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I am considering, hosting a trivia event. I have not yet determined, if it will be strictly Bible trivia, or maybe some other things, but it will be more about the Bible, than other things, for sure. I have not figured out all of the details, but I am trying to arrange it, where this will be a live event in the chatroom, for the sake of not only enhancing our knowledge of the Word, but to have some fun just answering questions in the heat of "competition". However, I know that it is not convenient enough, that everyone can attend that event, so to encourage broader participation, and make it "fair" to all, the chat event, will not be the place from which, the prize winner will be drawn. Let me rephrase that just a little. It could well be, that a participant in the chat version, turns out to be the winner, but the winner will be determined another way. I cannot tip my hand here, because there is nothing in the hand yet. Never-the-less, it could be, that those participating in chat would have a small edge, maybe not to win, but to do so more easily. However, anyone could get all of the answers right, without being in chat. Similarly, those who are doing the daily readings here, will also have it easier, at least in the Bible related questions, since all of the Bible questions, will come from material in our Bible club reading assignments. Now, just to make it more that fair . . . anyone with access to a Bible, or the internet, will be able to easily research the answers to the questions. The winner will come from among the top respondents (in terms of accuracy). In the case of a draw, which is likely if people actually try, then a winner will be chosen - probably by some random means. As I said, this is still in planning at this point. Stay tuned.

“It’s not just that we don’t know our Bible but that we have so fragmented, dissected, and compartmentalized the Bible that we have lost sight of its great overarching story.” Hugh Whelchel i Occasionally I ask myself, what motivates me to write. In response, I would have to say it's religious opposition and a deeply seated desire to see the church walking in truth. The idea of walking in truth, in my mind, means a church that is trained appropriately in the Word. I don't see that happening at any of the churches I have been a part of. An aspect of that opposition recently occurred as a “brother” in Christ, told a friend of mine, that I believe life has to be one-way, mine. Have you read any of my posts? Do I present myself like that? Hardly, I attempt to show God's word as the only basis for truth, and, in a manner that people can understand. I suppose, to some degree, that means adding my commentary to what I write in an effort to promote understanding, but leaving the decision-making process to the reader, as they accept or reject God's word. With that understanding you are not rejecting me, you are denying God's truth and mercy, as you refuse what God's word says. Elijah, the prophet, bemoaned his situation and cried out that he was alone in Israel. 1 Kings 19:9-10 NASB Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10) He said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." And yes, that is the way I feel some days. God's response. 1 Kings 19:18 NASB "Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him." I realize that I am not alone, but the number of those who are passionate about God are few. I am fortunate to sit with a few of them on a weekly basis. Having had someone say of me, “he believes it has to be, his way or no way,” is somewhat like a slap in my face, and I can tell you I am highly intolerant of actions like that. So, why would someone say something like that about me? Perhaps it is because I am very passionate about truth and God's word. Sending everyone to hell at the Great White Throne has nothing to do with truth; it merely demonstrates how adamant this man is about judgment, something we are to leave to Jesus, [especially since ALL judgment has/or will be given to Him.] The Apostle Paul was not put off by the scholars of the Berean community. In fact, he thought highly of them. This body of believers did their research and found that Torah and Tanakh validated what Paul was saying. Having legitimized Paul's statements they believed. When you consider the limited resources, these men had, our accolades for them should be even more significant. Let me give you an example of what this opposition to, and the rejection of, the truth looks like. The man who leads the Monday morning study, once again pointed out that he was an ordained Bible study leader, not a pastor. As the leader, he has just about every week, exclaimed that everyone brought to the Great White Throne judgment is sent to hell. If you are a reasonable student of the Bible you should be asking, is that a correct statement? The answer is NO, but why would you know that? Because you have read the Word of God, as you should; you looked at the context; compared alternate texts and scenarios, and, like a hungry pet who has, awaited you to come home so they can eat, chewed on and ingested every word so that you could understand the depth and meaning of the Greek words being used and their Hebrew origins. But here is where the problem lays, as statistically, no one does that? The statistical work I am going to show you were undertaken by Lifeway Research in 2014. Here is an excerpt from Christianity Today.ii “Some Stats to Consider Bible Reading Americans read the Bible on occasion—churchgoers a little more. In a recent LifeWay Research study, we learned the following about our Bible reading habits among church attendees. They indicated that they read their Bible as follows: 19% - Every day 26% - A few times a week 14% - Once a week 22% - At least once a month 18% - Rarely or never. There are a couple of interesting takeaways from this study. Almost 60% of churchgoers open our Bibles at home during the week at least once. And for every person who is reading his/her Bible every day (19%), someone isn’t… at all (18%).” Do you think, in this condition of apostasy, that the numbers would improve any as time progresses? I was pondering this idea before pulling up the statistical information. My guess/estimate would have been about 20% of the “church” actually reading their Bibles every day. But even then I could see a problem with that number because I sit with some of these 20% per-centers, and know for a fact that they will not move off their traditional interpretations and understandings regardless of what you show them in scripture. Are you beginning to see a problem? Illiteracy has no option but to run rampant through the church; And, it is not just the church. I just read yesterday, 5/10/2018, that schools have found they are going to have to take down the analog clocks on the schoolhouse walls and replace them with digital clocks because no one can read them. Let's go back to the significant false teaching of the morning “bible” study – how that everyone coming before the Great White Throne goes to a fiery hell. The first question is: how does one study the Bible? It seems to me that everyone should know how to do this; in truth, I had to learn how. Every student should: Read the text without a premise. As you read ask, what is this passage supposed to be saying to me? Do not merely assume that the teacher standing before you, saying things like, “What Paul is saying here,” is the truth. [Here is a heads up. Paul, a former Pharisee, a man who was very skillful at what he did, had no problem speaking to JEWS, about this new life and grace found in Christ. This is the case as Saul/Paul spoke about the Hebrew wording within the Law and the Prophets and pointed out the evidence in those words, which led to an understanding, in those who chose to listen, that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah they longed for. Paul made it clear that our acceptance of Yahshua brought about this life and the hope we have come to understand.] The idea of reading without a premise can be applied to my pastor's sermons since he has a motive and a point to be made. In pushing his motive, he has created a premise and is working to make the scriptures fit his premise. These directed efforts often work in opposition to my understanding of Bible study. Look at the context. An example of this applies to what I am going to analyze momentarily – Matthew 25, where we see the sheep and the goats at the throne of judgment. The context surrounding this word picture begins in Matthew 21, when Jesus rides into Jerusalem, on the back of an unridden donkey – the Rolls Royce of the day, and He is perceived as the Messiah Israel hoped for. Unfortunately, He did not do what the disciples, nor the people expected, as He overturned the sellers tables, chairs, and loosed their merchandise where they had been selling, in the court of the Gentiles. And then, Jesus got into a verbal confrontation with the elders and Pharisees. All this activity shook the disciples and prompted them to ask, “when will all these things come to pass, and what will be the sign of your coming as the Messiah. I am always analyzing the scriptures even as the pastor speaks. I examine the context and what the interlinear Greek or Hebrew dictionary says the words mean. Occasionally, the pastor is preaching in opposition to what the words mean. As a side note: Pastor and I had a bad moment one day, as he challenged me about my intensive focus on end times and the eschatology books of the Bible. In his indictment of me, he said, “Notice how in my sermons, I present the gospel in a manner that brings about change in people.” I try not to overthink the pastor's words that day, but isn't that what the Word of God is supposed to do, change people? Look for a comparative text. Many of the Calvary Chapel pastors, like Don Stewart or the late Chuck Smith, used to say, “allow scripture to define scripture.” What does that mean? As I read the Revelation, I see where John, on two occasions, in speaking to the churches, uses the term the Synagogue (Rev 2:9, Rev 3:9.) Why is this significant? Because John, was not writing in code as some would ascribe, he was writing to Jewish converts/followers of Christ. And therefore, spoke in a language they would immediately understand. Greek, of course, was one aspect of this language but the other carried the oral history and word stories from the Old Testament. The evidence for this is rather extensive and is demonstrated in the writings of James (James 2:2) and the Apostle Paul. Read Acts 18. In every city we find Paul entering the local Synagogue and preaching. For over fifteen years Paul preached, almost exclusively, to Jews. It was only after years of abuse at the hands of religious Jews that Paul finally said, and I am taking this message to the Gentiles. The Apostle John, James, Peter, and Paul focused their attention on the Jewish community. Peter, although he had a brief exchange with the Roman Centurion's family, maintained, as did James and John, a focus on Jews. [Read Paul's account in Galatians 2,] Many of these believed for years that this gospel of Jesus was meant exclusively for Jews. Peter, in 2 Peter 3:10 says, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” NASB This passage has clear and definite associations with Isaiah 13:9; Jeremiah 46:10 among others. In conjunction with the idea of comparative texts, was the indication that everything, aside from direct revelation from the Holy Spirit, came out of the Torah and Tanakh. Paul's letters; James words on wisdom, and the Revelation that John conveyed, all came from the Old Testament. We can put this idea of comparative texts into action where Revelation speaks of a multi-headed beast with crowns and horns (Revelation 13:1). This imagery is found in multiple locations but primarily in the words of the prophet Daniel (Daniel 7:7). Matthew 25:31-45, where we see the sheep and goats, is a comparative text. The words Jesus spoke were in response to questions His Jewish disciples ask him, and those words made sense to a Jewish audience. If you had been a student in Synagogue school you were expected to memorize the Old Testament teachings. Therefore, one might expect that these people were looking for these events to happen. Try to take in as much of the background wording into consideration as you can. When I look at Matthew 25:31-45 in the NASB, the segment that speaks of the sheep and goats carries the headline, The Final Judgment. That headline in itself gives me nothing of value except as a reference point. If I were looking for a direct association to the final judgment, there is nothing within these verses that define this explicitly by using that terminology. Can I find an inference of final judgment in verse 31? Matthew 25:31 NASB "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Here you see the Son of Man coming in His glory. This is the same Jesus that Stephen saw, as he stood before the Jewish council (Acts 7:55-56,) and it is the same Jesus that Daniel saw in Daniel 7:13. And, He will sit on His glorious throne. There is a passage in Joel 3:12 that would cause the audience listening to the speaker that day to take note. Joel 3:12 LITV Let the nations be awakened and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat. For there I will sit to judge all the nations all around. This passage in Joel can easily be associated with the judgment we are about to see in Matthew 25. These two points alone do not convince me, as we see Jesus coming in Revelation 19 prior to Him being seated for judgment, and, there is no account of Him sitting upon His throne in Revelation 19. To be honest, I have to stretch my mind a bit to see the final judgment. However, if I look at the next verse, the finality suddenly becomes clearer, especially if I have an understanding of Joel 3:12. [Mat 25:32 And before Him shall be gathered all the nations;] There is only one glorious throne. Is this the same throne that we see in Revelation? We have to look at Revelation 20:11 and see if there is something here that matches. Revelation 20:11 NASB Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. A great white throne Our only references to a white throne come from 1 Kings 10:18 and 2Ch 9:17, and they are effectively the same story 1 Kings 10:18 NASB Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with refined gold. Ezekiel tells us what he saw, Ezekiel 1:26 NASB Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. lapis lazuli - Sapphire - Clear heavenly blue. Apparently, the color is insignificant. In 1Kings 10:18 it is clear that this is a great throne, and in Daniel 7:9 Daniel sees the throne as being fiery flames. Although you don't see this happening in Matthew 25, Revelation 20:7-8 tells us that after the thousand years, Satan is released from his prison and he deceives the nations. Those nations, in turn, surround the city of God in an attempt to kill God and His people. Those gathered are killed in an instant. The next event scripture shows us is the gathering of the nations, or, as Matthew 25 puts it, the dead are brought before this great throne. Although my methods of sorting out what I read, and disseminating the false teachings I hear, might be different than what you learn in seminary, they work for me. You also just got the added benefit of some insight into a false teaching that seems to enjoy sending all who approach the throne of judgment, to hell. A serious look at scripture will demonstrate that such a teaching is blatantly false and damaging to our understanding of who God is. iThe Church’s Secret: Biblical Illiteracy in the 21st Century, Hugh Whelchel, writing for the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics. March 13, 2017. https://tifwe.org/the-churchs-secret-biblical-illiteracy-in-the-21st-century/ iiBiblical Illiteracy by the Numbers Part 1: The Challenge https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/october/biblical-illiteracy-by-numbers.html

Many catholics are arrogant enough to say that THEY "gave" us the Bible. The catholic organisation mearly defined what IT would use as the Bible, NOT what the Bible was. Long before the council of hippo "gave us the bible", Origen, born A.D. 185 and died A.D. 254, named ALL the books of the Bible in his writings and Eusebius, 270 A.D., lists ALL of the books of the NT. The Old Testament books were gathered into one volume and were translated from Hebrew into Greek long before Christ came to earth. It cannot be proven that the Catholic Church is solely responsible for the gathering and selection of the New Testament books. In fact, it can be shown that the New Testament books were gathered into one volume and were in circulation long before the Catholic Church claims to have taken its action in 390 at the council of Hippo. God did not give councils the authority to select His sacred books, nor does He expect men to receive His sacred books only because of councils or on the basis of councils. It takes no vote or sanction of a council to make the books of the Bible authoritative. Men were able to rightly discern which books were inspired before the existence of ecclesiastical councils and men can do so today. A council of men in 390 with no divine authority whatever, supposedly took upon itself the right to state which books were inspired, and Catholics argue, "We can accept the Bible only on the authority of the Catholic Church." Can we follow such reasoning?

How muslim friend, OneGodBeliever believes the Bible has been corrupted. He states: "You said bible isn't corrupted. Shall we discuss that? I say its clearly is with verses & whole books removed and also contradictions!" So, lets have a friendly, loving, open discussion on this

Is it possible that God created the dinosaurs after the Bible. If we think that God is a superhero and can do whatever God wants to do then it is extremely possible and probable that god made the dinosaurs after the Bible.. God could have created the Earth, the Bible was written, god played with time which god can do, created the dinosaurs then added this as the first bit of time and then added the Bible time to the end of the dinosaurs time.. It's very possible when we think God as a superhero..

Please don't reply with "this is too long, no-one will read it". If you are the kind of person who would say that, then this post is not for you. Journey to Mount Sinai (Jabal Al Lawz). God Supplies His People’s Needs. Bible Reading: Exodus 15:27—16:18; 17:1-16; 19:1-8. See “The Exodus Case” (TEC) p.233-277. Aim: To discover archaeological proofs for the events of the Exodus. To learn lessons from each event. Introduction: Go to www.youtube.com and search for “Mount Sinai- proof of the supernatural”. What evidence from archaeology supports the events of the Exodus journey to Mount Horeb (Sinai)? Israel having crossed the Red Sea to Baal Zephon on the east coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, now enters the wilderness of Shur (NW Saudi Arabia), and after three day’s journey run out of water (Exodus 15:22). 1. At Marah they find bitter, salty water, so Moses prays to God. “he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,” Exodus 15:25. Lesson: When we pass through bitter experiences, die to self and bring Christ into our problems. On modern Arabian maps, there is a place near Jabal Al Lawz called “Ain Marra” (the bitter spring). 2. At Elim they find 12 wells and 70 palm trees (Exodus 15:27). Today in this same area there is an oasis of 12 wells and about 250 palm trees. (See TEC p.237). Israel left Egypt on the 15th day of the first month. They leave Elim on the fifteenth day of the second month “they took their journey from Elim,… on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.” Exodus 16:1. Lesson: When we pass through trials, God often comforts us with blessings afterwards. (Angels.Mat.4:11) 3. They now enter the Desert of Sin on their way to Mount Sinai (Horeb). Israel accuse Moses and Aaron of “ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:3. God promised “in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full;” Exodus 16:8. Quail’s meat and manna bread was God’s answer. Psalm 78:23-25 calls manna “angels’ food”. Manna means “what is it”? Manna tasted like coriander seed (16:31). It was their diet for 40 years. Josephus tells that ‘It supplied the want of other sorts of food to those that fed on it.’ (Antiquities, Book 3, chap 1.6,p67). Lesson: God supplies the needs of His people in greater ways than we expect. 4. At Rephidim, meaning encampment, they lacked water, so they get angry at Moses (Exodus 17:1-7). God is teaching His people to trust Him to supply their needs. Moses brings the problem to God (17:4). God tells Moses, “Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.” (17:6). Notice: i) Who stood on the rock? It was Jehovah God the Son who later was born of Mary as Jesus Christ. ii) “The rock of Horeb” means that it was a large rock and it was close to Mount Horeb. iii) Moses smitting the rock is a picture of Jesus Christ being smitten on the cross to pay for our sins. iv) Water flowing out of the rock pictures eternal life made available from Christ’s death on the cross. v) Josephus calls this pleasant, sweet water a river (Antiq. 3.1.7). The translator of Josephus’ works, William Whiston (1667-1752) comments that this rock can still be seen in the area of Horeb, being too big to be moved by horse and cart. Hence it was an obvious rock for all to see. Erosion should still be visible. Is this rock visible today? There is one rock that is west of Horeb that fits the evidence. It is 20 metres tall, split down the middle, on a small hill, & the rock at the foot of the crack has been eroded (TEC 243-246). Lesson: Don’t get angry at those seeking to help you. God supplies our needs in unexpected ways. 5. War with the Amalekites at Rephidim (Exodus 17:8-16). The Amalekites attacked Israel at Rephidim. The Amalekites raised camels and lived from assault and robbery. Arab tradition considers the Amalekites to be the oldest tribe in Arabia & the founders of Medina, Mohammad’s city. This battle proves that Israel was in Arabia (Midian) after crossing the Red Sea. Israel was now armed with weapons from the dead Egyptians at the Red Sea. Moses appoints Joshua as army commander. Moses climbs a hill at Rephidim to pray for victory. As long as Aaron and Hur kept Moses’ hands uplifted in prayer, Israel wins the battle. Josephus states how Joshua appointed soldiers to protect the water, women, children and the camp. Israel prepared all night for the battle which lasted all the next day until nightfall when Israel took their camp and a vast amount of riches, silver, gold, brass vessels, weapons, cattle, furniture and battle confidence. No Hebrews were killed, but the slain Amalekites were too many to number. Moses built an altar to offer sacrifices to God, which he named “Jehovah-Nissi” meaning “Jehovah the Conqueror” (Ant.3.2.5 p.69). About 300 metres from the split rock of Horeb, on the plain, stands a stone altar (TEC 248), likely built by Moses where he prayed, to commemorate this victory. This was the last camp before Mount Horeb (Sinai). Lesson: Satan uses evil people to oppose and hinder our work for God. Prayer gives victory in battles. 6. Moses meets Jethro at Rephidim in Midian (Exodus 18:1-27). Moses from age 40-80 was exiled in Midian (Arabia). It was on Mount Horeb (Sinai) where Jehovah appeared to him at the burning bush to send him to lead Israel out of Egypt. Moses took his wife Zipporah and their two sons Gershom and Eliezer to Egypt (Exodus 4:20), but coming out of Egypt, he sent them on to be with his father in law Jethro (Reuel) the high priest in Midian, while Moses crossed the Red Sea. When Moses meets Jethro, he describes how God delivered Israel from Egypt (18:8). Jethro suggests Moses to “provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge:” (18:21,22). Lesson: Consult Godly advisors. Delegate some work to others. 7. At Mount Horeb (Mount Sinai) (Exodus 19:1-25). Israel journeys from Rephidim into the wilderness of Sinai to camp before Mount Horeb to worship God (19:1,2). Israel left Egypt on the 15th day of the first month (Numbers 33:3). They arrive at Mount Horeb on the 15th day of the third month (Exodus 19:1), the journey taking two months. It took a week to reach Nuweiba and they spent 7 weeks in north-west Arabia. God has tested Israel by hunger, thirst and a war. This mount is known as “Mount Horeb”, “Mount Sinai”, “The mountain of God” and “Jabal Al Lawz”. Horeb means “dry or desolate”. See map TEC p.251-253. i) Israel camped on the east side of Horeb. On the Israelites route and at Horeb, many stone circles have been found. These were either for tents or for cattle enclosures. See photos in TEC p.255,256. ii) God promises that if Israel obeys and keeps God’s covenant, then Israel will be a peculiar treasure (5). Israel tells God “All that the LORD hath spoken we will do” (19:8). God promises to come in 3 days (11). iii) God tells Moses to set bounds “that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it:” (19:12). Stones picturing untied shoes marking a holy place have been found at the base of Mt Horeb (TEC 257). iv) Josephus says that Horeb is the highest mountain in the area (2580 metres). The top is flat where God met Moses and the 70 elders (24:9). v) Moses built an altar at the foot of Horeb (24:4). At the foot of Horeb, we find a stone altar with two pathways for sheep and oxen (20:24) leading to the altar to be sacrificed (TEC 258-259). “An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen:” (Exodus 20:24). vi) 12 Stone Pillars. Moses “builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.” (24:4). Today, within the sacred area below the rock face we see 10 stone pillars standing in a semicircle, with two empty places for missing pillars. Some are upright & some are fallen over (266). vii) A one acre flat plateau exists on Mount Horeb where Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and 70 elders met Jehovah God the Son who came down to eat and drink with these men (24:1-18). (TEC 252,260,261). “they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.” (Exodus 24:10,11) viii) The Cave where Elijah lived when he met God is found here on Horeb (TEC 261). “he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there;” I Kings 19:8,9. ix) The Water supply. When Moses struck the rock in Horeb, so much water flowed out for 2 million people and cattle, that it collected as a 7 metre deep lake at the foot of the mountain (TEC 262). To ensure good quality drinking water, double-walled wells 6 metres wide, were dug along the banks of this lake below Mt Horeb. Sand and gravel between the walls acted as a water filtration and purification system. x) The Altar to the Golden Calf (Exodus 32:1-35). When Moses was in Mt Horeb receiving God’s laws for 40 days, the Israelites grew impatient and pressured Aaron to build an Egyptian golden calf and altar to worship. Moses saw it as he descended the mount. Moses destroyed the calf, but the altar still remains with many Egyptian bull carvings on it (TEC 263,265). Saudi authorities have enclosed this sacred area. xi) Mt Horeb on fire. “mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, ….the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount:” (Exodus 19:18). The top of Horeb is black, caused by the intense heat and fire of God, but the rest of the mountain is brown, separated by a clear border line (TEC 251,272-276). Black obsidian rock, which is formed at high temperatures then dipped in water, is found on top of Horeb. Conclusion: God helps us and brings us through life’s trials. Archaeology proves the Bible to be true.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. -The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ. -Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments. -Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love. -The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. -The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. -The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation . -Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. -The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. -Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. -The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments. -The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples. -The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

Seven Tests to Determine the True New Testament Text (Antiquity, Number, Variety, Continuity, Credibility, Context, Internal Evidence) Dean Burgon gives these seven tests to indicate which readings are correct. 1. Antiquity. We may allow only those witnesses who 'spoke' before 400 AD. These are: i) Over 70 Church Fathers. iii) Early Papyri. ii) Aleph, B, and some Uncials. iv) Earliest Versions. For example: Ever since 1881, ‘vinegar’ in Matthew 27:34 has been despised by Westcott and Hort and others as a ‘late Byzantine’ reading. ‘They gave him vinegar...’ Question: What is the verdict of antiquity? Answer: (a) For "wine": Aleph, B, Latin, Coptic versions, Apocryphal Acts, Gospel of Nicodemus, Marcarius Magnes. (7 witnesses) eg: NIV, GNB, RSV, NWT. (b) For "vinegar": Gospel of Peter, Acta Philippi, Barnabas, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Celsus,Origen, pseudo-Tatian, Athanaseus, Eusebius of Emesa, Theodore of Heraclea, Didymus, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, Ephraem Syrus, Lactantius, Titus of Bostra, Syriac version. (18 witnesses). "Vinegar", the KJV reading has much more support. 2. Number of Witnesses. A reading found in a majority of independent witnesses, should be the original. The fewer witnesses, the less likely it is to be genuine; The more witnesses, the more likely it is to be the original reading; Unanimous witnesses, means it is certainly the original reading. 3. Variety of Witnesses, is the agreement of independent witnesses. Variety means that the reading is found in: i) many geographical areas, and by ii) different kinds of witnesses - eg: Greek manuscripts, Versions, Fathers, Lectionaries. A good variety of witnesses are from: different countries, speaking different languages, who never met, and who never colluded. This is not true of Vaticanus (B) and Sinaiticus. The vast majority of uncials and cursives have KJV type readings and have good variety: i) They cover at least 1000 years (350-1550 AD). ii) Belong to so many countries such as Greece, Constantinople, Asia Minor, Palestine,iii) Exhibit so many strange characteristics and peculiar sympathies. Variety helps us to evaluate the independence of witnesses. If the witnesses which share a common reading come from only one area, such as Egypt, then their independence is doubted. It is quite unreasonable that an original reading should survive in only one location. Witnesses supporting a reading in one limited area cannot be the original, as is the case with Aleph, B, and some papyri. To illustrate: Many of the most ancient manuscripts come from Egypt. This is due to the hot, dry climate of Egypt favouring manuscript preservation more than the wet Mediterranean climate. Moisture is bad for manuscripts. The Egyptian texts are not an exact representation of texts in other parts of the world. To sample the flora and fauna of Egypt does not guarantee to be the same flora and fauna of Greece, Turkey or Italy, etc. Variety + Number = Validity. Variety means independence of witnesses. Lack of variety (as is the case for Aleph, B, papyri of Egypt) imply dependence. This is a strong reason to reject modern versions based on Egyptian manuscripts. Burgon said, ‘Generally, the testimony of 2, 4, 6 or more witnesses from many regions, is far weightier than the same number of witnesses from one locality, between which there probably exists some collusion or sympathy’. Hence, many witnesses only from Egypt is a weak case for NIV. 4. Continuity. A reading to be a serious candidate for the original, should be found throughout the ages of transmission, from beginning to end. A reading is invented if it died out in the 5th century, or if it is not found before the 12th century. Where a reading has variety (or agreement of independent witnesses), it almost always has continuity over time. The majority of manuscripts are independent witnesses, and must be counted. Westcott and Hort reject this absolutely, accounting for the Majority text by an assumed Lucian recension or revision of the New Testament text around 300 AD. Since there is no evidence that this Lucian recension ever happened, continuity is valid. Hence, number, variety and continuity, form a three-strand rope of textual criticism that is not easily broken. These 3 arguments strongly oppose B, Aleph, NIV and modern versions. 5. Credibility of Witnesses or weight, judged by the manuscripts ‘own performance’. If manuscripts go wrong continually, their character and credibility must be low. The oldest manuscripts can be objectively, statistically shown to be habitually wrong, witnesses of very low character, and with many mistakes. Their credibility is near zero. If you read Sir Herman Hoskier's book Codex B and its Allies carefully, you will lose all respect for B, Aleph, etc and modern versions based on them. Since modern Greek critical texts are based on B, Aleph, some papyri, etc, it is clear that modern scholars have severely ignored 'credibility of witnesses' as an objective criterion. If considered seriously, 'credibility' will overthrow the modern text type and the NIV. 6. Context is the behaviour (degree of corruption) of a manuscript in the immediate vicinity of the problem. If in a certain manuscript, the context is clearly in a very corrupt state, then it is self-evident that this manuscript has very low credibility. For example, Westcott and Hort in Luke 22-24, made 16 omissions from the Received Text based solely on Codex D. In Luke 22:19,20; 24:3,6,9,12,36,40,52 W&H's sole authority for changing the Textus Receptus was a single Greek Codex Beza (D), the most depraved of all. Codex D in Luke 22,23,24 omits 354 words, adds 173 words, substitutes 146 words, transposes 243 words, totalling 916 changes. In 8 places they omitted material from the Bible on the sole authority of D (Burgon, p.77,78). With the scribe on a wild omitting spree, how can any value be given to Codex D here, much less prefer it above the united voice of every other witness? Modern scholars and versions have completely ignored this Context test 7. Internal Evidence, concerns readings which are grammatically, logically, geographically, or scientifically impossible, such as in Luke 19:37; 23:45 (impossible 3 hour eclipse of the sun at full moon in Aleph, B, and RV); 24:13; Mark 6:22; II Corinthians 3:3. Conclusion: So then, how are we to identify the original wording? 1. We must gather the evidence: Greek manuscripts, Lectionaries, Fathers, and Versions. 2. We must evaluate the evidence to see which readings enjoy the earliest, widest, most numerous, most credible, and most varied attestation. 3. The independent, credible witnesses must then be counted. 4. This is how we arrive at the Received Text of the KJV.

There are numerous historical, linguistic and archaeological evidences that back up the veracity of the Bible. For example, it is quite easy to walk where Jesus, King David, Solomon, etc. walked in the Bible, and there are often even churches built on the most famous sites. In addition, there are literally thousands of manuscripts from the New Testament that prove our current Bible is accurate. Lastly, the Bible has been proven over and over again archaeologically. In fact, I know of two scholars who went to Israel with the express purpose of disproving the Bible and ended up becoming believers in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Run to Him and He will refresh, refill, and revive you! Psalm 23:5-6 says, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows....I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (NASB) As you run to Jesus, and dive into your pursuit after Him, He will most definitely pour out His Spirit and presence on you like never before. He has a banquet feast waiting for you, which includes the new wine and manna of Heaven (also known as His joy, His PRESENCE, and His Word). Affirmation: My job is to win the lost to Jesus Christ. There is life coming out of me wherever I go. John 17:16,17 - "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." We've been placed in another world; our citizenship is in heaven. We are to live by heavenly principles, and one of those principles is that of framing our world with the word of God. We don't confess what we don't have--we confess what we desire to have. We don't talk about what we can't do--we talk about what we can do through Christ who strengthens us. God has done His part -- He sent Jesus. No one wants to make another trip through the wilderness. This is not a time to walk in circles. We are to walk with a true goal, aim, and purpose, making the most of each occasion, because we know the time is short (see Ephesians 5:14-17). Paul, the apostle, instructs us to walk purposefully toward one true goal -- God's PURPOSE for our life (see Philippians 3:12-16). If you think Jesus won't heal you, you're wrong. He'll do anything scriptural for you. "Be still and know that He is God" (see Psalm 46:10-11). Behold the Heavens--they will clearly speak the Lord's message. As release of revelation increases, we ask for our spiritual ears and eyes to be opened (see Ephesians 1:17-18). Can you feel the depth of God’s heart calling to you in this season? Can you feel the depth of your spirit desiring Him more than your next breath? Launch out , and launch into Him. It is in this place that your wilderness becomes a fruitful field. Affirmation: The same power that raised Jesus from the dead enables me to rise out of my adverse circumstances and step into the purposes of God for my life. Get a vision from God and step out to do something with it. Don't be like the wicked and lazy servant who can't see beyond himself. (Matthew 25:24-30) "So I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground"...But the master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant!' - Matthew 25:25-26 We are to use the ability of God in our life to serve and disciple those who are new believers so that the Body of Christ might be whole. In Psalm 81:10 God challenges us with these words, "Open wide your mouth and I will fill it!" What will God fill our mouths with? This is not about God giving you food. The Hebrew text actually reads, "Open wide your mouth and I will FULFILL it!" God wants to FILL our mouths with HIS Word then FULFILL it when they speak it forth! Get ready...now is the time to "Arise and Shine" with the Word of the Lord in our mouth. We come to see the folly of being consumed with hobbies, hype, and hiding our faults. We are consumed with holiness and declaring the Word....embracing the required expectation. Affirmation: I consider Jesus the author and finisher of my faith. I consider Him instead of the cares of this world. God came as fire in the burning bush for Moses because God wanted to do so. Jesus said “I am come to scatter fire on earth” (Luke 12:49). We were never intended to be anything else but burning bushes from which God will speak. A church too is – or should be – a burning bush. People then are attracted and hear God’s voice. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

1 Corinthians 2:9 - "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." Observation: CREATIVE ART IS PRODUCED BY THE SOUL (MIND, WILL, AND EMOTIONS) AND CAN ALSO BE CALLED IMAGINATIVE ART. CREATIVE ART CAN CHANGE A PERSON FOR THE SHORT-TERM, BUT IT HAS NO LONG-TERM EFFECT ON ITS VIEWERS. SPIRITUAL ART FLOWS FROM OUR SPIRIT'S COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE SPIRIT THEN USES THE SOUL AND BODY TO PRODUCE INCREDIBLE WORK. TOO OFTEN WE HAVE SETTLED FOR CREATING FROM OUR SOUL OR BODY WHEN A HIGHER CALL HAS BEEN TRYING TO REACH US. MAY WE LEARN TO CREATE FROM OUR SPIRIT, SEEING SPIRITUAL FRUIT THAT COMES FROM OUR ENDEAVORS. Ephesians 3:19 - "That you may really come to know through experience for yourselves the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge (without experience): that you may be filled (through your whole being) unto all the fullness of God (may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God himself)." THE ANCIENT GREEKS HAD NO WORD FOR "REALITY." TO THEM, "TRUTH" AND "REALITY," IN ESSENCE, WERE THE SAME. INDEED, THE HOLY SPIRIT'S PURPOSE IS TO LEAD US INTO ALL THE TRUTH, THAT IS, INTO THE FULNESS OF THE REALITY OF GOD. PETER DID NOT SUCCUMB UNDER THE CONVICTING POWER OF "RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE" - HE MET THE REALITY OF JESUS CHRIST! ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS, PAUL WAS NOT BLINDED AND DEVASTATED BY A "NEW DOCTRINE" - HE MET THE REALITY OF JESUS CHRIST! WHEN JOHN BEHELD OUR GLORIFIED LORD ON PATMOS, IT WAS NOT A "NEW SPIRITUAL INSIGHT" THAT LEFT HIM SLAIN AS A DEAD MAN -- HE BEHELD JESUS CHRIST! IT IS THIS EXPLOSIVE REVELATION OF CHRIST HIMSELF THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE GRACE OF GOD. "Consider the ROCK from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined." - Isaiah 51:1-2, Our adversary has been busy in an effort to distract us and dull our memory of who we are and Whose we are, where we've come from and where we're going. Religious spirits are experts at getting us to fear things we do not understand, compare ourselves to others, and compete with one another. Even as a child, the enemy tried to subvert or supplant our view of who we are and replace it with a corrupt view of our own self, implanting painful or confusing incidents that changed our perception of ourselves. He brought people into our life who treated us as though we were something we are not. They've released the enemy's poison and venom and seeds of poisonous, corrupt theories of who we are in order to blind us to the reality of who God DESTINED us to be. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

Mark 10:51 - "And Jesus said to him, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' And the blind man said to Him, Master, let me receive my sight."' GOD IS MOVED BY FAITH. EVEN THOUGH JESUS KNEW WHAT BARTIMAEUS NEEDED, HE WAS WAITING FOR A SPECIFIC REQUEST AND AN EXPRESSION OF TRUE FAITH. Matthew 7:7,8 - "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Affirmation: I have the anointing of God's Word. My circumstance doesn't hear me talking anymore; it hears Jesus talking. "My Beloved spake, and said unto me, 'Rise up, My love, My fair one, and come away.'" Song of Solomon 2:10 He is It is essential that we invite the Lord to come within, and give Him full control over our lives and all that pertains to us.presently without, looking through the window of our spiritual experience, waiting for us. We must quickly respond to His call to "Rise up, My love, My fair one, and come away." Affirmation: I press into a renewed hunger for things yet to be seen. I pursue Jesus with reckless abandon. Ephesians 1:3 -- "Blessed be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." QUESTIONS TO ASK MYSELF: Do I see myself for whom I am truly meant to be in God? If not--then why not? Who have I called out of their limited ways lately and shown them a higher life than what they are used to? Jesus has already won the victory. His blood was shed so that we are empowered with grace to cross over into our Promised Land (OUR DESTINY IN CHRIST). Our minds must be renewed to this truth as we defeat every enemy that attempts to oppose us. "I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus....forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead." - Philippians 3:12-13 One reason we have failed to fulfill The Great Commission has been our tendency of making converts and not equipping them for the discipling of new believers. There may be seemingly insurmountable obstacles that prevent you from accomplishing that which God has set out for you to do. God will smash through and break into pieces the gates of bronze! Are you imprisoned by inescapable bars of iron? God will cut them! Get ready. "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." - 1 John 5:4-5 The temptation, when we first pray about something, is to lose heart or give up. But God will speak clearly to us if we press into Him. Often it is necessary to pray until you feel (and know) your spirit is breaking through. Affirmation: I release love every moment into every situation, every prayer, and every thought until it totally consumes my life. TODAY, seek for the higher life which is the priestly life, and for the higher service, which is the priestly service. Be willing to put your hand on the plow and not look back at the world(Luke 9:62). Count all the things of the world as loss in order to gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8). ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

"For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. - Habakkuk 2:14 The glory of God is going to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea and He's going to do it through us. We are unified in our hunger and pursuit of Him. We know there is more, and God is going to trust us to steward His presence, power, and glory in fresh new ways in the coming year. It is important that our hearts and priorities are in order personally and corporately, and as a result, they will transition from the edge of glory, into fresh new levels of glory; bringing with it life-changing revelations and encounters like we have never known! Spiritual alignments are important. There has never been a more CRITICAL TIME to know that you are rightly aligned with your CALLING in Christ. Don't get stuck in the familiar with all you have ever known...know deep within that God is calling you out upon the uncharted waters to be grafted into something glorious. However, just as the physical rain came during the time of Elijah, there are fresh rains of glory that are going to confront the enemy who seeks to destroy people and families. Embrace the refreshing healing rain is going to wash over as you allow God to put your life into order and you yield to the refining fires that will bring forth the glory! Receive the healing rains of His presence, for you are about to come out gold! Don't give up now. We're on the edge of glory! "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. - Colossians 1:27 Genesis 28:10,12 - "Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." Like the ladder, Jesus dwelt in two places at the same time, in the earth and in the heavens. He is the access point between those two realms. When Jesus told Nathanael that he would see heaven open, He meant that he would see that Jesus is the ladder between the earth and heaven that is wide open to mankind. To Nathanael, He revealed heaven's open availability to the believer. In other words, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (available). John 1:51 - And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." Your time in communion with the Lord will raise you to that "Come up here, let me show you something you didn't know before" place for substantial breakthrough. "I saw a door open in heaven and heard the same voice speaking to me, the voice like a trumpet, saying 'Come up here: I will show you what is to come in the future.'" - Revelation 4:1 When the Word becomes as a burning fire in your heart and bones your focus will be on harvest and it won't be denied you. Because freely you have received the Word and freely you give of the powerful Word of the Lord. To be effective we must minister according to His energy, or His power in our lives. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

2 Corinthians 10:4 - "The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons, but God's powerful weapons with which to destroy strongholds." We deal with the devil by dealing with the carnal thought systems, the strongholds, that protect the enemy. The pulling down of strongholds begins with repentance. The energies we expend in keeping our sins secret are the actual "Materials" of which a stronghold is made. The demon you are fighting is using your thoughts to protect his access to your life. AFFIRMATIONS: The glory of the Lord has risen upon me. I express radiance as my heart thrills and rejoices. I keep the Word before me until I receive a revelation of Jesus as my healer or my deliverer or whatever I need Him to be. I refuse to settle for a shallow mental understanding of Jesus. Silence those negative voices. Forget the cutting remarks of relatives. Dismiss the crippling theories of misguided counselors. Rebuke your self-doubt and turn off the broken record of your past failures. Let God redefine you. He alone decides your true potential. “Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 God's dynamite (dunamis) power reigns and rules by the strength of the Holy Spirit in our inner man, standing strong and firm in the things of the Lord. "Be strengthened with might through His Spirit.." Ephesians 3:16 The most radical social teaching of Jesus was his total reversal of the contemporary notion of greatness. Leadership is found in becoming the servant of all. Power is discovered in submission. The foremost symbol of this radical servanthood is the cross. "He (Jesus) humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross." - Philippians 2:8 Affirmation: I make a fresh commitment to walk in union with God. I give my attention to His Spirit in my inner man. We must pray for those we know are lost for their hearts to be seasoned by God, so they can be drawn by the Holy Spirit to receive the Lord as their personal Savior. Let us release the Holy Spirit's action, through prayer to draw all people to the Father. You cannot sit at the Lord's feet while you are running around on your own feet. Stop being Martha, if you don't, you cannot be Mary (Luke 10:38-41). We must so live in God that the Spirit of God can operate through us. God is waiting to manifest His divine power through believers. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father." - John 14:12 "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (Romans 12:14) Learn the art of blessing, for in blessing a thing or a person, that thing or person must bless you. When you bless, blessings will be drawn to you, or as Deuteronomy 28:2 says, "blessings shall come upon you and overtake you. " Conversely, in cursing a thing or a person, you draw curses upon yourself. There was no room for Him in theinn, so that there will always be room at the cross for your healing, deliverance, wholeness and prosperity and a mansion in heaven waiting for you! It should be the goal of every believer to have the light that is in them to have more influence over their environment than any power or philosophy from hell ever could. "You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men..." - Matthew 5:14,16 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

How many times do we try to reach through to Him – we pray, we fast, we read His Word, we worship? The enemy tries to block you, but how easy it is to come into His presence when you declare He is Lord; because he must bow down. "For greater is He that is within you, than he that is in the world." What you need right now, whether it be your children, your spouse, your finances, your health, lift it up to Him right now, for He can make all things whole. Like the woman with the issue of blood, she pressed through, and He made her whole. The man who had the legion of demons – he was insane -- he cried out with what little bit he could and He made Him whole. The man who couldn't walk, even his parents were afraid. But He goes beyond circumstances and establishes wholeness, for He is the God of wholeness – the Alpha, the Omega. Allow Him to come in and take down any wall, any kind of hindrance, whether it be a large wall that you've been hitting your head against for years, or whether it be a teeny, tiny, picket fence – anything that would block His presence, from just devouring you, to where you could be swallowed up in the goodness of God. To where fear could not find a landing place, but faith would be the landing place. Faith conquers all fear. Don't make Him small. Understand, the King of the universe came to serve, to set free, to save and to heal, and to bring the good news that the Kingdom of God is not only around you, but is within you. Let His Kingdom come forth. Continue to pray His Kingdom come. Continue to pray His will be done. For, yes, He brought His Kingdom to earth – for you are of another Kingdom, as well as you are of another Spirit. Let His Spirit lift you up, from glory to glory – then you can look down and come to understand who you were called to be. For He is looking for a hungry people, a trustworthy people, overseers in His Kingdom, overseers in His vineyard – whether they have pain or whether they have strength; whether they have fame, or whether they be hidden; it makes no difference. He looks at the hearts of His own. "That He would grant you grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man....that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:16,19 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

"He who opens the breach goes up before them; they break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king passes on before them, the Lord at their head." - Micah 2:13 This is your time to advance. God is setting before us new doors of opportunity to step through "because a great door for effective work has opened to me" - 1 Corinthians 16:9). Effective means: able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively, to achieve a striking result.God is opening a way where the opposition before you cannot stand. He will make a gap in and breakthrough (a wall, barrier, or defense) so you can enter into the land. God is the God of the breakthrough. "And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, 'The Lord has burst (BROKE OUT) through my enemies before me like a bursting flood.' Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim" - 2 Samuel 5:20. Baal-perazim means Lord (Master) of breaking through. When He breaks through, you will break out! Breakthrough is God waiting on us to respond in obedience to what He has already commanded and promised. Breakthrough happens when we take the first offensive step against the barriers in our life. Breakthrough happens when we say, "I'm going to trust that God is going to supernaturally do the impossible.""Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." - Ephesians 3:20 Revelation 12:10 - Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down." The unholy spirit wants to entice us away from the call of God on our lives -- our godly principles of conduct -- by specializing in persuading us to forget our purpose and destiny. If Satan doesn't get us drawn into un-forgiveness, bitterness and rebellion he will try to get us into being self-righteous. We begin to accuse, judge, and criticize because we are feeling pretty good about how we are doing. Observation: WHEN I PERCEIVE GOSSIP OR CRITICISM, I STOP THE OFFENDER FROM SPEAKING AND ENTREAT HIM TO INTERCEDE, AS JESUS DOES, FOR THAT PERSON OR SITUATION. MY EARS ARE HOLY, AND I DO NOT LET THEM COME INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN. Song of Solomon 4:15 - "A fountain of gardens, a well of living water, and streams flowing strongly from Lebanon."THE BRIDEGROOM (JESUS) IS A WELL OF LIVING WATERS. THESE WATERS DESCEND FROM THE BRIDEGROOM THROUGH THE BRIDE (THE CHURCH). STREAMS OF WATER FLOW WILDLY FROM THE DEPTHS OF GOD, REPRESENTED BY MOUNT LEBANON. THESE STREAMS OVERFLOW THE WHOLE EARTH, WHICH REPRESENTS ALL THOSE WHO TRULY WANT TO ENTER INTO THE DEEP FELLOWSHIP OF CHRIST. YOU MUST BE WILLING TO ENDURE THE WORK IN ORDER TO ENJOY THE FRUITS. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRYhttp://afministry.ning.com

Now is the time to realize that the Lord desires to empower us to move from our current ability to a new level of power strength, or a greater ability of potential in the Lord. This increase is not a one-time touch but a constant and ever-increasing flow of the spirit of might. It will empower us to press through any and all obstacles, limitations, and fears to advance with a perseverance of progressive breakthrough in order to take new levels in God'sPURPOSE for our life. When we stay fresh in the strength of the Lord, we will increase in strength in the Spirit. In the Amplified Bible, Philippians 4:13 says, "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ sufficiency]." WE CONFESS THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US We can draw on and see increase in His might in our lives on a daily basis. In this flow, we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit and live in fresh strength, inspiration, joy, and confidence in the Lord. " that He may give to you, according to the riches of His glory, with might to be strengthened through His Spirit, in regard to the inner man," - Ephesians 3:16 We will be empowered by the Lord in supernatural strength in the inner person in order to believe the impossible is possible and to press through all obstacles. As we advance in this New Season we are blazing new trails in His divine CALLING in Christ for our lives that will impact us, our families, and people around us. BELIEVING FOR BREAKTHROUGH AND THE POTENTIAL IT BRINGS We must stay fresh in His strength and not become weary, giving into discouragement and disappointment. We must stay fresh in Him and sensitive to the Spirit of the Lord as He leads us into a new era of breakthrough that has the potential of touching thousands in the coming years. This expectation is so important in the coming days. We need to live in a fresh increase flow of the strength of the Lord on a daily basis. As we advance forward in the glory in this season, we stay fresh in His strength through our belief in Christ living through us. In His provision of the constant and ever-increasing flow of might, we can live in supernatural strength that will cause us to move forward in our vision and DESTINY and to go into new spheres and territories that He has made available to us. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

1 Peter 5:6, - "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time."Align your heart with His and listen to hear Him speak. Take hold of the new assignments and positions that the Lord is giving you and step out with boldness, knowing He will equip you with everything you need. The Lord wants to use you to bring His love, glory and the power of His Spirit to the earth and He is enlarging your area of impact for Him! Mark 4:14,15 - "The sower sows the Word. The ones along the path are those who have the Word sown in their hearts, but when they hear, Satan comes at once and by force takes away the message which is sown in them." Affirmations: I DONT QUIT BELIEVING! I DON'T QUIT CONFESSING THE WORD. I DON'T LET PRESSURE CAUSE ME TO SPEAK NEGATIVE, UNBELIEVING WORDS THAT GIVE THE ENEMY LICENSE TO OPERATE IN MY LIFE. I DON'T FOCUS ON CIRCUMSTANCES OR TALK ABOUT THEM. INSTEAD, I TALK TO THEM! Mark 11:23 - "Truly I tell you, whoever SAYS TO THIS MOUNTAIN, be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him." Song of Solomon 4:13 - "Your plants are a paradise of pomegranates, with the fruits of the orchard, cypress with spikenard." THE BRIDE'S (MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH) FRUITFULNESS WILL BE SO GREAT THAT SHE SHALL BE LIKE A PARADISE OF POMEGRANATES. AS THE POMEGRANATE GIVES NOURISHMENT TO EACH OF ITS SEEDS, SO THE SPIRIT OF GOD WILL REVEAL HIMSELF TO HIS BRIDE IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRYhttp://afministry.ning.com

John 8:36 - "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Loose yourself from all entanglements, soul ties, dead works, wrong relationships, wrong mindsets. Break free from everything that hinders the work of His Spirit in your lives. No weights, no cords, no bindings, no tubes connected or having an access point into your lives. Be free from all false expectations, man's expectations, religious expectations; every expectation that does not come from the hope and expectancy that He gives to you. So you must be emptied of all the things that hold you in the earthly realm, repent and turn away from those things that break His heart. Set your priorities in order for He is taking you into another realm of your faith walk. You are going from Faith to Faith and Glory to Glory. He is taking you into a new faith realm where miracles happen and mountains move and dreams and words are fulfilled in this time -- this is a Holy time and a Holy Moment. HE IS THE GOD OF PROMISE This is not a new level, for a level is only one plain higher and is restricted by boundaries, but this is a New Realm of His Glory, of His Presence; this Realm fills and reaches every part of the atmosphere where you are—it is Heaven touching earth. It is His Heavenly Atmosphere, His love reaching to the depth of your being; this is His being poured out upon you and manifesting in you. This realm is His Kingdom in you; this is dominion, your CALLING in Christ, your place in His Kingdom. So step in, step out of the boat and walk on the water in this New Faith Realm—ONLY BELIEVE and you will receive. Rom 1:17 - "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'" 2 Cor 3:17 - "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2 Cor 3:18 - "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

This is my conclusion and Short statement at the end! Last major Bible that is in print !! Although there are many others I have not touched in and will give insight tomorrow, Holy Spirit willing – will do! New King James Version (1979,1982) The NKJV translators claim to have “preserved the authority and accuracy” and “improved the purity and beauty” of the original KJV. We disagree that the “purity and beauty” have been improved. Although the NKJV uses the underlying Textus Receptus Greek text, the translators repeatedly use marginal notations to reference the Modem Critical Text upon which all of the modem versions are based. The NKJV advocate opens a door that lends credibility to a perverted underlying text used by all the other versions. Furthermore, changes in the text are made which simply are not warranted. The NKJV primarily uses the 1967/ 1977 Stuttgart edition of Biblia Hebraica and draws from sources which result in a Hebrew text that is different from the Jacob ben Chayyim text underlying the KJV Old Testament. As a result the NKJV preface rightly stated, “significant variations are recorded in footnotes.” We believe the potential for most textual problems and variants between the KJV and NKJV will be found in the Old Testament. While recognizing the extreme difficulties involved in translations of any kind and especially of a book as important as the Bible, I’m convinced that the King James Bible has been blessed by God for hundreds of years and should be used by believers today. It will be far better for us to expand our vocabulary in order to understand its terminology than to continually rewrite the Bible to suit those who will not be able to understand it anyway apart from the New Birth or to suit those Christians who are too lazy to study. It is true that the meanings of some English words have changed and others are no longer commonly used. Yet such words are comparatively few and can easily be comprehended with the use of a good dictionary; but if the word is missing altogether, what then? The promotion and use of so many different Bible versions has resulted in great confusion among God’s people. Why don’t more pastors and Christian leaders see this? Congregational reading is becoming virtually impossible. Bible memorization is most difficult. Men and women lose confidence in the validity of God’s Word when some verses are included, some are bracketed, and some are missing completely. May you always search for Truth! If you have friends in Christ not using the KJV – then show them my series and this should convince any believer on “ What Bible you should be reading” Thank you so much dear God for allowing me to go on this adventure! May all of you be blessed by a Loving Large and in Charge Savior Jesus Christ!! Shalom. Source: http://www.christianityupdate.com/blog/series-on-what-the-bible-teaches-part-1-by-craig-wilson/

Just some things that I copied over from one of my sites, I think they are still relevant! Online resources Online Bible Tools http://www.biblegateway.com/ Passage Lookup Keyword Search Topical Index Available Versions Audio Bibles Additional Resources Reading Plans Devotionals Newsletters Bible Gateway App Preferences Bible Gateway Blog http://www.biblestudytools.com/ of special interest - this site has Baker's Evangelical Dictionary (Elwell's) It is probably is not the complete dictionary as the printed format, but it is still a nice resource 30+ Bible Translations New International Version English Standard Version King James Version New American Standard and many more! Commentaries Encyclopedias Dictionaries Parallel Bible Interlinear Bible http://www.blueletterbible.org/ (sorry, the list below may not be hot linked, but it shows the categories available at this site) Search http://bible.org/ (see site - a bit difficult to explain here) http://www.bible.cc (Omegaman 3.0's favorite) (this site is so exhaustive, it defies description) Free Bible Study Software for your computer http://www.e-sword.net/ The Sword Project http://www.crosswire.org/applications.jsp This site has Bible applications for Windows, Macs, Linux, and mobile devices Bible Pro A Bible on Every Device Windows PC Version iPad Version Web Version and iPhone and Android Versions images follow!

"Then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied." - Deuteronomy 11:14-15 Many of us have recently undergone an intense time with a lot of warfare and opposition. However, even amidst the veryopposition we may have experienced, the Lord was strengthening us. We will be found coming up out of our wilderness season, leaning on our Beloved (see Song of Songs 8:5). His desire during that time was to prepare and establish us for the new oil and abundance that He is getting ready to pour out. PREPARED FOR THE NEW The Lord does not waste our pain. Through the stretching and trials we have endured, we have been made stronger. We are now prepared for the "new" that He is ready to entrust us with. Mark 2:22 says that, "No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins." We are becoming new wineskins in this very hour in order that we may be able to contain the new, fresh wine and steward the increase well."Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life" - Proverbs 13:12. The Lord is reviving weary hearts back to life, and He is healing hope deferred. The hardness of the previous season has lifted, and we entering into a time of singing and rejoicing! "See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, My darling; My beautiful one, come with Me" - Song of Songs 2:11-13. The Lord sends rains that will wash away the pain, weariness, and heartache from the previous seasons that you've experienced."You gave abundant showers, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from Your bounty, God, You provided for the poor" - Psalm 68:9-10."Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." - Isaiah 58:8 Many have continued to stand and contend for God's promises even in the midst of great, personal pain and misunderstanding. "Lift your eyes, O weary ones, for your redemption draws near" - Luke 21:28b. Not for a moment has the Lord left your side or forsaken you. The Lord is our burden bearer, and even now, He is breaking chains that have sought to keep us bound. Our Father is removing those heavy burdens that have weighed down His children. Be encouraged! Our Savior has seen every tear that you have ever cried, and He is rushing on the scene like a mighty warrior."Yahweh is a warrior, Yahweh is His Name" Exodus 15:3. The Lord is strong and mighty in battle. He is bringing His beloved Bride into a season of rest, peace, and great refreshing. For where you were previously not able to let down because of the consistent battle, now you will be able to rest and drink deeply of the Lord's abundant peace. He, Himself, is fighting for you! REFINED BY FIRE, REFRESHED BY RAINS You have come through the fire of the last season, forged and refined like the gold, and you are about ready to see and experience the Lord's goodness like never before! What He is about ready to release in your life will bring you such joy and restoration that you will say, "How could I have doubted the Lord's great goodness and love for me, even for a moment?" After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before (see Job 42:10)."Those who have sown in tears are about to reap much joy" - Psalm 126:5. "And Elijah said to Ahab, 'Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain'" - 1 Kings 18:41. The Lord is sending the sweet, rains of abundance. Listen closely, do you hear it? ALBERT FINCH MINISTRYhttp://afministry.ning.com

Jesus teaches us that the only way we can position ourselves to see our promises fulfilled is by refusing to define ourselves according to anything but what God has said about us. Affirmation: He has raised me up with Jesus and seated me in heavenly places. He has given me His name. His Blood, His Authority. His Power. His Spirit. Words are not enough to claim the Kingdom of God. It takes strength and courage and violence. You must violently resist the tides of the world. Violently give up all that holds you back from God. Violently turn your will over to God to embrace His CALLING on your life. If one is not experiencing the victorious Christian life, it is either because he is not born again or because he has not been well DISCIPLED in the full Gospel of Jesus Christ. Affirmation: I see myself with victory. I visualize where God wants me to be. Then, I act as if I am already there. The Holy Spirit’s desire is that we live every day in the fullness of the Lord, by seeing above and beyond what we can do, and that Jesus would receive glory and honor through His great power that works in us and through us. “Now to Him, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory…” - Ephesians 3:20 One of the most crucial areas in which believers fall short in is pressing into God. Many pray briefly about decisions, then merely do what seems like common sense, not acquiring the mind of the Lord at all. But God must be sought. Affirmation: I spend time developing my faith by affirming and meditating on the Word of God and applying it to overcome the storms of life. A demonic stronghold is any type of thinking that exalts itself above the knowledge of God, thereby giving the devil a secure place of influence in an individual’s thought life. When you were born again, you began a new life under new management. You were given a whole new system to live by. So when you realize that Jesus is in charge – that it is no longer you trying to meet our own need – your attitude towards difficulties change. Strain just falls away, burdens disappear, and worry ceases. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

Joshua 1:9 - "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Distractions, reasoning, fear, and doubt are tools the devil uses to rob us from achieving God's promises. Joshua was successful in battle because he realized that every victory begins in the heart. Victories are never won rehearsing past failures or running from battle, they are won by continually affirming and meditating on God's Word and doing the Word. Philippians 3:14 - "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." A season of trials is a SEASON of promotion. You will triumph if you don't quit, because God only allows you to face what you are prepared to face with Him He's allowing you to have the opportunity to step into a new level of the boldness and dominion of Christ. "Sometimes you've just gotta STAND." Maybe it's, "Sometimes you've just gotta PRESS THROUGH." Maybe it's, "Sometimes you've just gotta LET GO." The bottom line is that sometimes you've just got to trust that God knows exactly what you need for your journey. You must realize that God will capitalize on every trial and triumph to shape you and transform you into to the image of Christ so that you can walk in the CALLING and PURPOSE He has destined for you. Observation: IF I KEEP PUSHING-OUT THE LIMITS AND GOING FURTHER IN MY EFFORT TO ADVANCE THE PURPOSES OF GOD, THEN I WILL TAKE MY LIFE TO A HIGHER LEVEL - TO A PLACE OF GREAT FAITH. AFFIRMATIONS: Out of His glorious riches, He strengthens me with power through his Spirit in my inner man (Ephesians 3:16). I am an overcomer and I overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of my testimony. (Revelation 12:11) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). Song of Solomon 4:8 - "Come from Lebanon, my spouse, come from Lebanon, come; you will be crowned from the top of Amana, from the peak of Shenir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards." COME FROM THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN TOPS (REPRESENTED BY THE PRACTICE OF THE HIGHEST VIRTUES). COME ALSO FROM THE LION'S DEN AND FROM THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LEOPARDS, FOR YOU CANNOT ARRIVE AT SUCH A HIGH PLACE WITHOUT ENDURING THE MOST CRUEL PERSECUTIONS OF MEN AND DEMONS. IT IS TIME TO RISE ABOVE EVERYTHING, SINCE YOU ARE PREPARED TO BE CROWNED AS HIS (JESUS) BRIDE. THERE YOU WILL FIND TRUE REST, FOR YOU WILL HAVE LET GO OF EVERYTHING IN ORDER TO REACH THAT POINT. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRYhttp://afministry.ning.com

The Gospel of the Kingdom teaches people how to apply the influence of Heaven to their everyday lives—including their surroundings and daily activities. There are seven major spheres (or mountains) which impact society: business, government, media, arts and entertainment, education, family, and religion (see Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1). Every Believer moves in at least one of these areas, and God wants to use our influence for His glory. As we do this, we are reformers, bringing God's government (organization or influence) to earth. Scripture provides the threads from which to weave a picture of God's reformation plan (seeActs 3:21). A primary thread is Isaiah 9:7, which says, "Of the increase of His government…there will be no end," that He will "order it and establish it," and that "the zeal of the Lord" will accomplish this. Another vital thread is found in Matthew 16:18, where Jesus says, "I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." And still another important thread is in Matthew 6:9-13. When we pray for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done, we must understand that everything God intends to do on earth, He intends to do through His Church (those born-again in Christ). The Church is currently in an age of reformation which will culminate with the announcement found in Revelation 11:15, that the Kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ (see Revelation 20:6). You were born "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). But we must not miss the first part of this verse, which basically says if we can't or won't do what He wants done, He'll find someone else! REFORMATION IN MANIFESTATION God has always been a reformer. From the moment Adam and Eve fell into sin in the garden, He had a plan to restore the environment of Heaven to earth through His Son, Jesus. It's important to believe that we are blessed of God. As we obey the voice of His Spirit and observe His commands, He promises to open the treasures of Heaven and bless all the work of our hands—to set us above the people of the earth, to make us the head and not the tail (see Deuteronomy 28:1-14; 30:11-20). It is critical to catch the progression—obedience brings blessing, and blessing brings influence! Believers are the spiritual children of Abraham under the new and better covenant (see Galatians 3:29; Hebrews 8-10). As the Church catches this impartation and uses it to bring the full manifestation of "Thy Kingdom come," we will see cultural revolution! HOW CAN WE FIT IN? • Reformation flows from a life of obedience. Discover and understand God's PURPOSE for your life (Matthew 7:7). • Understand you are blessed by God, and blessing brings influence. • Let God position you and give strategy. • Allow God to shape your character, and endure through the process. Every step of your journey brings you closer to the fulfillment of your CALLING in Christ. • Reformers are motivated by God's heart of love. Those motivated by God's love will become reformers! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com