ECCE

      We need to understand the power and authority we have as believers, paid for with the blood of Jesus. It is not traditions, doctrines or denominations that are the source of this heavenly power and authority that is manifested on earth through the believer in Christ. In fact, scripture tells us that our traditions make void the Word of God. (see Mk. 7:6-7 , 13 ).      In His last words before His ascension into heaven, Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for that power from heaven to come upon them: "But ye shall receive power ( dynamis - strength, power, ability, power for performing miracles, moral power and excellence of soul), after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.' And when he (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." (Acts 1:8-9).   ...

     The Book of Hebrews, which I believe was written by Paul, gives us examples of the heroes of faith from scripture (see Heb. 11). Paul called them a great cloud of witnesses which surround us and gave a warning: "...we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses (the heroes of faith), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (Heb. 11:39, 12:1-4). Our generation also has seen great heroes of faith who make up the cloud of witnesses around us: Billy...

     We as a church have always focused on the pre-eminence of the Word of God. Joshua 1:8 says, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Also from Psalm 19:14: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."      The words out of our mouths should be the same as in our heart - the Word of God. The Book of Hebrews calls Jesus the High Priest of our profession - meaning that we say the same as Jesus says.      The Word of God is so important to the LORD that He has magnified it above His own awesome name. David wrote: "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy wor...

      The Apostle Paul wrote of how we should minister the Word of God to ourselves and to others: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing ( orthotomeo - rightly divide, to cut straight, to teach the truth directly and correctly, to make a straight cut, to proceed on straight paths) the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15).       Cutting the Word straight, or orthotomeo , yields fruit in our own lives and in others' lives, and ties in directly to who we have become in Christ: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world , that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of hi...

      The Lord told His disciples that they would hear of many turbulent events before His returmn, including "wars and commotions," but told them "...be not terrified; for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by." (Lk. 21:9). We are hearing of wars and threatened wars now, so what should our attitude and communications be at this time? While others may speak of fear, we are not to fear according to Jesus.      Jesus also prophesied that ethnic groups, races, and kingdoms would rise against each other. Great earthquakes, famines, pestilences, fearful sights and great signs in the heavens. All of these we have seen, including eclipses, comets and unusual planetary alignments. Great persecution would come to believers in Christ, which we have seen. Martyrdom for the name of Jesus has increased in nations around the globe. (v. 10-12). What is to be our response to these things?            Jesus said, "A...

       We are praying that this is a precious Father's Day for all. It is my belief that, in view of the events in the Middle East and the signs of the end times around us, all prayer in the Body of Christ is essential. The importance of a father's prayers is presented in scripture.      There was a king named Abimelech (meaning "My father is king") who took Sarah, thinking that Sarah was Abraham's sister rather than his wife. Abraham's name means "Father of a multitude." The LORD came to King Abimelech in a dream, saying: "Behold, thou art a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife...Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her." (Gen. 20:1-6, excerpt).      The LORD prevented the king from touching Sarah, and warned him that he must return Sarah to Abraham: "Now therefore, restore the man h...