WHY LITTLE BETHLEHEM?

The old Hebrew name bêth lehem, meaning "house of bread", has survived till the present day. It is a town on the West Bank, south of Jerusalem currently with the population of about 30000 people. The New Testament Gospels of Matthew and Luke identify Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth.

God usually takes what people disregard and makes it great. Just as the Bible describes John de-Baptist to be the greatest of all men even though he had no qualification or dignity, Bethlehem with poor reputation was chosen by God for the birth of the Messiah. 

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
   though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
   one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”  Micah 5:2

BETHLEHEM 

BETH= House  LE= God  HEM= Bread (Greek).  So it means THE HOUSE OF GOD'S BREAD

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35

 Jesus being the bread of life could not be born at any better place than Bethlehem (the house of God's bread). King David was born in Bethlehem and he was rejected just like Jesus was  also rejected by His own people. In this end time, He is once more rejected and He is standing at the door knocking. He has been put out of the church. Revelation 3:20

In teaching His disciples how to pray, He asked them to say Give us our daily bread. This bread was provided for Israel every night from heaven in the wilderness. He broke the bread during the last supper with His disciples and said, this is my body which is broken for you. DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. It is good we remember the birth of Jesus but what He wants us to remember always is His death.

 We will be filled as we eat this bread (the Word of God) daily and we will not die.

Watchman

Watchman
This is for all Pastors, Bishops, Teachers Evangelists, Prophets etc. Read it and discern what the Lord is telling you.

Ezekiel 33:1-9
¹ The word of the LORD came to me: ² “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, ³ and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, ⁴ then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. ⁵ Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. ⁶ But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’

 ⁷ “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. ⁸ When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. ⁹ But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.

Isaiah 21:11-12

 ¹¹ A prophecy against Dumah:

   Someone calls to me from Seir,

   “Watchman, what is left of the night?

   Watchman, what is left of the night?”

¹² The watchman replies,

   “Morning is coming, but also the night.

If you would ask, then ask;

   and come back yet again.”

Why It Had To Be Shepherds

Just as there are images from TV all around us but we cannot see unless we tune in to a TV, there are hosts of angels all around us but we cannot see them unless we tune in to God's channel. 

In Luke 2: 1-20 the birth of Jesus was revealed to Shepherds.
⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
 ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
 ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
 ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Q. Why was it revealed to shepherds but not intellectuals, theologians or even priests? 
Those people could not receive such a message because it was contrary to their way of thinking and what they had been taught in their seminaries. God does not need anyone to interpret His Word. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation- 2Peter 1:20.

For instance, Isaiah prophesied about the coming of the Messiah and it happened and Joel also spoke about the  Pentecost and it also came to pass just as it was said.

Even though the shepherds spent about 2 years before they arrived at where Jesus had been born, yet the religious leaders had no knowledge of His birth. Just as they did not catch the revelation at His first coming, it will be the same at His second coming. 

It had to be shepherds because shepherds are always there for their sheep and they had to come and look after the sheep (Jesus) who had been born in a manger. Shepherds were people who were not respected by their society but it pleased God to tell them about the birth of Christ first.

Peter was not educated but Jesus chose him to look after His sheep. The prophets of old clothed themselves in sheepskin and just think of what that meant. The word of God always come to the prophets who are usually rejected by the society. Amos 3:7

In our age, God's promise (Malachi 4:5-6, Revelation 10:7, Luke 17:30) has been fulfilled but it has been rejected. 

Have Faith in God

Mar 11:22-26
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them]. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
� KJV

My Notes on the Book of Revelation

This is the excerpt of my notes I made on the Book of Revelation. This is brief overview of this great book which was authored by God Himself. The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. (Rev 1:1)

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Rev 1:3


Chapter 1
God shows John the true identity of the Lord Jesus as:

• Alpha and Omega
• The Beginning and the Ending
• The Almighty

Jesus is the ONE walking in the midst of the 7 Churches.

Chapters 2 & 3

Messages to the 7 Churches.

To Ephesus,  These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands.

To Smyrna, These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

To Pergamus, These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.

To Thyrtira,  These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 

To Sardis, These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

To Philadelphia, These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

To Laodicea, These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

Chapter 4

John was invited up to heaven.

He sees the 24 elders and the 4 beasts. Also there was only ONE on the throne. 

Chapter 5 & 6

The book sealed with 7 seals.

The Lamb took the book and opened the seals.

Chapter 7

4 Angels standing at the corners of the earth were instructed by another having the seal of God not to hurt the earth until God's servants are sealed.

Chapter 8 

The 7th seal opened.

Chapter 9

vs 1-12 The 5th Angel opens the bottomless pit.

The tribulation

vs 13+ 6th Angel sounded and he loosed the 4 bound angels to slay 1/3 of men.

Chapter 10

A mighty Angel cried out and 7 thunders uttered their voices.

John was asked not to write those things the thunders said.

But in the days of the voice of the 7th Angel, the mystery of God should be finished.

Chapter 11

Two witnesses prophesy for 3.5years with power.

They were killed after the 3.5years

They resurrected after the 3rd day and ascended to heaven. 

Chapter 12

A woman gave birth to a man child.

The dragon=old serpent= the Devil=Satan persecuted the woman (true Christians).

Chapter13

That beast with name of blasphemy.

All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life.

666 revealed.

Chapter 14

A lamb stood on Mt Zion with 144,000 having his father's name on their forehead.

The harvest time.

Chapters 15 & 16

Plagues- the wrath of God.

Chapter 17

The judgement of the whore, the mother of harlots.

The mystery of the woman revealed.

Chapter 18

Another Angel came from heaven and cried out 'come out of her my people so that you be not partakers of her sins.'

The riches of the woman

Chapter 19

Saint in heaven praising God

The marriage supper

Jesus prepares to fight the devil.

Chapter 20

Satan bound for 1,000years 

The Saints reigned with Jesus for a 1,000years

The resurrection

The judgement

Chapter 21 & 22

New heaven and New earth

Description of the New Jerusalem

The Saints are comforted and the warning that His coming is at hand.

22:7  “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

Look forward for some more notes on some of the chapters of this great book.

A PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl   

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.  (Matt. 13:44-46)

The kingdom of heaven is so important/precious that we should give all for it. Paul and Moses gave up all for this pearl of great price.

Moses

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. (Heb. 11:24-26)

Paul 

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:1-8)

In the same way, God requires us to give up all for this Pearl of Great Price.

Why Do Christians Suffer?

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. HEBREWS 12:6

God brings tensions into the church, for every son that cometh to God must be tried, and proven, and tested. He lets sickness strikes you. He lets diseases come on you to test you and to prove you, to show the world that you're truly the seed of Abraham. He permits it by His own will. He permits disasters; He permits the friends to turn against you. He permits all these things, and turns the devil loose to tempt you, and he'll do all but take your life. He could throw you on a bed of affliction; he could turn your neighbors against you; he could turn the church against you; he can do most anything, and it's God's will for him to do it. We are taught that it is more precious than gold to us.- Possessing The Enemy's Gates

JOSEPH A PERFECT TYPE OF JESUS CHRIST

 

The name Jesus means Saviour. He came to save His people from their sins. Joseph saved his people.  

He was hated by his brothers so was Jesus hated by the religious leaders and his own people (Israel). They shouted crucify Him!

Joseph could see the future through dreams and so did Jesus see the future.

He was loved by his father just as Jesus was loved by God.

Joseph was sold for 30 Shekels of silver and so was Jesus.

Joseph did not defile himself with the king's wife, so was Jesus sinless. He did not bow o the devil when offered the whole world and everything in it. 

He was put in prison and Jesus was also crucified and put in the tomb.

In prison, he saved one prisoner and another was lost. On the cross, Jesus saved a prisoner and the other was lost.

He left prison and rose to the highest office of being at the right hand side of Pharaoh. Jesus rose from the dead and is sat at the right hand side of the Almighty.

The trumpet sounds at the appearance of Joseph. The trumpet will sound at the second coming of Jesus.

Every knee bowed at the mention of the name Joseph and at the mention of Jesus, every knee will have to bow and every tongue will confess...

Joseph married a gentile bride when he was rejected by his people. Jesus turned and married the gentile bride when He was rejected by Israel.

He had gentile children and so has Jesus made us sons and daughters of the Most High.

Joseph forgave his brothers for all the cruel treatment and Jesus also said 'Father forgive them' when He was being killed.

Joseph revealed himself to His brothers when his bride was in the palace. Jesus will reveal Himself to Israel when His bride is already in His palace.

When Joseph's brothers realised who he was, they cried for all the cruelty meted to him. Israel will weep when He reveals Himself to them at His second appearance.

Was It An Apple or Sex?

Can we eat this and realise we
are naked? 

We have been made to believe that Adam and Eve ate an apple and that caused the fall of man. By the grace of God I will explain for you to see what actually happened in the Garden of Eden. In fact, it does not mention anywhere in the Bible that they ate an apple. If it was an apple, why don't we stop eating it? Who then started this lie which has no basis in the Bible?

Genesis 3

¹Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.

And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

⁶And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

⁷And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

¹³And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

¹⁴And the LORD God said unto the serpent,...upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

¹⁵And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

¹⁶Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children;

²⁴So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Genesis 4

¹And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.  ²And she again bare his brother Abel.

⁸And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Please read the following notes and I believe God will help you to see the truth.

1. The Serpent was more subtile than any of the beasts
2. The Serpent was a HE and he could walk and talk
3. The Serpent was not like snake we know today but God changed it nature from that day through the curse  
4. The curses clearly indicate that what they did was not eating of an apple but rather something that has to do with nakedness and bringing forth children-sex
5. There is no fruit in the world, when eaten makes someone realise that he/she is naked
6. The Bible types tree to human (John 15, Psalms 1:3 etc)
7. If the tree of Life in the Garden was Jesus (Genesis 3:22, Revelation 2:7, 22:2, 22:14) so was the tree of knowledge of good and evil a person.
8. According to the curse, the serpent will have a seed (child- Cain also later Judas Iscariot) and Eve will also have a seed (child-Abel also refers to Jesus) and they will be enemies.
9. Cain and Abel were twins
10. The Bible never mentions Cain as one of the children of Adam- (Genesis 5, 1 Chronicles 1, Luke3:38)
11. Cain was the son of the devil (1John 3:12)
12. The first person to murder was Cain because he was from the devil but not Adam
13. Jesus said the devil was the murderer from the beginning, referring to Cain murdering Abel (John 8:44)
14. Cain's descendant (Lamech- Gensis 4:19) was the first to take two wives

Conclusion: the Serpent first had sex with Eve and concieved Cain and then Adam also had sex with Eve and Concieved Abel.

Jesus gave a parable to explain this.
Matt13
²⁴Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
 ²⁵But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
 ²⁶But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
 ²⁷So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
 ²⁸He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
 ²⁹But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
 ³⁰Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

For those who think it is not possible for twins to be born to different fathers, check from the links belows.

i)  Twins from Different Fathers- The Telegraph
ii) Twins From Different Fathers- Daily News

Were We Born Wrong?

Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews came to Jesus by night confessing that they know he was a Man sent by God. Jesus made it clear that knowing that He was sent by God is not enough but that

Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Jesus went on to explain he that is born of the flesh is flesh and the Bible says flesh and blood cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. This is bacause the flesh is always in conflict with the Spirit. The works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit are listed in Galatians; sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:16-25)

Why should we be born again?

THIS IS THE MOST INTERESTING BIT. We must be born again because we were born wrong. This is just like making the correction when we did some task wrong in school. Because we were born wrong, Romans 3:23 says ALL have sinned. In fact, if we want to know the perfect will of God, we must look at Jesus' example. When God decided to come to the earth: Immanuel-God with us, He bypassed the way you and I were born because it is wrong. He was born not by a product of a man and a woman meeting but by a virgin birth. That is why Jesus was sinless but all others have sinned. We therefore need to be born again.

We inherit our parents' DNA when we are born and that is why we look and behave like them- we desire to sin. But once we are born again, our nature becomes like that of God and we behave like Him and hate what He hates. We are no more slave to sin once we are born again.

John 4:24 says God is Spirit and they that are born again have the Spirit of God. They cannot please God that are of the flesh but as many that are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. (Romans 8)

Remember, all our woes started in the Garden of Eden.

Today, many will ask the same question as Nicodemus How Can I Be Born Again?

A Star Has To Die For Us To Live

The Earth is made up of 92 elements and so are human beings, according to science. This confirms what the Bible says that humans were made out of the Earth.

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Gen 3:19)

All life depends on Carbon. Humans need Carbon and Oxygen and we get this only when a star dies. Therefore, the dieing star gives life.

In the words of Professor James Van Der Pool, 'we are truly the children of the stars.' But I say, we are truely the children of the STAR.

As we all know, when Jesus was born, a star was born and astronomers of our day confirm that it actually happened. A bright star came on the scene around the time when Jesus was born. When this star (Jesus) died, according to the Bible, we received life. Just as a person dies when he can no longer breath oxygen, anyone who fails to receive that oxygen coming from the STAR which died on the cross of Calvary, will die. 

This is a majestic story.

What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:37)

You can read more by clicking the link below for a related post.

Something Has To Die

Something Has To Die For Something To Live

The natural always types the spiritual. That is the reason why Jesus used parables in explaining the kingdom of God. In the natural world, something has to die before something can live. Whatsoever any living thing eats, it must die first; be it grain, animal, fish or whatever it is. In other words, some living thing has do die for us to live. That is the law of nature so no one or nothing can escape that. If something has to die before we can live in the natural world, how much more will something not have to die before we can live eternally in the spirit. In much the same way, we must die to self in order to have an eternal life. Water baptism is a symbol of dieing with Christ and resurrecting with Him.

Christianity can be said to be the only true religion because it is the only religion that follows this law of nature.

God always demands a sacrifice. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they sewed a fig leaf to cover themeselves but God requires blood so He sacrificed an animal and made coats of skins and clothed them. (Genesis 3:7, 21)

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Heb 9:22

In Cain and Abel's sacrifice, God accepted that of Abel and rejected Cain's. Why? Abel had a revealtion of what God requires (an animal sacrifice) but Cain did not. It is NOT as some preachers say Cain brought rotten fruit unto the Lord. By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. (Heb 11:4) He had a revelation of what God would do in the future.

This future plan was also revealed through Abraham when God asked him to sacrifice his only son. God showed how He will sacrifice the Lamb of God (Jesus) on the cross. The lamb sacrificed in Egypt saved  the Israelites. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

The blood of Jesus shed for our sins is what gives us access to God. Without Jesus' sacrifice, we would be unable to have a relationship with Him. He said, if you do not eat my body and drink my blood, you are not part of me. His body symbolises the Word and His blood represents the Spirit.


Jesus is Lord.

God bless you.

SABBATH

Should we worship on Saturdays or Sundays? Is it really important on which day you worship? This has been a bone of contention for a long time. However, God has shown us the answers to these things as he promised He will do in Revelation 10:7. One of the 10 commandments says Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

The Bible itself explain these clearly. It even tells us the meaning of the Sabbath and what it is meant for Christians today.

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest (Sabbath) still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,

‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rsted from all his work.” And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

Jesus sets us free from our own works

It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts.”

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience

(Hebrew 4:1-11)

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (Col 2:16-17)

Jesus said, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matt 11:28)

So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. (Mark 2:28)

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Jesus gives us rest from our works ( sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, etc).  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5)

Rest

Jesus Is Lord

God bless you