From The Pastor's Pen - 4/28/14

Old Paths Family Ministries – 04/28/14

“But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. See, I have set before thee this day, life and good, and death and evil” (Deuteronomy 30:14-15 AKJ).

In the above verses from Deuteronomy, Chapter 30, Jehovah God delivered a Kingdom principle to His people, which continues to be operational under the New Covenant. Actually, that principle, of the authority of the faith-filled, spoken word, carries even more power for the New Covenant believer who chooses to apply it; according to the example outlined by Jesus and, later, in Apostolic Doctrine.

Now, if that 14^th verse of Deuteronomy sounds familiar, it should. Because Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, actually echoed it in Romans 10:8 in regard to the simple requirements to obtain salvation, stating: “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith, which we preach.” But, he didn't stop there, rather in the following two verses (9-10), the Apostle further clarified the duel actions required to receive. Number one, verbal confession of the Lord Jesus, and, secondly, to believe with the heart (spirit man), that God raised Him from the dead. Equally great news for all born-again, remnant believers today, is that, those two scriptural principles, when rightly applied by faith, work for our everyday needs, be they physical, financial, or spiritual obstacles, as long as we are obediently following Him.

However, a cautionary note...once we've become fully aware of that vital spiritual principle, and how it operates, God Himself says, that we become responsible for the power and authority to choose victory for ourselves and ours within our daily lives. So, let's stop blaming God for things that He's already put under our spiritual jurisdiction.

“I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:14 AMP).

We invite questions and comments in regard to this column which you may address to John Knox at johnkknox@windstream.net.

From The Pastor's Pen - 4/21/14

“And these signs shall follow them that believe, in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17-18 AKJ).

Speaking to His inner circle, in Mark the 16^th Chapter, the 17^th and 18^th verses, Messiah Jesus clarified for them, and all serious believers thereafter, specific, identifiable signs for power-filled Christian ministry. Therefore, we need to understand that these particulars, which He outlined, are among the most important keys to our total victory in spiritual warfare. In fact, the failure of the individual, as well as the Church, to acknowledge His teaching in regard to these weapons of warfare is, without a doubt, the primary reason for ineffective evangelism, and daily Christian living.

As born-again believers, we need to understand that all of Jesus' teaching, as well as, Apostolic doctrine, throughout the New Testament, is relevant to our day and time, as well. And nothing in the scriptures, even remotely indicates that these Kingdom principles of power and authority have changed, despite attempts by schisms within denominationalism to reinterpret the preserved Word to conform to distorted and powerless doctrines of men.

Those promised signs, which the Lord declared, “shall follow them that believe” were among the foundational gifts for the Church, and include the other powerful gifts of the Holy Ghost explained, and listed, in I Corinthians Chapter 12, verses 1-11.

Being entrusted to the Church on the day of Pentecost, 50 days following His resurrection, these signs will remain for every believer who will dare to receive them by faith, and operate in them, until Jesus' return in glory at the end of the age.

“And being assembled together with them, commanded them that, they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence” (Acts 1:4-5 AKJ).

From The Pastor's Pen - 4/14/14

“And when He was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, this is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves” (Matthew 21:10-12 Authorized King James).

It's important that we note the significance of Jesus' first act upon entering Jerusalem during the final week of His ministry. Matthew records in the 12^th verse of his 21^st chapter that, Jesus purposely cleansed the temple, as an act of divine authority. However, this was not the first time He did so. In fact, in the 2^nd Chapter of his gospel account, John records a similar incident in which Jesus cleansed the temple.

It's important, too, that we understand that, chronologically, Matthew's record is a second confirmation of His authority as the Son of the Living God. Yet, in neither case did the Pharisees, or the other temple officials, seek to have Him arrested, or taken before the Jewish court, the Sanhedrin, because they feared the common people, who recognized, and acknowledged, Him for Who He was.

Note, too, that, in both accounts, He literally drove out all who bought and sold, thus defiling the temple with their methods. In reality, His problem was not so much with these errant merchants, as with the chief priests who were allowing it, and with whom they were working in partnership, referring to them as 'a den of thieves.'

Jesus knew that those religious leaders, like their modern day counterparts, weren't truly interested in truth, and were thus holding the multitudes in bondage to dead rituals and powerless tradition. And, by these cleansing acts, Jesus was setting the stage for the New Blood Covenant.

“And they that went before, and they that followed, cried saying, Hosanna! Blessed is He who cometh in the name of the Lord” (Mark 11:9 Authorized King James).

- John Knox