The FIRST Church Caravan ... the EPIPHANY of GOD'S SON+

   Traditionally,  January 6 is celebrated in most Western ( High) churches as the EPIPHANY... the manifestation of the SON+ of GOD, our LORD JESUS CHRIST, as come in the flesh ...  the INCARNATION+ of the JEWISH MESSIAH+. 

On THIS day, 

the MESSIAH+  

was MANIFESTED, 

being worshipped by all flesh 

--- Gentile as well as Jewish --- 

as the Magi came from the East

to worship the Newborn KING+. 

HE+ 

was worshipped as

KING+ of Kings 

and LORD+ of Lords 

by the travelers from afar who had seen his GOD-APPOINTED STAR in the Heavens.   

These Magi, or Wise Men, were single of eye : They followed  only ONE PATH ... that which was ordained by the STAR of Heaven. 

They were single of eye : They set their lives in order, left the comforts of home,  and pursued the ONE TRUE KING+. 

They were single of eye : They brought their treasures with them , to bestow them on this Newborn KING+  ... for they knew His+ Royalty was established by GOD.

They were single of eye : They rejoiced to find HIM+ ! 

They were single of eye :  And when they found HIM+, They BOWED DOWN from their rich mounts and WORSHIPPED His+ Royalty!  ( Matthew 2:11 )

Somehow knowing that as they worshipped HIM+, they worshipped GOD ALMIGHTY, Maker of Heaven and earth.

They were single of eye : They listened to the Divine Instructions given them in the dream. 

Never the same, the Wise Men rejoiced to see the KING+ of Kings born to mankind and placed on planet earth for the big confrontation between GOD and the satan. 

Never the same, planet earth now had LIGHT+ bestowed upon the human race, a LIGHT+ like as never before given, a LIGHT+ which became the LIGHT+ of the world... and the LIGHT+ which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 

Never the same, the satan knew his days were numbered and he reacted in utmost wrath, whipping up his human servants to slay the innocent babes in Bethlehem. To this day, we hear the voice of RACHEL weeping, crying for the babes "who are not." 

Never the same, the human race NOW has hope... hope to become children of GOD, the one true FATHER in Heaven, Hallowed be His Name. 

Our Heavenly FATHER and HIS+, now made manifest the plan HE had to bring the human race into the flock, into the fold, of GOD.  This plan was ordained to be worked THROUGH HIS SON+, JESUS CHRIST our LORD. 

Thus, while we know The EPIPHANY celebration  itself is a tradition of man, we know ... 

The MANIFESTATION 

of the JEWISH MESSIAH+

for all peoples

is 

REAL ! 

Bless GOD: 

FATHER, SON+, and HOLY SPIRIT. 

And , blessed be His Kingdom 

both now and forever. 

Amen.  

 

Season of the EPIPHANY ... Frankincense

Where IS HE+...

The ONE+ born

King of the Jews?

Frankincense... that fragrant herb...

also from the resin...

which helps the bitternesss of the myrrh.

MEDITATION

Our dear Heavenly FATHER, we thank THEE for always bringing enough frankincense to mix with the bitter myrrh.

We pray, O dear FATHER, that THOU canst see JESUS when THOU lookest upon our hearts.

We pray for THY FATHERLY goodness to rest upon us during our trials ... that we may bring glory unto THEE.

Sanctify our trials and make them a sweet savor unto THEE, O LORD OUR GOD.

O LORD GOD, let it never be said, when THOU lookest upon me, "Where IS HE+?Have you hidden your light under a bushel? "

Remember, O MY+ child: If you deny ME+ before men, I +  will deny you before MY+ FATHER and before the Heavenly Angels.

Where IS  HE+,

in your life,

MY child ?  



The Season of the EPIPHANY.... Myrrh



Photo of teardrop of resin of myrrh
from essentialhealth.com



The Gift of Myrrh.... that bitter herb   ...  amber teardrops of resin from gashes in the bark of that rough shrub, which grows in stony, unforgiving ground.

This gift of Divine Sorrow and Suffering was given to Our LORD JESUS as HE+ lay in the manger, for there was no room for HIM+ in the inn.

 




 

MEDITATION

Dear LORD JESUS, O THOU+ Who+ wast sent to earth to suffer for mankind, receive the suffering of our hearts.

O LORD, we know our suffering has been caused by humans... others and our own selves... humans who have not followed THEE+.

O MASTER of All-Suffering, hear our cry.

Heal my heart of the wounds lodged in my soul. Heal those who have been wounded by me, when I walked in darkness and ignorance of THEE+.

I thank THEE+ for the suffering of Thy+ heart and Thy+ body that THOU+ hast carried for me... before I even knew THEE+.

May I never forget Thy+ teardrops, O LORD. Let them reside in the cup of my heart.

Glory be to THEE+ O Great Redeemer; Glory be to THEE+.

Season of the EPIPHANY... The Day Star+

Where IS HE+...

This JESUS,

the ONE+ born

KING+ of the Jews ?

For we have seen

the Day Star+ arise

in our hearts...

And have come

to worship HIM+

with our :

GOLD

Does our worship of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST extend into our piles of gold ?  Does our worship of Our LORD JESUS control our mammon, our money, our funds ? 

Would others

KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS

by how we spend 

the funds

The LORD, in HIS+ goodness,

has entrusted to us ?

Does our witness

for CHRIST JESUS 

extend

into our pocketbooks?

our purses ?

our wallets?

Do we avoid beggars or people with signs, asking for money or work ?

WOULD OUR LORD AVOID THEM ?

Do we collect aluminum cans for CHRIST and crush them to sell ...  in order to donate pennies to missionaries ...  while sitting on thousands in the bank, collecting interest ?

As the good Bishop said in Les Miserables, when observing a wealthy man dropping a penny into the alms box:   " Ah, there is the richest man in the province... buying a PENNY'S worth of Heaven ! " 

What we REALLY VALUE is what we scrimp and save for, where we spend the MAJORITY of our monies. 

Are we telling GOD that we want only one-tenth of HIS goodness, with our giving ?

JESUS paid it ALL...

all to HIM+ I owe.

Sin has left a crimson stain.

HE+ washed it white as snow.

MEDITATION

O LORD GOD, THOU has made the Heavens and the earth and all the things therein; THOU+ hast need of nothing of mine. 

Heavenly FATHER, I have need of THEE. I have all need of Thy+ SON+ JESUS operating in me.

Help me manifest CHRIST JESUS with my monies.

I have need for THEE+ to control every penny that comes in my door... so Mammon does not control me through love of it ...or through fear.

I know, O my SAVIOR, that I cannot out-give THEE+.

Make me willing and un-afraid to turn the control over my funds unto THEE+.

Smite the fear, smite my worldly-wisdom, un-clog my deaf ears and re-kindle Thy+ zeal in my dull and fearful heart, for THOU+ doest all things well. 

For  Thy+ glory help me use the monies THOU+ hast given into my stewardship in a more sanctified way. 

This I pray, to the glory of GOD our FATHER; in the Name of Our Manifested SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. Amen.  

EPIPHANY... The Manifestation of The LORD Among Us

Begotten before the morning stars

Our LORD from Everlasting,

Our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

Made Manifest unto the world

O Come, let us adore HIM+ !

Behold, One like

The SON+ of Man

came with the clouds of Heaven,

and came

to the Ancient of Days

and they brought HIM+ near before HIM.

And there was given HIM+

dominion, and glory, and a kingdom

that all people, nations, and languages

should serve HIM+;

His+ dominion is

an Everlasting Dominion

which shall not pass away,

and His+ Kingdom

that which shall not be destroyed.

HalleluJAH !

Daniel 7

Where were you when...

The morning stars sang together

and all the Sons of GOD

shouted for joy ?

Job 38:7

Thy people shall be willing

in the day of Thy+ power;

in the beauties of holiness

from the womb of the morning,

THOU+ hast the dew of

Thy youth.

Psalm 110

The Epiphany of 2009

[The Epiphany Season continues to the Passover Season on the Christian Calendar].

The Manifestation of the CHRIST Child to the Gentiles
or, Wise Men Seek HIM+




The BATTLECRY
or
THE LORD DIDN’T COME HERE TO LOSE.

(Our only political statement)


Why do the nations rage,
and the people imagine a vain thing?

The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against LORD YHWH,
and against HIS ANOINTED+,
saying,

Let us break Their bands asunder,
and cast away Their cords from us.

HE+ that sits in the Heavens shall laugh:
Lord ADONAI+ shall have them in derision.

Then shall HE+ speak unto them in His+ anger,
and terrify them in His+ wrath ( Rev.6:15,16,&17).

Yet I have set My KING+
upon My holy hill of Zion.

I will declare the decree:
YAWH hath said unto ME+,
You+ are My SON+;
this day I have begotten You+.

Ask of ME, and I shall give You+
the nations for Your inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth
for Your+ possession.

You+ shall break them
with a rod of iron;
You+ shall break them in
pieces like a potter’s vessel.

Be wise now therefore,
O you kings: be instructed,
you judges of the earth.

Serve YHWH with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the SON+, lest HE+ be angry,
and you perish from the way,
when His+ wrath is kindled but a little.

Blessed are all they
that put their trust
in HIM+.
Psalm 2



Maranatha!! Come Lord JESUS!!

In the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON+, and of the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT. Amen.
+ + +

The Epiphany of 2009
[ The Epiphany Season continues to the Passover Season on the Christian Calendar ].
The Manifestation of the CHRIST Child to the Gentiles
or, Wise Men Seek HIM+

The LORD vs the Strongman
step 7

All Hail, King JESUS!
All Hail, Emmanuel!

We thank YOU+, O LORD JESUS CHRIST, because YOU+ are stronger than the strongmen in my life. YOU+, O LORD, are stronger than the strongmen in my family’s life, my friends’ lives, and stronger than the strongmen in my enemies’ lives!

Indeed, YOU+ are stronger
than ALL of the strongmen
added together on the face of this globe,
in the Heavenlies
and those who may abide under the earth.


All Hail, King JESUS!
All Hail, Emmanuel!

The mighty GOD, even the LORD, hath spoken,
and called the earth
from the rising of the sun
unto the going down thereof.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, GOD hath shined.

Our GOD shall come, and shall not keep silence:
a fire shall devour before him,
and it shall be very tempestuous round about HIM+.

HE+ shall call to the heavens from above,
and to the earth,
that HE+ may judge HIS+ people.

Gather My+ saints together unto ME+;
those that have made a covenant with ME+ by sacrifice.

And the Heavens shall declare HIS+ Righteousness:
for GOD+ is judge Himself+.
Selah.
Psalm 50: 1-6


The LORD didn’t come here to lose.

Bless GOD! FATHER, SON+, and HOLY SPIRIT!
And Blessed be HIS+ Kingdom
forever and ever.
Amen.
+ + +

The Epiphany of 2009
[ The Epiphany Season continues to the Passover Season on the Christian Calendar ].
The Manifestation of the CHRIST Child to the Gentiles
or, Wise Men Seek HIM+

Beating the Strongman
Step 5

Let us hear the Words of The LORD:

But if I cast out devils by the SPIRIT of GOD,
then the Kingdom of GOD is come unto you.

Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house,
and spoil his goods,
EXCEPT HE FIRST BIND THE STRONG MAN?
and then he will spoil his house.

He that is not with ME+ is against ME+;
and he that gathereth not with ME+
scattereth abroad.
Matthew 12:28-30

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST gives us the power to attain spiritual victories. That is why HE+ gave us instructions in verses like the ones in Matthew.

Verily I say unto you,
Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven:
and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth
shall be loosed in Heaven.

Again I say unto you,
That if two of you shall agree on earth
as touching any thing that they shall ask,
it shall be done for them of
MY+ FATHER which is in Heaven.
Matthew 18:18,19


We have the strength to win, the ammunition needed for victory to defeat of the devil and his demons. By the Blood of The LORD JESUS CHRIST we go forth to battle with spiritual strongmen in HIS+ Name… having carefully fulfilled our obediences to The LORD. (YES! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! ) We know the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Here, then, is an adaptation of a prayer found on page 69 of Prayer from Christian Word Ministries, 428 Southland Drive, Lexington, KY 40503. That ministry lists a web site at www.christianword.org.

Strongman called Spirit of Anti-Christ,
I bind you in the Name of JESUS CHRIST…
along with all your works, roots, fruits, tentacles,
links, lies, deceptions , torments, and spirits…
that are in the life of _________________

with all of your fruits and spirits of :

1. Denying the deity of CHRIST
2. Denying the Atoning Blood of JESUS
3. Against CHRIST and HIS+ Teachings
4. Teachers of Heresy
5. Anti-Christian
6. Deceiver
7. Humanism
8. Lawlessness/ Rebellion
9. Worldly speech and action…

And I cast you out of ___________________
along with all of your works, roots, fruits, tentacles, links, lies, deceptions, torments, and spirits,

And I loose you from ____________________

and I force you
ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and by all the authority that HE+ grants me BY HIS+ HOLY BLOOD
to go wherever HE+ sends you.

I bind you, strongman called spirit of anti-CHRIST, in the Name of JESUS CHRIST and declare that all of your works, roots, fruits, tentacles, links, lies, deceptions, torments, and spirits
are dead works in the life of _____________________

In the Name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST I command you not to come back into the presence of ________________________ again.

I ask you, HOLY HEAVENLY FATHER,
to send forth unto ____________________
Thy Spirit of Truth according to I John 4:6.
Amen.

[Here are the Scripture references: I John 4:3 and 5, II John 7, II Thess.2:3-12, I John 2:18,19, Rev. 13:7.]

In the name of The FATHER, The SON+,
and The HOLY SPIRIT.
Amen.
+ + +

STEP 4 ~ Beating the Strongman...

The Epiphany of 2009
[ The Epiphany Season continues to the Passover Season on the Christian Calendar ].
The Manifestation of the CHRIST Child to the Gentiles
or, Wise Men Seek HIM+

Beating the Strongman
Step 4

Building Spiritual Muscle

And JESUS said unto them,
Because of your unbelief:
for verily I say unto you,
If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,
ye shall say unto this mountain,
Remove hence to yonder place;
and it shall remove;
and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Howbeit this kind goeth not out
but by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:20,21

.

.

In Chapter 17 of Matthew, three disciples had been with JESUS on the mountain top and had seen HIS+ Transfiguration. When they returned, the other disciples had had a dilemma: they could not cast out a demon out of a child. Hence, The LORD gave them HIS+ Words in the instructions above.

BELIEF / FAITH / TRUST must involve more than a mental mind-set here, as we can see from the grain of mustard seed. How DOES a mustard seed have faith, seeing that it has no brain, no mind, no heart? Furthermore, it is a tiny, tiny seed.

The mustard seed simply DOES what it is created to do by the MASTER’S Hand. It lies dormant when it is supposed to lie dormant. It cracks open at the appointed time. It sends forth a tiny shoot up and a tiny root down… just like it is created to do. It is 100% “mustard seed.” It has not one whit of other material in it… just mustard seed. In other words, it is unmingled with anything else in this world.

When we become as UNMINGLED as that tiny mustard seed we will see victory in prayer. Becoming single of eye is exactly what spiritual discipline does for our soul.

This is why The LORD JESUS followed up instruction about our faith becoming like the mustard seed with further instructions about how to cast out stubborn demons: by prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting makes us single of eye… or at least, takes us much closer to this goal.

We have flabby spiritual muscles in this age. Many things pit themselves against us to keep us in that state of INEFFECTIVE praying. Most of us need to fast and pray FOR STRENGTH… to fast and pray!

Thus, Step 4 involves putting muscle into our desire to have effective, fervent prayer. Not hyped up with emotion necessarily, but intense and determined to win the victory for CHRIST’S name…. in HIS+ name… and for HIS+ sake. To do this we must root out of us every and any thing that does not agree with CHRIST’S Words. We must lay on the altar any pet values we have carried over from our old man days. We must lay aside any activity which keeps us from giving our energy to this cause. We must train for the fight in singleness of eye.

.

.

How badly do you want to beat the strongman?


Confess your faults one to another,
and pray one for another,
that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer
of a righteous man
availeth much.
James 5:16


Our LORD JESUS CHRIST gives us the power

to attain spiritual fruits;

it is our part to embrace the labor.

O LORD,

we have walked weakly where we should have had strength.

We have mingled our wine with water.

We have avoided the narrow way.

Help us to embrace Thy call to effective, fervent prayer.

We thank THEE+ for the strength to win, for the strength for victory, for the defeat of the devil and his demons. By Thy Blood we will go forth to battle in Thy Name with these spiritual strongmen. Show us how to complete our obedience to THEE+ for this spiritual warfare.

This we pray in the name of The FATHER Who created us, The SON+ Who delivers us, and The HOLY SPIRIT Who sanctifies us. Amen.

+ + +

Beating the Strongman... Step 1

The Epiphany of 2009
[ The Epiphany Season continues to the Passover Season on the Christian Calendar ].
The Manifestation of the CHRIST Child to the Gentiles
or, Wise Men Seek HIM+

Beating the Strongman
Step 1

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST gives us the power

to attain spiritual fruits;

it is our part to embrace the labor.

This is what Scriptures mean when it says to

“walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing…”

Col. 1:10

This is the first step in beating the strongman.

<(((><

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The GIFTS of the HOLY SPIRIT are to HIS+ credit; the FRUITS, however, are laid to our account, through the Grace and Mercy of The LORD. Not to use GOD’S gifts for His+ Kingdom’s work, to do His+ Will, is equivalent to burying what GOD has given us. Note this: HE+ did not give us His+ talents for our benefit, but for the Kingdom’s benefit.

The judgment the servant faced who buried the Master’s one talent entrusted unto him was exactly the same as the branches being cut off from the Vine+… by that very same Master and Husbandman. That servant of The LORD buried his Master’s talent and then absorbed himself in the doings of his own life. He did not trouble himself to be about his Master’s interests. He did not concern himself to work primarily for the one he called “master.”

GOD forbid that any of us take advantage of GOD’S grace and mercy toward us! We were not saved to “better our lives” for ourselves but to live for CHRIST JESUS our LORD.

.

.


Accepting this
is the first step in beating the strongman.

.

.

Do we have faith to believe that IF WE PUT the Kingdom of GOD first, that all things we have need of will be given unto us? [That IS the Word of The LORD, you know.]

Can we believe… have we trust in the fact that… our families will be well cared for IF WE do The LORD’S work first? If properly done according to the will of The LORD, not only will our young ones and spouses be rightly cared for, but they will be concerned about the Kingdom of GOD also, to the glory of GOD our FATHER!

.

.


Acknowledging this truth
is the first step in
beating the strongman.

Let us pray:

Dear LORD and Heavenly FATHER, In the name of Thy Beloved SON+ JESUS CHRIST, we ask for help to seek THEE first and Thy Righteousness. We do this in accordance with the Words of Thy SON+. Help us to turn away from the insistent cares of this life and focus only upon the VITAL, the ONE THING that Thy Beloved SON+ said was necessary. Grant us wisdom and strength to do this, according to Thy Will and leading, to the glory of Thy Holy Name. Amen.

+ + +

The EPIPHANY ~ His+ Manifestation

The Epiphany

Year of Our LORD
1.6.2009

or
Day of the Manifestation
of the CHRIST Child
to the Gentiles
or

Wise Men Still Seek HIM+

.

The Epiphany Season of the Christian Calendar goes from January 6 until Lent begins. We will share a few meditations throughout the Epiphany Season.

Let us pray:

O LORD, we beseech THEE mercifully to receive the prayers of Thy people who call upon THEE in spirit and in truth. Grant that we may both perceive and know what things we ought to do to please THEE, in both our outer man and inner. We thank THEE that THOU hast given us all the power we need over the enemy, for both the outer man and inner.

Help us to fulfill Thy Will, to the pulling down of strongholds and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of and obedience towards JESUS CHRIST, the Only Begotten SON and Eternal Word, Who+ lives and reigns with THEE and Thy Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, now and forever, world without end. Amen.

<(((>< 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.
Hebrews 13:20,21

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<(((><

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Yes, Our LORD JESUS CHRIST gives us the power to attain the spiritual fruit; it is our part to embrace the labor. Not to do so makes us slide into “easy” believism and “cheap” grace… which is a slide that only goes downhill. This is what Scriptures mean when it says to “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing…” Col. 1:10

.

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted
and charged every one of you,
as a father doth his children,

That ye would walk worthy of GOD,
Who hath called you unto His+
Kingdom and Glory.
I Thess. 2:11,12

.

<(((><

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The fruits of the SPIRIT are NOT “given.” We labor to develop those spiritual fruits. We nourish our spirit with SPIRITUAL food. We weed out those hindering thoughts, motives, and actions. We TRAIN… yes, vigorously train… our thoughts to agree with Scriptures and not with our flesh, our family spirits, and this lying world system. We discipline our activities, pruning off important activities so that we have both time and energy for the VITAL work.

Sometimes we have to take a stick to ourselves during this discipline when we willfully break training. But… this spiritual training can be done and furthermore, The LORD EXPECTS us to sow unto the SPIRIT in this fashion. Indeed, there is no other way to sow to the SPIRIT but through a denial of the flesh.
.

The Husbandman looketh for … the gifts?

NO.

.

HE knows where those gifts are and where they come from: His Beloved SON+. The Husbandman looketh for the fruits in our lives, not HIS. Fruits are laid to our credit, through CHRIST, by the power of His+ HOLY SPIRIT.

.

Fruits, by the way, are NOT optional.

Fruits are either there or NOT THERE,

but fruits are not optional.

.

If fruits… that is, the result of our labors in the Kingdom of GOD, by the power of His+ HOLY SPIRIT… are missing, then we are definitely cut off from the Branch+ and thrown into the fire by the Husbandman. See John 15.

As we seek HIM+ during this new year, which promises to bring only more heartache upon the human race, let us diligently and with a determined discipline prepare ourselves for the fight… the “big fight”… not with flesh and blood but with spiritual wickedness in high places.

Believe me, the wicked ones aren’t going ANYWHERE without a fight.

Let us train ourselves, spiritually,

at least as well as Rocky Balboa did for the ring.

The stakes are much higher.

So are the returns.

.

.

In the name of The FATHER,
The SON+,
and the HOLY SPIRIT
+ + +