A Root Out of Dry Ground

Subtitle: "Impossible Possibilities"

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Text:  Isaiah 53:1-2

When a preacher ministers, his desire is to impart. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." In the valley of dry bones, (Ezekiel 37:1-14) God was speaking not only to the prophet, but also to the church, and to individuals when He asked, "Can these bones live?" When we think we're in an impossible situation, we need to remember... God can turn nothing into something!

There's still hope even in a hopeless situation. Dry ground is dead, lifeless, a portrait of hopelessness. But in God's hands impossibilities become possible. "Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think..."

Ezekiel did what God said. He spoke to the bones. (God's Word will not return unto Him void.) Something began to happen - bone came to bone and sinews, muscles, and skin covered them - but they were still dead - no breath.

Ezekiel kept doing what God said. He spoke to the wind. As the wind blew, breath entered into the slain and they stood on their feet - a great and mighty army!

Numbers 17:8 speaks of Aaron's rod, one of twelve dead, dry sticks, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. All twelve were placed in the Tabernacle overnight so God's will as to which of the twelve would be the priestly tribe in Israel could be revealed. The next morning, eleven of them were still just sticks. But Aaron's rod, the rod for the tribe of Levi had buds, blossoms, and fruit (almonds) - all on the one stick! When God promises you something, it is for you. You can bank on it!

Abraham was 99, Sarah was 90 - they laughed at the very thought of senior citizens having a baby. But God had the last laugh - Isaac!

Parched, dry ground is difficult indeed. Like a sunflower growing up through a crack in the cement of the freeway - when God says, "Live!" when God says, "Grow!" - nothing can prevent His Word from coming to pass. If He said it - He'll do it!

When Jesus came...

• He was poor - no claim to fame
• He was born a Jew - a despised race
• He was raised in Nazareth - a despised place

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" The woman with the issue of blood said, "If I can but touch the hem of His garment..." She wasn't willing to just deal with it. She came to Jesus...

• in spite of how she felt
• in spite of what the doctors were saying
• in spite of 18 years of experience/s
• in spite of the press of the crowd

She knew she would be made whole if she could just touch Him. Down on the ground, pressing, reaching through, stretching past the feet and ankles of the crowd - the tips of her fingers grazed the hem of His garment. Jesus stopped... "Who touched Me?"

When, trembling, she confessed, He spoke with such compassion... "Your faith has made you whole."

Are you willing to believe?

Thirst!

By Melvin Butler

Text:  John 4

I Corinthians 10:4 says Israel drank from a spiritual rock, "and that rock was Christ."

Moses' faith was continually tested...

• The promise was, "I will deliver you from Egypt." The reality was that they were stuck between the Red Sea and the baddest army in the world! But God parted the Red Sea and delivered them from their enemy.
• The promise was, "I will take you to the Promised Land." The reality was that they were thirsty and there was no water in the desert! But God brought them water from a rock (which was Christ).

The Samaritan woman was trying to fill the hunger in her soul, (fill the void,) but nothing and no one else could meet her need. The void in each of us can only be filled by Jesus. He touched her at the core of her need. Her response? "I gotta tell somebody!"

Psalm 61:1-5 says, "Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."

• From the ends of the earth - Drink!
• When my heart is overwhelmed - Drink!
• If you're thirsty - Drink!

Jesus said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7:37b-39)

If the water source was on the outside, maybe the world could get to it. But because it's on the inside, the world cannot give it to you, nor can it take it away. Our job is that of a "water bearer!" Our message is - Drink! and you'll never thirst again!

Editor's Note: Bro. Melvin Butler pastors an independent Apostolic church in Detroit. He is a long time friend of Pastor Ken Foreman.

The Joy is Better Than the Victory

By John Broyles

Text:  II Timothy 3:1-5

Lots of teams play - but most don't get the victory.

Jesus "endured the cross, despising the shame, for the joy that was set before Him." Jesus said satan was a murderer and a thief from the beginning. You need to know that although the devil instigates difficulties and death for many - children, the innocent, elderly, etc., they are not his real goal. His real goal is the Jews and the church... both of which are living proof of the perfect plan of God, that it's on course, destined for Heaven. God's Word is true!

You can have joy in the worst of circumstances. You need to learn how to trust Him and His Word. God is never surprised by current events, even though we may be. See Daniel 11:2, and then verses 36-45. Persia is modern day Iran. Three kings (melech = kings and kingdoms) stood up: kings; Ahasuerus, Darius, and Cyrus, (all mentioned in the Bible,) kingdoms; Parthian, Scythian, and Muslim. Google the funeral of the Ayatollah Khomeni - a new wave started from this point forward.

Know that the word isn't headed for a bed of roses. But know also that God's plan will prevail!
Even better than the victory that has already been won for us through the power of the Holy Ghost and the blood of the Lamb, is the joy of knowing, embracing, and becoming a part of His wondrous plan and purpose.

Political parties and the philosophies of men cannot solve the world's problems. God's intent for Israel was that they would be a nations of kings and priests. They failed - so He brought the church (Gentiles) into being to be kings and priests unto God. Through His Holy Spirit He gives us power to become the sons of God!


Editorial Note: John Broyles attends Faith Apostolic Church in Troy, Michigan, (Pastor Marvin Walker,) serving his local church in multiple capacities. He is the brother of Sis. Marjorie Kinnee and Sis. Jill Friedman.

Lord, Evermore Give us This Bread!

By Dwayne E. Christensen

Text:  John 6:28-34

There is nothing like the smell of baking or fresh-baked bread. Bread is a staple throughout the world. In the olden days, they didn't eat "boughten" bread; they only ate "home made" bread. Spiritually speaking the Word of the Lord is likened unto bread.

How important it is to "hear" the Word of the Lord! The closer we get to the coming of the Lord, the more we need to hear the preached Word. The Old Testament prophet spoke of a "famine for the hearing of the Word." Question: Do I love to hear the "pure" Word?

Jesus was the embodiment of the Word. ("The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.") Be careful not to let dramas. skits, etc., to replace preaching. Preaching will never be obsolete! It pleases God "by the foolishness of preaching to save them that are lost."

"Evermore give us this bread!" Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life!" Don't base your walk on emotional touches. "The ear tries words as the mouth tastes meat." (Job 12:11; 34:3) Know that cooks like to feed hungry people. You and I have to have a hunger for the Word in order to truly feed on it. Preach the Word! Balanced nutrition is tasty, filling, and nourishing. Note that anointing cannot be equated with noise or repetitiousness. When the true bread is brought forth it feed the inner man a true feast.

The resurrection power dwells in those who are full of the Holy Ghost and addicted to the Word - The Bread (the Word) and Water (the Holy Ghost) of Life! If you've got to move anything, don't move the preaching and the preached Word! God says, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge."

Teaching, preaching, treaching, screeching... however you get it... enjoy it, appreciate it, value it. Give it your best attention, efforts, acceptance, appreciation, loyalty, and cheerful, willing obedience. "Lord, evermore give us this bread!"

Editor's Note: Bro. & Sis. Christensen pastored the church in Windsor for twenty-seven years. They are currently pastoring the Pentecostals of Mississisauga, Ontario. Their love and appreciation of the Word and for souls is known far and wide.

  

I Am the Way!

By Don Warfield, Sr.

Text:  John 14:1-6

Jesus is not a way - He is the only Way!

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Jesus said, "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." (John 3:13) Salvation is from God (that's plain, clear, and simple,) - religion is man's answer to God's way. "There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25) Some bypass the cross, the blood, and even Jesus Himself! (See Acts 4:12.)

• Without the truth (Jesus' way) you are like a blind man who follows another blind man. On the Day of Pentecost, men asked, "What shall we do?" Peter answered faithfully. (See Acts 2:38.)
• Pilate asked "What is truth?" But he did not recognize the Truth that stood before him.
• John the Baptist said, "This is He - the Lamb of God (slain from the foundation of the world,)  that taketh away the sin of the world."

God Himself stepped out of eternity and into time - with the intent and purpose of reconciling the world unto Himself. He took upon Himself the form and nature of man - a body that could die - yet without sin. His humanity shrank from the awfulness. His divinity knew it was the only way.

"In Him we live, and move, and have our being." (Acts 17:28) Jesus is our source of physical life, as well as our source of spiritual/eternal life. He came to bring us life, and life more abundantly.

I AM -

• Moses asked, "Who shall I say sent me?" God answered, "Say I AM that I AM hath sent me."
• Isaiah 56:7 says, "They'll know My Name - They'll know it's Me speaking."
• Answering the Jews, Jesus said, "Before Abraham was - I AM."
• To the woman at the well, Jesus said, "I AM He that speaketh unto thee."
• In the garden of Gethsemane, when the soldiers came to take Jesus, He said, "I AM He!" and they fell to the ground. He said this twice. (See John 18:5, 8.)

Jesus allowed for no alternatives... no plan B... no many roads to one destination. His words were plain... "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh to the Father but by Me."

Without Jesus we exist - living, but dead in sin.

With Him we Live!

In Him we Live!

Us in Him and Him in us - it takes both!

Abide!

 



Editor's Note: Bro. Don Warfield leads our Home Bible Study Ministry, serves as an usher, and teaches in the Adult Sunday School Class.

The Prayer of a Seed...

Editorial
By Marjorie Kinnee

Text:  Psalm 4:1-8

Every seed that is sown is dependent on God's laws of sowing and reaping if it is ever to come to life, growth, and fruitfulness. Soil, seed, sun, wind, and rain are all necessary, common denominators in the process. Seeing this psalm from the perspective of the seed brought the realization that the seed is totally incapable of caring for itself. All the elements that are necessary for its very life are also the very elements that can contribute to its destruction. What's more, it has to die to live!

Vs. 1 - "Hear me... enlarge me... have mercy..." If a seed could talk, surely it would cry out to its Maker. The sole purpose of the seed is to be fruitful and multiply. A seed is often soaked in water before planting to enhance its capacity to hold moisture. Water is one of the basic elements of life.

Vs. 2 - "How long...?" Seems like much of a seed's existence is caught up in waiting, in hiding. It hides in the fruit, it hides in seed packets, it hides in the ground. In each of these places it has to wait. Surely nothing is more tedious than waiting.

Vs. 3 - "The LORD hath set apart him for Himself..." Submitting to the will, the pre-ordained plan and purpose of God is made so much easier when this truth is absorbed and embraced.

Vs. 4 - "Stand in awe... sin not... commune with your own heart upon your bed... be still..." So many Scriptures come to mind about waiting and the strength that comes in trusting in His covenant and promises. There is so much to be said for those who wait patiently for the Lord to bring His good pleasure to pass. Doubtless, it is not easy; but it is a crucial part of dying out.

Vs. 5 - "Offer sacrifices of righteousness... put your trust in the LORD..." No amount of human logic, reasoning, plans, plots, or agendas can take the place of complete and utter, childlike trust. It was that kind of trust that gave the three Hebrew children the strength to allow themselves to be planted in a fiery furnace. It was that kind of trust that brought Joseph through repeated betrayal and treachery. Seeds give themselves freely, trusting God to take care of the harvest.

Vs. 6 - "There be many that say, Who...? ...LORD, [shine] on us..." No matter what the gainsayers and the naysayers say, nothing can go awry if it has the smile of God's approval on it. The seed is dependent upon days of sunshine to warm the soil and bring the seed to life. Folks can doubt all they want to, but God's laws of sowing and reaping take no notice of doubt or unbelief. They're in effect for ever!

Vs.7 - "Thou hast put gladness in my heart..." The hope of the seed is the harvest that is yet to be. During the last supper, Jesus spoke of the time when they would once again gather to eat it anew int His Kingdom to come. He then set about to give His life to birth that Kingdom. Paul tells us Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, for the joy that was set before Him.

Vs. 8 - "I will both lay me down in peace and sleep... only You, LORD..." The seed can commit itself without fear, purely and simply because of Who it is that is in charge of its life - both now and to come. Implicit trust holds nothing in reserve. So it was with the three Hebrew boys... "We are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." (Daniel 3:16b-18) Seeds of that sort will always bring forth an abundant harvest!