Expecting the Wall to Fall!

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Subtitle: "Shout to the Lord for the Victory!"
Text: Joshua 6:1-5, 16-17, 26

Moses died. Joshua was the new leader. God encouraged him with these words, "Be strong, be of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9) His promise was... God will make your way prosperous and you will have good success. It was God who magnified Joshua and gave him favor (support) with all the people.

As they crossed the Jordan, God led them. A new generation saw new miracles. The children of those who crossed the Red Sea now saw God's power for themselves. In crossing Jordan, the waters rolled back and they trod on dry ground. They were becoming a current witness. But there was no promise of an easy victory - it was going to be a battle.

Expectation Fuels Faith!

The reason you are blessed is so the "world" around you will "see" God's glory. When God speaks, the place where you stand is a holy place. (Joshua 5:14-15) God won't always make sense to your understanding - the old choir song says, "God's not limited to man's decree, He's not afraid of the armies you see..."

No Limits! Other impossible situations (to fuel your faith)

• Elisha surrounded by the Syrian armies...
• The man born blind...
• The woman with the issue of blood...
• The Gadarene demoniac...
• The Syro-Phoenician woman who was willing to take crumbs...
• Lazarus, dead four days and decaying...
• James is dead, Peter is next...

Jericho's wall was like a double lane, two-way highway. Chariots could ride abreast around the top of the wall. It's bulwarks were formidable and impregnable.

God's Instructions: For six days they were to march around the perimeter of the walls once a day. There was to be no noise - no voices heard (not even a baby's cry) - only the sound of marching feet! Then, on the seventh day, they were to march again, still without any noise, but this time it was seven times around the wall. When the seventh round was complete, they stood still. At the signal, They blew their trumpets and began to shout. They weren't shouting at the wall, they were shouting TO the LORD!

Like they were descending on an elevator, the walls fell flat into the ground. Israel's army marched straight forward, over the multi-lane highway and into the city, where victory was theirs - complete, utter, total. The only exception: Anyone in Rahab's house was spared. (Everyone should have wanted to be there.)

When God says the victory is yours...

Don't hold your peace,

Don't sit back or hide;

Stand up and shout,

Don't keep it inside!

The Law of Sin and Death

By Pauline Foreman

Text: John 8:32, 36 - "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ... If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh,but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:2-4)

Where did the law of sin and death come from? When Adam and Eve yielded to the voice of the serpent and sinned, that brought death into the world. After their sin, God put them out of the Garden and blocked the way to the tree of life. This was a mercy, for it would have been a dreadful thing for them (and us) to live forever in a sinful state.

We don't think about the law of sin and death. Like gravity - it's a law that's ever with us. Gravity says, what goes up must come down. Gravity rules - it's always in full force. The only way to defeat the law of gravity is to be in a protected zone - a spacecraft, or aircraft. Other laws that rule in our day-to-day lives include thorns and thistles, seasons, sowing and reaping, and the presence of evil urges that affect us all. Our nature is carnal and is sold under sin. What's more,the wages of sin is death. The Spirit of God and the flesh of man war one against the other. Feelings reign in the fleshly nature. When you're under the law of sin and death, you do not operate under the law of the Spirit. The "flesh" owns you.

The will of man cannot conquer the law of sin. Man's will, resolutions, and conscience are powerless. James said we are tempted when we are drawn by our own lusts and enticed. (James 1:14-15) It's a "law" that is at work in us - a cycle of defeat we don't have the power to overcome.

We need the Holy Ghost to overcome sin!

You don't have to be a slave to sin any longer. The Holy Ghost, working in you, gives you the victory - the power to overcome sin and the flesh.

• The voice of the Holy Ghost will alert you, warning you of things that need to be conquered. Listen!
• Be thankful! Your new "Governor," (the New Testament) brings grace to reign in you.
• "Sin shall not have dominion over you." (Romans 8:9)
• In the Holy Ghost you have help - you're dead to sin.
• To defeat the law of sin and death; you must be under His blood, protected in the zone of grace.

Know this! Sin cannot be managed! "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." (Romans 8:9) Without His Spirit, you are under the law of sin and death (the old law) and subject to its consequences.

Waiting Till My Change Comes

By Berris Flemmings, Sr.

Text: Job 14:14 - "If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change comes."

God took the hedge away, allowed Satan free rein to trouble Job - the loss of his possessions, the deaths of his children and servants, his own health, and the loss of the support of his wife and his friends - yet in all these things, Job sinned not, neither did he charge the Lord foolishly. In the face of it all, he maintained his integrity and his testimony.

The first four letters of testimony say it all - TEST!

For growth to come, change must come first. From Abram to Abraham, from Sarai, to Sarah, From Jacob to Israel, from Simon to Cephas, (a stone,) and from Saul to Paul - God is in the business of change and change often comes while we're in a valley experience. The Psalmist spoke of the valley and said, "He restoreth my soul." It was in a valley that a shepherd boy named David won the battle with the giant who was challenging God's people. He came in the Name of the LORD. He faced the enemy head on, declaring what God had done for him already.Young David was not a warrior, he was a worshipper! Worshippers can wait for God's plan to work!

You can bring anything to Jesus!

When growth comes, we go fr om childish thinking to thinking as a man! (I Corinthians 13:11) Joseph stayed the course until his change came. Job's staying power in the face of all kinds of adversity, brought him through - an overcomer - not only in his lifetime, but as an example to believers in every age ever since!.

There are two kinds of change: temporary - which is not lasting and often comes in stages; and, permanent - which is for ever! I Corinthians 15:50-53 describes the change of all changes - the one that will complete the process of change in every obedient believer!

Lift up Jesus - He'll do the drawing!

God has called us to be as eagles, rising above the circumstances. Do it differently! If what you're doing isn't working, change what you're doing. Put on the full armor of God that ye may withstand. God does not change. His Word stands for ever! He has promised - He will never let you go.

Wait till your change comes!

Planning My Funeral

By Rachel Coltharp

I am planning my funeral. 

I know EXACTLY what I want.

The least expensive coffin on the market.

Do NOT waste precious dollars on a fancy box 

that is just going in the ground.  

I was frugal in life, I have a reputation to protect.

Bury me in a size 8. 

Maybe something with lace, or sequins. 

Or even better, lace AND sequins.

I know you'll have to cut it open 

and drape it over me, 

but DO PLEASE bury me in a size 8.

Save your money, don't send flowers.  

Instead, have a meal with someone you love.

Feel free to have tacos, chocolate cake 

and sweet tea to remember me by.

And here is the best part, 

I want THESE words said.

I want my kids to say, 

“My mom was a woman of integrity.  

She lived at home, like she lived in public.” 

I want my husband to say 

“She treated me with dignity and respect, 

and made me want to be my best self. 

Rachel made me proud to be a man.”

I want my neighbors to say, 

“She shared her veggies and flowers with us, 

and our kids always had a safe place 

to play over at her house.  

She sure loved our kids. 

Mrs. Coltharp, she really loved her church.  

She invited me to come every time we talked.”

I want my friends to say, 

“Rachel always told me the truth.  

It wasn’t always what I wanted to hear, 

and I didn’t always agree with her, 

but she always had my best at heart.”

I want my bank account to say 

“She always paid her tithe, 

and gave generously to the Kingdom.”

I want orphaned/abandoned children to say 

“She shared with us when we were alone, 

cold, hurting and hungry.”

I want my Bible to say, 

“She slap WORE ME OUT”..

I want my computer, cell phone, debit card, check book and mailbox to say “She served Christ first with me, herself second.”

I want my house to say, 

“I heard her pray every day,   

and watched her disciple her children

 right here within my walls. 

She made me a holy place.”

And I want it all to be true.

So, like I said, I’m planning my funeral.  

Every day.  

Every time I plan a meal.  Every time I open my web browser.  Every time I whip out my debit card.  Every time I pay my tithe.  Every time I open my door to a neighbor, a friend, or a child.  

Every time I reach for my Bible.

Every time I choke back my sarcastic reply, choosing a gracious word instead.  Every time I stifle my irritation and serve with humility, as unto the Lord, and not men.

For when my voice has ceased to speak, 

my words will echo in the hearts of my children.  

When my prayers have ceased to be breathed, 

they will still fan the flames 

in the souls of my loved ones.  

When my fingers stiffen and are folded 

into eternal stillness, 

my life will still touch those I leave behind.

  I’ll be gone.  

But I’ll still be here.

I’m planning my funeral.  

Are you?

Editor's Note: Rachel, wife of Brent Coltharp, who co-pastors First Apostolic Church in Aurora, Illinois, is the mother of four children and wears many hats as she passes through her days. Most of what she has described in the article above are easy to observe in a life that's being well-lived for Jesus.

I Am the LORD that Healeth Thee!

Testimony by Marjorie Kinnee

For several years now, I have been afflicted with something called polymyalgia rheumatica, which affects the muscles and joints, particularly in the upper arms shoulders, neck, and hip joints. Untreated, it can incapacitating with severe pain. It causes mobility issues and sleeplessness. Anemia and exhaustion are also common. The only even partially effective treatment is Prednisone, a steroid which presents problems and side effects that bring additional complications; I've been taking Prednisone for more than four years.

Under a new rheumatologist, a new drug was added to my medication regimen. For the first month or so, it seemed to helping. Then, toward the end of August my blood sugars started climbing. When they reached 200, my primary doctor became alarmed and ordered me to cut back on the Prednisone. When I did so, the side effects were severe, but the blood sugars kept climbing. Wednesday, 9/4 - it was 359, Thursday, 9/5 - it was 379, and Friday, September 6th, the blood sugar was too high to measure on my home meter. I was instructed to go directly to the Emergency Room. When I arrived, their laboratory measured my blood sugar as 593. They admitted me for observation and began a battery of tests and bloodwork. They found my lipase enzymes to be above 1000. Their diagnosis was pancreatitis, (a life threatening illness involving pain that doubles one over and causes severe nausea and vomiting,) and the extreme blood sugar.

Discontinuing my oral diabetes medications and the new rheumatology drug, they began teaching me to administer insulin.Over the next two days. the nurses came into my room frequently to inquire about my pain level. But the reactions one is supposed to have with pancreatitis at the level of my enzyme involvement simply was not there! The doctors and nurses were amazed. They were expecting me to be incapacitated with pain and I was not. By Saturday evening, I began to realize something special was going on.

Because the pancreatitis did not develop as they expected, they released me Sunday morning, saying I could do whatever I felt like doing. I took them at their word and got myself ready to go to church Sunday evening. It was such a joy to be in the house of the Lord! Pondering over the events of the previous few days, I perceived the Lord had stepped into my situation and the problems the new drug had caused had not harmed me in the way it could have. The lack of pain and other symptoms could only have been the Lord's doing. I believe He has begun a healing work in my body.

Since then, I am noticing steady improvement on several fronts. I'm thankful for returning strength, for an easing of the clutches of Prednisone, and for the improvement in my blood sugar readings. My "life psalm" (Psalm 27,) closes with the following verse. I've been claiming it as an exceeding precious promise in this present situation... "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." (Psalm 27:14)

Some time ago, I wrote a little chorus, which has strengthened and encouraged me while on this present "journey." It goes like this...

"In every situation You are good,

In every situation You are wonderful,

In every situation You bring peace to my soul;

In every situation You are Lord...

In every situation You are Lord."  

The Thing that Motivates Me...

By Albert Friend

My motivation is coming from a deep love for God. He has kept me saved through His blood sixty three years, as of March 2013. Luke did not see Jesus on earth. The writings of Luke are the strong platform on which my long walk with God has taken place. The Book of Luke and the Book of Acts, which Luke wrote, record the birth of the church. On this foundation I have built my house that is still standing after sixty three years. I have come safely through many storms and I am convinced, "There is a God."

His blood is my conscience. When I failed Him I asked His forgiveness. He is faithful and just to forgive me immediately. That becomes my conscience immediately. I am forgiven immediately. I am free immediately. My conscience is free and clean immediately. This freedom that God gives me immediately is my source of new strength. I was wrong but I didn't have to linger in guilt. My conscience was clean immediately and I could go on to the next thing. I am so glad I know Jesus. I love Him.

God is justified in doing this for me. He is not overlooking my sin and showing me a special favor. He died for my sins as well as the sins of the whole world. He became the guilty one in my place. He took the punishment that should have been mine. God Himself paid the price for my sin. God fulfilled His own requirement of punishment for sin, which is: the innocent must die for the guilty, the just must die for the unjust. Therefore He is justified in forgiving me. No one can point his finger at God and say He is not doing right. He is justified in forgiving me because He died in my place. Now I am His to do with as He chooses. He loves me and forgives me. He bought me with a price, not of silver or gold, but with something more precious than gold, the blood of the innocent man who He became for me.

For this cause He asks us to die out to the old man and become a new man, a resurrected man, in Christ Jesus. Old things pass away and all things become new. We become citizens of a new nation in the world. We become a new species of people. We are born again from above. This is a second birth for us, a new birth. We become new creatures in Christ Jesus. We then follow and obey the constitution Jesus proclaimed for this new nation. This constitution cannot be amended.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 

(II Timothy 3:16-17)

The Books of Luke and Acts fit Paul's position on "profitable for doctrine." If you fight a Scripture you will never see the Scripture that confirms it. When you read a Bible verse you should say two things. The first thing to say is: Do I believe this? The second thing you should say is: Yes.

_____________________

Editor's Note: Bro. Friend is a retired Apostolic minister/pastor. He and his wife live in Hmailton, Ohio. From his home he has published a number of books and a blogsite - "The Apostolic Cutting Edge." 

Pleasing God...

Editorial By
Marjorie Kinnee

Text: Hebrews 13:20-21 - "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

A recent excellent Bible Study by Sis. Foreman entitled "Three Ways to Please God," was a special blessing to me personally and has been a catalyst for meditation and further consideration. Identifying Righteousness, Integrity, and Holiness, she encouraged us to seek to follow after the Lord wholeheartedly, knowing that the Lord sees everything from the obvious to the thoughts and intents of the heart. Righteousness is imputed unto the faithful and obedient by God Himself. We need a "made-up mind, and our integrity is founded on our determination to follow God no matter what, no matter who's looking or not looking. Holiness is born in a heart that seeks to be cleansed from every sin and filled with His righteousness. It was apparent that these three factors are not only critically important, but they're also intertwined - each adding dimension and strength to the others.

Because two of my innermost, heart-felt longings are to sense His smile of approval toward me, and to hear Him say, "Well done!" at the end of my life's journey - my thoughts turned toward identifying ways we can know we are pleasing our Lord...

First, Hebrews 13:15-16 reveals that the 1.) "sacrifice of praise", 2.) "doing good" [obedience], and, 3.) "to communicate" [with God, His Word, with those He has set over us in spiritual authority, and with each other]. All three of these are counted as "sacrifices" that are "well-pleasing unto God." It is interesting to note the sacrificial part of this equation is that each of these require our submission - sending our will under His. Isaiah 1:19 promises good to those who are willing and obedient.

Second, Proverbs 11:20 tells us "the upright are His delight." In a physical building, an upright is dependable. Other parts of the building can lean on uprights because they support the structure. Spiritually speaking, the upright are pillars in the church; loyal, steadfast, proven over time, committed and dependable. It's no wonder they are pleasing to the Lord.

Third, Proverbs 16:7 provides an interesting bonus blessing... "When a man's ways please the LORD, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Think about it! When God's smile of approval is on you and your life, your enemies have to sit back and take notice. God's favor is obvious. We have only to look at the lives of men like Joseph and Daniel to see that God's favor is not subject to man's displeasure. Enemies conspired and beset both of these godly men, but God's favor brought them through it all with victory.

Finally, we can rest assured that His favor will carry us through whatever life brings our way. "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy." (Psalm 147:11) There you have it! There are ways to know when we are pleasing our Lord and Savior and that we have His smile of approval. Pleasing God brings bountiful benefits and blessings well worth any and every sacrifice; not only here and now, in this life, but throughout eternity!