ECCE

      The Holy Spirit has given to each member of the Body of Christ varying spiritual gifts. These gifts are given for a specific purpose, which we will see. As Paul wrote about the gifts given to the members of the Body by the Holy Spirit, he said: "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant...Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal ( symphero - to bear or bring together, to bear together at the same time, to carry with others, to collect or contribute in order to help, to help, be profitable, be expedient)." (1 Cor. 12:1-7). ...

      This year, Resurrection Sunday falls at the end of Passover week. Jesus at the Last Supper before He suffered and was crucified told His disciples "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not anymore eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." (Lk. 22:15-16). The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central truth of the Christian faith, and it is the hope of all mankind. Isaiah wrote the prophetic Word of the LORD about the suffering and death of the Messiah/Christ, and also of its earth-shaking effect upon all people: "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle ( naza - to spurt, spatter, sprinkle, startle, besprinkle especially in expiation [blood]) many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for...

       Frontal View - The Shroud of Turin      Today is Palm Sunday, and it is also Passover. Jesus observed the Passover Feast and celebrated it with His disciples just before His arrest and crucifixion. The Gospel of John relates that Jerusalem was full of people who had come to the feast when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. They took branches from palm trees and when to meet Him as He entered the city. The crowd cried out, "Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." In fulfilment of the scriptures, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt of an ass. It wasn't until later that His disciples realized that the things that were done to Jesus, down to the most minute detail, had been prophesied: "...then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him." (Jn. 12:12-16). The prophet Zechariah had written long before: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout...

      There is more to the Body of Christ than what is referred to as the Five-Fold Ministry. Limiting the Body to that five-fold ministry limits the Holy One of Israel. What else is essential to the Body of Christ? You! Daivd wrote in the Psalms: "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully ( yare - reverence, honor, respect)  and wonderfully ( pala - set apart, marked out, distinct) made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well...Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect ( golem - embryo, fetus, a wrapped together unformed mass, unfinished, not yet developed); and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance ( yom - time, day, continually, ever, time period, age, always) were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." (Ps. 139:14-16). The LORD made each one of us distinctly with reverence and honor for each. He wrote of each of us in His book of the distinct members from which we were made.      ...

      As Paul sat imprisoned in Rome awaiting execution for his faith in Jesus Christ, He wrote this to the believers of Rome: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live buy faith." (Rom. 1:16-17). This is also our founding scripture for this ministry, and this is the power of salvation through faith in Christ. Paul also wrote to Titus: "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine." (Titus 2:1). Speak the saving truth.      Paul continued on to write of those who refuse to see the hand of the Creator God that has been revealed to them: "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by...