] M*E*hash-shom-aol, *and the four had the face of an eagle.* le-ar-re-baoTAN vu-pe-ney - neSHER [5404] le-ar-baoT*A*N. The Gospel of Matthew - shows the *lion* of the tribe of Judah - *The Lion of Judah shall break every chain -* *And* *give to us the victory - Again and again -* *The Lion of Judah shall break every chain -* *And give to us* *the Victory* *Again - and again!* The Gospel of Mark - the *Ox* - the Servant spirit - linking with the 4 Servant Songs of Isaiah. *j. 20:26-28 JESUS REVEALS HIS OWN POSITION* *Not thus is it among you:* ouch HOUt*o*s esTIN en huMIN: *but who would become great among you shall be your servant;* all' hos an THEl*e* en huMIN MEgas geNESthai EStai huM*O*N diAko-nos; *27 and who would be first among you shall be your bondman: * kai hos an THEl*e* en huMIN EInai PR*O*tos [4413] EStai huM*O*N DOUlos [1401]: *28 even as the Son of :man came not to be served, but to serve,* H*O*Sper ho huiOS tou anTHR*O*pou ouk *E*Lthen di-a-ko-n*e*TH*E*nai [1247], alLA di-a-koN*E*sai, *and to give his :life a ransom for many.* kai DOUnai [1325] t*e*n psuCH*E*N [5590] auTOU LUtron [3083] anTI polL*O*N. The Gospel of Luke - reveals Jesus especially as the Son of *Man**. *Jesus loved to refer Himself to this. He left heaven's glory as seen in the 7 steps downward in Philippians 2 - and identified Himself so completely with us, that only the elect see Him also as the Messiah, the Son of God! As He identified Himself with us, so we should identify ourselves with Him - in his death, burial and Resurrection! - We are now seated with Him in heavenly places and are overcomers - if we can receive it! The Gospel of John - the *Eagle* - the Son of God - the Messiah (Christ) - He and the Father are *One*! As we look at chapter 13-17 of this Gospel - all of this in the Holy Spirit becomes abundantly clear. But Jesus is all 4 of the faces in Ezekiel 1:10 - as seen also in the 4 Gospels, in perfect balance. None of the 12 sons of Jacob come close! Joseph is the closest of the 12, but even here, is *still* far away. Yet Jesus gives to each of us a part of Himself. For each one of us, one of the 4 Gospels is predominant; then a second, a bit lesser; next a third, somewhat lesser still, and lastly a fourth. One I know is Luke first, then John (these 2 make a linkage with the tribe of Benjamin); Mark is third, and Matthew 4th - all in descending order. Oswald Chambers - sees the Pre-eminence of Jesus perhaps more clearly than most. See his daily devotional, ?My Utmost for *His Highest*.? *That* says it. Or - ?Personal, passionate devotion to Jesus!? There it is again. When we honor Jesus - we honor and glorify the Father who sent Him! All of the 50 books in ?The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers? powerfully focus on Jesus! *He* is the central focus for *all* of Chamber's writings. So we start out with the first Component Part of ?*God's* Organic Laser-Telescope - and - it is the *Interlinear* in God's sight. But again - it is the *word* - the LOgos - and the LOgos, Jesus - *was* God! So the whole Interlinear is indeed Russia's Gift through Ivan Panin to Christianity! And - to consider the significance of that statement - is the see *Jesus* - as the Word - set forth by the Father by the Interlinear, in a God-ordained way just prior to His Son's Second Coming! It is ?*God's*Bible Numeric *Outlined* Transliterated Greek Interlinear New Testament for Laymen!? Panin merely discovered the Bible Numeric Phenomenon behind the 4000 year old Hebrew text for the OT - and the 3000 year old Greek text for the NT. * God* chose these 2 languages for this - *His* very purpose for these last days. He let the Russian Ivan Panin discover this phenomenon in 1890. Then early in the 1900's, about 1910, he let Panin discover the Bible Numeric sentence, sub-paragraph, paragraph and section structure. It is this structure I have used in this Interlinear to *outline* the entire NT - giving it a context so accurate that any layman can make use of it for teaching messages, without any knowledge of Greek. The English translation from the Bible Numeric texted Greek text - solves the problem of Biblical Criticism beyond degree! So - the first Component part of God's organic Laser-Telescope - completely focuses on Jesus the Word - the LOgos - and the seventh and last component part *underlines*, *emphasizes*, and *glorifies* Jesus as the Eternal Word of God through the focus of Oswald Chambers. See Revelation 19:13 (19:11-16) - *?:and his :name is called the **Word**of God.? *Jesus gave the book of Revelation through His angel to John. It is *all about* Jesus, the eternal word. In the Gospels, we see Jesus, the eternal Word (LOgos) of God - set forth in this marvelous 4-fold manner. I did *not* always see this! As a young believer in 1945 in Nova Scotia, stationed in the Navy at HMCS Cornwallis - I met an Anglican priest, and in response to his question, told him of my primary interest in Paul's epistles, especially the book of Romans. ?Young man?, he said, ?as a young believer - *major* on the 4 Gospels on Jesus. Saturate yourself in them. Meditate on them. When they become part of the warp and woof of your being - *then* graduate yourself to the NT epistles!? This set me back on my rocker - but I took his advice and counsel, and when in my reading of ?Through the Bible in a Year? - I look forward to the Gospels - revel in them - profit from them - and find a fresh foundation for the rest of the NT and Bible. The Organic Laser-Telescope requires all 7 Component Parts operating * individually* and *corporately* in Pilot Prayer Teams and Elderships in the Gate of each city! This last is the second component part. But God's *chief emphasis* of the 7 - is the Outlined Interlinear Greek New Testament. Yet with the next 5 parts equally well laid - He *then* wants us to end like Oswald Chambers in offering to Jesus - *My Utmost for His Highest*! May we *all* - individually and corporately honor God, by walking in His revelation. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Nov 30 10:01:19 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:01:19 -0800 Subject: Luke 5:37-39 Message-ID: Friends - Check the last 3 verses of this reading - Luke 5:37-39. Jesus here is reminding his Jewish hearers concerning the Middle East custom of renewing or freshening old wineskins. Note the contrast between the two Greek words that show up concerning this in this Interlinear portion. But especially see the spiritual application in the *NOTE* that follows. - This principle for revival is still functional today. We are *not* going back to past revivals such as the 1948 Visitation in Saskatchewan. God's final Visitation preceding the return of His Son requires a *refreshed* or * renewed* wineskin. There *is* a portion that carries over - the wineskin itself. It is similar to a baby and its bathwater. My mother in 1935 made some root beer, but the bottles had not been thoroughly cleansed from the last batch. Our supper time later on was drastically interrupted as we heard minor explosions in our basement! A friend and I were visiting a couple yesterday in the Bothell area, and this illustration came up in our conversation. Later I was proof-reading this portion following our meeting, and felt it could be of interest to more of you. Jim Watt ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* November 30. 2011 *(From: LUKE #10 - 5:17-39)* *C. 5:17-26 RESULT OF SIGN-GIFT MINISTRY: AMAZEMENT AND FEAR* *a. 5:17 PRESENT HEALING POWER: A SIGNIFICANT PHRASE* *And it came to pass on one of the days, he himself was [also] teaching;* Kai eGEne-to en miA t*e*n h*e*-meR*O*N, [kai] auTOS h*e*n diDAsk*o*n; *and Pharisees and doctors of the law were sitting by, who were come* kai *E*san kaTH*E*me-noi Pha-riSAIoi kai no-mo-diDAska-loi, hoi *E*san e-l*e *-luTHOtes *out of every village :of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem:* ek PAs*e*s K*O*m*e*s t*e*s Ga-liLAIas kai IouDAIas kai Ie-rou-saL*E*M: *and the Lord's power was with him to heal.* kai DUna-mis [1411] KuRIou *e*n eis to iASthai [2390] auTON. *b. 5:18 TEMPORARY FAILURE TO HELP A PARALYTIC* *And lo, men bring on a bed a man that was paralyzed:* kai iDOU, ANdres PHEron-tes ePI KLIn*e*s [2825] ANthr*o*-pon hos *e*n pa-ra-le-luMEnos [3886]: *and they sought to bring him in, and lay him before him.* kai eZ*E*toun auTON ei-se-negKEIN, kai THEInai auTON eN*O*pi-on auTOU. *c. 5:19 THE CREATIVE HELP OF FRIENDS* *And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the crowd,* kai m*e* heuRONtes POIas ei-seNEGk*o*-sin auTON diA ton OCHlon, *they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles* a-naBANtes ePI to D*O*ma [1430], diA t*o*n keRAm*o*n [2766] kaTH*E*kan auTON *with the couch into the midst before :Jesus.* sun t*o* kli-niDI*o* [2826] eis to MEson EMpros-then tou I*e*SOU. *d. 5:20 And seeing their :faith, he said, Man, your :sins are forgiven you.* kai iD*O*N t*e*n PIstin auT*O*N, EIpen, ANthr*o*-pe, aPHE*o*nTAI [863] soi hai ha-marTIas sou. *e. 5:21a THE JUDGMENTALISM OF SCRIBES AND PHARISEES* *And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying,* kai *E*Rxan-to di-a-loGIzes-thai [1260] hoi gram-maTEIS kai Pha-riSAIoi, LEgon-tes, *Who is this that speaks blasphemies?* TIS es-tin HOUtos hos laLEI blas-ph*e*MIas [988]? *f. 5:21b Who can forgive sins, but :God alone?* tis DUna-tai ha-marTIas aPHEInai, ei m*e* MOnos ho TheOS? *g. 5:22 JESUS CHALLENGES THEM* *But :Jesus perceiving their reasonings, answered * e-pigNOUS de ho I*e*SOUS tous di-a-lo-gisMOUS auT*O*N, a-po-kriTHEIS *and said unto them, What do you reason in your :hearts?* EIpen pros auTOUS, Ti di-a-loGIzes-the en tais karDIais huM*O*N? *h. 5:23 HIS CONTRAST* *What is easier, to say, Your :sins are forgiven you; * TI es-tin eu-koP*O*te-ron [2123], eiPEIN, A-PHE*o*nTAI soi hai ha-marTIai sou; *or to say, Arise and walk?* *e* eiPEIN, Egei-re kai pe-riPAtei? *i. 5:24 JESUS OPENLY ILLUSTRATES THIS PRINCIPLE* *But that you may know that the Son of :man* HIna de eiD*E*te HOti ho huiOS tou anTHR*O*pou *has authority on :earth to forgive sins (he said to the paralyzed one), I say unto you,* e-xouSIan [1849] Echei ePI t*e*s g*e*s a-phiEnai ha-marTIas (EIpen t*o*pa-ra-le-luMEn *o*), Soi LEg*o*, *Arise, and take up your couch, **and** go unto your :house.* Egei-re, kai Aras to kliNIdiON sou, poREUou eis ton OI-KON sou. *j. 5:25 THE PARALYTIC OBEYS* *And immediately he rose before them, and took up what he lay on,* kai pa-raCHR*E*ma a-naSTAS eN*O*pi-on auT*O*N, Aras eph' ho kaTEkei-to [2621], *and** departed to his :house, glorifying :God.* aP*E*Lthen eis ton OIkon auTOU, doXAz*o*n ton TheON. *k. 5:26 AMAZEMENT: EFFECT ON THOSE PRESENT* *And amazement took hold on all, and they glorified :God;* kai EKsta-sis [1511] Ela-ben HApan-tas, kai eDOxa-zon ton TheON; *and they were filled with fear, saying [that], We have seen strange ** things** today.* kai ePL*E*Sth*e*-san PHObou, LEgon-tes [HOti], EIda-men paRAdo-xa [3861] S*E *me-ron. *D. 5:27-39 LESSONS ARISING FROM LEVI'S CALL: FASTING PRINCIPLE* *a. 5:27 THE CALL OF MATTHEW* *And after these **things** he went forth, and beheld a publican, Levi by name,* Kai meTA TAUta eX*E*Lthen, kai e-theAsa-to teL*O*n*e*n [5057], oNOma-ti LeuEIN, *sitting at the place of toll, and said to him, Follow me.* kaTH*E*me-non ePI to teL*O*ni-on [5058], kai EIpen auT*O*, AkoLOUthei moi. *b. 5:28 ** And he forsook all, **and** rose up **and** followed him.* kai ka-ta-liP*O*N* *PANta, a-naSTAS *e*-koLOUthei auT*O*. *c. 5:29 THE FEAST OF LEVI* *And Levi made him a great feast in his :house:* kai ePOI*e*-sen doCH*E*N [1403] meGAl*e*n LeuEIS auT*O* en t*e* oiKIa auTOU: *and there was a great crowd of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them.* kai *e*n OCHlos poLUS te-l*o*N*O*N [5057] kai ALl*o*n hoi *E*san met' auT*O*N ka-taKEIme-noi. *d. 5:30 PHARISAIC CARPING CRITICISM* *And the Pharisees and their :Scribes murmured* kai eGOGgu-zon [1111] hoi Pha-riSAIoi kai hoi gram-maTEIS auT*O*N *saying unto the disciples,* pros tous ma-th*e*TAS auTOU LEgon-tes, *Why do you eat and drink with the publicans and sinners?* DiA ti meTA t*o*n te-l*o*N*O*N kai ha-mar-t*o*L*O*N esTHIe-te kai PIne-te? *e. 5:31 THE CHALLENGE OF JESUS* *And :Jesus answering said unto them,* kai a-po-kriTHEIS ho I*e*SOUS EIpen pros auTOUS, *The healthy have no need of a physician; but the ailing.* Ou CHREIan Echou-sin hoi hu-giAInon-tes [5198] i-aTROU [2395]; alLA hoi kaK* O*S Echon-tes. *f. 5:32 I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.* ouk eL*E*lu-tha kaLEsai diKAIous alLA ha-mar-t*o*LOUS [268] eis meTAnoi-an. *g. 5:33 PHARISEES RAISE CHALLENGE OF FASTING* *And they said unto him, The disciples of John fast often,* hoi de EIpan pros auTON, Hoi ma-th*e*TAI I*o*Anou n*e*STEUou-sin [3522]pukNA, *and make supplications; likewise also those of the Pharisees; but :yours eat and drink.* kai de*E*seis poiOUNtai; hoMOI*o*s kai hoi t*o*n Pha-riSAI*o*n; ho de soi esTHIou-sin kai PInou-sin. *h. 5:34 A CHALLENGING QUESTION* *And :Jesus said unto them, Can you make the sons of the bridechamber fast,* ho de I*e*SOUS EIpen pros auTOUS, M*e* DUnas-the tous huiOUS numPH*O*nos [3567], *while the bridegroom is with them?* en h*o* ho numPHIos [3566] met' auT*O*N es-tin poi*E*sai n*e*STEUsai? *i. 5:35 THE CHALLENGE RESOLVED* *But the days will come, [and] when the bridegroom shall be taken* eLEUson-tai de h*e*MErai, [kai] HOtan a-parTH*E* [522] ap' auT*O*N *away from them, then will they fast in those :days.* ho numPHIos, TOte n*e*STEUsou-sin en eKEInais tais h*e*MErais. *j. 5:36 ILLUSTRATION OF A WRONG PATCH* *And he spoke also a parable unto them [that], No one rends for* Ele-gen de kai pa-ra-boL*E*N [3850] pros auTOUS [HOti], OuDEIS ePIbl*e*-ma [1915] *a patch from a new garment and patches it upon an old garment;* aPO hi-maTIou [2440] kaiNOU SCHIsas [4977] e-piBALlei [1911] ePI hiMAti-on pa-laiON; *else he will also rend the new, and the patch :from the new* ei de M*E*ge kai to kaiNON SCHIsei, kai t*o* pa-lai*O* [3820] *will not agree with the old.* ou sum-ph*o*N*E*sei [4856] to ePIbl*e*-ma to aPO tou kaiNOU. *k. 5:37 THE NEW WINE AND OLD WINE-SKINS* *And no one pours new wine into old wine-skins;* kai ouDEIS BALlei OInon [3631] NEon eis aSKOUS [779] pa-laiOUS; *else the new :wine will burst the skins,* ei de M*E*ge 'R*E*xei [4486] ho OInos ho NEos tous aSKOUS, *and itself will be spilled, and the skins will perish.* kai auTOS ek-chuTH*E*se-tai [1632], kai hoi aSKOI a-poLOUNtai [632]. *l. 5:38 But new wine must be poured into fresh wine-skins.* alLA OInon NEon eis aSKOUS kaiNOUS bl*e*TEon. *m. 5:39 No one drinking old wine desires new; for he says, The old is good.* ouDEIS pi*O*N pa-laiON THElei NEon; LEgei gar, Ho pa-laiOS chr*e*STOS [5543]es-tin. *NOTE**: *5:17-26 - It was the faith of the 4 friends that brought healing to the paralytic. This should not strike us as strange. God can drop the gift of faith into any person - not necessarily the needy one. Parents for children can operate in this manner. George Muller in his biography by Dr. A.T. Pierson has a very illuminating word contrasting the ?gift? of healing versus the ?grace? of healing. The Greek word ?S*O*z*o*? - to save - is equally used - to heal. It is the *same* word in each divergent case. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be *saved* - this includes healing. By His ?stripes? we *were*healed. It is the finished work? on Calvary for our soul healing - and for our body healing also. The Pharisees had trouble following Jesus' reasoning on this point. Because He could heal the paralytic physically, Jesus tried to show the Pharisees that this proved His authority to forgive sins also - as the Son of :man. Because the crowds could receive this - it put the Pharisees in a difficult position - for it would *not* do for them to go against the people, even if they did look down upon them. They were *false*shepherds. 5:27-39 - Here we find more nit-picking examples provided by the Pharisees. Jesus' disciples eating with publicans and sinners bothered the Pharisees - and - they couldn't receive the valid explanation of Jesus. Then the fact His disciples didn't fast and pray in the same manner as the Pharisees and John's disciples did - bothered them. And the wise and correct explanations of Jesus - they could not receive. Jesus ended up here with two parables to bring more light on his above explanations. Any seamstress would understand the first, or mother patching her kid's pants. The second depends on an understanding between the two words ?NEos? - new - and ?kaiNOS? - fresh or renewed. In the Middle East, when sheep or goat wineskins are used for this purpose - they *do not* dispose of each skin after its first use. Instead, they ?renew?, or ?freshen? it. *All* bacteria from the last batch of wine *must*be removed. So they turn the used skin inside out, and apply a lye solution to it. This destroys all bacteria from the preceding wine, the old. Then before it starts destroying the skin also, they wash it off with warm soapy water. Next they knead it gently with oil, until it becomes soft and supple once again. Lastly they again reverse it, sew it up - and it is ready for fresh wine. Because no bacteria from the old batch remains, there is no danger of rapid fermentation destroying both new wine and old wineskin. There is an analogy here as it relates to revivals, that some miss. They say - ?Oh - if only we had it like in the olden days!? ?No!? That's an *old*wineskin. If we put a new revival in it, the spiritual fermentation will cause serious problems. Get rid of *all* bacteria from the last revival. Have a renewed or refreshened wineskin. Then - the next move of God can safely be received. J.A.Watt . *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Dec 1 17:33:37 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2011 17:33:37 -0800 Subject: The Exchanged Life - Hudson Taylor Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 1, 2011 ?*THE EXCHANGED LIFE? - 2011-12-01* *(?From Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret? - by Dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor)* *Yes, in me, in me He dwells -* *I in Him and He in me!* *And my empty soul He fills* *Now and through eternity. * *H. Bonar.* Six months after the foregoing letter was written, a junk northward bound on the Grand Canal was carrying a passenger whose heart overflowed with a great, new-found joy. Mr. Judd in Yangchow was expecting the return of his friend and leader, but was hardly prepared for the transformation which had taken place in the one he knew so well. Scarcely waiting for greetings, Mr. Taylor plunged into his story. In characteristic fashion - his hands behind his back - he walked up and down the room exclaiming, ?Oh, Mr. Judd, God has made me a new man! God has made me a new man!? Wonderful was the experience that had come in answer to prayer, yet so simple as almost to baffle description. It was just as it was long ago, ?Whereas I was blind, now I see!? Amid a pile of letters awaiting Mr. Taylor in Chinkiang, had been one from John McCarthy, written in the old home in Hangchow. The glory of a great sunrise was upon him - the inward light whose dawning makes all things new. To tell Mr. Taylor about it was his longing, for he knew something of the exercise of soul through which his friend was passing. But where to begin, how to put it into words he knew not. I do wish I could have a talk with you now [he wrote], about the way of holiness. At the time you were speaking to me about it, it was the subject of all others occupying my thoughts, not from anything I had read ... so much as from a consciousness of failure - a constant falling short of that which I felt should be aimed at; an unrest; a perpetual striving to find some way by which one might continually enjoy that communion, that fellowship, at times so real but more often so visionary, so far off! ... Do you know, I now think that this striving, longing, hoping for better days to come is not the true way to holiness, happiness or usefulness. It is better, no doubt, far better than being satisfied with poor attainments, but not the best way after all. I have been struck with a passage from a book ... entitled *Christ is All*. It says, ?The Lord Jesus received is holiness begun; the Lord Jesus cherished is holiness advancing; the Lord Jesus counted upon as never absent would be holiness complete. ... ?He is most holy who has most of Christ within, and joys most fully in the finished work. It is defective faith which clogs the feet and causes many a fall.? This last sentence, I think I now fully endorse. To let my loving Savior work in me His will, my sanctification, is what I would live for by His grace. Abiding, not striving nor struggling; looking off unto Him; trusting Him for present power; ... resting in the love of an almighty Savior, in the joy of a complete salvation, ?from *all* sin? - this is not new, and yet 'tis *new to me*. I feel as though the dawning of a glorious day had risen upon me. I hail it with trembling, yet with trust. I seem to have got to the edge only, but of a boundless sea; to have sipped only, but of that which fully satisfies. Christ literally *all* seems to me, now, the power, the only power for service, the only ground for unchanging joy. ... How then to have our faith increased? Only by thinking of all that Jesus is and all He is for us: His life, His death, His work, He himself as revealed to us in the Word, to be the subject of our constant thoughts. Not a striving to have faith ... but a looking off to the Faithful One seems all we need; a resting in the Loved One entirely, for time and for eternity. We do not know just how the miracle was wrought; but, ?As I read, I saw it all,? Mr. Taylor wrote. ?I looked to Jesus, and when I saw - oh, how joy flowed!? He was a joyous man now [Mr. Judd recorded], a bright happy Christian. He had been a toiling, burdened one before, and latterly not much rest of soul. It was resting in Jesus now, and letting Him do the work - which makes all the difference. Whenever he spoke in meetings after that, a new power seemed to flow from him, and in the practical things of life a new peace possessed him. Troubles did not worry him as before. He cast everything on God in a new way, and gave more time to prayer. Instead of working late at night, he began to go to bed earlier, rising at 5 A.M. to give time to Bible study and prayer (often two hours) before the work of the day began. It was *the exchanged life* that had come to him - the life that is indeed ?No longer I.? Six months earlier he had written, ?I have continually to mourn that I follow at such a distance and learn so slowly to imitate my precious Master.? There was no thought of imitation now! It was in blessed reality ?Christ lives in me.? And how great the difference! - instead of bondage, liberty; instead of failure, quiet victories within; instead of fear and weakness, a restful sense of sufficiency in Another. So great was the deliverance, that from that time onward Mr. Taylor could never do enough to help to make this precious secret plain to hungry hearts wherever he might be. And there are so many hungry hearts that need such help today that we venture to quote at length from one of his first letters on the subject. It was to his sister, Mrs. Broomhall, whose burdens with a family which grew to number ten children were very real and pressing. So many thanks for your dear, long letter ... I do not think you have written me such a letter since our return to China I know it is with you as with me - you cannot - not you will not. Mind and body will not bear more than a certain amount of strain, or do more than a certain amount of work. As to work - mine was never so plentiful, so responsible or so difficult, but the weight and strain are all *gone*. The last month or more has been, perhaps, the happiest of my life, and I long to tell you a little what the Lord has done for my soul. I do not know how far I may be able to make myself intelligible about it, for there is nothing new or strange or wonderful - and yet, all is new! ... Perhaps I may make myself more clear if I go back a little. Well, dearie, my mind has been greatly exercised for six or eight months past, feeling the need personally and for our Mission of more holiness, life, power in our souls. But personal need stood first and was the greatest. I felt the ingratitude, the danger, the sin of not living nearer to God. I prayed, agonized, fasted, strove, made resolutions, read the Word more diligently, sought more time for meditation - but all without avail. Every day, almost every hour, the consciousness of sin oppressed me. I knew that if only I could abide in Christ all would be well, but I could not. I would begin the day with prayer, determined not to take my eye off Him for a moment, but pressure of duties, sometimes very trying, and constant interruption apt to be so wearing, caused me to forget Him. Then one's nerves get so fretted in this climate that temptations to irritability, hard thoughts and sometimes unkind words are all the more difficult to control. Each day brought its register of sin and failure, of lack of power. To will was indeed ?present with me,? but how to perform I found not. Then came the question, is there no rescue? Must it be thus to the end - constant conflict, and too often defeat? How could I preach with sincerity that, to those who receive Jesus, ?to them gave he power to become the sons of God? (i.e., Godlike) when it was not so in my own experience? Instead of growing stronger, I seemed to be getting weaker and to have less power against sin; and no wonder, for faith and even hope were getting low. I hated myself, I hated my sin, yet gained no strength against it. I felt I * was* a child of God. His Spirit in my heart would cry, in spite of all, ?Abba, Father.? But to rise to my privileges as a child, I was utterly powerless. I thought that holiness, practical holiness, was to be gradually attained by a diligent use of the means of grace. There was nothing I so much desired as holiness, nothing I so much needed; but far from in any measure attaining it, the more I strove after it, the more it eluded my grasp, until hope itself almost died out, and I began to think that - perhaps to make heaven the sweeter - God would not give it down here. I do not think that I was striving to obtain it in my own strength. I knew I was powerless. I told the Lord so, and asked Him to give me help and strength. Sometimes I almost believed that He would keep and uphold me; but on looking back in the evening - alas! there was but sin and failure to confess and mourn before God. I would not give you the impression that this was the only experience of those long, weary months. It was a too frequent state of soul, and that towards which I was tending, which almost ended in despair. And yet, never did Christ seem more precious; a Savior who could and would save such a sinner! ... And sometimes there were seasons not only of peace but of joy in the Lord; but they were transitory, and at best there a sad lack of power. Oh, how good the Lord has been in bringing this conflict to an end! All the time I felt assured that there was in Christ all I needed, but the practical question was - how to get it *out*. He was rich truly, but I was poor; He was strong, but I weak. I knew full well that there in the root, the stem, abundant fatness, but how to get it into my puny little branch was the question. As gradually light dawned, I saw that faith was the only requisite - was the hand to lay hold on His fullness and make it mine. But I had not this faith. I strove for faith, but it would not come; I tried to exercise it, but in vain. Seeing more and more the wondrous supply of grace laid up in Jesus, the fullness of our precious Savior, my guilt and helplessness seemed to increase. Sins committed appeared but as trifles compared with the sin of unbelief which was their cause, which could not or would not take God at His word, but rather made Him a liar! Unbelief was I felt *the* damning sin of the world; yet I indulged in it. I prayed for faith, but it came not. What was I to do? When my agony of soul was at its height, a sentence in a letter from dear McCarthy was used to remove the scales from my eyes, and the Spirit of God revealed to me the truth of our *oneness with Jesus* as I had never known it before. McCarthy, who had been much exercised by the same sense of failure but saw the light before I did, wrote (I quote from memory): ?But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One.? As I read, I saw it all! ?If we believe not, he abides faithful.? I looked to Jesus and saw (and when I saw, oh, how joy flowed!) that He had said, ?*I * will never leave you.? ?Ah, *there* is rest!? I thought. ?I have striven in vain to rest in Him. I'll strive no more. For has not *He* promised to abide with *me* - never to leave me, never to fail me?? and, dearie, *He never will.* Nor was this all He showed me, nor one half. As I thought of the Vine and the branches, what light the blessed Spirit poured direct into my soul! How great seemed my mistake in wishing to get the sap, the fullness *out *of Him! I saw not only that Jesus will never leave me, but that I am a member of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. The vine is not the root merely, but *all* - root, stem, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit. And Jesus is not that alone - He is soil and sunshine, air and showers, and ten thousand times more than we have ever dreamed, wished for or needed. Oh, the joy of seeing this truth! I do pray that the eyes of your understanding too may be enlightened, that you may know and enjoy the riches freely given us in Christ. Oh, my dear Sister, it is a wonderful thing to be really one with a risen and exalted Savior, to be a member of Christ! Think what it involves. Can Christ be rich and I poor? Can your right hand be rich and your left poor? or your head be well fed while your body starves? Again, think of its bearing on prayer. Could a bank clerk say to a customer, ?It was only your hand, not you that wrote that check?; or I cannot pay this sum to your hand, but only to yourself?? No more can your prayers or mine be discredited if offered in the name of Jesus (i.e., not for the sake of Jesus merely, but on the ground that we are His, His members) so long as we keep within the limits of Christ's credit - a tolerably wide limit! If we ask for anything unscriptural, or not in accordance with the will of God, Christ Himself could not do that. But ?if we ask anything according to his will ... we know that we have the petitions that we desire of him? The sweetest part, if one may speak of one part being sweeter than another, is the rest which full identification with Christ brings. I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize this; for He, I know, is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. This is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest position He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult His grace is sufficient. It little matters to my servant whether I send him to buy a few cash worth of things, or the most expensive articles. In either case he looks to me for the money and bring me his purchases. So, if God should place me in serious perplexity, must He not give me much guidance; in positions of great difficulty, much grace; in circumstances of great pressure and trial, much strength? No fear that His resources will prove unequal to the emergency! And His resources are mine, for He is mine, and is with me and dwells in me. And since Christ has thus dwelt in my heart by faith, how happy I have been! I wish I could *tell* you about it, instead of writing. *I* am no better than before. In a sense, I do not wish to be, nor am I striving to be. But I am dead and buried with Christ - aye, and risen too! And now Christ lives in me, and ?the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.? And now I must close. I have not said half I would, nor *as* I would, had I more time. May God give you to lay hold on these blessed truths. Do not let us continue to say, in effect, ?Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above).? In other words, do not let us consider Him as far off, when God has made us one with Him, members of His very body. Nor should we look upon this experience, these truths, as for the few. They are the birthright of every child of God, and no one can dispense with them without dishonoring our Lord. The only power for deliverance from sin or for true service is *Christ*. And it was all so simple and practical! - as the busy mother found when she too entered into this rest of faith. ?But are you always conscious of abiding in Christ?? Mr. Taylor was asked many years later. ?While sleeping last night,? he replied, ?did I cease to abide in your home because I was unconscious of the fact? We should never be conscious of *not* abiding in Christ.? *I change, He changes not;* *The Christ can never die:* *His truth, not mine, the resting place;* *His love, not mine, the tie.* *NOTE**: *The book from which I quoted the above was dated by me - 1946, St. Andrew's College, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It *deeply* stirred my soul and challenged me. Watchman Nee had a true parallel experience to Mr. Taylor, but *his* came through reading and meditating upon Romans 6! Oswald Chambers at 27 entered into the ?Exchanged Life?, by simply entering by faith, when at the end of his tether. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Dec 5 10:43:33 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:43:33 -0800 Subject: John 7:14-36 Message-ID: Dear Friends - 2011-12-15 The following section follows the 5th proof-reading before going to the printers. Do you have any suggestions or comments? J. *(From: JOHN #17 - 7:14-36)* *B. 7:14-36 OPPOSITION INTENSIFIES AS JESUS DECLARES HIMSELF* *1. 7:14-24 JESUS SCORES ON INCONSISTENCY OF ADVERSARIES* *a. 7:14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.* *E*d*e* de t*e*s he-orT*E*S [1859] meSOUs*e*s aNEb*e* I*e*SOUS eis to hi-eRON, kai eDIda-sken [1321]. *b. 7:15 QUESTION OF THE JEWS * *The Jews therefore marveled, saying, * eTHAUma-zon oun hoi IouDAIoi, LEgon-tes, *How does this man know letters, not having learned?* P*o*s HOUtos GRAMma-ta OIden*,* m*e* me-ma-th*e*K*O*S [3129]? *c. 7:16 JESUS CLARIFIES THE TRUE SOURCE OF HIS TEACHING* *Jesus therefore answered them, and said,* a-peKRIth*e* oun auTOIS I*e*SOUS, kai EIpen, *My :teaching is not mine, but his that sent me.* H*e* eM*E* di-daCH*E* [1322] ouk es-tin eM*E*, alLA tou PEMpsanTOS me. *d. 7:17 CORRECTION BETWEEN PIETY AND KNOWLEDGE* *If any wills to do his will, he shall know of the teaching,* eAN tis THEl*e* [2309] to THEl*e*-ma [2307] auTOU poiEIN, GN*O*se-tai [1097]peRI t *e*s di-daCH*E*S, *whether it is of :God, or whether I speak from myself.* POte-ron ek tou TheOU es-tin, *e* eG*O* ap' e-mauTOU laL*O*. *e. 7:18 THE IDEAL - TO SPEAK AND REPRESENT ANOTHER* *Who speaks from himself seeks this :own :glory:* ho aph he-auTOU laL*O*N t*e*n DOxan t*e*n iDIan z*e*TEI: *but who seeks the glory of him that sent him,* ho de z*e*T*O*N t*e*n DOxan tou PAMpsan-tos auTON, *the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.* HOUtos a-l*e*TH*E*S es-tin, kai a-diKIa [93] en auT*O* ouk es-tin. *f. 7:19a Did not Moses give you the law, and none of you does the law?* ou M*o*-uS*E*S Ed*o*-ken huMIN ton NOmon, kai ouDEIS ex huM*O*N poiEI ton NOmon? *g. 7:19b **Why do you seek to kill me? *TI me z*e*TEIte a-pokTEInai [615]? *h. 7:20 The crowd answered, You have a demon: who seeks to kill you?* a-peKRIth*e* ho OCHlos, DaiMOni-on [1140] Echeis: TIS se z*e*TEI a-pokTEInai? *i. 7:21 Jesus answered and said to them, I did one work, and you all marvel.* a-peKRIth*e* I*e*SOUS kai EIpen auTOIS, Hen ERgon ePOI*e*-sa, kai PANtes thauMAze-te. *j. 7:22 JESUS REASONS CONCERNING SABBATH BREAKING* *Therefore Moses has given you :circumcision* diA TOUto M*o*-uS*E*S DEd*o*-ken huMIN t*e*n pe-ri-toM*E*N [4061] *(not that it is of :Moses but of the fathers); and on a sabbath you circumcise a man.* (ouch HOti ek tou M*o*SE*o*s esTIN all' ek t*o*n paTEr*o*n); kai en sabBAt*o * pe-riTEMne-te ANthr*o*-pon. *k. 7:23 A CLEAR CONCLUSION* *If the man receives circumcision on a sabbath,* ei pe-ri-toM*E*N lamBAnei ho ANthr*o*-pos en sabBAt*o*, *that the law of Moses be not broken; are you angry with me,* HIna m*e* luTH*E* [3089] ho NOmos M*o*-uSE*o*s; eMOI choLAte [5520], *because I made a man every whit whole on a sabbath?* HOti HOlon ANthr*o*-pon hu-gi*E* [5199] ePOI*e*-sa en sabBAt*o*? *l. 7:24 Judge not according to appearance, but judge :righteous judgment.* m*e* KRIne-te kat Opsin [3799], alLA t*e*n diKAIan KRIsin KRIne-te. *2. 7:25-31 MURDER-PLANS EMERGE AS JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF* *a. 7:25 PUZZLEMENT OF CHRIST'S HEARERS* *Some therefore of them of Jerusalem said, * Ele-gon OUN ti-nes ek t*o*n Ie-ro-so-lu-meiT*O*N, *Is not this he whom they seek to kill?* Ouch HOU-TOS es-tin hon z*e*TOUsin a-pokTEInai? *b. 7:26a And see, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him.* kai Ide, par-r*e*SIa [3954] laLEI, kai ouDEN auT*O* LEgou-sin. *c. 7:26b Can it be that the rulers truly know that this is the Christ?* M*E* po-te a-l*e*TH*O*S EGn*o*-san hoi ARchon-tes [758] HOti HOU-TOS es-tin ho ChrisTOS? *d. 7:27 THE IGNORANCE OF CHRIST'S HEARERS* *But we know this man from where he is:* alLA TOUton OIda-men POthen esTIN: *but when the Christ comes, no one knows from where he is.* ho de ChrisTOS HOtan ERch*e*-tai, ouDEIS giN*O*skei POthen esTIN. *e. 7:28 JESUS REFERS BACK TO HIS FATHER'S COMMISSION* *:Jesus therefore cried, teaching in the temple and saying,* Ekra-xen oun en t*o* hi-eR*O* diDAsk*o*n ho I*e*SOUS kai LEg*o*n, *You both know me, and know from where I am; and I am not come of myself,* Ka' 'ME OIda-te, kai OIda-te POthen eiMI; kai ap' emauTOU ouk eL*E*lu-tha, *but who sent me is true, whom you know not.* all' EStin a-l*e*-thiNOS ho PEMpsas me, hon huMEIS ouk OIda-te. *f. 7:29 I know him; because I am from him, and HE sent me.* eG*O* OIda auTON; HOti par' auTOU ei-mi, ka' 'KEI-NOS me aPEstei-len [649]. *g. 7:30 JEWISH LEADERS WOULD ARREST JESUS* *They sought therefore to take him: and no one laid :hand on him,* E-Z*E*toun oun auTON piAsai [4084]: kai ouDEIS ePEba-len ep' auTON t*e*n CHEIra, *because his :hour was not yet come.* HOti OUp*o* e-l*e*LUthei [2064] h*e* H*O*ra auTOU. *h. 7:31 JESUS' SIGNS CONVINCING THE CROWD* *But of the crowd many believed unto him and said, When the Christ shall come,* ek tou OCHlou de polLOI ePIsteu-san eis auTON kai Ele-gon, Ho ChrisTOS HOtan ELth*e*, *will he do more signs than what this man has done?* m*e* PLEIo-na [4119] s*e*MEIa [4592] poi*E*sei h*o*n HOUtos ePOI*e*-sen? *3. 7:32-36 PLOTS INCREASE AS JESUS ANSWERS THE PHARISEES* *a. 7:32 CROWD'S BELIEF PRECIPITATES ACTION BY LEADERS* *The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning him;* *E*kou-san hoi Pha-riSAIoi tou OCHlou gogGUzon-tos [1111] peRI auTOU TAUta; *and the chief priests,* kai aPEstei-lan hoi ar-chi-eREIS [749], *and the Pharisees sent officers to take him.* kai hoi Phar-riSAIoi hu-p*e*REtas [5257] HIna piAs*o*-sin [4084] auTON. *b. 7:33 JESUS DOWN HERE BUT A SHORT TIME LONGER* *:Jesus therefore said, * EIpen oun ho I*e*SOUS, *Yet a little time am I with you, and I go unto him that sent me.* Eti CHROnon miKRON meth' huM*O*N ei-mi, kai huPAg*o* pros ton PEMpsanTA me*. * *c. 7:34 You shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, YOU cannot come.* z*e*T*E*seTE me, kai ouch heuR*E*seTE me: kai HOpou eiMI eG*O*, huMEIS ou DUnas-the elTHEIN. *d. 7:35 THE DIASPORA - A POSSIBILITY?* *The Jews therefore said among themselves,* EIpon oun hoi IouDAIoi pros he-auTOUS, *Where will this man go that WE shall not find him? will he go* Pou HOUtos MELlei poREUes-thai HOti huMEIS ouch heuR*E*so-men auTON? m*e*eis t *e*n *unto the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?* di-as-poRAN [1290] t*o*n HelL*E*n*o*n MELlei poREUes-thai, kai diDAskein tous HELl*e*-nas? *e. 7:36 CHRIST MAY BE SOUGHT TOO LATE* *What is this :word that he said, You shall seek me,* TIS es-tin ho LOgos HOUtos hon EIpe, Z*e*T*E*seTE me, *and shall not find me; and where I am YOU cannot come?* kai ouch heuR*E*seTE me; kai HOpou eiMI eG*O* huMEIS ou DUnas-the elTHEIN? *NOTE**: *Many of us have probably not heard of ?Bill Borden of Yale '09?. It was a biography written by an author chosen by Bill's mother following his death at the age of 25. He was son and heir to the Borden Milk Company - very wealthy, very talented, and completely sold out to the Lord. He was studying Arabic in Egypt at the time of his death from ?Encephalomyelitis? (brain fever). He was previous to this planning to go as a missionary to one of the most difficult Muslim fields in China, where he would then learn Chinese on top of Arabic. Following his death, his will of hundreds of thousands of dollars was released. It was so wisely written in endowments to worthy world missions, that it was published on the front page of leading newspapers of this nation. When C.T. Studd learned of his death, he traveled through the major universities and seminaries of the US - telling of the life of Bill Borden, and challenging men to rise up and take his place. 1000 young men responded! One of the favorite verses of Bill Borden was John 7:17 - *?If any will to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whetherI speak from myself.? * Bill led countless numbers of university students to the Lord on the basis of reasoning from this verse. Jesus in His earthly life, did *not* speak from Himself. *Every* word He spoke on earth, and *every* miracle He performed, *all* originated with His Father. He was the *perfect* servant. Where the first Adam fell through self-will - Jesus *not once* exercised His own will apart from His Father. And He says to *us* - ?*Follow Me!? *And Paul the apostle says - *?Follow me, as I follow Christ!?* So - on earth - the words of Jesus so glorified the Father, that *?the world hated Him because He witnessed of it, that its :**works** were evil!? *This - they couldn't abide, and therefore plotted the death of the Son of God, God's perfect servant, who the Father sent to the world to save us by His Son's sacrificial death. *This* death fulfilled all the Levitical sacrifices: the whole burnt offering (Holocaust)! the *sin offering*; the trespass offering; the peace offering! *Jesus* on Calvary fulfilled them * all* for you and me, that we might have plenteous Redemption, and Reconciliation with God, as the lost Adamic race. Imagine - the religious leaders of Jesus' day accused Him of having a demon, when they at the very time in their hearts were plotting to kill Him! Again - John 7:14-26 is full of absorbing lessons, that reading aloud, praying over and meditating upon - will bring forth rich insights. J.A.Watt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Dec 7 09:42:57 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 7 Dec 2011 09:42:57 -0800 Subject: Laser-Telescope - Part A Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 7, 2011 *ORGANIC LASER-TELESCOPE COMPONENT PARTS - Part A - 2011-11-25* There are 7 Component Parts, but the first and seventh major on our Lord Jesus Christ! Oswald Chambers in all of his writings majors on Jesus. He sees him in all scriptures and in all circumstances. He was continually giving ?his utmost? for ?the Lord's Highest!? He constantly was seeking to maintain a ?personal, passionate devotion? to Jesus! Now contrast this attitude with the following. A young man had just preached his first sermon, and felt that he had done pretty well. He was fishing for compliments after the service, and sought a good word from one of the elderly preachers. This latter tried to get out of having to say what he thought. But the young man put such pressure on him for a response, that he finally said, ?Well son, you didn't mention Jesus in your sermon!? The young man replied - ?Jesus wasn't in my text!? ?Young man, until you learn to see Jesus in every text, you are not going to make a great preacher!? Jesus and His Redemption - *must be* understood behind *all* teaching and preaching. See John 1:1 to more fully understand this: *JOHN'S SUMMARY: THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, SON OF THE LIVING GOD* *I. 1:1-2:11 JESUS COMMENCES HIS MIRACULOUS MINISTRY* *A. 1:1-18 PURPOSE OF JESUS: TO REVEAL GOD TO MAN* *1. 1:1 In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with :God, and the Word was God.* En arCH*E* [746] *e*n ho LOgos [3056], kai ho LOgos *e*n pros ton TheON, kai TheOS *e*n ho LOgos. *2. 1:2-13 PURPOSE OF WORD: LIGHT AND LIFE FOR MEN* *a. 1:2 **The same was in **the** beginning with :God. *HOUtos *e*n en arCH* E* pros ton TheON. *b. 1:3 All things became through him; and without him nothing became that had become.* PANta di' auTOU eGEne-to [1096]; kai ch*o*RIS auTOU eGEne-to ouDE hen ho GEgo-nen. *c. 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of :men.* en auT*O* z*o*-*E* [2222] *e*n; kai h*e* z*o*-*E* *e*n to ph*o*s [5457] t*o*n anTHR*O*p*o*n. The whole written Bible of 66 books by 33 known writers was in the beginning a *R**E**ma *word - but once written down became a *LOgos Word! *And *Jesus* is the LOgos! He and the Word are One therefore! Therefore everything in our Bible is connected with our Lord! So the old preacher was correct when he exhorted the young preacher with his first sermon to understand this! Now another aspect to see Jesus in the 4 Gospels. Each Gospel is represented by one of the four faces found in Ezekiel 1:10 (1:4-21): - *THE GLORY OF THE LORD!* *1:10 THE FOUR FACES!* *As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face.* vu-deMUTH [1823] pe-nehHEM [6440] peNEY aDAM [120]. *The four had the face of a lion on the right side,* vu-peN*E*Y arY*E*H [738] el - ha-yaMIYN le-ar-baoT*A*M, *the four had the face of an ox on the left side,* vu-pe-n*e*y - SH*O*R [7794] M*E*hash-shom-aol, *and the four had the face of an eagle.* le-ar-re-baoTAN vu-pe-ney - neSHER [5404] le-ar-baoT*A*N. The Gospel of Matthew - shows the *lion* of the tribe of Judah - *The Lion of Judah shall break every chain -* *And* *give to us the victory - Again and again -* *The Lion of Judah shall break every chain -* *And give to us* *the Victory* *Again - and again!* The Gospel of Mark - the *Ox* - the Servant spirit - linking with the 4 Servant Songs of Isaiah. *j. 20:26-28 JESUS REVEALS HIS OWN POSITION* *Not thus is it among you:* ouch HOUt*o*s esTIN en huMIN: *but who would become great among you shall be your servant;* all' hos an THEl*e* en huMIN MEgas geNESthai EStai huM*O*N diAko-nos; *27 and who would be first among you shall be your bondman: * kai hos an THEl*e* en huMIN EInai PR*O*tos [4413] EStai huM*O*N DOUlos [1401]: *28 even as the Son of :man came not to be served, but to serve,* H*O*Sper ho huiOS tou anTHR*O*pou ouk *E*Lthen di-a-ko-n*e*TH*E*nai [1247], alLA di-a-koN*E*sai, *and to give his :life a ransom for many.* kai DOUnai [1325] t*e*n psuCH*E*N [5590] auTOU LUtron [3083] anTI polL*O*N. The Gospel of Luke - reveals Jesus especially as the Son of *Man**. *Jesus loved to refer Himself to this. He left heaven's glory as seen in the 7 steps downward in Philippians 2 - and identified Himself so completely with us, that only the elect see Him also as the Messiah, the Son of God! As He identified Himself with us, so we should identify ourselves with Him - in his death, burial and Resurrection! - We are now seated with Him in heavenly places and are overcomers - if we can receive it! The Gospel of John - the *Eagle* - the Son of God - the Messiah (Christ) - He and the Father are *One*! As we look at chapter 13-17 of this Gospel - all of this in the Holy Spirit becomes abundantly clear. But Jesus is all 4 of the faces in Ezekiel 1:10 - as seen also in the 4 Gospels, in perfect balance. None of the 12 sons of Jacob come close! Joseph is the closest of the 12, but even here, is *still* far away. Yet Jesus gives to each of us a part of Himself. For each one of us, one of the 4 Gospels is predominant; then a second, a bit lesser; next a third, somewhat lesser still, and lastly a fourth. One I know is Luke first, then John (these 2 make a linkage with the tribe of Benjamin); Mark is third, and Matthew 4th - all in descending order. Oswald Chambers - sees the Pre-eminence of Jesus perhaps more clearly than most. See his daily devotional, ?My Utmost for *His Highest*.? *That* says it. Or - ?Personal, passionate devotion to Jesus!? There it is again. When we honor Jesus - we honor and glorify the Father who sent Him! All of the 50 books in ?The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers? powerfully focus on Jesus! *He* is the central focus for *all* of Chamber's writings. So we start out with the first Component Part of ?*God's* Organic Laser-Telescope - and - it is the *Interlinear* in God's sight. But again - it is the *word* - the LOgos - and the LOgos, Jesus - *was* God! So the whole Interlinear is indeed Russia's Gift through Ivan Panin to Christianity! And - to consider the significance of that statement - is the see *Jesus* - as the Word - set forth by the Father by the Interlinear, in a God-ordained way just prior to His Son's Second Coming! It is ?*God's*Bible Numeric *Outlined* Transliterated Greek Interlinear New Testament for Laymen!? Panin merely discovered the Bible Numeric Phenomenon behind the 4000 year old Hebrew text for the OT - and the 3000 year old Greek text for the NT. * God* chose these 2 languages for this - *His* very purpose for these last days. He let the Russian Ivan Panin discover this phenomenon in 1890. Then early in the 1900's, about 1910, he let Panin discover the Bible Numeric sentence, sub-paragraph, paragraph and section structure. It is this structure I have used in this Interlinear to *outline* the entire NT - giving it a context so accurate that any layman can make use of it for teaching messages, without any knowledge of Greek. The English translation from the Bible Numeric texted Greek text - solves the problem of Biblical Criticism beyond degree! So - the first Component part of God's organic Laser-Telescope - completely focuses on Jesus the Word - the LOgos - and the seventh and last component part *underlines*, *emphasizes*, and *glorifies* Jesus as the Eternal Word of God through the focus of Oswald Chambers. See Revelation 19:13 (19:11-16) - *?:and his :name is called the **Word**of God.? *Jesus gave the book of Revelation through His angel to John. It is *all about* Jesus, the eternal word. In the Gospels, we see Jesus, the eternal Word (LOgos) of God - set forth in this marvelous 4-fold manner. I did *not* always see this! As a young believer in 1945 in Nova Scotia, stationed in the Navy at HMCS Cornwallis - I met an Anglican priest, and in response to his question, told him of my primary interest in Paul's epistles, especially the book of Romans. ?Young man?, he said, ?as a young believer - *major* on the 4 Gospels on Jesus. Saturate yourself in them. Meditate on them. When they become part of the warp and woof of your being - *then* graduate yourself to the NT epistles!? This set me back on my rocker - but I took his advice and counsel, and when in my reading of ?Through the Bible in a Year? - I look forward to the Gospels - revel in them - profit from them - and find a fresh foundation for the rest of the NT and Bible. The Organic Laser-Telescope requires all 7 Component Parts operating * individually* and *corporately* in Pilot Prayer Teams and Elderships in the Gate of each city! This last is the second component part. But God's *chief emphasis* of the 7 - is the Outlined Interlinear Greek New Testament. Yet with the next 5 parts equally well laid - He *then* wants us to end like Oswald Chambers in offering to Jesus - *My Utmost for His Highest*! May we *all* - individually and corporately honor God, by walking in His revelation. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Dec 8 19:54:44 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 19:54:44 -0800 Subject: The Holy Spirit Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 8, 2011 ** *?THE HOLY SPIRIT? **(From ?Disciples Indeed?)** ? Oswald Chambers** - 2011.10.21* *(From "The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers -* Discovery House Publishers, Grand Rapids, 2000) These 21 lectures were given to students in the sermon class at the Bible Training College, in London, between 1911 and 1915. Oswald Chambers? sermon class at the Bible Training College was a combination of lecture and practical experience. Since each student had to prepare and present a sermon before the other members of the class, no visitors were permitted. Oswald wanted everyone to be on an equal footing, as well as being sympathetic listeners, knowing their turn to speak was coming. Because of the give and take nature of the class, Oswald?s lectures were short and practical. Rather than giving a detailed process to follow in sermon preparation, he sought to motivate students to think, study, and prepare. He often stressed that the behavior and words of the person who preaches are inseparable. From the ?BTC Journal? articles, Mrs. Chambers selected thoughts on twenty-one topics and published them as ?Disciples Indeed?. There is a surprising amount of material that appears here and nowhere else in the books by Oswald Chambers. (Some 50 books) *THE HOLY SPIRIT* It is not what we feel, or what we know, but ever what we RECEIVE from God ? and a fool can receive a gift. ?If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?? (Luke 11:13). It is so simple that everyone who is not simple misses it. Beware of telling people they must be worthy to receive the Holy Spirit; you can?t be worthy, you must know you are unworthy; then you will ask for the gift ? ?If you then, BEING EVIL?.? The biggest blessing in your life was when you came to the end of trying to be a Christian, the end of reliance on natural devotion, and were willing to come as a pauper and receive the Holy Spirit. The humiliation is that we have to be quite sure we need him; so many of us are quite sure we don?t need Him. It is extraordinary how things fall off from a man like autumn leaves once he comes to the place where there is no rule but that of the personal domination of the Holy Spirit. We continually want to substitute our transactions with God for the great mystic powerful work of the Holy Spirit. ?The wind blows where it desires, and you hear its sound, but do not know from where it comes, nor where it goes: SO IS EVERY ONE THAT IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT? (John 3:8). By regeneration we are put into right relationship with God; then we have the same human nature, working on the same lines, but with a different driving power expressing itself, so that the ?members? which were used for the wrong are now used for the good (see Romans 6:17-21). The strenuous effort of the saint is not to produce holiness, but to express in actual circumstances the disposition of the Son of God which is imparted to him by the Holy Spirit. Beware of seeking power rather than the personal relationship to Jesus Christ which is the grand avenue through which the Holy Spirit comes in His working power. ?But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: ?and you shall be my witnesses??. (Acts 1:8). The message of Pentecost is an emphasis, not on the Holy Spirit, but on the Risen and Ascended Christ (see John 16:13-15). The Holy Spirit takes care that we fix our attention on Jesus Christ; then He will look after the presentation given of our Lord through us. *DEVOTION TO JESUS IS THE EXPRESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?S WORK IN ME* The Holy Spirit is concerned only with glorifying Jesus; not with glorifying our human generosities. The deep and engrossing need of those of us who name the Name of Christ is reliance on the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ reinstates us to the position lost through sin (see Romans 5:12a); we came at this knowledge experimentally, but it is never our understanding of salvation that leads to salvation. Salvation is EXPERIENCED first; then to understand it needs the work of the Holy Spirit, which is surprising and incalculable. We ?become partakers of the divine nature? by receiving the Holy Spirit, who sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts (Romans 5:5), and the oneness is manifested in a life of abandon and obedience ? both unconscious. If you are being checked by the Holy Spirit over a wrong thing you are allowing in yourself, beware of only captiously seeing the limitations in other people; you will diverge further away from God if you don?t recognize that it is the still small voice of God to you. There is nothing so still and gentle as the checks of the Holy Spirit if they are yielded to: emancipation is the result; but let them be trifled with, and there will come a hardening of the life away from God. Don?t quench the Spirit. There is no room for harsh judgment on the part of a child of God. Harsh judgment is based, not on the sternness of the Holy Spirit, but on my refusal to bear someone else?s burden. Beware of everything in which you have to justify yourself, because the underlying fact is that you have cajoled yourself into taking a decision born of temperamental convictions, instead of in entire reliance on the Holy Spirit. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit is not an impulse to make me act, but to enable me to interpret God?s meaning; if I do act on the impulse of the inspiration, it is a mere physical reaction in myself. Impulse is God?s knock at my door that He might come in, not for me to open the door and go out. The salvation of Jesus Christ makes a man?s personality intense; very few of us are real until the Holy Spirit gets hold of us. The Holy Spirit does not obliterate a man?s personality; He lifts it to its highest use, viz., for the portrayal of the Mind of God. Beware of the ?show business? ? ?I want to be baptized with the Holy Spirit so that I may do wonderful works.? God never allows anyone to do wonderful works: HE does them, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit prevents my seeing them in order to glory in them. ?When He ascended on high ? He gave gifts unto men? (Ephesians 4:8; cf. Acts 2:33). The only sign that a particular gift is from the Ascended Christ is that it edifies the Church. Much of our Christian work today is built on what the Apostle pleads it should not be built on, viz., the excellencies of the natural virtues. Be careful to notice the difference between an offended personal prejudice which makes you feel ruffled and huffy, and the intuitive sense of bondage produced by the Holy Spirit when you are listening to something that is not God?s truth. We must distinguish between the bewilderment arising from conviction of sin and the bewilderment arising from confusion in thinking; the latter is the inevitable result in a traditionally Christian mind on first receiving the Holy Spirit; but a curious thing to note is that a heathen mind experiences no such bewilderment on receiving the Holy Spirit, because there are no preconceived notions to be got rid of. The mind that is not produced by obedience to the Holy Spirit in the final issue hates God. If you are in danger of building on the natural virtues, which are a remnant of the former creation, the Holy Spirit will throw a searchlight and show you things that cause you to shudder. He will reveal a vindictiveness, a maliciousness, you never knew before. Let God bring you through some midnight, when the Holy Spirit reminds you of what you once were, of your religious hypocrisies ? the things the devil whispers you should forget; let God bring you to the dust before Him. This experience will always come in the path of those God is going to take up into His purposes. The baptism of the Holy Spirit means the extinction of life-fires that are not of God, and everything becomes instinct with the life of God. The Holy Spirit is the One who regenerates us into the Family to which Jesus Christ belongs; until by the eternal efficacy of the Cross we are made partakers of the Divine nature. The Holy Spirit is not a substitute for Jesus. The Holy Spirit is all that Jesus was, made real in personal experience NOW. There is one thing we cannot imitate: we cannot imitate being full of the Holy Spirit. The mark of the Holy Spirit in a man?s life is that he has gone to his own funeral, and the thought of himself never enters. The sign that the Holy Spirit is being obeyed by me is that I am not dominated by my sensualities. ?And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof? (Galatians 5:24). Sensualities are not gross only; they can be very refined. ?What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you?.?? (1 Corinthians 6:19). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the climax of Redemption. The great impelling power of the Holy Spirit is seen in its most fundamental working whenever an issue of will is pushed. It is pleasanter to listen to poetical discourses, more agreeable to have your affinities appealed to, but it is not good enough; it leaves you exactly as you were. The Gospel appeal comes with a stinging grip ? ?Will you?? or, ?Won?t you?? ?I will accept,? or, ?I?ll put it off? ? both are decisions, remember. We have to distinguish between acquiring and receiving. We ACQUIRE habits of prayer and Bible reading and we RECEIVE our salvation, we RECEIVE the Holy Spirit, we RECEIVE the grace of God. We give more attention to the things we acquire; all God pays attention to is what we receive. Those things we receive can never be taken from us because God holds those who receive His gifts. The fruit of pseudo-evangelism is different from ?the fruit of the Spirit? (Galatians 5:22-23). Guard as your greatest gift the anointing of the Holy Spirit, viz., the right of access to God for yourself. ?And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you? (1 John 2:27). *IT IS THE FINE ART OF THE HOLY SPIRIT* *TO BE ALONE WITH GOD* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Dec 10 11:09:01 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 11:09:01 -0800 Subject: The Offering of the Natural - OC Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 10, 2011 ?*THE OFFERING OF THE NATURAL? - Oswald Chambers - 2011-12-10* *(From ?My Utmost for His Highest? - December 10)* ?*It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman? (Galatians 4:22).* *Paul was not dealing with sin in this chapter of Galatians, but with the relation of the natural to the spiritual. The natural can be turned into the spiritual only through sacrifice.* *Without this a person will lead a divided life. Why did God demand that the natural must be sacrificed? God did not demand it. It is not God's perfect will, but His permissive will. God's perfect will was for the natural to be changed into the spiritual through obedience. Sin is what made it necessary for the natural to be sacrificed.* *Abraham had to offer up Ishmael before he offered up Isaac (see Genesis 21:8-14). Some of us are trying to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God before we have sacrificed the natural. The only way we can offer a spiritual sacrifice to God is to ?present [our] bodies a living sacrifice ...? (Romans 12:1). Sanctification means more than being freed from sin. It means the deliberate commitment of myself to the God of my salvation, and being willing to pay whatever it may cost.* *If we do not sacrifice the natural to the spiritual, the natural life will resist and defy the life of the Son of God in us, and will produce continual turmoil. This is always the result of an undisciplined spiritual nature. We go wrong because we stubbornly refuse to discipline ourselves physically, morally, or mentally. We excuse ourselves by saying, ?Well, I wasn't taught to be disciplined when I was a child.? Then discipline yourself now! If you don't, you will ruin your entire personal life for God.* *God is not actively involved with our natural life as long as we continue to pamper and gratify it. But once we are willing to put it out in the desert and are determined to keep it under control, God will be with it. He will then provide wells and oases and fulfill all His promises for the natural (see Genesis 21:15-19).* *NOTE**: *On 2006-12-10 - I put this note underneath this reading - ?A new insight!? When Marie and I were in Israel in 2005 on top of Mount Carmel with David & Karen Davis, one of the lectures was given on this subject. Because Abraham listened to his wife Sarah, and had Ishmael from Egyptian Hagar, when God had already told him - that his covenant child would be from Sarah, even though it didn't happen till she was 91 and he was 100! - therefore ... Look at the Middle East today, 4000 years later - and we can still see the results of this. But God loves all people. He loves Ishmael, and looked after him in the natural once Abraham listened to Sarah and sacrificed him. Today, many Islamic people are turning to Christ, direct descendant through Isaac, laughter, the child of *promise*! Are these things easy too understand? Certainly not! But those who have a heart to please God and receive His best - *they* will have their understanding opened by the Holy Spirit - and will know these ?mysteries? spoken of by God in the Holy Scriptures! The above reading by Chambers - is one to meditate over on one's knees - to pray over - and to walk in. This Charles Haddon Spurgeon did - and George Muller and George Whitefield and Rees Howells and Oswald Chambers. I encourage each one of us to do likewise. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Dec 10 17:00:21 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:00:21 -0800 Subject: Practical Usage of Outlined Interlinear N.T. Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 10, 2011 ?*PRACTICAL INSIGHTS IN USE OF THE OUTLINED INTERLINEAR N.T.? - 2011.12.10* *(Requested by a Korean brother)* *One. *In 1890 God allowed Ivan Panin of Russia to discover the Bible Numeric phenomenon that underlies the Hebrew and Greek texts of the 66 books of the Bible. This Bible Numeric feature is found in no other books or writings: *not* in the Apocryphal writings; not in the Koran; nor in the religious Hindu or Buddhist writings. God has reserved for His own Bible - this feature. Because there are no original writings of the 27 NT books, we have but 7 major Greek Manuscripts, which are copies; each has some 3000 alternate readings. Bible Critics have done their best to arrive at the original writings by comparing these 7 Manuscripts and some 3000 fragments. They have put in their texts what they consider to be the original. But in case they have made wrong choices, they have put at the foot of the pages some 3000 alternate readings - allowing the reader to make his own choice. The discovery of Bible Numerics settles these choices. God chose the *only*two languages of the world to write His 66 Bible books in. These languages have No numerical equivalents. We in the English speaking nations use Latin letter plus Arabic numbers. Romans used Latin letters plus Roman numerals. Not so the Hebrews and Greeks. They put a ?tick? by the 22 Hebrew letters, which then have numerical equivalents of l, 2, 3, 4 and with Tov - 400. The Greeks with a ?tick? be each letter has it become 1, 2, 3, 4 - ending with * O*-MEga, 800. When the Antichrist, the man of sin comes, his number equivalent in Greek will be 666. *Jesus*, I*e*SOUS, is now 888! Panin checked each of the 3000 alternate readings with the choice of the Bible Critics, and produced a Greek Manuscript with *no* alternate readings - the same as the original. His English translation of this Bible Numeric Greek text - is then absolutely unique. *Two.* But after his Bible Numeric NT Greek text went to Press early in the 1900's, God then allowed him to discover that Bible Numerics also provides correct sentence, sub-paragraph, paragraph, section and Book divisions. In this *Outlined* Interlinear N.T. - I have summarized each sentence - gather these summaries into sub-paragraphs - these into paragraphs - paragraphs into sections or chapter equivalents - and sections into Books. It has taken some 50,000 hours to accomplish this task, starting back in 1945. This means that a Layman without opportunity of Bible College or Seminary education - can take this *Outlined* Interlinear N.T., and enjoy accurate contexts of every work and verse in the N.T. He can also rest assured that the Bible Numeric tested readings line up with that of the original writers under the Spirit of God. *NOTE:** *It is important to note that God has so arranged translations, that anyone can be led to the Lord by any translation apart from the above text! But - for those desiring accurate understanding for study and teaching - *then* this Bible Numeric *Outlined* Interlinear Greek N.T. will fill the bill! As an illustration of how this works, I have listed 17 of the 3000 variations in copies, and compared them with the best the Bible Critics have done. In many cases they agree. In John 8:1-11 and Mark 16:9-20 - they are world's apart. A Korean brother suggested it would be a help to those seeking to understand these two unique discoveries by Ivan Panin - to have a number of these variations listed. The following 17 are an answer to his request. I trust they may be of help to many of you readers also. 1. Mark 16:9-20 - If *any* portion of Scripture could be omitted - *this*would be the last. It has *more* Numerics than any other portion of the N.T. 2. John 8:1-11 - This passage has been questioned by Textual Critics - but again Bible Numerics overwhelmingly gives it full corroboration. 3. Matthew 6:13b - Omitted by Textual Critics - Correct! Bible Numerics agree. An eager-beaver addition. The truth of the text appears in other Bible references. 4. Mark 9:29 - This kind comes not out but by prayer and *fasting*. Fasting is an addition by copyists. Bible Numerics agrees with Textual Critics. No damage done here - because ?fasting? truth appear in many other references. 5. 1 John 5:7 - The 3 witnessing ones in heaven - Omitted by Textual Critics. Bible Numerics agree. 6. Matthew 17:21 - Prayer and fasting addition - Omitted by both Textural Critics and Numerics. 7. Matthew 23:14 - Questioned by both Critics and Numerics. 8. Mark 7:16 - If a man have ears - Both Critics and Numerics omit. 9 & 10. Mark 9:44 & 46 - Worm dies not - Both omit. 11. Mark 11:26 - But if - Both omit - (but found in Matthew 6) 12. Mark 15:28 - numbered with transgressors - Both omit - but in other Gospels. 13. Luke 17:36 - two men - Both omit. 14. Luke 23:17 - Release of one - Both omit. 15. John 5:4 - the angel - both omit. 16. Acts 15:34 - Silas abides - both omit. 17. Acts 24:7 - violence of Lysias - both omit. *Final Note: This Outlined Interlinear N.T. is now in the hands of our printer - and hopefully can be in your hands early in 2012. Keep in touch with our Website for up-to-date confirmation. * *You can visit our Website - www.2rbetter.org - and Click on ?Interlinear?. The complete N.T. text is here with my Notes. However - the text has not been thoroughly proof-read as it will appear in the printed copy - and my Notes will not appear in the Printed Copy.* *Also in the Printed Copy, we have ?reversed? the two texts, so that the English in all cases precedes the transliterated Greek text. - Jim Watt* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Dec 11 18:07:23 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:07:23 -0800 Subject: Acts 21:1-14 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 11, 2011 *(From: ACTS #35 - 21:1-14])* *D. 21:1-14 LESSONS ON WARNINGS FROM THE SPIRIT* *1. 21:1-6 WARNING OF THE SPIRIT* *a. 21:1-2 FROM MILETUS TOWARDS PHOENICIA* *And when it came to pass that we were parted from them and had set sail,* H*o*s de eGEne-to a-nachTH*E*nai [321] h*e*MAS a-po-spasTHENtas [645] ap' auT*O*N, *we came with a straight course unto :Cos,* eu-thu-droM*E*san-tes [2113] *E*Ltho-men eis t*e*n K*o*, *and the next day unto :Rhodes, and from there unto Patara:* t*e* de heX*E*S eis t*e*n 'ROdon, ka' 'KEIthen eis PAta-ra: *2 and having found a ship crossing over unto Phoenicia, we went aboard, andset sail. * kai heuRONtes PLOIon [4143] di-a-peR*O*N [1276] eis PhoiNIk*e*n, e-piBANtes [1910], aN*E*CHth*e*-men. *b. 21:3 PAST CYPRUS TO TYRE* *And when we had sighted :Cyprus, and leaving it on the left,* a-naPHAnan-tes [398] de t*e*n KUpron, kai ka-ta-liPONtes [2641] auT*E*N eu*O *nu-mon [2176], *we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre;* ePLEo-men eis SuRIan, kai kaT*E*Ltho-men [2609] eis TUron; *for there the ship was to unload her :cargo.* eKEIse gar to PLOIon *e*n a-po-phor-tiZOme-non [670] ton GOmon [1117]. *c. 21:4 PROPHETIC WARNING TO PAUL* *And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days:* a-neuRONtes [429] de tous ma-th*e*TAS, e-peMEIna-men [19611 auTOU h*e*MEras hepTA: *and these told :Paul through the Spirit, not to set foot in Jerusalem.* HOti-nes t*o* PAUl*o* Ele-gon diA tou PNEUma-tos, m*e* e-piBAInein [1910]eis Ie-roSOlu-ma. *d. 21:5-6 FROM TYRE - BACK ABOARD SHIP* *And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days,* HOte de eGEne-to h*e*MAS e-xarTIsai [1822] tas h*e*MEras, *we departed and went on; all, with wives and children,* e-xelTHONtes e-po-reuOme-tha [4198]; pro-pemPONt*o*n [4311] h*e*MAS PANt*o*n *bringing us on till out of the city:* sun gu-naiXI kai TEKnois, HE*o*s Ex*o* t*e*s POle*o*s: *and kneeling on the beach, we prayed, 6 and bade each other farewell;* kai THENtes ta GOna-ta ePI ton ai-gi-aLON, pro-seuXAme-noi, a-p*e*-spaSAme-tha [782] alL*E*lous; *and we went on board :ship, but they returned :home.* kai eNEb*e*-men eis to PLOIon, eKEInoi de huPEstre-psan [5290] eis ta Idi-a. *2. 21:7-14 FOREWARNINGS - BUT STRENGTHENED TO DO GOD'S WILL* *a. 21:7 PAUL'S TEAM ARRIVES AT PTOLEMAIS* *And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre,* H*e*MEIS de ton ploun [4144] di-aNUsan-tes [1274] aPO TUrou, *we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the brethren,* ka-t*e*nT*E*sa-men [2658] eis Pto-le-maIda; kai as-paSAme-noi [782] tous a-delPHOUS, *and** abode with them one day.* eMEIna-men h*e*MEran MIan par' auTOIS. *b. 21:8 NEXT STEP: PHILIP'S HOME AT CAESAREA* *And on the morrow we departed, and came unto Caesarea:* t*e* de ePAUri-on e-xelTHONtes, *E*Ltha-men eis KaiSAri-an: *and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist,* kai ei-selTHONtes eis ton OIkon PhiLIPpou tou eu-ag-ge-liSTOU [2099], *who was one of the seven, we abode with him.* ONtos ek t*o*n hepTA, eMEIna-men [3306] par' auT*O*. *c. 21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.* TOUt*o* de *E*san thu-gaTEres TESsa-res parTHEnoi [3933], pro-ph*e*TEUou-sai [4395]. *d. 21:10 AGABUS FROM JUDEA* *And as we tarried some days, * e-pi-meNONt*o*n de h*e*MEras PLEIous, *a certain prophet came down from Judea, Agabus by name.* kaT*E*L-THEN tis aPO t*e*s IouDAIas proPH*E*t*e*s, oNOma-ti Aga-bos. *e. 21:11 MESSAGE OF AGABUS TO PAUL* *And coming unto us, and taking the girdle of Paul,* kai elTH*O*N pros huMAS, kai Aras [142] t*e*n Z*O*n*e*n [2223] tou PAUlou, *he bound his own :feet and :hands, and said,* D*E*sas [1210] he-auTOU tous POdas kai tas CHEIras, EIpen, *These things says the Holy :Spirit, Thus shall the Jews* TAde LEgei to PNEUma to HAgi-on, Ton ANdra HOU es-tin h*e* Z*O*n*e* *at Jerusalem bind the man whose this :girdle is,* HAUt*e* HOUt*o*s D*E*sou-sin [1210] en Ie-rou-saL*E*M hoi IouDAIoi, *and shall deliver him into the hands of the nations.* kai pa-raD*O*sou-sin eis CHEIras ethN*O*N. *f. 21:12 PAUL URGED NOT TO GO TO JERUSALEM* *And when we heard these things, both we and they* h*o*s de *e*KOUsa-men TAUta, pa-re-kaLOUmen [3870] h*e*MEIS te kai hoi *of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.* enTOpi-oi tou m*e* a-naBAInein auTON eis Ie-rou-saL*E*M. *g. 21:13 PAULS READINESS TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST'S SAKE* *Then :Paul answered, What do you do, weeping and breaking my :heart?* TOte a-peKRIth*e* ho PAUlos, Ti poiEIte, KLAIon-tes kai sunTHRUPtonTES [4919] mou t*e*n karDIan? *for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem* eG*O* gar ou MOnon deTH*E*nai [1210], alLA kai a-po-thaNEIN [599] eis Ie-rou-saL*E*M *for the name of the Lord Jesus.* heTOIm*o*s Ech*o* huPER tou oNOma-tos tou KuRIou I*e*SOU. *h. 21:14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.* m*e* pei-thoMEnou de auTOU, h*e*-suCHAsa-men, eiPONtes, Tou KuRIou to THEl*e *ma giNESth*o*. *NOTE**: *21:9 - The four daughters of Philip prophesied (pro-ph*e*TEUou-sai), which would correspond with the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. But this would *not* place them in the *office* of prophet, as in Ephesians 4:11-12. The feminine equivalent form is #4398 proPH*E*tis, but Philip's 4 daughters are *not* in this category. 21:10-14 - Paul in the past mentioned that in city after city prophecies came forth of bonds that awaited him in Jerusalem. This was confirmed in Tyre (21:4). But Agabus in the latter part of this reading, like Ezekiel of old, acted out what would happen to Paul should he go up to Jerusalem. It is important to note here how Paul lived out these prophecies - he did * not* let them distract him from what *he* believed was the Lord's *guidance*at this time for his life. Were the prophecies true? Absolutely. But from Paul's viewpoint, they were *not* to take precedence over the more important guidance from God. There are believers today who will go a thousand miles to get a word from the Lord. But - do they know how to get * direct* guidance from Him, that supersedes prophetic words and revelation? This is a serious situation. Fully committed disciples like Paul - do not live on the level of prophetic guidance from others, even though authentic. They have so progressed into the Lord like Oswald Chambers, George Muller and Rees Howells - that *their* guidance is a direct word from the Lord. Does one often hear this distinction made today? Confirmation to Paul in the above - can be found in the life of Elisha when his mentor Elijah was about to be taken from him (2 King 2:3) - *?And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Do you know that Jehovah will take away your master from your head today? And he said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace.? *This happened again with the prophets from Jericho 2 verses later. Elisha did not need confirmation from the gift of prophecy. As a prophet, he like Paul had direct guidance from the Lord. We need to ?come up higher?, and not live in the realm of depending upon gifts of the Spirit for guidance. They can be true words as to what is about to happen should we follow a certain course - but *not* the personal word and guidance of the Lord for us. Many are confused over this passage with Paul, Agabus and the other prophets. Perhaps these words will help some to sort out the above, lead them to ?move to higher ground? like Paul and Elisha, and *not miss* the * true* guidance of the Lord. J.A.Watt *The above section was mailed out some time ago, but before the reversal of the English and transliterated Greek reading took place, and before a final proof-reading. Now that these have taken place, and the text is now ready for the Printer, I am remailing this section. I still find many in need of understanding the distinction between ?direct guidance from the Lord? - and the lesser gift of prophecy from concerned friends. J.* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Dec 14 12:18:48 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:18:48 -0800 Subject: 1 John 2:18-29 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 14, 2011 *(From: 1 JOHN #3 - 2:18-29)* *II. 2:18-29 ? MAINTENANCE OF DIVINE FELLOWSHIP* *1. 2:18-21 BEWARE OF ANTICHRISTS* *a. 2:18 SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST REVEALS THE LAST TIME* *Little children, **it** is **the** last hour: and as you heard that antichrist comes,* PaiDIa [3813], esCHAt*e* H*O*ra esTIN: kai kaTH*O*S *e*KOUsa-te hoTI anTIchris-tos [500] ERche-tai, *even now have many antichrists arisen: whereby we know that **it** is **the ** last hour.* kai nun anTIchris-toi polLOI geGOna-sin: HOthen giN*O*Sko-men HOti esCHAt*e*H *O*ra [5610] esTIN. *b. 2:19 SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST MANIFESTED BY DEPARTURE* *They went out from us, but were not of us; for if they had been of us,* ex h*e*M*O*N eX*E*Lthan, all? ouk *E*san ex h*e*M*O*N; ei gar ex h*e*M*O*N * E*san, *they would have continued with us: but **they went out,* me-meN*E*kei-san [3306] an meth? h*e*M*O*N: all?, *that they might be made manifest that not all are of us.* HIna pha-ne-r*o*TH*O*sin [5319] HOti ouk eiSIN PANtes ex h*e*M*O*N. *c. 2:20-21 PURPOSE OF ANOINTING: TO DISCERN TRUTH AND ERROR* *And you have an anointing from the Holy **One**, you all know* kai huMEIS CHRISma [5545] Eche-te aPO tou haGIou [40], OIda-te PANtes *21 -** I have not written to you because you know not the truth,* - ouk Egra-psa huMIN HOti ouk OIda-te t*e*n aL*E*thei-an [225], *but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.* all? HOti OIda-te auT*E*N, kai HOti pan PSEUdos [5579] ek t*e*s a-l*e*THEIas ouk EStin. *2. 2:22-25 BELIEVE THE TRUE CHRIST* *a. 2:22a Who is the liar but who denies that Jesus is the Christ?* TIS es-tin ho PSEUst*e*s ei m*e* ho arNOUme-nos [720] HOti I*e*SOUS ouk EStin ho ChrisTOS? *b. 2:22b This is the antichrist, even who denies the Father and the Son.* HOU-TOS es-tin ho anTIchris-tos, ho arNOUme-nos ton paTEra kai ton huiON. *c. 2:23 NOTE: TO REJECT SON IS TO LOSE THE FATHER!* *Whoever denies the Son, has not the Father either;* pas ho arNOUme-nos ton huiON, ouDE ton paTEra Echei; *who confesses the Son has the Father also.* ho ho-mo-loG*O*N [3671] ton huiON kai ton paTEra Echei. *d. 2:24a Let what YOU heard from the beginning abide in you.* HuMEIS ho *e*KOUsa-te ap? arCH*E*S en huMIN meNEt*o* [3306]. *e. 2:24b ABIDING IN SON AND FATHER: REWARD OF KEEPING THE LOGOS* *If what you heard from **the** beginning abide in you,* eAN en huMIN MEIn*e* ho ap? arCH*E*S *e*KOUsa-te, *YOU also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.* kai huMEIS en t*o* hui*O*, kai en t*o* paTRI meNEIte. *f. 2:25 RESULT: ETERNAL LIFE* *And this is the promise which himself promised us, the life :eternal.* kai HAUt*e* esTIN h*e* e-pag-geLIa h*e*n auTOS e-p*e*gGEIla-to h*e*MIN, t*e*n z*o*-*E*N [2222] t*e*n ai*O*ni-on. *3. 2:26-29 BE FILLED WITH GOD* *a. 2:26 These things have I written you concerning those deceiving you.* TAUta Egra-psa huMIN peRI t*o*n plaN*O*Nt*o*n [4105] huMAS. *b. 2:27 PURPOSE OF THE ANOINTING: SPECIALIZED TEACHING* *And the anointing which YOU received of him abides in you,* kai huMEIS to CHRISma ho eLAbe-te ap? auTOU MEnei en huMIN, *and you have no need that one teach you;* kai ou CHREIan Eche-te HIna tis diDASk*e* [1321] huMAS; *but as his :anointing teaches you concerning all things,* all? h*o*s to auTOU CHRISma diDASkei huMAS peRI PANt*o*n, *and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, abide in him.* kai a-l*e*THES es-tin, kai ouk EStin PSEUdos, kai kaTH*O*S eDIda-xen huMAS, MEne-te en auT*O*. *c. 2:28 PURPOSE OF ABIDING: NO SHAME AT HIS PRESENCE* *And now, little children, abide in him; that, if he be manifested, we may have boldness,* kai nun, tekNIa, MEne-te en auT*O*; HIna, eAN pha-ne-r*o*TH*E*, SCH*O*men [2192] par-r*e*SIan [3954], *and be not shamed from him at his :presence.* kai m*e* ai-schunTH*O*men [153] ap? auTOU en t*e* pa-rouSIa [3952] auTOU. *d. 2:29 A PROOF OF THE NEW BIRTH: A DOER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS* *If you know that he is righteous, know that every one* eAN eiD*E*-te HOti DIkaiOS [1342] es-tin, giN*O*Ske-te HOti pas *that does :righteousness is begotten of him.* ho poi*O*N t*e*n di-kai-oSUn*e*n ex auTOU geGENn*e*-tai [1080]. *NOTE:** *Jesus talks about Gehenna and Sheol more than any other of His disciples. But John here, the closest to Jesus of His original 12 disciples, is very clear in his warning about antichrists and the antichrist spirit. It is interesting to note that John again in the book of Revelation talks about the antichrist. But *here* he gives another way to identify him (Revelation 13:16-18). His name will be the *number* of a man -- 666! Shortly after his conversion in Boston in the late 1800?s, Ivan Panin came across this passage. In his confusion he contacted a Presbyterian minister with his problem. Here is the answer that he got. ?What you have come across, Mr. Panin, points up the uniqueness of God?s Bible. God chose the two languages of the world to have 33 known writers write its 66 books. These two languages have no numerical equivalents. We use Latin letters and Arabic numbers. The Romans used Latin letters and Roman numerals. But not so the Hebrews and Greeks! They used their alphabets, put a tick beside each letter and gave it an arbitrary numerical equivalent. So then alpha, beta, gamma and delta in the Greek becomes 1, 2, 3, 4 ? and omega became 800. ?In the Hebrew: aleph, beit, gimel, daleth - become 1, 2, 3, 4 and Tov is 400. ?When the antichrist is born and comes on the scene, his name in Greek when transposed in the equivalent numbers, will add up to 666.? That seemed to make sense to Panin, so he asked next - ?Then what is Jesus in its numerical equivalent in Greek?? The minister admitted he did not know off-hand, but that it could easily be found out. I*e*SOUS in numerical Greek is Iota l0; *E*ta 8; Sigma 200; Omicron 70; Upsilon 400; and Sigma again 200 = 888! Ivan Panin was bitten and hooked. For the next 50 years and 100,000 hours later, he counted numerical equivalents in Greek and Hebrew. Out of this prodigious research, he produced a Greek New Testament with no alternate readings - the same as the original. He produced an English translation of this, and having discovered that Bible Numerics even established the correct Book contexts of sentences, sub-divisions, paragraphs and sections (somewhat equivalent to our chapter divisions); he added this feature to the English translation. Next he found that with Bible evidence alone he could correctly deduce a Bible Chronology of 245 dates from Adam to Christ's death, resurrection, ascension and pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Then he applied Bible Numerics to this, and proved that the 245 dates divided into 8 sections each ending with a covenant of blood, and gave clear confirmation for accuracy on behalf of his deductions. So has the antichrist been revealed yet? No. Dr. Charles S. Price fervently wished he could retract a book he wrote in his day identifying whom he took to be the antichrist. His comment was: ?Every time I find a good antichrist, somebody ups and kills him!? In conclusion - consider what the apostle John says in the above section, and compare it with his Revelation 13 passage. In the light of how this set Panin into his main life's calling, you can then understand more clearly the nature of the above passage of 1 John 2:18-29. The transliterated Greek text is the product of his Numeric labors. The English translation is his product from his Greek text. The outlining is based on his discovery from his research on the Westcott and Hort Greek text. Jehovah Witnesses offered to produce an Interlinear Greek New Testament based on his 2 texts for him before his death in 1942. Reluctantly he refused their offer, because in his estimation he believed they were a cult. I trust that if Panin looks down from heaven, that he will be pleased and accept the tens of thousands of hours of labor I have put into the production of his labors - of which you have a portion before you now. I have reluctantly - but of necessity - noted that I have come across five who have sought to help Panin with his work. Unfortunately they have very badly represented the work of this great man. They have substituted their own ideas and perverted his careful research. ?Who needs enemies when they have so-called friends?? I trust that Panin will not feel that way about my 64 years of labor on his behalf, of which I believe was God's commission to me. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Dec 15 10:50:09 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:50:09 -0800 Subject: 1 John 2:18-29 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 12, 2011 *(From: 1 JOHN #3 - 2:18-29)* *II. 2:18-29 ? MAINTENANCE OF DIVINE FELLOWSHIP* *1. 2:18-21 BEWARE OF ANTICHRISTS* *a. 2:18 SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST REVEALS THE LAST TIME* *Little children, **it** is **the** last hour: and as you heard that antichrist comes,* PaiDIa [3813], esCHAt*e* H*O*ra esTIN: kai kaTH*O*S *e*KOUsa-te hoTI anTIchris-tos [500] ERche-tai, *even now have many antichrists arisen: whereby we know that **it** is **the ** last hour.* kai nun anTIchris-toi polLOI geGOna-sin: HOthen giN*O*Sko-men HOti esCHAt*e*H *O*ra [5610] esTIN. *b. 2:19 SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST MANIFESTED BY DEPARTURE* *They went out from us, but were not of us; for if they had been of us,* ex h*e*M*O*N eX*E*Lthan, all? ouk *E*san ex h*e*M*O*N; ei gar ex h*e*M*O*N * E*san, *they would have continued with us: but **they went out,* me-meN*E*kei-san [3306] an meth? h*e*M*O*N: all?, *that they might be made manifest that not all are of us.* HIna pha-ne-r*o*TH*O*sin [5319] HOti ouk eiSIN PANtes ex h*e*M*O*N. *c. 2:20-21 PURPOSE OF ANOINTING: TO DISCERN TRUTH AND ERROR* *And you have an anointing from the Holy **One**, you all know* kai huMEIS CHRISma [5545] Eche-te aPO tou haGIou [40], OIda-te PANtes *21 -** I have not written to you because you know not the truth,* - ouk Egra-psa huMIN HOti ouk OIda-te t*e*n aL*E*thei-an [225], *but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.* all? HOti OIda-te auT*E*N, kai HOti pan PSEUdos [5579] ek t*e*s a-l*e*THEIas ouk EStin. *2. 2:22-25 BELIEVE THE TRUE CHRIST* *a. 2:22a Who is the liar but who denies that Jesus is the Christ?* TIS es-tin ho PSEUst*e*s ei m*e* ho arNOUme-nos [720] HOti I*e*SOUS ouk EStin ho ChrisTOS? *b. 2:22b This is the antichrist, even who denies the Father and the Son.* HOU-TOS es-tin ho anTIchris-tos, ho arNOUme-nos ton paTEra kai ton huiON. *c. 2:23 NOTE: TO REJECT SON IS TO LOSE THE FATHER!* *Whoever denies the Son, has not the Father either;* pas ho arNOUme-nos ton huiON, ouDE ton paTEra Echei; *who confesses the Son has the Father also.* ho ho-mo-loG*O*N [3671] ton huiON kai ton paTEra Echei. *d. 2:24a Let what YOU heard from the beginning abide in you.* HuMEIS ho *e*KOUsa-te ap? arCH*E*S en huMIN meNEt*o* [3306]. *e. 2:24b ABIDING IN SON AND FATHER: REWARD OF KEEPING THE LOGOS* *If what you heard from **the** beginning abide in you,* eAN en huMIN MEIn*e* ho ap? arCH*E*S *e*KOUsa-te, *YOU also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.* kai huMEIS en t*o* hui*O*, kai en t*o* paTRI meNEIte. *f. 2:25 RESULT: ETERNAL LIFE* *And this is the promise which himself promised us, the life :eternal.* kai HAUt*e* esTIN h*e* e-pag-geLIa h*e*n auTOS e-p*e*gGEIla-to h*e*MIN, t*e*n z*o*-*E*N [2222] t*e*n ai*O*ni-on. *3. 2:26-29 BE FILLED WITH GOD* *a. 2:26 These things have I written you concerning those deceiving you.* TAUta Egra-psa huMIN peRI t*o*n plaN*O*Nt*o*n [4105] huMAS. *b. 2:27 PURPOSE OF THE ANOINTING: SPECIALIZED TEACHING* *And the anointing which YOU received of him abides in you,* kai huMEIS to CHRISma ho eLAbe-te ap? auTOU MEnei en huMIN, *and you have no need that one teach you;* kai ou CHREIan Eche-te HIna tis diDASk*e* [1321] huMAS; *but as his :anointing teaches you concerning all things,* all? h*o*s to auTOU CHRISma diDASkei huMAS peRI PANt*o*n, *and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, abide in him.* kai a-l*e*THES es-tin, kai ouk EStin PSEUdos, kai kaTH*O*S eDIda-xen huMAS, MEne-te en auT*O*. *c. 2:28 PURPOSE OF ABIDING: NO SHAME AT HIS PRESENCE* *And now, little children, abide in him; that, if he be manifested, we may have boldness,* kai nun, tekNIa, MEne-te en auT*O*; HIna, eAN pha-ne-r*o*TH*E*, SCH*O*men [2192] par-r*e*SIan [3954], *and be not shamed from him at his :presence.* kai m*e* ai-schunTH*O*men [153] ap? auTOU en t*e* pa-rouSIa [3952] auTOU. *d. 2:29 A PROOF OF THE NEW BIRTH: A DOER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS* *If you know that he is righteous, know that every one* eAN eiD*E*-te HOti DIkaiOS [1342] es-tin, giN*O*Ske-te HOti pas *that does :righteousness is begotten of him.* ho poi*O*N t*e*n di-kai-oSUn*e*n ex auTOU geGENn*e*-tai [1080]. *NOTE:** *Jesus talks about Gehenna and Sheol more than any other of His disciples. But John here, the closest to Jesus of His original 12 disciples, is very clear in his warning about antichrists and the antichrist spirit. It is interesting to note that John again in the book of Revelation talks about the antichrist. But *here* he gives another way to identify him (Revelation 13:16-18). His name will be the *number* of a man -- 666! Shortly after his conversion in Boston in the late 1800?s, Ivan Panin came across this passage. In his confusion he contacted a Presbyterian minister with his problem. Here is the answer that he got. ?What you have come across, Mr. Panin, points up the uniqueness of God?s Bible. God chose the two languages of the world to have 33 known writers write its 66 books. These two languages have no numerical equivalents. We use Latin letters and Arabic numbers. The Romans used Latin letters and Roman numerals. But not so the Hebrews and Greeks! They used their alphabets, put a tick beside each letter and gave it an arbitrary numerical equivalent. So then alpha, beta, gamma and delta in the Greek becomes 1, 2, 3, 4 ? and omega became 800. ?In the Hebrew: aleph, beit, gimel, daleth - become 1, 2, 3, 4 and Tov is 400. ?When the antichrist is born and comes on the scene, his name in Greek when transposed in the equivalent numbers, will add up to 666.? That seemed to make sense to Panin, so he asked next - ?Then what is Jesus in its numerical equivalent in Greek?? The minister admitted he did not know off-hand, but that it could easily be found out. I*e*SOUS in numerical Greek is Iota l0; *E*ta 8; Sigma 200; Omicron 70; Upsilon 400; and Sigma again 200 = 888! Ivan Panin was bitten and hooked. For the next 50 years and 100,000 hours later, he counted numerical equivalents in Greek and Hebrew. Out of this prodigious research, he produced a Greek New Testament with no alternate readings - the same as the original. He produced an English translation of this, and having discovered that Bible Numerics even established the correct Book contexts of sentences, sub-divisions, paragraphs and sections (somewhat equivalent to our chapter divisions); he added this feature to the English translation. Next he found that with Bible evidence alone he could correctly deduce a Bible Chronology of 245 dates from Adam to Christ's death, resurrection, ascension and pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Then he applied Bible Numerics to this, and proved that the 245 dates divided into 8 sections each ending with a covenant of blood, and gave clear confirmation for accuracy on behalf of his deductions. So has the antichrist been revealed yet? No. Dr. Charles S. Price fervently wished he could retract a book he wrote in his day identifying whom he took to be the antichrist. His comment was: ?Every time I find a good antichrist, somebody ups and kills him!? In conclusion - consider what the apostle John says in the above section, and compare it with his Revelation 13 passage. In the light of how this set Panin into his main life's calling, you can then understand more clearly the nature of the above passage of 1 John 2:18-29. The transliterated Greek text is the product of his Numeric labors. The English translation is his product from his Greek text. The outlining is based on his discovery from his research on the Westcott and Hort Greek text. Jehovah Witnesses offered to produce an Interlinear Greek New Testament based on his 2 texts for him before his death in 1942. Reluctantly he refused their offer, because in his estimation he believed they were a cult. I trust that if Panin looks down from heaven, that he will be pleased and accept the tens of thousands of hours of labor I have put into the production of his labors - of which you have a portion before you now. I have reluctantly - but of necessity - noted that I have come across four who have sought to help Panin with his work. Unfortunately they have very badly represented the work of this great man. They have substituted their own ideas and perverted his careful research. ?Who needs enemies when they have so-called friends?? I trust that Panin will not feel that way about my 64 years of labor on his behalf, of which I believe was God's commission to me. J.A.Watt *P.S. 2011-12-15 - Very early this morning as I was meditating on the Word of God - it came clearly to me that I need a clearer understanding of God's thoughts. In 1944 & 1945 the Lord laid before me the possibility of an Outlined Interlinear NT based on Panin's two Bible Numeric Greek and English texts. Then in 1967 He said, ?Get My NT done!? It is not Panin's NT; and the Outlined Interlinear NT based on Panin's two texts is not mine! It is all of God! It is God's ?Outlined Interlinear NT!?* *And this accords with John 1:1 (1:1-18) - See it here from the Outlined Interlinear perspective:* *I. 1:1-2:11 JESUS COMMENCES HIS MIRACULOUS MINISTRY* *A. 1:1-18 PURPOSE OF JESUS: TO REVEAL GOD TO MAN* *1. 1:1 In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with :God, and the Word was God.* En arCH*E* [746] *e*n ho LOgos [3056], kai ho LOgos *e*n pros ton TheON, kai TheOS *e*n ho LOgos. *And God was the Word! Jesus is the Word (LOgos), and is Himself - God! So Jesus and the Outlined Interlinear NT is ONE! My only goal and desire is to make Him known through that which is one with Him - this ?Outlined Interlinear NT?! I have given myself to Him for my part in this commission. I have friends who want to help my wife and family financially in this. To this I am open for their sakes - but for me - just to see this in print for Him is sufficient! And for the help He and His Word as One - will mean for readers and students - will be sufficient! J.* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Dec 16 14:10:13 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:10:13 -0800 Subject: Romans 11:13-36 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 16, 2011 *(From: ROMANS #15 - 11:13-36)* *E. 11:13-36 GOD?S FUTURE PLAN FOR ISRAEL: A WARNING TO GENTILES* *1. 11:13-16 THE GREATER BLESSINGS OF ISRAEL?S ACCEPTANCE* *a. 11:13a **But I speak to you, the nations. *HuMIN de LEg*o*, tois ETHne-sin. *b. 11:13b-14 PAUL: USES HIS POSITION TO PROVOKE ISRAEL* *Inasmuch then as I am apostle of nations, I glorify my :ministry;* eph? HOson men OUN ei-mi eG*O* ethN*O*N aPOSto-los, t*e*n di-a-koNIan [1248] mou doXAz*o* [1392]; *14 **if by any means I may provoke to jealousy **them that are **my :flesh, and save some of them.* ei p*o*s pa-ra-z*e*L*O*s*o* [3863] mou t*e*n SARka, kai S*O*s*o* [4982] tiNAS ex auT*O*N. *c. 11:15 CONTRAST BETWEEN ISRAEL?S REJECTION AND COMING ACCEPTANCE* *For if the casting away of them is a reconciling of a world,* ei gar h*e* a-po-boL*E* [580] auT*O*N ka-tal-laG*E* [2643] KOSmou, *What is their receiving but life from the dead?* tis h*e* PROSl*e*m-psis [4356] ei m*e* z*o*-*E* [2222] ek nekR*O*N? *d. 11:16 And if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are also.* ei de h*e* a-parCH*E* [536] haGIa [40], kai to PHUra-ma [5445]; kai ei h*e*'RIza [4491] haGIa, kai hoi KLAdoi. *2. 11:17-24. WARNING: WILD GENTILE BRANCHES CAN BE CUT OFF* *a. 11:17-18 GENTILES TO FACE REALITY* *But if some of the branches were broken off,* Ei DE ti-nes t*o*n KLAd*o*n ex-eKLASth*e*-san [1575], *and you, being a wild olive, was grafted in among them,* su de, ag-riElai-os *o*n, e-ne-kenTRISth*e*s [1461] en auTOIS, *and did become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree;* kai sun-koi-n*o*NOS [4791] t*e*s 'RIz*e*s t*e*s piOt*e*-tos [4096] t*e*s eLAIos [1636] eGEnou; *18 **glory not over the branches: but if you glory,* m*e* ka-ta-kauCH*O* [2620] t*o*n KLAd*o*n: ei de ka-ta-kauCHAsai, *not you bear the root, but the root you.* ou su t*e*n 'RIzan basTAzeis [941], alLA h*e* 'RIza se. *b. 11:19 You will say therefore, Branches were broken off, that I be grafted in.* eREIS oun, Ex-eKLASth*e*-san [1575] KLAdoi, HIna eG*O* en-ken-trisTH*O* [1461]. *c. 11:20 Well; by their unbelief were they broken off, and you stand by the faith.* kaL*O*S; t*e* a-piSTIa ex-eKLASth*e*-san, su de t*e* PIstei ESt*e*-kas [2476]. *d. 11:21 GOD?S JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL: CAUSE FOR GENTILES TO WALK SOFTLY* *Be not high-minded, but fear: for if :God* m*e* hu-ps*e*LA PHROnei [5309], alLA phoBOU: ei gar ho TheOS *spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare you.* t*o*n kaTA PHUsin [5449] KLAd*o*n ouk ePHEIsa-to [5339], ouDE sou PHEIse-tai *.* *e. 11:22 GOD?S JUDGMENTS: DETERMINED BY OUR CHOICES* *Behold then God?s goodness and severity:* I-de oun chr*e*sTOt*e*-ta [5544] kai a-po-toMIan [663] TheOU: *toward them that fell, severity; but toward you,* ePI men tous peSONtas [4098], a-po-toMIa [663]; ePI de se, *God?s goodness, if you continue in :goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off.* chr*e*sTOt*e*s TheOU, eAN e-piMEIn*e*s [1961] t*e* chr*e*sTOt*e*-ti: ePEI kai su ek-koP*E*s*e* [1581]. *f. 11:23 ISRAEL: POTENTIAL FOR RESTORATION* *And they also, if they continue not in the**ir** unbelief,* ka? KEInoi de, eAN m*e* e-piMEIn*o*-si t*e* a-piSTIa, *shall be grafted in: for :God is able to graft them in again.* en-ken-trisTH*E*son-tai [1461]: du-naTOS GAR es-tin ho TheOS PAlin en-kenTRIsai auTOUS. *g. 11:24 GRAFTING BACK NATURAL BRANCHES: EASIER THAN THE WILD* *For if you were cut out of what is by nature a wild olive :tree,* ei gar su ek t*e*s kaTA PHUsin [5449] ex-eKOp*e*s ag-ri-eLAIou [65], *and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree;* kai paRA PHUsin e-ne-kenTRISth*e*s eis kal-liElai-on; *how much rather shall these, which are the natural branches,* POs*o* MALlon HOUtoi, hoi kaTA phuSIN, *be grafted into the**ir** own olive tree?* en-ken-trisTH*E*son-tai t*e* iDIa eLAIa [1636]? *3. 11:25-36 RESTORATION FOR ISRAEL: WHEN CHURCH COMPLETED* *a. 11:25-27 ISRAEL HARDENED: UNTIL THE TIMES OF NATIONS FULFILLED* *For I would not, brothers, have you ignorant of this :mystery,* Ou gar THEl*o* huMAS ag-noEIN, a-delPHOI, to musT*E*ri-on [3466] TOUto, *lest you be wise in your own conceits,* HIna m*e* *E*te en he-auTOIS PHROni-moi [5429], *that a hardening in part has befallen :Israel,* HOti P*O*r*o*-sis [4457] aPO MErous t*o* Is-ra*E*L GEgo-nen, *till what **time** the fulness of the nations be come in;* ACHri hou to PLEr*o*-ma [4138] t*o*n ethN*O*N eiSELth*e*; *26 **and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written,* kai HOUt*o*s pas Is-ra*E*L s*o*TH*E*se-tai: kaTH*O*S GEgrap-tai, *The Deliverer shall come out of Zion; He shall turn away ungodlinesses from Jacob:* H*E*xei ek Si-*O*N ho 'ruOme-nos; a-poSTREpsei [654] a-seBEIas [763] aPO IaK *O*B: *27 And this is the covenant unto them from me,* kai HAUt*e* auTOIS h*e* par? eMOU di-aTH*E*k*e* [1242], *When I shall take away their :sins.* HOtan aPHEl*o*-mai [851] tas ha-marTIas [266] auT*O*N. *b. 11:28 ISRAEL: A BELOVED ENEMY* *As to the gospel, they are enemies for you**r** **sake:** * kaTA men to eu-agGEli-on [2098], echTHROI [2190] di? huMAS: *but as to the election, they are beloved for the fathers? **sake.* kaTA de t*e*n ek-loG*E*N [1589], a-ga-p*e*TOI diA tous paTEras. *c. 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of :God are not repented of. * *a-*me-taMEl*e*-ta [278] gar ta chaRISma-ta kai h*e* KL*E*sis [2921] tou TheOU.* * *d. 11:30-31 GOD?S DECREE: TO WORK MERCY TO ISRAEL THROUGH THE CHURCH* *Just as YOU in **the** past were disobedient to :God,* H*O*Sper gar huMEIS poTE *e*-peiTH*E*sa-te [544] t*o* The*O*, *but now have obtained mercy by the disobedience of these,* nun de *e*-le*E*th*e*-te [1653] t*e* TOUt*o*n a-peiTHIa [543], *31 thus have these also now been disobedient,* HOUt*o*s kai HOUtoi nun *e*PEIth*e*-san [544], *that by the mercy **shown** to you they also may now obtain mercy.* t*o* hu-meTEr*o* eLEei HIna kai auTOI nun e-le-*e*TH*O*sin. *e. 11:32 For :God has shut up :all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon :all.* suNEklei-sen [4788] gar ho TheOS tous PANtas eis aPEIthi-an [543], HIna tous PANtas e-le*E*s*e* [1653]. *f. 11:33 THE WISDOM OF GOD: DESIGNED THE WAY OF GRACE* *O **the** depth of riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!* *O* BAthos [899] PLOUtou [4149] kai soPHIas [4678] kai GN*O*se-*o*s [1108] TheOU! *How unsearchable his :judgments, and untraceable his :ways!* H*o*s a-ne-xeRAUn*e*-ta [419] ta KRIma-ta auTOU, kai a-ne-xichNIas-toi [421] hai hoDOI auTOU! *g. 11:34-35 GOD?S WISDOM: EXCEEDS THE COUNSEL OF MEN* *For who has known **the** Lord?s mind? or who has been his counsellor?* Tis gar EGn*o* noun [3563] KuRIou? *e* tis SUMbou-los [4825] auTOU eGEne-to? *35** Or who has first given **to** him, and it shall be recompensed him again?* *e* tis proEd*o*-ken [4272] auT*O*, kai an-ta-po-doTH*E*se-tai [467] auT*O*? *h. 11:36a For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all the things.* HOti ex auTOU, kai di? auTOU, kai eis auTON, ta PANta. *i. 11:36b/c To him the glory unto the ages. Amen.* auT*O* h*e* DOxa [1391] eis tous ai*O*nas [164]. aM*E*N. *NOTE:* No other portion of Scripture so clearly lays out the relationship between Israel and the church. No where else in the Bible does the Holy Spirit guide a writer to lay out God?s mind on His elective purposes for bringing salvation to the world. Is Israel better than other nations? No. God told Moses that His people were perhaps more stubborn and stiff-necked than other nations. But His purposes demanded a nation to work out salvation strategy for the world ? and He *loved* Israel, and chose Abraham as the father of this nation, along with Isaac and Jacob. Is there a danger for non-Jewish nations to misunderstand this whole strategy of God, and falsely arrogate to themselves a wrong conclusion? Absolutely! This whole picture of grafting with true and wild olive branches into a good tree bears careful scrutiny and meditation. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, while himself a Jew. Jesus is a Jew after His human descent ? yet at the same time is the *only-begotten* Son of God. God is granting Him a bride ? a *One New Man* ? made up of Jew and Gentile. We will look back in the Millennium in our glorified bodies, and fully understand the marvelous wisdom of God set forth in these three chapters. Perhaps for neither Jew nor Gentile will we fully understand this wisdom ahead of time. The Deliverer ? Jesus ? Yeshua ? shall come forth from Zion. All of this is ?heady? revelation, and will require much breaking of human tradition for *all* sides to understand. Look on our Website *www.2rbetter.org** *under ?Embryonics? and click on ?Reuben.? Here is a little insight why the Church needs to understand her Jewish Roots, and the Judeo-Christian Ethic! Daniel Juster points out why the Messianic Jewish Movement needs to be grafted into the roots of her spiritual daughter the Church! Answers are *not* easy to come by in all of this. But ? let us persevere ? hunger and thirst after God and His Truth, and the Holy Spirit will graciously open up to us the depths and riches of His wisdom, grace and love. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Dec 17 17:21:21 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:21:21 -0800 Subject: Christmas Greetings Message-ID: *Christmas Greetings - 2011-12-09* *From Jim & Marie Watt -* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com * *To our many friends and acquaintances -* *I just finished rereading the Biography of Charles Haddon Spurgeon by Richard Ellsworth Day, 1934. It was given to me as a gift by our Baptist Fellowship when I graduated from Seminary in 1952. I don't know of anyone with a more fruitful life in both areas of preaching and writing - and much more - but over and above all of this, from his secret diary - his exceeding intimate and real and loving spiritual relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ - the key-note of all Christmases!* *My 3 chief mentors: George Muller, Rees Howells and Oswald Chambers - also had this as a key part of their lives - but I believe I have found in Charles Spurgeon one who perhaps is altogether equal - and perhaps even surpasses them in this area.* *It is seldom in these days that one can run across a life with a relationship with Jesus of such a deep reality. I know I don't come up to this myself - but it is my desire and goal to do so.* *This last year has been encouraging for Marie and me, especially in the light of her remarkable improvement in her health. A year ago January she came down with ?Temporal Arteritis,? and through the ?Prednisone? treatment was physically knocked out of all practical living for that year. She was able to make church almost every Sunday - but that was it.* *But this year - her recovery has been so remarkable that we can scarcely believe it! She's her old self! and perhaps even better! One specialist recommended she take up swimming again. The Federal Way Community Center through Group Health has made this available to Marie - and three times a week she swims for an hour. Her arms have so strengthened that she can again do various strokes. And through it all she has lost over 50 pounds weight! Our daughter Anna and son Jim are impressed at her remarkable change and improvement. Her Group Health doctor gave her a ?high-five? at her annual check-up, and told her she is his star patient - who is making him look very good!* *Marie is the oldest of 9 siblings - and only 4 are left, and she is the healthiest of all! Her sister Yvonne went home to be with the Lord this year, and her brother-in-law Bert Thomson. Bert came to the Lord in 1951 when we were holding meetings at the Baptist Church in Port Alberni, B.C. for 3 weeks, while on vacation from Seminary and an Assistant Pastor in a Baptist Church in Chicago. What a history. Bert immediately moved into full discipleship - not just a convert. He became exceedingly fruitful in home, church and city! Four of his 7 children are active in God's Kingdom, especially his namesake Bert Thomson of Nashville, Tennessee, who is soon picking up ministerial responsibilities in Toronto.* *For me - my chief helper in moving towards the publication of the ? Outlined Interlinear New Testament? - Elvin Gladney - went home to be with the Lord in August. But an old friend of ours - Jim Ray - has picked up the torch, and through other key associate helpers - trusts to see it published in 2012! This is indeed a Milestone!* *We are impressed with the pastor of the church we are attending - Jeff Moorehead of Christ's Church of Federal Way. He is an unusual Expository preacher of the Bible.* *At the same time we are actively assisting with two others in a new Korean Church. Both Marie and I are impressed with not only their openness to God - but their extreme hunger to be all that the Lord wants of them. I am going to stop here - and if Marie has any word to add - I will type it up for her - Jim.* *Marie's part: As this Christmas rolls around, I am so grateful to the Lord for His love and care of me. Of course, He does that through his peoples' prayers. I give all glory to God and His faithful intercessors. It is such a gift of love to know you are cared for by so many faithful pray - ers!* *Another remarkable answer to prayer was Anna's youngest son, Keelan relocating to Houston, Texas, from Mt Vernon, Washington in April 2011. His 1992 Ford Contour loaded to the ceiling, traveled the 2600 miles trouble free, in 3 days. Locations to stay, travel plans, people he met who were kind to help him, his GPS and his mom (Anna) directed his footsteps! Jesus was riding alongside him in the front seat. Anna has made 4 trips to Houston since April, to help him find housing, furnishings for his 2 bedroom apartment, with 2 baths and 1200 square feet, even checking out ?Host Gator? - a Computer Service Company, and the 600 employees, where Keelan is working. Keelan, 23, is the one who does all of Grandpa Jim's Computer work setting up the Interlinear.* *It seems so much of our prayers have been on behalf of our 7 grandchildren, and 2 great grandsons, whom we prize almost over everything. Seth, Anna's oldest son, and Jennifer, and 2 ? year old Luke live in Pullman, Washington. Seth has been given a grant to attend Washing State University. He is a second year Doctoral Student in Computer Science, doing very well. He has been invited to present papers at Conferences in Montreal and Vancouver, B.C. He was also asked to enlarge his B.C. presentation by 1/3, so it could be published. Next Conference where he'll be sharing is San Diego, July 10, 2012.* *Another grandson, Mark Watt, Peter's middle son, 18 years old, is also attending Washington State University, his freshman year. 2 of his mother Madeleine's sisters paid for this year's Tuition and Dorm. etc. Praise God. Since he has been in ROTC since all of High School, he is trusting to get a scholarship from them for 2012 on. Mark is a gentle, loving young man with great leadership abilities, who recently committed his life to the Lord.* *Not to be outdone is Paul Watt, 20 years old, Peter's oldest son. This June he graduates from the University of Washington with a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Finance. He has paid all his own tuition by working 2 jobs on top of his school studies. One job is Northwest Insurance, where he is interning from 1:00 to 5:00 pm 5 days a week. He has really proven himself with all he has accomplished. We're grateful we are here to support him with out love and prayers. He plans to attend Law School at the University of Washington in Seattle later.* *Jim's son James (25 years) attended 4 years at Digipen Computer College in Redmond, Washington. This is one of the top Japanese Computer schools in the nation. He and a friend build Web-sites for clients. He lives in Portland; comes home once a month.* *Chelsea, soon to be 24 on Christmas day! Jim's daughter, and our only granddaughter. She and her family live in Spanaway, South-East Tacoma. She has delighted us with our 2nd great grandson, Roderick Alexander (Brodie) last January. He is beautiful!* *Last but not least is William Watt, Peter's 16 year old youngest son, a sophomore in High School. Getting his Driver's License is a big plus! Hasn't chosen his life's Profession yet.* *And great news today. Our oldest son, Jim, has just received his Canadian Citizenship. We're pretty excited about that. Since Jim and I each have dual citizenship, we don't know what God has in store for us. Whatever, wherever, to be in the center of His Will is our Goal.* *Just wanted to fill some of you in on our family. We are so blessed. Thank you for loving us, praying and supporting us. May this be your most blessed Christmas and Hanukkah ever. May His love be revealed fully to each one.* *Lovingly - Marie.* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Dec 19 21:27:19 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:27:19 -0800 Subject: The Gospel According To Wright Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 19, 2011 Feature The Gospel According To Wright By Charles C. Johnson from the December/January issue (The American Spectator Archives 2011/12/09) How much of Pastor Jeremiah Wright's race-based "theology" does Barack Obama really share? In 2008 America elected a president whose pastor for 20 years preached anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, advocated bizarre pseudo-scientific racial ideas, opposed interracial marriage, praised communist dictatorships, denounced black "assimilation," and taught Afrocentric feel-good nonsense to schoolchildren. When Americans discovered the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's views during the 2008 campaign, they rightly wondered if Barack Obama, like his pastor, really believed that HIV/AIDS was created by the American government to kill black people. Even to this day, no one knows for sure whether Obama shares the views of Wright, whom the *Chicago Sun-Times* once described as Obama's "close confidant." Candidate Obama tried to dismiss his support for Wright, telling Charlie Gibson of ABC News, "It's as if we took the five dumbest things that I ever said or you ever said?in our lives and compressed them, and put them out there, you know, I think that people's reaction, would be understandably upset." And rightly so. In sermon after sermon, Wright's radical black nationalist ideas were clearly and emphatically stated. They were not an aberration, but the focal point of Pastor Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, where Obama was an active member for 20 years. Nor has Wright renounced any of his anti-Americanism. In a sermon last September 16 marking the 10th anniversary of 9/11 entitled, "The Day of Jerusalem's Fall," Wright seemed to celebrate white America's comeuppance. "We bombed Hiroshima. We bombed Nagasaki. And we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon--and we never batted an eye!" Wright preached. "We supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black south Africans and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back into our own front yards." He closed, invoking Malcolm X's statement about the assassination of J.F.K, "America's chickens! Coming home! To roost!" White America, he was saying, had gotten its just deserts. Candidate Obama tried to distance himself from Wright's more damning comments. But, crucially, he didn't disown the pastor himself. In fact, in his rise to political fame, he had made Wright's sermons his own, drawing on Wright's "Audacity to Hope" sermon and appropriating its theme for his political coming-out speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004. He even borrowed the sermon's title for his second autobiography, *The Audacity of Hope*, in a bid to get Wright and other black churches to support his candidacy. The question is why Barack Obama, raised without any faith at all, chose one of the most incendiary preachers in Black America to preach the word of God to him. Wright became, in Obama's words, "like family to me. [Wright] strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children." Obama told a group of ministers in June 2007 that Wright helped "introduce me to my Christian faith." But what, exactly, is Barack Obama's faith? Just as important, what is Jeremiah Wright's? JEREMIAH WRIGHT WAS BORN on September 22, 1941, in Germantown, a racially mixed, middle-class Philadelphia suburb. His father, Jeremiah Wright, Sr., became the minister of the local Grace Baptist Church in 1938 and served there for 42 years. His mother, Mary Elizabeth Henderson Wright, was a schoolteacher who eventually became the first black vice-principal at the Philadelphia High School for Girls, one of the city's top-performing magnet schools. Education mattered deeply to the Wrights. They helped their son with his homework while they bettered themselves with part-time courses. They enrolled him at Central High School, an all-male magnet establishment considered among the nation's best public schools at the time. It was 90 percent white. The class yearbook announced, "Always ready with a kind word, Jerry is one of the most congenial members [of his class]." But Wright himself dismissed that period of congeniality in a later sermon. "I used to let my behavior be determined by the white world's expectations," he recalled ruefully. The young Jeremiah was off to a promising start, but at age 15 was arrested for grand larceny auto theft. His parents sent him to the all-black Virginia Union University. But Wright quit after two years and joined the Marines. Wright later said he hated being educated at "black schools founded by white missionaries." Still, during his short time at VUU he met fellow students who made a lasting impression: a young PhD student named John Kinney who had studied under both Martin Luther King, Jr., and James Cone, the founder of black liberation theology; and Samuel DeWitt Proctor, a longtime friend and mentor of King. After quitting the Marines, Wright joined the Navy, where he served for four years. He was stationed mostly in Washington D.C., and was there to help operate on President Lyndon B. Johnson as a cardiopulmonary technician before enrolling in college again at Howard University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1968 and a master's in English in 1969. At Howard, Wright heard firebrand Stokely Carmichael, a.k.a. Kwame Ture, lecture on black power. He was further influenced by Cheikh Anta Diop's racialist tomes advancing Afrocentrism, the theory that Africa was the cradle of modern civilization. After that, it was off to the University of Chicago Divinity School for six years. Then Wright, 31, joined Trinity United Church of Christ as pastor on March 1, 1972. In his provocative words, "the fun began." Trinity, on its last legs when Wright joined it, was an odd choice. After all, as Bill Moyers of PBS recalls in his new book, *Bill Moyers Journal: The Conversation Continues*, Wright "could have had his pick of large, prosperous congregations, but instead chose one with only 87 members in a largely black neighborhood" of Chicago. Wright often compared Chicago to apartheid-era South Africa: "Just as Blacks could not be caught inside the city of Johannesburg after dark?the same held true for Blacks on the Southside of Chicago." Breaking with his parents' Baptist denomination, Wright recognized that at Trinity he could have complete authority to implement his vision. There were, of course, impediments to that goal, not least his white colleagues. Many couldn't understand his love of black-style worship or emphasis on the role of Africans in biblical history. Wright recalls nearly coming to blows in 1978 with a white associate minister who called his church a "cult" and derided him for having a "big ego." TWENTY-TWO BLACK church members who did not like the direction in which Wright was taking Trinity lodged a complaint with the UCC, then left the church. Wright attacked them as Uncle Toms "running to ?massa' to tell a white man what they thought was happening to their Negro church." He had nothing but contempt for these middle-class blacks. They were, he noted, "bourgeois Negroes who wanted to be white." Wright considered himself a "new Black who is not ashamed of his Blackness." Wright had come under the sway of the writings of James Cone, a professor of divinity, father of the black theology movement and author of the seminal *Black Theology and Black Power* (1969). Cone taught that Christianity needed to be freed from "whiteness." He and Wright conceived of a Christianity in which black rage and the black power ideology fused with Marxist thought. According to Cone, "black people must find ways of affirming black dignity which do not include relating to whites on white terms." Integration was impossible because it was brought about by "black na?vet?" and "white guilt." Cone approvingly quoted Malcolm X: "The worst crime the white man has committed has been to teach us to hate ourselves." Freeing blacks would require getting them to love their inner African and Wright would do just that--Trinity's longtime parishioners be damned. Trinity gave Wright a chance to introduce ordinary blacks to these writings. During the initial media dustup over Wright's views in 2007, the media couldn't understand Wright's, or Obama's, Christianity because they couldn't understand the underlying phenomenon of black liberation theology. It didn't help that the mainstream media had decided to take the issue of Obama's faith off the table. The *New York Times* ludicrously editorialized in 2008 that Obama's "religious connection" with Wright "should be none of the voters' business." Unlike George W. Bush, Obama wouldn't "carry religion into government," the *Times* promised. In fact, Obama often invokes religion in areas--health care and economics--where it isn't normally mentioned. An analysis by *Politico* found that Obama invoked Jesus far more than George W. Bush did, and cited the Sermon on the Mount to make the case for his economic policies. Wright was Obama's missionary in a sense, so it is worth looking at how he educated his parishioners. "I had as my goal in starting a weekly Bible class the idea of connecting the study of God's Word to where it is we lived as Black people in Chicago in 1972," he recalled. It would be the Gospel according to Wright. Trinity's slogan would be "Unapologetically Black and Unapologetically Christian." It was to be black first and Christian second. Preaching black theology, Wright made his dashiki-wearing flock the largest--and blackest--church in the largely white UCC. In his church-associated Kwame Nkrumah Academy, the congregation's children learned such canards as the claim that "[h]istorically, Europeans tried to build themselves up by tearing down all that Africans had done." Obama biographer David Remnick notes that Obama approved of this "African-centered" grade school, where Wright's God loves all people, but black people especially. And why shouldn't he? Jesus, Wright taught, was "an African Jew," as were most of the figures of the Bible. As Wright said in *Africans Who Shaped Our Faith* (1995), "evidence exists within and outside of the Bible to support the notion that the people of Israel?were of African descent!" It is in this context that Wright's comments on Zionism should be seen. Attacking Israel's right to exist, Wright held that "[t]he Israelis have illegally occupied Palestinian territories for more than 40 years now." America, by defending Zionism and its apartheid-like regime, had too long practiced "unquestioning" support of Zionism. Given his hostility to Zionism and non-"African" Jews, it wasn't surprising that Wright's anti-Semitism reared its ugly head in June 2009. "Them Jews ain't going to let him talk to me," he told the *Daily Press* of Hampton Roads, Virginia. They were "controlling" Obama and therefore preventing the United States from sending a delegation to an anti-racism United Nations conference. (America boycotted it on the grounds that it would descend into an anti-Jew hate fest as it had in previous years.) Wright remained loyal to Malcolm X (Trinity United Church celebrates his birthday) and to Louis Farrakhan. Wright even joined Farrakhan on a trip to meet with the latter's benefactor, Muammar Gaddafi, in 1984. (Wright has also routinely bragged about his trips to Castro's Cuba and Ortega's Nicaragua. He predicted that his trip to Libya would cause trouble for Obama in 2008: "When [Obama's] enemies find out that in 1984 I went to Tripoli to visit [Gaddafi] with Farrakhan, a lot of his Jewish support will dry up quicker than a snowball in hell," he said.) To further his claim that the white man was an active enemy of the black man, Wright has often recommended a favorite book of the Nation of Islam, *Emerging Viruses: AIDS and Ebola: Nature, Accident, or Intentional?* (1996), a self-published screed by Leonard G. Horowitz, a conspiracy theorist and former dentist, who argues that HIV began as a biological weapons project. "Based on this Tuskegee syphilis experiment and based on what has happened to Africans in this country, I believe our government is capable of doing anything." As white people were responsible for the makeup of its government, white America bore a collective guilt, Wright said. It could not accept a black man as president of "this racist United States of America," "the United States of White America," and "the U.S. of KKK-A." WRIGHT GOT ON OBAMA'S BUS early, in the mid-1980s, when he supported Obama's efforts to organize blacks for "social change" (i.e., to increase government welfare), and only left in 2008 when there was an increasingly serious chance of his winning the Democratic nomination and becoming president. It was, after all, Hillary Clinton--not John McCain--who used Wright as a campaign issue against Obama. Wright had remained on the bus for so long because his friendship gave Obama an authenticity on the South Side that he otherwise lacked as a highly educated black man who grew up in white and multiracial environments. Had Obama not successfully defined himself as an ordinary African American, had he not worked the streets on poverty wages, his political career probably would have gone nowhere. Obama came to join Wright's church in a roundabout way, as Stanley Kurtz argues in his well-researched *Radical-in-Chief* (2010). We don't know if he encountered Wright before he moved to Chicago, but it seems safe to assume he had. David Remnick recounts a significant meeting between the young Obama and Pastor Alvin Love of Lilydale First Baptist Church in Chicago. Obama and Love had organized blacks through the churches starting in 1985, so "[Obama] knew it was inconsistent to be a church-based organizer without being a member of any church, and he was feeling that pressure," according to Love. "He said, 'I believe, but?I want to be serious and be comfortable wherever I join.'" A pastor whom Love recommended--Pastor L. K. Curry--suggested that Obama meet Jeremiah Wright. Obama apparently liked what he saw at their meeting and he began to attend Trinity in 1988. Obama's decision to join Trinity was very much one of convenience. Even though he plotted his every move, we're supposed to believe that he just happened to join the largest black church in America, whose pastor had a record for getting blacks elected to higher office. (In 1983, Wright led a coalition of black churches to help elect Harold Washington as the first black mayor of Chicago.) Obama liked to try out his ideas on Wright. "What I value most about Pastor Wright is not his day-to-day political advice," he told the *Chicago Tribune* in January 2007. "He's much more of a sounding board for me to make sure that I am speaking as truthfully about what I believe as possible and that I'm not losing myself in some of the hype and hoopla and stress that's involved in national politics." Wright was a means to an end. Steeped in Marxist thought and the community organizing tactics of the radical Saul Alinsky, Obama was probably comfortable with the view that religion was the opiate of the masses and black liberation theology the opiate of blacks. Trinity Church is a place where black movers and shakers congregate. "My commitment is to the church, not to a pastor," Obama said in May 2008. But left unsaid was just what the members of that church believed. According to Wright, leading members have included Jawanza Kunjufu (author of *Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys*, which blames, among other things, interracial marriage), Iva Carruthers (who coined the term "Afrocentric" and whose work at the Jew-hating Durban Conference on Racism Wright enthusiastically endorses), and Bobby Wright, psychologist and author of *The Psychopathic Racial Personality*, which argues that white attitudes toward blacks are psychopathic. Other influential members include the black entertainment elite, like the rapper Common and Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey, who joined the church in the mid-'80s, eventually left in the early '90s. An article entitled "Something Wasn't Wright" in the May 12, 2008, issue of *Newsweek* explains that she knew Wright's rants were too radical for her fans. Interestingly, though Oprah endorsed Obama and helped catapult his books to the top of the bestseller lists, she has declined to endorse him for 2012. Common frequented Wright's pews, occasionally rapping for its congregants. With Wright's approval, Common even "free-styled sermons" against interracial marriage in 2005 when the Obamas were attending Trinity nearly every Sunday. (Perhaps that's why Michelle Obama invited Common to perform at the White House in May 2011.) Growing up in a heavily "segregated" Chicago, Common noted, you had to "enforce" black culture. Ironically, Wright's Afrocentrism, implicit segregationism, and explicit reverse racism didn't prevent him from retiring to a $1.6 million home his church built for him in the lily-white Tinley Park neighborhood in 2008. The luxurious four-bedroom house features an elevator, a butler's pantry, exercise room, four-car garage, master bedroom with a whirlpool, and spare room for a future theater or swimming pool. It abuts the Odyssey Country Club and golf course. (Its mortgage was paid for by the corrupt ShoreBank, with which Wright, along with most of the Chicago black elite, always had a cozy relationship before it went bust in 2010.) WHERE DID OBAMA FIT in all of this? It seems he too rejected assimilation in favor of Wright's separate-but-equal-yet-superior status for black Americans. A December 1995 article, "What Makes Obama Run," by Hank De Zutter in the *Chicago Reader*, a local black newspaper, suggests as much in its profile of Obama's first bid for the Illinois Senate. Obama, thanks to Reverend Wright's Trinity Church, "learned that integration was a one-way street, with blacks expected to assimilate into a white world that never gave ground." Obama bristled at the "unrealistic politics of integrationist assimilation which helps a few upwardly mobile blacks ?move up, get rich, and move out.'" Obama was merely following the teachings of Wright when he railed at Trinity against corporations that, Wright explains in his history of Trinity, "discriminated against women, corporations that discriminated against Blacks and Browns, corporations that supported sweatshops in Third World countries and corporations which stood in direct opposition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Capitalism was part of what led to slavery, Wright had argued. He often mentioned the black sociologist Chancellor Williams's jeremiad, *The Destruction of Black Civilization*, which argues that African civilization was destroyed by the acquisitiveness--the capitalist nature--of white European civilization. But when Wright became too embarrassing, it was time for Obama to distance himself from him. That was the not so subtle message behind Obama's "More Perfect Union" speech in March 2008 in which he rejected Wright, not because he disagreed with him, but he had to protect himself from the charge that Wright and Trinity disliked white people. "Not once in my conversations with him have I heard him talk about any ethnic group in derogatory terms, or treat whites with whom he interacted with anything but courtesy and respect," Obama improbably claimed. The speech, much celebrated and quickly forgotten, did what it had to do: it derailed the whiteness issue as a campaign issue. And yet Obama never explicitly rejected the black power, anti-capitalist core of Wright's teachings. That includes beliefs like Wright's credo that "White folks' greed runs the world in need." For all Obama's talk, he can't claim to never have heard Wright say it. Obama titled his second book, *The Audacity of Hope*, after the very sermon where that line appears. Candidate Obama's declared intention to "spread the wealth around" echoed what he had absorbed at those Trinity sermons. Now President Obama's thinking clearly shows the same imprint, as when he preaches that "at a certain point you've made enough money." "Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., took me on another journey," Obama once said. He merrily went along, every step of the way. * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Dec 21 13:59:09 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:59:09 -0800 Subject: Hebrews 5:1-10 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 21, 2011 (From: HEBREWS #4 - 5:1-10) *D. 5:1-10 HIGH PRIESTLY MINISTRY OF JESUS AFTER MELCHIZEDEK* *a. 5:1-3 COMPASSION: REQUIREMENT FOR PRIESTS* *For every high priest, being taken from men,* Pas gar ar-chi-eREUS [749], ex anTHR*O*p*o*n lam-baNOme-nos, *is appointed for men in things :pertaining to :God,* huPER anTHR*O*p*o*n kaTHISta-tai [2525] ta pros ton TheON, *that he offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:* HIna prosPHEr*e* [4374] D*O*-RA te kai thuSIas [2378] huPER ha-mar-ti*O*N [266]: *2 who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring,* me-tri-o-paTHEIN [3356] duNAme-nos tois ag-noOUsi [50] kai pla-n*o*MEnois [4105], *since himself also is surrounded with infirmity;* ePEI kai auTOS peRIkei-tai [4029] asTHEnei-an [769]; *3 and by it is bound, as for the people,* kai di' auT*E*N oPHEIlei [3784], kaTH*O*S peRI tou laOU, *so also for himself, to offer for sins.* HOUt*o*s kai peRI he-auTOU, prosPHErein [4374] peRI ha-mar-ti*O*N [266]. *b. 5:4 HONOR COMES THROUGH GOD'S CALLING* *And no one takes the honor unto himself, * kai ouch he-auT*O* tis lamBAnei t*e*n tiM*E*N, *but when called of :God, even as also was Aaron.* alLA kaLOUme-nos huPO tou TheOU, kaTH*O*Sper kai AaR*O*N. *c. 5:5-6 CHRIST: CHOSEN BY GOD AS HIGH PRIEST* *So :Christ also glorified not himself to become high priest,* HOUt*o*s kai ho ChrisTOS ouch he-auTON eDOxa-sen [1392] ge-n*e*TH*E*nai ar-chi-eREa [749], *but who spoke unto him, You are my Son, I today have begotten you:* all' ho laL*E*sas pros auTON, HuiOS mou ei su, eG*O* S*E*me-ron geNENn*e*KA [1080] se: *6 as he says also in another place, You are priest unto the age After the order of Melchizedek.* kaTH*O*S kai en heTEr*o* LEgei, Su hi-eREUS eis ton ai*O*na kaTA t*e*n TAxin [5010] Mel-chi-seDEK. *d. 5:7-10 CHRIST'S PERFECTION: CAME THROUGH SUFFERING* *Who in the days of his :flesh, * hos en tais h*e*MErais t*e*s sarKOS [4561] auTOU, *having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears* de*E*seis [1162] te kai hi-ke-t*e*RIas [2428] pros ton duNAme-non S*O*zein [4982] auTON ek thaNAtou *unto the **one** who could save him from death,* meTA krauG*E*S [2906] is-chuRAS [2478] kai daKRU*o*n [1144] pro-seNEGkas [4374], *and having been heard for his :godly fear,* kai ei-sa-kousTHEIS [1522] aPO t*e*s eu-laBEIas [2124], *8 though he was a Son, yet learned :obedience by what he suffered;* KAIper *o*n huiOS, Ema-then [3129] aph' *o*n Epa-then [3958] t*e*n hu-pa-ko* E*N [5218]; *9 and, perfected, he became unto all that obey him* kai, te-lei-*o*THEIS [5048], eGEne-to PAsin tois hu-paKOUou-sin [5219] auT*O * *the cause of eternal salvation;* AIti-os [159] s*o*-t*e*RIas [4991] ai-*o*NIou [166]; *10 named of :God high priest after the order of Melchizedek.* pro-sa-go-reuTHEIS [4316] huPO tou TheOU ar-chi-eREUS kaTA t*e*n TAxin [5010] Mel-chi-seDEK. *NOTE: *Psalm 110 according to some, is the most often quoted portion of OT Scripture in the NT. And - it all revolves around God's appointment of Jesus as His only begotten Son, into this high eternal calling as the Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek! And - because Jesus is not only Son of God, but also Son of man, He is so identified with us in our humanity, that He perfectly understands our infirmities, and can therefore deal gently with us in our ignorance and erring. What a Savior! What a Redeemer! What a Great High Priest! There is *no one* like Jesus on our behalf. 5:7-10 - Many of us have seen Mel Gibson's ?The Passion of the Christ.? It is a true picture of Jesus' physical suffering on our behalf; but it completely passes by His s*piritual* suffering. ?*Cursed* is every man who hangs upon a tree.? Because Jesus did so at Calvary, He became *a curse*for us. His *soul* was made an offering for sin. One man - Adam - brought sin into the entire human race - the heredity of sin. One man - Jesus - worked mighty redemption on behalf of the complete human race - past, present and future! When the curse of the cross entered into His sinless soul, He was forsaken by God, and His anguish spiritually over-shone His physical suffering a thousand fold! Maybe *much* more! But not only did He have this final unfathomable suffering on the Cross on our behalf - but all through His life He suffered and learned obedience as Son of Man through His sufferings. How could we *not* help but yield to Him our all, as the Holy Spirit makes real to us what redemption on your behalf and mine truly cost the matchless Son of God? Then we begin to understand the spirit of Oswald Chambers when he said - the answer is ?*Personal*, * passionate* *devotion* to Jesus! - J.A.Watt *2011-12-21 - Dear Readers - Many times in the past you have been a help when we needed counsel concerning the Printing of the ?Outlined Interlinear New Testament?.* *Now the time of printing is very close - but - we need your counsel concerning the final format.* *At present - the ?Title-Summaries? for Sentences, Paragraphs and Sections - appeared ?centered? above the English and Transliterated Greek texts.* *Our Printer Associate has suggested moving these Title-Summaries to the left side margin.* *What is your ?take" on this? Make this adjusted change? - or - leave the Title-Summaries in their centered position?* *Your counsel will be appreciated.* *Your friend - Jim Watt* *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Dec 23 13:42:51 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:42:51 -0800 Subject: Revelation 4:1-11 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 23, 2011 *(From: REVELATION #6 - 4:1-11)* *III. 4:1-11:19 MYSTERY JUDGMENTS UNVEILED BY THE LAMB* *A. 4:1-8 HEAVENLY VISION OF THRONE, ELDERS AND LIVING BEINGS* *a. 4:1 HEAVEN'S PORTAL FOR JOHN* *After these things I saw, and lo, a door opened in the heaven,* MeTA TAUta EIdon, kai iDOU, THUra [2374] *e*-ne-*o*gMEn*e* [455] en t*o*ou-raN *O* [3772], *and the first :voice that I heard, *kai h*e* ph*o*N*E* h*e* PR*O*t*e* h*e*n *E*kou-sa, *as a trump speaking with me, one saying, Come up here,* h*o*s SALpig-gos [4536] laLOUs*e*s met' eMOU, LEg*o*n, A-NAba [305] H*O*de, *and I will show you what things must come to pass.* kai DEIxo [1136] soi ha dei geNESthai [1096]. *b. 4:2-3 JOHN TRANSPORTED BEFORE HEAVEN'S THRONE* *After these things I was straightway in the Spirit:* meTA TAUta euTHE*o*s e-geNOm*e*n [1096] en PNEUma-ti [4151]: *and lo, a throne was set in the heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;* kai iDOU, THROnos Ekei-to en t*o* ou-raN*O*, kai ePI ton THROnon kaTH*E* me-nos; *3 and who sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius:* kai ho kaTH*E*me-nos HOmoi-os hoRAsei [3706] LIth*o* iAspi-di [2393] kai sarDI*o* [4555]: *and a rainbow round the throne, like an emerald to look upon. * kai Iris kuKLOthen [2943] tou THROnou, HOmoi-os hoRAsei sma-ragDIn*o* [3706]. *c. 4:4 THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS* *And round the throne four and twenty thrones:* kai kuKLOthen tou THROnou THROnoi EIko-si TESsa-res: *and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, * kai ePI tous THROnous EIko-si TESsa-ras pres-buTErous [4245] ka-th*e*MEnous, *arrayed in white garments;* pe-ri-be-bl*e*MEnous hi-maTIois [2440] leuKOIS; *and upon their :heads golden crowns.* kai ePI tas ke-phaLAS auT*O*N stePHAnous chruSOUS. *d. 4:5a And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders.* kai ek tou THROnou ek-poREUontai a-straPAI [796] kai ph*o*NAI kai bronTAI [1027]. *e. 4:5b-6 SEVEN LAMPS AND FOUR LIVING BEINGS* *And seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne,* kai hepTA lamPAdes [2985] puROS kaiOme-nai eN*O*pi-on tou THROnou, *which are the seven Spirits of :God;* HAI ei-sin ta hepTA PNEUma-ta tou TheOU; *6 and before the throne as if a glassy sea like crystal;* kai eN*O*pi-on tou THROnou, h*o*s THAlas-sa hu-aLIn*e* [5193] hoMOIa kruSTALl*o* [2930]; *and midst the throne, and round the throne,* kai en MEs*o* tou THROnou, kai KUkl*o* tou THROnou, *four living beings full of eyes before and behind.* TESse-ra Z*O*a [2226] GEmon-ta [1073] oph-thalM*O*N [3788] EMpros-then kai Opis-then. *f. 4:7 THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE FOUR LIVING BEINGS* *And the first :living being was like a lion, and the second living being like a calf,* kai to Z*O*on to PR*O*ton HOmoi-on LEon-ti, kai to DEUte-ron Z*O*on HOmoi-on MOSch*o*, *and the third living being had a face as of a man,* kai to TRIton Z*O*on [2226] Ech*o*n to PROs*o*-pon [4383] h*o*s anTHR*O*pou [444], *and the fourth living being was like a flying eagle.* kai to TEtar-ton Z*O*on HOmoi-on a-eT*O* [105] te-toMEn*o* [4072]. *g. 4:8 THE WINGS, EYES AND WORDS OF THE FOUR LIVING BEINGS* *And the four living beings having each one of them six wings,* kai ta TESse-ra Z*O*a hen kath' hen auT*O*N Ech*o*n aNA PTEru-gas [4420]hex, *are full of eyes around and within:* kuKLOthen kai Es*o*-then GEmou-sin [1073] oph-thalM*O*N [3788]; *and they have no rest day and night, saying,* kai aNApau-sin [372] ouk Echou-sin h*e*MEras kai nukTOS, LEgon-tes, *Holy, holy, holy, Lord: God, :Almighty,* HAgi-os [40], HAgi-os, HAgi-os, KUri-os ho TheOS, ho pan-toKRAt*o*r [3841], *who was and who is and who is coming.* ho *e*n kai ho *o*n kai ho erCHOme-nos. *B. 4:9-11 THE DUTIES OF THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS* *And whenever the living beings shall give glory and honor* Kai HOtan D*O*sou-sin [1325] ta Z*O*a [2226] DOxan [1391] kai tiM*E*N [5092] *and thanks to him that sits on the throne,* *to him that lives unto the ages of the ages,* kai en-cha-riSTIan t*o* ka-th*e*MEn*o* ePI tou THROnou, t*o* Z*O*Nti eis tous ai*O*nas t*o*n ai*O*n*o*n, *10 the twenty-four elders shall fall down before him that sits on the throne,* peSOUNtai hoi EIko-si TESsa-res presBUte-roi eN*O*pi-on tou ka-th*e*MEnou ePI tou THROnou, *and shall worship him that lives unto the ages of the ages,* kai pro-skuN*E*sou-sin [4352] t*o* Z*O*N ti eis tous ai*O*nas t*o*n ai*O*n*o *n, *and shall cast their :crowns before the throne, saying,* kai baLOUsin [906] tous stePHAnous [4735] auT*O*N eN*O*pi-on tou THROnou, LEgon-tes, *11 Worthy are you, our :Lord and :God,* Axi-os [514] ei, ho KUri-os kai ho TheOS h*e*M*O*N, *to receive the glory and the honor and the power:* laBEIN [2983] t*e*n DOxan kai t*e*n tiM*E*N kai t*e*n DUna-min [1411]: *because you did create :all **things**, *HOti su EKti-sas [2936] ta PANta, *and because of your :will they were, and were created. * kai diA to THEl*e*MA [2307] sou *E*san, kai ekTISth*e*-san [2936]. *NOTE**: (2009-10-31) - *During our first ?Pilot Prayer Team? meeting on October 31st, this word ?portal? or ?door? for ?THUra? came to us. It was because of a vision from the preceding night in Moses Lake. God came down to reveal His word in a special way from heaven. However, in Revelation 4:1, the Lord is inviting John to come up through this door or portal, to receive the revelation given to Him concerning things to come, which He signified to John through His angel. We all need to be sensitive to the unseen world in which God and His angels and saints dwell. To read H. A. Baker's ?Visions Beyond the Veil?, is to become very much aware of the reality of this unseen world. As we follow the principles of ?meditation? as revealed in Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3 and Psalm 19:14, this world can open to us, and the door between the two worlds can become clear. God indicated in September of 2008 that He was about to ?activate? the vision of ?Spiritual Star Wars? through the ?Organic Automated Laser-Telescope? that He gave in answer to prayer in 1967, and confirmed in 1985. He followed this vision up with a second, revealing 70 Pilot Prayer Teams of 8 individuals for 70 major cities in Canada, and 70 in the US. There are now some 260 prayer teams for Canadian ?City, Town and Village Halls? throughout the Dominion. To activate the above 2 visions on behalf of these 260 prayer groups, and see God ?plant their feet on higher ground? - is our prayer through the Pilot Prayer Team in the Seattle area that was activated October 31st of this year. We have had but 3 meetings, and already God is so activating what we are doing, that we can scarcely keep up with Him. On December 7, 68 years after Pearl Harbor, God brought together clearly the 7 component parts of His ?Automated Laser-Telescope?. Then we learned from a prayer group in Minnesota, that they had claimed that what happened as a Day of Infamy December 7, 1941, would be compensated for by a spiritual breakthrough this same date this year. We believe that the revelation of the 7 component parts of His ?Organic Automated Laser-Telescope? is an answer to their prayer. Chapter 4 of the Book of Revelation is a key chapter to open up our understanding of the full Revelation given to our Lord Jesus on our behalf. Years ago John Wesley despaired of ever understanding this book, until he read the works of the ?great Bengel?. Recently Dr. Daniel Juster, a Messianic Jewish Leader and Theologian, felt the same as John Wesley in his early days. Since the early 1990's - he and Mike Bickle have been presenting the ?One New Man? - through these two movements - on the basis of ?Covenant? understanding. While Dr. Juster was meditating recently, God drew near, and said He was about to open to him the 7-fold key to understand the Book of Revelation. Understand the first Passover in Egypt under Moses, and the subsequent crossing of the Red Sea, and here you will find the 7-fold Key to understand this Revelation. Turn to our Website (*www.2rbetter.org* ), and click on ?Interlinear?. - Then click on the notes under the 5 sections of Revelation 1-3, which give an introductory understanding of Dr. Daniel Juster's 7-fold Key. 1. *Preparation for God's people* - Revelation 2-3 - Letters to the 7 churches! Jesus' words to these 7 churches only are a help to those who have ears to hear what His Spirit is saying to these seven churches. These words will prepare God's people for His Revelation to follow. Just as Joseph protected Israel in Egypt while he was alive. 2. *God's People Protected*! Just as God protected Israel in *Goshen* from the plague of ?flies? to the end of the plagues, so He will raise up *little Goshens* for His people in these last days. See Revelation 4:7; 10-11 3. *Plagues - on World-wide Egypt* - a picture of our world - world-wide - Revelation 5-6; 8-9; 15-18 4. *Antichrist - the Last-day Pharaoh!* - Revelation 12-13 5. * Exodus through the Glory-cloud* - Revelation 14:14-16 - for us - just as God delivered Israel through the Red Sea by Moses, a picture of Christ, and His rescue of His people through this supernatural way. 6. *Antichrist - drowned in the wrath of God* - 19:11-21-20:3; 2l-22, just as Pharaoh and his hosts were drowned in the Red Sea. 7. *Entrance into the Promised Land* - 19:1-10; 20:4; 21-22; just as God through Moses, and then Joshua (another type of Christ) drove out the 7 Canaanite nations, and planted Israel there according to His faithful promise. IHOP at Kansas City has both CD and DVD copies of this unusual prophetic teaching. - J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Dec 26 16:56:55 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:56:55 -0800 Subject: Bible Meditation Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 26, 2011 *F. MATURITY - BIBLE MEDITATION - 2011-05-29* *1. PSALM 19:14 (1-14) MEDITATION: PRAYED FOR BY DAVID.* *Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,* YI-he-yu le-r*a*TS*O*N imR*E*Y - p*i*y, ve-he-geY*O*N libBIY, *be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.* le-ph*a*NEYcha, Ye-h*o*VAH, tsuRIY, ve-go-aLIY. Words of our mouth emerge from the *meditation* of our heart. And even our *meditation* can be softly vocalized like the cooing of a dove. Psalm 19 is a wonderful subject for *meditation* and vocalization. *Hallowed be your :name!* *2. Joshua 1:8 (1:1-9) MEDITATION: A CHALLENGE FOR JOSHUA.* *This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth (ESV),* L*o* - yaMUSH s*e*PHER ha-t*o*RAH haZEH mipPIYcha, *but you shall meditate on it day and night, * ve-h*a*GIYth*a* b*o* y*o*M*A*M v*a*LAYlah, *so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.* leMA-AN tishMOR la-aSH*O*TH che-chal - hach-chaTHUB B*O*. *For then you will make your way prosperous,* chey - *A*Z tatsLIYach eth - de-r*a*CHEch*a*, *and then you will have good success.* ve*A*Z tasCHIYL. Moses by the Spirit gives one of the strongest challenges for *meditation*that can be found in the Bible. *The whole* Torah or Pentateuch is to be Joshua's complete subject! It is to hold his attention day and night! The object is that through clear understanding he may then effectively *do* according to *all* written there. And only then does God give the following two extraordinary promises! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. Psalm 1:1-3 (1:1-6) MEDITATION: CONTRASTED WITH THE WICKED.* *Blessed the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,* ASHr*e*y haISH asher l*o* h*a*lach ba-a-TSATH re-sh*a*-*I*YM, *nor stands in the say of sinners,* vu-beDErech khat-t*a*-*I*YM l*o* *a*M*A*D, *nor sits in the seat of the scoffers;* v*u*b-m*o*SHAB l*e*TSIM l*o* y*a*SH*A*B; *2 but his delight in in the law of the LORD,* chiy im be-t*o*R*A*H Ye-h*o*VAh khephTS*O*, *and on his law he meditates day and night.* v*u*-be-t*o*-r*a*T*O* yehGEH y*o*M*A*M v*a*L*A*Yl*a*h. *3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water* ve-h*a*Y*A*H che*E*TS sh*a*TH*U*L al - p*a*lG*E*Y M*A*Yyim *that yields its fruit in its season,* aSHER pirY*O* yitT*E*N be-itT*O*, *and its leaf does not wither.* ve-*a*L*E*hu l*o* - yibB*O*L. *In all that he does, he prospers.* veCH*O*L a-sher - ya-a-SEH yatsL*I*Yach. Possibly a son of Asaph wrote this psalm. How powerful! How great its contrast! How parallel to the word to Joshua. If any Psalm should be memorized - *this* is certainly one of the very first! I memorized it when in Grade 3, and have kept it up through the years. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. Psalm 119:23 (119:17-24) MEDITATION: BASED IN THE LONGEST CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE.* *Even though princes sit plotting against me,* gam YAshe-v*u* S*A*r*i*ym b*i*y nidB*A*r*u*, *your servant will meditate on your statutes* AVde-ch*a* y*a*S*I*Yack be-khuKEYach. Again, the Spirit leads to make contrast between ungodly princes and a true servant of the Lord. *Meditation* becomes his source of comfort, strength and encouragement in the midst of persecution. We *all* could follow this exemplary pattern! *Our :daily :bread give us this day.* *5. Psalm 119:97-100 (119:97-104) MEDITATION: ITS TREMENDOUS BENEFIT.* *Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.* m*a*h - *a*HAVt*i*y t*o*-r*a*TH*E*ch*a*! chal - hayY*O*M h*i*y s*i*-kh*a*TH* I*Y. *98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. * m*e*-*O*Yvay te-khach-cheM*E*n*i*y mi-tse-v*o*THEch*a*, chiy le-*o*L*A*M h*i *y - L*I*Y. *99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, * mich-chal - me-lam-meD*E*Y hisCHAle-t*i*y, *for your testimonies are my meditation.* ch*i*y *e*d-*o*TH*E*Ych*a* S*I*Ych*a*h L*I*Y. *100 I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.* miz-ze-k*e*N*I*YM, ch*i*y phik-k*u*D*E*Ych*a* n*a*TS*A*Rt*i**y.* * * Just look at the benefits of *meditation*! Wiser than enemies! More understanding than teachers! More understanding than the aged! Who wouldn't want to be led in the paths of *meditation*? Just as a cow chews her cud - so we as believers should cause the Word to return to our attention - and permit us to pour over its marvelous mysteries! *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. Psalm 119:148 (119:145-152) MEDITATION: DURING SEASONS OF WAKEFULNESS.* *My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.* kid-deM*U* *E*Ynay ash-muR*O*TH, l*a*S*I*Yakh be-im-r*a*TH*E*ch*a*. We should not fret when lying awake at night! What an opportunity to * meditate* on what we have memorized of the Bible. Brother Yun, the Heavenly Man of China - utilized this opportunity again and again! We can too! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 1 Timothy 4:15 (4:11-16) MEDITATION IN DILIGENCE.* *e. 4:15 DILIGENCE HERE - EQUALS MEDITATION!* *Be diligent in these; *TAUta meLEta [3191]; *give yourself wholly to these; that your :progress be manifest to all.* en TOUtois ISthi; HIna sou h*e* pro-koP*E* [4297] pha-neRA [5318] *e*PAsin. Does the NT have insights on *meditation* - that parallel the strong emphasis of the OT? Yes, but seemingly it is in a more veiled state. ?MeLEta? in the Greek is translated here as ?Be diligent.? But it has the underlying thought of *meditating* in diligence! It took prayer and diligence and study to dig this nugget out - but it is perfectly legitimate. *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: *I have been led to choose George Muller and George Whitefield as the true and great historical examples of *meditation*! Look at the fruitfulness. The first 10 years of Muller's Christian life were relatively fruitless from the years of 20 to 30. He was like a yo-yo! Up and down - up and down. But when he came across a biography on George Whitefield, and learned that *Meditation* was the chief activity of his fruitful life, Muller immediately changed his entire devotional habit. Now he majored on starting out early in the morning reading the Word on his knees; both praying over it, and praying it back to God in his own words. He ended up the last 10 years of his life by reading through the Bible *in this manner*4 times a year! Four to five hours a day prepared him for victory and answered prayer all the day long! Men like Muller counted the cost - and paid the price! He who would count ?With Eternity's Values in View? - will be sure to do likewise. Such is the picture of true discipleship. Such is the example of Jesus, the Son of man! Such is the example of the apostle Paul, one of the closest to Jesus, called by Him, ?O greatly beloved of the Lord!? And Paul said to us - ?Follow *me*, as *I* follow Christ.? So - this example is not just for Jesus and apostles - it is for every believer - to become a disciple - to become a daily mediator in the Word of God! Muller didn't feel he was in the victory at all times as he desired. Neither do I - but he *did* press on in this direction as his daily habit, all apart from feelings. And so do I. God revealed Himself to me at Passover 1944 as a sailor in the Navy. On a day's leave, a number of us wandered north of Victoria, and found a tavern. Over it's door was the verse, ?Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord! my strength and my Redeemer.? Psalm 19:14. Apparently the tavern had formerly been a chapel or church. I was deeply impressed upon coming upon this. I sensed God saying to me - ?This is for you! This is My will for you! I want you to be like David in both speech and meditation! That was 67 years ago. It is as deeply ingrained upon my spirit as it was that summer day. A friend suggested that I document for you where I found George Muller's personal testimony on his transformation through *meditation*. If you find ?George Muller of Bristol? - a biography written by Dr. A.T. Pierson - then turn to p. 137, chapter 10 - ?The Word of God and Prayer?. There he tells how through a biography on George Whitefield, he learned the secret of reading the Bible for hours on his knees - praying over it - and vocally * meditating* it back to God in his own words. By *this* his life was transformed. He added *prayer* and *faith* to this. The abridged biography on George Whitefield by Arnold A. Dallimore - records in Chapter 2, p. 21, ?Preaching that Startled the Nations? - how reading the Word on his knees and praying over it - released the power of the Holy Spirit in his life - that continued right up to his Home-call! My closing word? Join me in walking in Psalm 19:14 and the challenge of *Bible Meditation*. It is an integral component part of God's organic Laser-Telescope. We will *not* be a part of God's Spiritual Star Wars apart from having *Bible Meditation* an *integral part* of our life. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Dec 30 12:27:32 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:27:32 -0800 Subject: Romans 1:18-32 Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 30, 2011 *(From: ROMANS #2 - 1:18-32) * *C. 1:18-32 THE NATURE & CONSEQUENCES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS* *1. 1:18-23 THE NATURE OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS* *a. 1:18-19 UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS INEXCUSABLE* *For God's wrath is being revealed from heaven* A-po-kaLUPte-tai [601] gar orG*E* TheOU ap' ou-raNOU *against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,* ePI PAsan aSEbei-an kai a-diKIan anTHR*O*p*o*n, *who hold down the truth in unrighteousness;* t*o*n t*e*n aL*E*thei-an [225] en a-diKIa ka-teCHONt*o*n [2722]; *19 because what is known of :God is manifest in them; * di' HOti to gn*o*sTON tou TheOU pha-neRON [5318] es-tin en auTOIS; *for :God manifested it to them.* ho TheOS gar auTOIS e-phaNEr*o*-sen. *b. 1:20-21 PROOF THAT UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS INEXCUSABLE* *For his :invisible things since the world's creation* ta gar aOra-ta auTOU aPO KTIse-*o*s [2937] KOSmou *are clearly seen, being perceived through the things made,* tois poi*E*ma-sin noOUme-na [3539], ka-thoRAtai [2529], *both his everlasting :power and divinity;* h*e* te aIdi-os [126] auTOU DUna-mis kai theiOt*e*s [2305]; *that they be without excuse: 21 because, knowing :God,* eis to EInai auTOUS a-na-po-loG*E*tous [379]: di' HOti, GNONtes [1097] ton TheON, *they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks;* ouch h*o*s TheON eDOxa-san [1392], *e* *e*u-chaRISt*e*-san [2168] ; *but became vain in their :reasonings,* alLA e-ma-tai*O*th*e*-san [3154] en tois di-a-lo-gisMOIS auT*O*N, *and their senseless :heart was darkened.* kai es-koTISth*e* h*e* aSUne-tos auT*O*N karDIa. *c. 1:22-23 THE FOOLISHNESS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS* *Professing to be wise, they became fools,* PHASkon-tes [5335] EInai soPHOI, e-m*o*RANth*e*-san [3471], *23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God* kai *E*Lla-xan t*e*n DOxan tou aphTHARtou TheOU *for a likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds,* en ho-moi*O*ma-ti eiKOnos phtharTOU anTHR*O*pou, kai pe-teiN*O*N [4071], *and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.* kai te-traPOd*o*n [5074], kai her-peT*O*N [2062]. *2. 1:24-32 THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS* *a. 1:24-25a USELESSNESS: THE CONSEQUENCE OF CHOOSING UNRIGHTEOUSNESS* *Wherefore :God gave them up* Di' ho paREd*o*-ken [3860] auTOUS ho TheOS *in the lusts of their :hearts unto uncleanness, * en tais e-pi-thuMIais t*o*n kardi*O*N auT*O*N eis a-ka-tharSIan, *that their :bodies be dishonored among them:* tou a-tiMAzes-thai [818] ta S*O*ma-ta auT*O*N en auTOIS: *25a in that they exchanged the truth of :God for the lie,* HOIti-nes meT*E*Lla-xan [3337] t*e*n aL*E*thei-an tou TheOU en t*o*PSEUdei [5579], *and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator,* kai e-seBASth*e*-san [4573] kai eLAtreu-san [3000] t*e* KTIsei paRA ton KTIsan-ta [2936], *who is blessed unto the ages.* HOS es-tin eu-lo-g*e*TOS [2128] eis tous ai*O*nas. *b. 1:25b Amen. *A-M*E*N. *c. 1:26-27 THE VILENESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES* *For this cause God gave them up unto passions of dishonor:* DiA TOUto paREd*o*-ken [3860] auTOUS ho TheOS eis PAth*e* a-tiMIas [819]: *for both their females changed the natural use* HAI te gar TH*E*lei-ai [2338] auT*O*N meT*E*Lla-xan [3337] t*e*n phu-siK*E*N [5446] CHR*E*sin [5540] *into what **is** against nature: **27** and also the males,* eis t*e*n paRA PHUsin [5449]: hoMOI*o*s te kai hoi ARse-nes [730], *leaving the natural use of the female,* aPHENtes t*e*n phu-siK*E*N CHR*E*sin t*e*s th*e*LEIas, *burned in their :lust one toward another,* ex-eKAUth*e*-san [1572] en t*e* oRExei auT*O*N eis alL*E*lous, *males with males working the unseemliness,* ARse-nes en ARse-sin t*e*n as-ch*e*-moSUn*e*n [808] ka-ter-gaZOme-noi [2716] , *and receiving in themselves the needful recompense of their :error.* kai t*e*n an-ti-misTHIan h*e*n Edei t*e*s PLAn*e*s [4106] auT*O*N en auTOIS a-po-lamBAnon-tes [618]. *d. 1:28-32 A REPROBATE MIND: THE CONSEQUENCE OF REJECTING GOD* *And even as they refused to have :God in their knowledge,* Kai kaTH*O*S ouk e-doKIma-san [1381] ton TheON Echein en e-pigN*O*sei, *:God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do the things unbecoming;* paREd*o*-ken [3860] auTOUS ho TheOS eis aDOki-mon [96] noun, poiEIN ta m*e*kaTH *E*kon-ta [2520]; *29 filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice;* pe-pl*e*-r*o*MEnous [4137] PAs*e* a-diKIa [93], po-n*e*RIa [4189], ple-o-neXIa [4124], kaKIa [2549]; *full of envy, murder, strife, guile, malignity;* mesTOUS PHTHOnou [5355], PHOnou [5408], Eri-dos [2054], DOlou [1388], ka-ko- *e*THIas [2550]; *30 whisperers, backbiters,* psi-thu-risTAS [5588], ka-taLAlous [2637], *haters of God, insolent, haughty,* The-os-tuGEIS [2319], hu-brisTAS [5197], hu-pe-r*e*PHAnous [5244], *boastful, inventors of evils, disobedient to parents,* a-laZOnas [213], e-pheu-reTAS [2182] kaK*O*N, goNEUsin [1118] a-peiTHEIS [545], *31 without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, merciless:* a-suNEtous [801], a-sunTHEtous [802], a-STORgous [794], a-ne-le*E*mo-nas [415]: *32 they who, knowing the ordinance of :God,* HOIti-nes, to diKAI*o*-ma [1345] tou TheOU e-pigNONtes [1921], *that who practice the such are worthy of death,* HOti hoi ta toiAUta PRASson-tes [4238] Axi-oi thaNAtou eiSIN, *not only do them, but also consent with those practicing them.* ou MOnon auTA poiOUsin, alLA kai su-neu-doKOUsin [4909] tois PRASsou-sin [4238]. *NOTE**: *This is one of the most sober passages in Scripture, and cuts across elements of society in every age, from the days of Abraham to the present. Note what God says about such elements who do not want to have God or His Son Jesus in their thoughts, words or society: *He gives them up!*Alright, you want to have your own way? Then have it, and reap at last what you have sown! You have judged yourselves. Three times in this passage God by His Spirit says that *He gives them up!* There are fellowships of churches which seek to water down and re-interpret passages such as this. It can't honestly be done! If we let God say what He wants to say, and the Bible mean what it wants to mean - then there's no dodging the issue.. Paul says in Ephesians - It's even a *shame* to speak of the acts of sin recounted in this passage - so unnatural - so filthy - and bringing into the body the righteous reward of such unrighteous acts - such as *Aids*. There are various articles and insights in this Website that reveal God's * Bible* - His Scriptures - as *unique* above all books in the world - religious or secular. *Only* the 66 books of the Bible reveal the Bible Numeric Phenomenon in exact accord with all *other sciences.* The Numeric features of James through Jude are *exactly* the same as those of our sun's 7 major planets! *Imagine*!. Let me lay a foundation for the above notes on this passage. Marie and I attended a High School in Port Alberni, BC of some 160 students from 1937-41. Who would have thought that a boys' basketball team from such a small school would win the Canadian Western Basketball Championship of the 4 Western Provinces of BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba? It wasn't because of the extraordinary prowess of the team - but of the ?Coach? - Bill Wiles, the H.S. Math, Science and P.A. teacher. He had a vision for extraordinary success for these boys; he had a format for training and discipline; he had the ability to work out some 20 basic plays that he had the boys master; he talked a business into supplying them with great red and white uniforms; he produced in these ?Termites? a ?Team Spirit? of success. No team in Western Canada could stand against them. And for 50 years these boys and their Coach - as long as he lived - met together annually to reminisce on those glorious 4 years. Arthur Delamont with his parents and family emigrated from England to Canada in the early 1900's. He had a wonderful Salvation Army Band background. In his early 30's he moved with his wife and son from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Vancouver, BC. A boy approached him in 1928 for trumpet lessons. Arthur responded. Soon boy after boy was added, until he formed a band. For the next 50 years the Vancouver Kitsilano Boys Band traveled to Europe 15 times, plus 5 World Fairs, and won over 200 top band awards: in tone, deportment, marching and appearance. In Britain this boys band even came out on top over Mature Bands. Like Bill Wiles, he insisted on perfection as the goal. Punctuality was a sacred must! Appearance in pictures had to be perfect. The uniforms of a blue cape fastened back to show beautiful red satin linings, with black socks and highly polished black shoes - black pants with one red stripe - white long sleeved shirts, and a neat cap - these too contributed to awards. Their marching technique from 1930 on was second to none. Again - not just the 1000's of boys - but a bandmaster with a vision, promotional instincts, enthusiasm, ability - yes, again a leader brought success. In 1944 a Russian Jew introduced me to the Russian genius, Ivan Panin. He started out as a radical Nihilist and was forced to flee Russia in the later 1800's. He succeeded as a Philosopher, Mathematician and English expert. Albert Einstein was one of his Math students at Harvard. Both had probable I Q's upwards to 200. When he discovered the marvels of Bible Numerics he was hooked, and spent 50 years and 100,000 hours producing both a Greek and English New Testament based on this amazing discovery. Again - we find another man like Wiles and Delamont, possessed by a vision and an indomitable drive to succeed in his vision. How opposite to the sad list in Romans 1:24-32. Then consider Abraham, the founder of the nation of Israel, based on the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 17. But on the way to this goal, he rescued his nephew Lot from the extreme sinfulness of Sodom and Gomorrah. Another man committed to a vision to know, serve and obey God to the end, based on high moral and ethical goals. Again see the contrast with the latter part of Romans 1. King David was one of his illustrious descendants. He too had a vision to glorify God, and be a man after God's own heart. No hanky-panky here. When he slipped and sinned, he immediately confessed it, made it right with God, and continued on. God gave him a 7-fold program for the illustrious Temple that his son Solomon built. In a sense it is by vision - the Temple of David! God calls the beginning of a venture as if already complete. David's beginning here qualifies. He had a desire and a vision; he obtained the Temple location; God wrote the blueprint on his heart by the Spirit; he gathered tremendous amounts of material ahead of time. He taught and showed Solomon the plans; he provided the music and Temple worship; he and Samuel provided the Levitical order of service. Jesus, the greater Son of David, the Promised Messiah - came to minister as a servant, and give His life a ransom for many; he fulfilled the covenant of Abraham and the Mosaic and Temple typology. The 2 pillars of the Temple, Jachin and Boaz, typified God's Covenant and oath. He raised up 12 disciples for the 12 tribes of Israel, but prepared for the ?One New Man? by soon admission of Gentiles into the Church. See Benjamin in the latter chapters of the Book of Judges. Fit this into Romans 1:18-32. Benjamin was wiped out but for 600 young men, because of homosexual and heterosexual sin. See our Website * . *Under Archives, Embryonics, Outlines and Interlinear - lie a groundwork and framework to justify the emphasis God puts upon Himself, His Son and His Word! In Psalm 2 it says God in heaven will *laugh* at His enemies who seek to remove Him from their thoughts, words and society. In the end, remember Noah! Then a flood removed the wicked and saved 8 righteous; so soon, A fire will destroy the wicked, and preserve a remnant like David, who are people after God's own heart. J.A.Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Dec 31 09:00:02 2011 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:00:02 -0800 Subject: Deuteronomy 1-4 - Outline Message-ID: ?*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE? MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* December 31, 2011 *APRIL 3 - DEUTERONOMY 1-4 - REHEARSAL OF GOD'S DEALINGS* *1. 1:3 (1:1-5) INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY. ?In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him in commandment to them? (ESV). *Here Father, You chose Moses to give the law a second time to the new generation of warring men. Now *they* need to hear what their fathers heard, but failed to walk in. These are Your Kingdom principles. *Hallowed be your :Name!* *2. 1:15 (1:6-46) SINAI TO KADESH: JOURNEY RETOLD. ?So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes.? *Here is wisdom indeed Father, given by You through Jethro, Moses' father in law! But how rebellious were the spies and the first generation out of Egypt: Egypt was *still in them*! O forgive us for a like spirit of rebellion and complacency. *Your :kingdom come!* *3. 2:14 (2:1-3:11) FORTY YEARS WANDERING RETOLD. ?And the time from our leaving Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until the entire generation, that is, the men of war, had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them.'? *Now it was the new generation that defeated Sion king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, giant Amorite kings! Wilderness wandering is now behind: The Promised Land is at hand! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!* *4. 3:18 (3:12-20) DIVISION OF LAND: EAST OF JORDAN. ?And I commanded you at that time, saying, 'The LORD your God has given you this land to possess. All your men of valor shall cross over armed before your brothers, the people of Israel.? *How wise Your ways, Father! You granted East Jordan to the 2 ? tribes, yet they were the first to go into captivity! Lot chose the same area, and also lost all! *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 3:28 (3:21-29) JOSHUA REPLACES MOSES. ?But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.? *Thank You Father, that Joshua was willing to give service to the people, to make them overcomers in return for Leadership Privilege. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 4:6 (4:1-43) WARNINGS AND CHARGES: FOR NEW GENERATION. ?Keep them and do them, for that will be wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'? *The making of idols and graven images: an *abomination* to Jehovah! Father, we honor Your desires. We honor Your word for Your people, and covenant to walk in Your statutes. We tremble at Your Word, and desire a poor and *contrite* spirit (Isaiah 66:2). *And bring us not into temptation!* *7. 4:44-45 (4:44-49) MOSAIC LAW: FOR NEW GENERATION. ?This is the law that Moses set before the people of Israel. 45 These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the rules, which Moses spoke to the people of Israel when they came out of Egypt.? *The Law (Torah) was given East of Jordan. Its testimonies, statutes and judgments are our wisdom! The New Covenant provides for the spirit of the *Torah* to be written on our hearts by Your Spirit, Father! *But deliver us from the evil one!* *NOTE**: 4:13 (4:1-43) THE LAW = 10 WORDS! ?And he declared to you **his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments.? *In this verse we learn that God's Covenant here, the Mosaic Covenant is encapsulated in the ?10 words,? which we call the ?10 Commandments.? According to Jewish interpretation, the first ?word? is Exodus 20:2 - *?I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, our of the house of slavery.? * This is correct according to the custom of a ?Covenant Document.? What the church calls the first and second commandment, is really the Second Word or Commandment. Catholics split the 10th Word on ?Coveting? and omit the commandment concerning Graven Images. This as ?adding to? and ?taking away? from the Word of God! It is in Exodus 18 that Jethro - father in law to Moses - gave him advice how to share his heavy burden of counseling problems with the people of Israel. Some feel Moses took wrong advice at this point. But Jethro added - ?Do this *only* if God confirms it!? God evidently confirmed it, for here in Deuteronomy 1:15, Moses recounts how he did the very thing Jethro in line with the LORD - had counseled! Our Psalm for the day: *93:5 (93:1-5) THE LORD REIGNS! ?Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.? *We are Your house, Father! You who are holy; You who indwells us in Your Son: *You*cause us to be holy! You lead us in the paths of righteousness for Your Name's Sake! We would be conformed to the likeness of Your Son! *Hallowed be your :name!* * * *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: