This thread is initiated to benefit both the sinner and the saved. When a man tills his soil properly and sows good seeds, they germinate. God gives him sunshine and rain the same as for the saved and the sinner for God is no respecter of persons.

"All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things bright and wonderful
The Lord God made them all."

Man through the ages finds that this is a world where the good and bad is addressed. By His Mighty Grace, the redeemed and chosen overcome with the gift of salvation helped by incessant prayers.

There are numerous verses in the Good Book about the undeniable powers of prayers and how we should pray to our God and Savior. There are prayers for all the good and bad encountered in our daily lives.
We are here to help and pray for you to overcome any travail in the name of The Holy Trinity.

We will list some daily life situations and you may select a prayer request from them or suggest a personal prayer request.
We in turn will pray on your behalf and better yet we will pray together jointly in spirit.

Watch and pray.
God be with and bless us all with His abundant mercies.

To God be the glory.

Amen.

A MORNING PRAYER SPOKEN BEFORE LEAVING HOME WHICH WILL SAVE YOU FROM ALL MISHAPS.

I will go on a journey today;
I will walk upon God's way,
And walk where God himself did walk,
And our dear Lord Jesus Christ,
And our dearest virgin with her seven rings and true things.
O thou my dear Lord Jesus Christ,
I am thine own, and no dog may bite me,
And no animal may bite me,
And no murderer may secretly approach me,
And no accident may befall me;
Save me Oh my God from sudden death!
I am in God's hands, and there I will bind myself.
In God's hands I am by our Lord Jesus five wounds,
That any gun or other arms may do me no harm,
Than the virginity of our Holy Virgin Mary was injured,
By the favor of her beloved Jesus.

Amen.

"Our dearest virgin with seven rings" what does that mean

Redoil:
"Our dearest virgin with seven rings" what does that mean

Mary mother of Jesus and the order of angels.

PLEASE MAKE A PRAYER POINT REQUEST FROM THE LIST BELOW.


* For removal of the ungodly from a group; for a safe pregnancy.

* To aid in disbanding and breaking up enemy conspiracies.

* For relief from a severe headache or from back pain.

* For restful and peaceful sleep; to change one's luck from bad to good.

* For finding favor with authorities or superiors in business.

* For healing diseases of the eye; for protection in the dark.

* To stop conspiracies, enemy pursuit, for court cases.

* Business success through the good will of associates; blessing of oils.

* To punish enemies; to restore health to male children; for court cases.

* To cleanse off an unclean, restless, or intranquil spirit.

* To cast off fear; for righteous retribution against your foes.

* For protection against severe persecution or oppression.

* For safety from unnatural death; for curing painful eye diseases.

* To stop libel and slander from tarnishing the trust others have in you.

* To exorcise evil spirits and devils from a person; for mental peace.

* To identify a thief; to change sorrow to joy and heal to pain.

* For safe travel abroad and to help bring a loved one safely home.

* To drive off approaching robbers; for anointing the sick to cure them.

* For help in childbirth, for release from jail, to remove evil spirits.

* Protection from danger for a day; to be justified in a court case.

* To both calm a storm and to offer protection for seafarers and sailors.

* For travel protection from dangerous storms, pirates, beasts, and men.

* For prosperity, love, protection, wisdom, and guidance.

* For protection from floods and escape from rising waters.

* Forgiveness of the sins of youth; protection from capture.

* For the release of someone from confinement or from jail.

* For protection and hospitality while one is travelling abroad.

* To bring back estranged friends who have become hostile to you.

* To drive out devils and restore peace and tranquility to the home.

* For protection from enemies; for recovery from severe illnesses.

* For protection from conspiracies, back-biting, and gossip.

* To gain respect, love, grace, and blessings from Heaven.

* To protect, unite, and bless all of the members of a family.

* To destroy and reverse back evil; for protection while travelling.

* For justice to prevail in court cases and legal matters.

* For protection from slander and gossip and to expose liars.

* For protection against slander, gossip, lies, and evil-doers.

* To help in court cases where slander fouled up the proceedings.

* To turn around a court case when false testimony has been given.

* For protection against evil spirits and to cast them out.

* To restore a good name if slander and gossip have ruined a reputation.

* For spiritual guidance; for answers in dreams; for love reconciliation.

* To work against slander and wicked people; to turn back evil.

* To guard and protect against enemies, invading armies, or war.

* For peace between husband and wife; to calm an angry spouse.

* To help a struggling marriage; to soothe marital tensions.

* To gain favour from those in power; for mastery over people.

* To destroy hateful and envious enemies; to seize them with terror.

* To help heal and ease serious illnesses, diseases, and fevers.

* For healing; to overcome fevers and other forms of sickness.

* For cleansing and removing sin, especially after acts of revenge.

* To end all manner of gossip and calumny by poison-tongued people.

* To protect from enemies whose names are known or unknown.

* To give protection by reversing works of evil and malice.

* To call upon the Lord to bring down retribution against attackers.

* For intercession by the Almighty to remove temptation and bad habits.

* To turn around one's luck, changing bad luck into good luck.

* For warding off snakes and wild beasts; to reverse evil unto enemies.

* To bring down the vengeance of the Lord against one's enemies.

* For the Lord to march into battle and protect His soldiers.

* For a new home to be fixed with good fortune, happiness, and peace.

* For forgiveness of sins and to gain the blessing of the Lord.

* To protect from being victimized by business partners and investors.

* For protection, especially while at sea, and for a safe return.

* For road opening that breaks through barriers and leads to success.

* To remove evil spirits; to heal those possessed; for wishes to come true.

* Against illness and fever; to free one who has been imprisoned or bound.

* Recited while preparing baths that are used to exorcise evil spirits.

* To free one from slavery to addictions and unhealthy habits.

* To cast down and reverse the wickedness wrought by enemies.

* To release one from prison, for acquittals in court cases.

* To craft charms and talismans that bring a client favour and grace.

* To protect travellers against religious persecution in foreign lands.

* For an end to persecution and to destroy oppressors and persecutors.

* Used along with specially prepared baths for the cleansing of sins.

* For the Lord's intercession, to provide protection from all attacks.

* Used against danger, poverty, chronic illness, drought, and famine.

* To gain favors from kings, princes, and other government officials.

* To utterly destroy the wicked and also to cast fatal curses.

* To end spiritual doubts and to prevent people falling into unbelief.

* To save people from error and mistakes, for safety from accidents.

* To facilitate business deals and assist those making investments.

* To keep clients safe during times of war, persecution, and captivity.

* For healing, especially when the body has contracted unusual odors.

* To soften hearts and restore peace to friends who have become enemies.

* To bring goodness, spiritual peace, and happiness to the community.

* To cleanse the community before starting healing and blessing work.

* To remove evil and bring blessings; used with baths and talismans.

* To anoint the sick, to secure a release from prison, for psychic vision.

* Used with Psalms 91 for protection; also to bless the work of the hands.

* For protection from distress and harm; to exorcize evil spirits.

* Prayed over herbal baths used to bring good fortune and high honors.

* Against prosecution by unjust and oppressive men; to win in court.

* For protection and to turn all evil back onto your enemies.

* To cleanse sins; to pray for guidance and forgiveness for enemies.

* To bless a family and bring happiness, peace, and joy to them.

* Used with Psalms 96 for healing, blessing, and cleansing a family.

* To restore peace between two hostile families; to bless a home.

* For praise and devotion to God; to gain conversation with God.

* To bring victory against enemies by uplifting the client.

* For protection against enemies and to be rid of evil spirits.

* For assistance in matters of fertility and to be granted grace.

* For help in conceiving of a child and for the forgiveness of sins.

* To cleanse away evil; to bless natural curios and spiritual supplies.

* For healing illnesses, especially recurrent or periodic fevers.

* For healing and to restore one to health, especially from fevers.

* For remission or healing from periodic or recurrent fevers.

* Utilized in a spell for financial success in your place of business.

* Used in a powerful curse against oppressive, slanderous enemies.

* For victory; to cause enemies to bow before you and beg for mercy.

* Recited to acquire many friends, as well as respect, and admiration.

* To increase in might and power, for success, abundance, and blessings.

* Prayers and blessings for those in need; to stop infidelity and heresy.

* Used in a spell for success in matters of finance, business, and money.

* To foster truth-telling, for victory in debate over scoffers and mockers.

* Recited daily for protection from violent or sudden death or injury.

* For forgiveness of a failure to keep a vow or promise that you made.

* For protection against those who try to misguide or lead you astray.

* 22 alphabetic divisions cover all human problems.

* For success in court and for protection against snakes and scorpions.

* For safety at night, both during sleep and while travelling in darkness.

* For peace within a city, and to gain the favour of those in high station.

* Employed in a spell to cause a servant, trainee, or employee to return.

* Cleansing of the soul, protection at sea and from being wronged.

* For protection in foreign lands and against those who work iniquity.

* After miscarriage or the death of a child; for the next child to live.

* Placed in a mojo for the protection and blessing of a newborn baby.

* For a fortunate, accident-free pregnancy; for uncomplicated childbirth.

* Recited daily to prepare one for a long life of virtue and good works.

* Recited to the four quarters when passing by sentries in a war zone.

* Recited three times a day to reduce one's sin of pride and scornfulness.

* To remediate one's unpunctuality and failure to perform duties on time.

* To retain the love and respect of friends and to gain many more friends.

* For matters of higher education and for success in school.

* For repentance, spirituality, and rededication of one's life to God.

* Recited on behalf of those who wish to confess and be cleansed of sins.

* For cleansing of the heart and soul from hate, envy, evil, and vice.

* Recited daily to bring love and friendship from the Lord.

* To nurture and maintain love, especially within the context of marriage.

* To restore tranquility and to preserve and maintain relationships.

* To ward against terror and fear and against looming oppression.

* To heal the body, restore health, and alleviate pain and suffering.

* To heal bodily limbs, especially the arms and to alleviate pain.

* To speed up healing and to ensure the perfect mend of a broken arm.

* To cleanse and purify clients who are beset by ghosts or evil spirits.

* Used with altar work for healing and recovery after being wounded.

* For healing wounds and bites from snakes, insects, and other animals.

* To keep one safe from accidents by fire.

* Used to protect against fire-related accidents.

* For the glory of the Lord and to give thanks for His intervention.

what is Mary's business with prayer? what part of the bible said she had 7 rings? you Catholics are making Christianity laughable. Mary is no longer a virgin.. Quit the bullsh!t.

Amberon11:
what is Mary's business with prayer? what part of the bible said she had 7 rings? you Catholics are making Christianity laughable. Mary is no longer a virgin.. Quit the bullsh!t.

Bless your heart.

THE POWER OF PROTECTION
Psalm Ninety-One

King James Version

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 ?ou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation


What Are We Going to Do?P“

God said to Noah…make yourself an ark”
(Genesis 6:13-14, The Amplified Bible).

With all the violence and calamity bearing down on us these days, that’s a question we hear a lot.
What are we going to do about crime in our streets? What are we going to do about economic failures? What are we going to do about international problems?

I’ll tell you what we’d better do. We’d better take a lesson from Noah. Look in Genesis 6 at the Bible’s description of the earth back in his day and you’ll see why I say that.

The earth was depraved and putrid in God’s sight, and the land was filled with violence (desecration, infringement, outrage, assault, and lust for power). And God looked upon world and saw how degenerate, debased, and vicious it was, for all humanity had corrupted their way upon the earth and lost their true direction (verses 11-12, The Amplified Bible).With a few exceptions that verse sounds like a description of today’s world, doesn’t it?
What did God tell Noah to do about this desperate situation? He said, “Noah, make yourself an ark.” That ark was to provide Noah’s deliverance from the destruction to come. It was to keep him safe when the whole world was perishing around him.

Start Building!
I believe God is saying to us today, just like He did to Noah, “Build yourself an ark.” Not an ark made of wood, but an ark made of the Word of God. Do you realize that what you know from the Word of God will save your life?
That’s right. If you build God’s promises of protection and deliverance into your heart and life, you can live in this crazy world with all its danger and feel secure. You don’t have to be frightened by the things that are happening around you because even in the worst of times, God has proven He has the wonderful ability to deliver His people from danger.
Notice I said His people. Today, as in Noah’s day, there are two groups of people on the earth: God’s people and the rest of the world. There is the family of Satan and the family of God. Because God has already provided the gift of salvation to all men, the people in the world group have the option to change groups at any time by accepting Jesus as Savior.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” But until they accept Him, the world group won’t enjoy the benefits God’s people have. As a result, the lives of these two groups can be strikingly different. They may be living in the same city—even the same family. Yet one of them has a covenant with God and the other doesn’t. One group will live in safety while the other is to the dangers of the world on their own.

"It shall be well with him [the righteous]…” but “Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him…” (Isaiah 3:10-11). You may hear someone prophesy about how bad things are going to become on the earth. Then you may hear someone else prophesy about the power and blessings that lie ahead of us. Both prophecies may be accurate. But the first is speaking to the people of the world and the second is speaking to the people of God.
Noah was a wonderful example of just how capable God is of protecting His people in the midst of a corrupt and crumbling civilization. The whole world went down around him, but the eight people in his family remained perfectly safe.
Some people say, “Oh yes, I know I am eternally safe. I know that because I am born again, I’ll go to heaven when I die.” But I’m not just talking about heavenly security. I am telling you that you can have physical security, financial security and every other kind of security you need to live in victory right here on this earth.

Loaded With Benefits!

You see, salvation includes more than just the guarantee of going to heaven in the sweet by-and-by. That’s just the beginning. Salvation is a big word. In the Greek language it literally means deliverance, safety, preservation, material and temporal deliverance from danger and apprehension, pardon, restoration, healing, wholeness and soundness.

If I were to use just one word, I would say salvation is soundness in every area of life. It includes healing for your body, peace for your mind, righteousness for your spirit, physical and spiritual protection, prosperity and financial blessing.

I like what Psalm 68:19-20 says: “Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who Is our salvation! …God is to us a God of deliverances and salvation; and to God the Lord belongs escape from death [setting us free]” (The Amplified Bible).

That same scripture in the King James Version says, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation….”

Just think about that. Every day God loads us with the benefits of salvation! He loads us with forgiveness, healing, safety, security, prosperity and deliverance from danger.

It’s Not Automatic
Now you may be wondering, If safety and security and healing and deliverance are all part of my salvation, why haven’t I been experiencing all these things?

Because they don’t come automatically. They are manifest in your life only as you begin to trust God for them specifically.

Let me explain. Remember when you were born again? You discovered God’s Word promised if you would repent and confess Jesus as your Lord, you would be forgiven of your sins and translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13). So you believed, obeyed, accepted Jesus as Savior and you were instantly saved. But that didn’t heal you from the flu, did it?

No, before you could be healed from the flu, you had to hear God’s Word about your healing. You had to learn that Jesus bore your sicknesses and carried your diseases. Until you began to believe for healing—until you trusted God for it specifically and stood in faith for it—you didn’t walk in divine health.

The same is true about anything. Until you find out what actually belongs to you through the blood of Jesus, you can’t lay hold of it by faith and see it happen in your life. That’s why it’s so important to know God’s promises of protection. You receive blessings by faith—and faith comes by hearing the Word. You can’t have faith for something you don’t know about.

If someone were to deposit a million dollars in an account with your name on it but didn’t bother to tell you about it, you’d never be able to enjoy it, would you? Themoney would belong to you, but you wouldn’t know to withdraw it. So it would sit in the bank unused. That’s the sad situation so many believers are in today when it comes to the mighty benefits of salvation through Jesus the Anointed One.

Why We Give:


(Christian Principles for Giving)

“The world asks, ‘What does a man own?’
Christ asks, ‘How does he use it?’”
-- Andrew Murray (1828-1917)

Introduction:

The Giving Heart of God
“God so loved the world that He gave …” John 3:16 is probably the best loved, most widely known, and most oft-cited verse in the entire Bible. Christians memorize it from childhood. They quote it when sharing Christ with their unsaved friends. It appears in tracts and pamphlets, on T-shirts, bumper-stickers, and key-chains. Zealous believers placard it before the watching world at major sporting events. And all for a good reason – because this short verse communicates the essence of the Gospel message.

But John 3:16 is more than a Christian promotional slogan or an effective witnessing tool. In an important sense, it reveals the heart of God and sums up the meaning of the Christian life. Because if there’s one thing the New Testament teaches us, it’s that God is love, and that those of us who claim to believe in Him ought to love one another as He has loved us (1 John 4:8, 11). And the message of John 3:16 is that love gives.


Why Give?

Here we have the basic motivation behind all Christian giving: we share what we have with others because, as believers, we are called to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1) – in other words, joyous, generous, and faithful givers. Our goal and purpose in this life is to open our hearts to the Lord so that the resources of His love can flow through our hands directly into the lives of others. As Jesus says in John 15:5, “I am the vine and you are the branches.” The life-producing sap of the vine is love expressed in active giving.

But before we can begin to give sincerely and effectively, we need to understand exactly why generosity is so essential to the formation of Christ-like character. More precisely, we need to see how, in a practical sense, the act of giving is an expression of a genuinely Christian and biblical worldview. There are three thoughts that can help us keep the answers to these questions clearly focused in our minds

1) We Belong to God “Do you not know,” writes Paul to the Corinthian church, “that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit … and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20).

Christians, according to Scripture, are the Lord’s special possession – “a peculiar people,” as the Authorized King James Version puts it (1 Peter 2:9). If, as believers, we have no cl aim even to our own persons, it’s safe to assume that we must also forfeit ownership and control of our possessions. Everything we have and everything we are is a gift from the Creator of our souls – after all, “what do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7) Accordingly, we need to live in a way that places all of these gifts – our time, our talents, our relationships, our physical health and intellectual abilities – at His disposal and discretion.

This is not to mention, of course, that even in a larger and more general sense – in a way that has implications for those who are not part of the family of faith – God is the Owner of everything that exists. Ultimately, it all belongs to Him. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,” writes the psalmist, “the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine” (Job 41:11). “‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2: 8

If God owns everything, it should be obvious that He alone has the prerogative to determine how it should be distributed and used. And if, as we’ve already established, His purposes can be summed up in the single word “love,” we can safely assume that He intends His wealth to be applied to the task of blessing other people. Our role is to act as faithful stewards of the abundance He has poured out upon us by giving in accord with His will. As Randy Alcorn says, we are God’s money managers. 2) We Have Received Much And God’s grace toward us is abundant – excessively so. This is the second point we want to bear in mind. If we would simply stop and take stock of our blessings, we would quickly see how truly overwhelming is the Lord’s generosity toward us. This statement applies to believers in every condition and situation, for in Christ we have become heirs of God’s kingdom (James 2:5; Romans 8:17) and of the unlimited assets that pertain to it: “For all things are yours … and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Corinthians 3:21-23). But it’s especially true of Christians in the West, and particularly in the United States, who control an amount of the world’s resources out of all proportion to their numbers.

According to the Bible, abundant blessings imply weighty responsibilities; “for everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:48). The message is clear: our possessions are to be used not merely for our own enjoyment but for the benefit of the world around you. “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8

This doesn’t mean that giving is to be approached as a grim, oppressive “duty,” of course. “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). As its etymological root implies, a responsibility is primarily a response. It’s an expression of joy and gratitude for the bounty of God’s goodness. It’s like the gift of the woman who demonstrated her indebtedness to Jesus by anointing His feet with a jar of costly ointment. She loved much, Jesus said, because she had been forgiven much. “But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little” (Luke 7:47).


3) Money Matters

Finally, if we want to make sure that our giving is thoroughly biblical in nature, there’s one last observation we’ll need to add to the other two. Although the generosity with which we express our response to God’s grace entails everything we are and everything we have – our mental, emotional, and spiritual assets as well the physical – we dare not miss the point that the Lord is especially concerned about the way we use our material wealth. As Randy Alcorn points out in his book The Treasure Principle, 15 percent of everything Christ ever said relates to the topic of money and possessions – “more than His teachings on heaven and hell combined.”

Why should this be so? Because the God of the Bible, unlike the gods of many other religious systems, attaches great value to the material aspect of His creation. The physical world belongs to Him because He made it; and He made it in such a way that it declares His glory (Psalm 19:1) and reflects His invisible attributes (Romans 1:20). That’s why, at the end of the sixth day of Creation, He was able to look at everything He had accomplished and conclude that it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31).

Naturally, one of the most important elements of the material creation is the physical aspect of humanity. God made man in His own image (Genesis 1:27), and He attaches a value to human life far above that accorded to any other creature (Psalm 8:5; Matthew 6:26). He loves and cherishes His people and cares profoundly about the bodily side of their existence. So important does he consider this facet of human nature, in fact, that He actually took flesh upon Himself when He came into the world to save it (John 1:14). What’s more, He raised the body of Christ from death and promised a share in that same resurrection to all who believe in Him (John 11:25), thus making it clear that the body has an important place in the life to come as well as in this present world.

This is why James tells us that it is not enough to give in a spiritual sense only. When we minister to others, we have to minister to the body as well as the soul: “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” (James 2:16).

Herein lies the real significance of money from the biblical perspective. While it is true that the love of money is “a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10), it should be equally obvious that money is a powerful tool – the most powerful tool we have at our disposal when it comes to providing for basic material necessities. As the writer of Ecclesiastes puts it, “wisdom is a defense as money is a defense” (Ecclesiastes 7:12). The most important and most blessed thing we can do with our money, then, is to give it away for the benefit of those in need. As Paul wrote to Timothy,

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Taking The Next Step All of this sounds good in theory, of course. But the joy of giving can’t begin to flow in our lives until we make a commitment to put these scriptural principles into practice.

So go ahead. Unclench your fist. Open your hand. Become a conduit of God’s love – the love that expresses itself in hilarious giving. The first step is always the hardest. But it’s also the biggest, because it puts you across the line that divides self-centered concern from grateful generosity.

And remember: it’s not the size of the gift that counts. Part of what makes the life of giving so exhilarating is the realization that, when we hand our meager resources over to God, they assume a power out of all proportion to their earthly size and value. As in the story of the feeding of the 5,000, little becomes much when it is sacrificed on the altar of faith and service to others.

For true value lies not in the possession of a thing, but in the use we make of it.
[/b]

TO THOSE WHO KNOCK

From the unreal lead me to the Real.
From darkness lead me to Light.
From death lead me to Immortality.

Amen.

Sufficiency, Not Wealth nor Poverty, and Selling of Possessions.


There are many who do not understand the teachings of Jesus concerning hgumility, and why he told people to sell all their possessions, and then follow him, as we see in this verse,
Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go away and sell your possessions, and give to poor ones! and you shall have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me! (Matthew 19:21 [ABP])

become obsolete in favor of a modern luxurious and decadent life? First, before answering this, let us look at this old proverb that was written even before Jesus was born in the flesh,
Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, (Proverbs 30:8 [NASB])

In mentioning "feed me with food" as opposed to giving me riches or poverty, this proverb is referring to the nourishment of the body as the most basic need we should ask for. The two most basic needs related to the nourishment of the body for the body to live are food and water. The third and final need, although not necessary to live, but instead, needed to cover our unclothedness, is clothing. These three things are the most basic needs, and they are food, water, and clothing. Even Jesus made mention of these same three basic needs here,
Do not then be anxious! saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what should be worn? (Matthew 6:31 [ABP])

Yet even before he made mention of these three basic needs of life, he spoke concerning this,
No one is able to serve two masters; for the one he will detest, and the other love; or the one he will hold to, and the other he will disdain; you are not able to serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24 [ABP])

What is mammon? Mammon is wealth, riches, and excess of possessions. So here we have two polar opposites, which are,
Sell all your possessions as Jesus instructed, and believe in God to provide you with the basic needs of life, which are food, water, and clothing. This is the way involving serving God.
Or, continue having wealth, riches, and excess of possessions. This is the way involving serving mammon.
What are possessions? Possessions is anything you own, which also includes property. Your clothes, your house, your car, your furniture, your television, these are all possessions you own. Not only did Jesus instruct whomever he encountered to sell all their possessions, but this was also the same instruction the apostles gave to anyone who came to the belief of Jesus,
And the possessions and the things of substance they sold, and they divided them to all in so far as anyone had need. (Acts 2:45 [ABP])

Notice how this scripture makes a distinction between "possessions" and "things of substance". As we said earlier, "possessions" includes everything you own, but "things of substance" is something more specific than possessions. "Things of substance" is property, or houses. The Greek word for "things of substance" is "huparxis", which specifically conveys "property". The same word is used in the following verse, although this translation renders the word as "possession" as well, losing its actual meaning of "property" specifically,
For both in my bonds you sympathized; and the seizure of your possessions with joy you accepted, knowing to have in yourselves a better possession in heavens, and abiding. (Hebrews 10:34 [ABP])

What is this better possession in the heavens? It is a house, a property, a mansion, in the heavens, prepared and given to each true believer that is chosen. This is why Jesus says,
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2 [KJV])

These mansions are the "better properties" of those that are elect, which are kept safely in heaven so that they may not be broken into as properties on the earth are. That same verse Hebrews 10:34 I quoted earlier, describes this same reasoning, and is translated more clearly in the ESV than the APB in referencing earthy "properties" that are broken into,
For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. (Hebrews 10:34 [ESV])

So because properties on earth can be broken into, is another reason to store treasures in heaven, where thieves are not able to go up there and steal. And Jesus even said here,
Sell your possessions, and give charity! Make to yourselves bags not growing old! a treasure unceasing in the heavens, where thief shall not approach nor moth ruin. (Luke 12:33 [ABP])

So when are these mansions given to elect? When the new heavens and new earth is brought forth into existence, and the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven, which is the new heavenly city that will have these mansions and treasures that are prepared for the elect. Now, why is this distinction between possessions and properties of importance? Because Jesus was instructing to sell all your properties. The selling of properties coincides with this verse in the Book of Acts,
For neither anyone lacking existed among them; for as many as were owners of places or houses existing to them, by selling they brought the value of the things being sold, (Acts 4:34 [ABP])

These believers were selling all their properties, as no believer should own property, which is why they sold all their properties. So if indeed they sold all their properties, where did they live? Some of them became apostles, such as Paul, going city to city, spreading the gospel and staying in someone's house for a short while until they went off to the next house, and others, rented their homes. We see evidence of renting even with Paul,
And Paul stayed a whole space of two years in his own hired house, and gladly received all the ones entering to him, (Acts 28:30 [ABP])

So while these early believers were selling all their properties, what were the possessions that they were also selling, since Acts 2:45 above made a distinction between the two? It was all the possessions they didn't need. This coincides with this scripture,
And answering he says to them, The one having two inner garments, share with the one not having! And the one having foods, in like manner do! (Luke 3:11 [ABP])

So in selling all properties, and selling all unnecessary possessions, what was left over to be had? Only the things that were needed, which goes back to the beginning of this study, concerning the most basic "needs". Bringing yourself down to these basic needs of only food, water, and clothes is possibly the lowest you can go in terms of humility, and this is indeed necessary for the ministry of apostleship, as Jesus also gave these instructions to the apostles,
Go! behold, I send you as lambs in the midst of wolves. [4] Do not bear a bag, nor provision, nor sandals! and no one in the way should you greet. [5] And into which ever house you should enter, first say! Peace to this house. [6] And if there might be there a son of peace, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, unto you it shall return. [7] And in the same house abide! eating and drinking the things of theirs; for the worker is worthy of his wage! Do not cross over from house to house! [8] And into what ever city you should enter, and they should receive you, eat the things being placed near to you!
(Luke 10:3-8 [ABP])

Bringing yourself down to the basic needs of life is also why Jesus says,
For I say to you, a greater born among women than the prophet John the baptist no one is. But the lesser in the kingdom of God is greater than he. (Luke 7:28 [ABP])

The less you become, the greater you will become in the kingdom of God. This lessening of yourself by selling off of possessions and all properties is what humbling yourself truly means. There are many who think that humbling yourself is just a state of mind, or merely just praying constantly, but humbling yourself is in fact having all to do with ridding yourself all properties and possessions you don't need, which coincides with this proverb,
The LORD resists the proud, but gives favor to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34 [ABP])

Meaning that when you truly humble yourself, then God show you favor, but while you are still in your excess, he will resist you. This is why the early believers sold all their possessions and all their properties, so that they can then be favored by God to be granted repentance and thus receive the gift of his holy spirit. This is why Jesus also said,
"So the last will be first, and the first will be last." (Matthew 20:16 [NIV])

The first are those who are in excess of possessions, and the last are those who humble themselves and make themselves have little. When the time comes, those that made themselves first, will be made last, and those that made themselves last, will be first. Again, Jesus says here,
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12 [NIV])

Those who exalt themselves are the ones who make themselves first and give themselves more than what they need, and those who humble themselves are those who make themselves last and sell of all properties and also all possessions they do not need. Yet even so, should all that are called sell absolutely everything and bring themselves down to only food, water, and clothes? No, because just as each has a measure of belief given to him, so each has a measure of how much they will humble themselves,
For I say by the favor being given to me, to every one being among you, to not be high-minded above what you must think; but to think to be of a sound mind; to each as God portioned a measure of belief. (Romans 12:3 [ABP])

And even so, there were members of the early assemblies that still lived in homes, and did not make themselves "homeless" as the apostles were, going city to city, as we read here,
You greet the brethren in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly in his house! (Colossians 4:15 [ABP])

and the assembly at their house. Greet Epaenetus my beloved, who is a first-fruit of Achaia for Christ! (Romans 16:5 [ABP])

and to Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly at your house. (Philemon 1:2 [ABP])

The assembling of the brethren, or what we call "churches" in today's time, was done in the homes, and it still must be done this way, but this is another topic entirely that I will explain in a another study. Going further, Jesus also says, the least among you, is the greatest, which also indicates that there is a measure of how "least" you become, and this even coincides with,
Amen I say to you, There has not been arisen among ones born of women greater than John the Baptist; but the lesser in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11 [ABP])

Again, indicating that there are those who become lesser than others, yet in being lesser, they are indeed greater. How are they greater? Because the lesser you become, the greater your reward will be, which coincides with this saying,
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:20 [NIV])

"Storing up" conveys the truth that these "treasures" in heaven can be accumulated by how "less" you become. Yet not even in lessening and humbling yourself are treasures stored in heaven, but also in sufferings as well, as it is even said here,
Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. (Hebrews 11:35 [NIV])

All these things, how far down you humble yourself, and the amount of sufferings you endure as well, in this present time, all relate to how great your reward will be. How far you humble yourself, and your measure of belief, also relate to what type of ministry you will undertake in the assemblies of God, which are,
And he gave some indeed for apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists; but some shepherds and teachers, (Ephesians 4:11 [ABP])

Yet of all these, the ministry of apostleship specifically involves the bringing yourself down to the lowest basic needs of life, which are food, water, and clothes, and going city to city spreading the gospel and calling people to repentance. This type of ministry could be what we call today as the "missionary", yet an apostle does not always necessarily have to go to remote parts of the earth to be an apostle. An apostle can do the work of an apostle even in America. So, going back, these believers were selling their possessions, and their properties, and then in this verse we also read,
And the multitude of the ones believing was of one heart and soul; and not even one said anything existing to him to be his own; but all things were in common to them. (Acts 4:32 [ABP])

So if indeed these believers were selling their possessions and their properties, what was then left over that was said to be shared among all believers, as it says, "not even one said anything existing to him to be his own"? After they sold their possessions and all their properties, they were left with basic possessions they needed, such as needed clothes, needed furniture, needed things around the house, like needed utensils, and even also money of the things that were sold. This is the base level of humility all believers must come down to at the very least, yet if God has put it in your heart to go even lower in humility, then you ought to go even lower than this to the level of just basic needs of life, to thus receive a greater reward and possibly go into ministry of apostleship. In keeping the money of the things they sold, they then shared as each had need, which even those that were "rich" having alot of money did as well, which coincides with this verse,
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. (1 Timothy 6:18 [NIV])

Having alot of money is not evil, but rather, it is how you live where the evil is. You can have alot of money, yet live like a poor and humble man. Yet it is indeed harder for someone who is wealthy to come into the kingdom of God, because many who have an abundance, do not want to bring themselves down to live like a poor man. This is why Jesus said,
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:24 [NIV])

Going further, the basic necessities that the early believers had left over after they sold their possessions and all their properties were the things they then shared with each other, which also coincides with this verse,
And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. (Acts 2:44 [NLT])

So what are the reasons that one must humble themselves in this literal way? First because it reflects the mindset of a traveler, or also called, a sojourner. Does a traveler visiting a city for a few days never coming back to that city buy a house to only stay in it for those few days or does he merely just reserve a hotel room? Does a traveler going to this same city for a few days bring his entire house of furniture and possessions or does he merely travel lightly? This is indeed the same reasoning behind those that are true believers, who travel lightly with the things necessary, and also rent if living in a home is necessary. True believers are indeed sojourners of the present eon, as it is even said here,
Beloved, I appeal to you as sojourners and immigrants, to be at a distance from the fleshy desires, which soldier against the soul; (I Peter 2:11 [ABP])

So therefore, renting is the mindset of a sojourner, knowing very well that living in the present eon is temporary and short, and that an incorruptible property will be given to those who remain faithful in Jesus Christ and are humble sojourners in the present eon. Yet those who become poor now, will be made wealthy in the time to come. This is also why Jesus said,
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5 [ESV])

The meek, the poor, the humble, the last, these are the ones that will inherit the kingdom of God. Going further, Paul also says,
For a root of all the evils is the fondness of money, of which some reaching for were led astray from the belief, and pierced themselves on all sides with many griefs. (I Timothy 6:10 [ABP])

The love of money is what leads any man to go beyond what all true believers are called to do, to humble themselves by having the basic necessities of life. This is also why the Book of Revelation calls the roman catholic church the "prostitute of Babylon", because her existence as a church relates to her giving herself over to money, to have abundance of possessions and wealth. Look at the Vatican, and the wealth that exists in St. Peter's Basilica, and within Vatican City, and even in all the catholic churches. These are visible signs that correspond to a church given over to money and wealth, hence a "prostitute". And not only her, but all the megachurches, even the regular churches, and also denominations that stem from her, whether catholic or protestant or apostolic or cherubim & seraphin or Celestial who do the same things the catholic church does in making themselves wealthy, and are thus the "daughter prostitutes of the great prostitute". These are all things that relate to money and having excess of possessions, and being given over to pleasures of life.



WORSHIP WITH US

IN THE WORLD IT IS LITTLE C0MPREHENDED WHAT LOVE IS; AND YET IT IS MAN'S VERY LIFE.


That this is little comprehended is evident from the common saying "What is love?" What it is, is not known for the reason that love is not manifest to the understanding, and the understanding is the receptacle of the light of heaven.

What comes into that light is interiorly seen, for what a man thinks, that he has knowledge of. For this reason a man says that this or that is in the light of his understanding, also that he sees this to be so; likewise he prays that he may be enlightened and illumined by God. Moreover, there is spiritual light to which natural light corresponds, and it is from this that one says, with reference to his understanding, that he sees. and a wise man prays to be enlightened and to be illumined by God, that is, that he may understand. Man, therefore, can form no idea concerning love, for this reason, that although the understanding, by means of the thought, presents itself to be seen, love does not. And yet love is the very soul or life of thought, and if love be taken away thought grows cold and dies, like a flower deprived of heat; for love enkindles, vivifies, and animates thought.

Set your mind at work and consider whether you can think apart from some affection that is of love; and you will find in your own case that it is impossible. From this it is plain that love is the life of the understanding and of thought therefrom; and what is the life of the understanding and of thought therefrom is also the life of the whole man; for it is the life of all the senses and of all motions, thus the life of the organs by means of which senses and motions exist. That it is also the life of the rest of the viscera, will be seen in what follows. It is not known what love is, for the further reason that man's love is universal life. By universal life is meant life that is in most minute particulars; for of these the term universal is used, as the term general is of parts.

What is thus universal is perceived simply is a one; and a one without a particular perception of the particulars is obscure, comparatively as it is with an intense light that blinds the eye. Such also is the universal Divine in the most minute particulars of the world; consequently this Divine is so obscure to man as not to be manifest to the eye when opened, but only to the eye, when closed; for the whole of the world is a work of the Divine love and the Divine wisdom; and wisdom in its most minute particulars is, as was said before, an intense Divine light that blinds.