Our Verse:
John 18:10 “Then Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus. But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”

Some Bible stories teach us how to act in critical situations. As you know, we don't always do the right thing. One of these stories concerns our Bible friend Peter. The time had finally come for Jesus to go to the cross for mankind. Before He was arrested, Jesus took his disciples to a quiet garden to pray, the Garden of Gethsemane. Out of concern for their master, and at his instruction, some of his disciples brought swords. One of them was Peter.

Suddenly, out of the dark, angry men led by Judas Iscariot piled into the garden. Burly Peter's adrenaline spiked! In an attempt to defend Jesus, Peter drew his sword and slashed at a man named Malchus. Sadly, or maybe for the good, he was more fisherman than swordsman and missed, cutting off Malchus' ear! As you can imagine, it could've been a bloody mess! Instead, Jesus reached out and touched the wounded ear and healed it. Actually, He reattached it! Malchus totally understood Jesus' power in that moment! The violence could have been much worse if Jesus had not stopped it!

So what can we learn from this adrenalin-filled event?

First, don't react in your own strength like Peter. A mess usually follows.
Second, if you do mess up, ask Jesus to repair the damage. He is both able and willing to help you! And... if you have an adrenaline problem... you know, anger in a flash.. over time... Jesus can heal that too!

Our Verse: Acts 12:13-14 Peter knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door.”

Peter, a follower of Jesus and ringleader of the Christians was jailed and left in chains with a heavy guard. However, God had a different plan! In the middle of the night, He miraculously released Peter, leaving him standing outside the prison! I'll tell that story soon! Acts 12:4

This story isn't about Peter, but a young servant girl named Rhoda.
In the wee hours of the morning Peter headed for a friends house, and knocked. Rhoda, on gate duty, heard the knock and listened for the visitor before opening the gate. (sound thinking, Rhoda!) Peter identified himself. “It's me Peter, let me in!”
When she recognized his voice... after all he was the leader of all Jesus followers, she lost it and ran for the house!
“Hey! You wont believe this, but Peter's not in the prison... he's at the gate!'
Those inside were praying, most likely for Peter. When Rhoda burst in saying Peter was outside, they said, “you're crazy! He is in the prison!” “No, No”, she said, “He's at the gate!”
They said to her, “it must be Peter's angel”
All this time, Peter is knocking and maybe a bit frustrated and afraid.
Finally... someone went to check and the crowd went wild! There he was, alive and free!

Here's the Lesson-
God does miracles, then and now.
God can use anyone He wants, it might be young Rhoda, it might be us. He is wise and knows best. And He has a sense of humor!
Rhoda saw close up that God helps people in awful situations.
Her story teaches us that same lesson. God can save us from anything!

In Genesis 9:13 God says, “I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth.”

It's just finished raining. There's a fresh smell in the air. Out across the field or over the hills is one of the most beautiful sights in the world, a rainbow!

We know the physical cause, light passing through water droplets, but there is a deeper spiritual meaning for the rainbow.

Many centuries ago, all the people descended into a time of world-wide lawlessness. It got so bad, that God observed, “the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and He saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil” Genesis 6:5

This might be a bit hard to conceive that every person was evil all the time, but with the stunning evil across the world today, you can see it's possible.

God destroyed the entire human race except one family of 8- that was Noah and his family.

A time came when it was all over and the earth was restored. God made a promise to the 8 survivors. Here it is from Genesis, “When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures.
Here is the holy promise or covenant He made to us-

Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. Gen 9:14

God has kept His promise to preserve all people! This is because He loves every one of His creatures. The rainbow appearing in the clouds is the physical evidence of His beautiful promise.

Next time you see a rainbow, remember... it's God's promise to you!

Our Verse, once again: Rev 5:9 For you Jesus, were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Last time we learned about God's amazing world wide family. Its just like the rainbow with its beautiful and different colors, and... everyone is welcome.

Let's meet some of these amazing people...

The Chicken Lady lives in a tiny village along the Nile. Her home is humble and her one animal, a chicken, lives on her roof. She is poor but full of joy. Her bright smile lights the room as she hugs her chicken and gives God thanks!
Tom is a retired businessman. At 65, he helps younger men learn about God and how to be good at their work. His enthusiasm is infectious!
Rudy is a former Russian soldier. He is burly and tough. He has travelled far and wide in Russia and abroad for Jesus. He is ready for any adventure.
Elizabeth, at 18, is in college and hoping to graduate early. Born with a debilitating disease, she told her doctor that God had allowed the illness for His glory. In spite of limitation, she is active in church and will serve Jesus wherever He chooses.
Finally, Daniel, a man of Egypt. At age 16, while a deacon in the Coptic Church, he supernaturally met Jesus. Today, as an adult, he travels the world, sharing Jesus with those people mentioned in our verse- every tribe, language, people and nation.

You'll meet more interesting people here...all part of God's Human Rainbow!

Our Verse: Rev 5:9 For you Jesus were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
This is a first person report based on my 47+ years of personal observation in at least 30 countries around the world. God has a beautiful human rainbow of those who follow Him.

People often think of Christians as a certain kind of people. They often think in social or cultural terms about religious folks- they go to certain buildings, they say certain things, and they may dress certain ways. They mistakenly conclude that only certain people can be Christians.

But the facts tell us otherwise. In every corner of the earth, God is constantly touching lives. There are no walls, no limitations on who He draws to follow Him. It is possible for every single human, all 7 plus billion of them, to experience a personal one on one relationship with Him.
Our brother Peter the Apostle writes in the Bible- The Lord is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all- everyone to repent or turn to Him 2 Peter 3:9 What Great News! He is patiently waiting for each of us, every tribe, every language, all people, every nation!

This gives us confidence as we approach God. He is not angry with us, He wants us to come to Him. Obviously we can't come on our own terms, but on His terms and in the way He chose, thru His Son, Jesus.

In Part 2, you get to meet some of the amazing people in God's Human Rainbow.

So now I'm a believer in Jesus, how do I live? How does this three part me work?

Let's start with our spirit. As Christians, our spirit talks with God. We both talk and listen, that's what prayer is. Now the line is open with God. We can get instructions and let Him know all our needs. Way better than texting!

Next is your soul. It is you, unique in all the world. God creates each person one of a kind, a bit like snowflakes. It's your DNA, all your experiences, all your memories. He designed you to live eternally right beside Him. Before Jesus, we lived for ourselves, our souls alone in the world without Him. In Jesus, we live a new growing soul life. We become all He designed us to be- for Him, for ourselves and for those around us.

Finally, the body. This is the tough part! All our lives we have lived to please our bodies. Our very first cry was “Feed me!” We are selfish to the core. Satisfying our body was number one! When God makes our spirit alive, things begin to change. The Bible calls this sanctification. (A big word we will get to later!) Through God's way of reading His Book, praying and being with other God followers, we begin to want new things in our bodies. We lose old desires and gain new ones that honor Him. God will help you.

A little caution in defining humans in three parts! Actually we are a unity just like God. Our three parts are deeply intertwined just like Him! We use human words to describe a wonderful supernatural design from God's own hand.

When your spirit talks with your Father, it will help your soul and body. All that you think and all that you are will benefit. Your body will not rule you anymore. And the great result is your spirit, soul and body will be preserved forever!

Just what am I? Is this life all there is? Am I just a body, a physical structure that rots when I die?
God designed us like Himself, the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are designed to be spirit, soul and body, 3 parts just like Him!

Let's define each human component-
Spirit is that part of you that communicates with God. This part of you is designed to live forever.
Your soul is your entire self, your person, your thoughts, every experience from birth to this moment.
Your body is your physical self, the biological structure that experiences the world thru the five senses. It provides housing for your soul and spirit.

I know you've heard the phrase, body soul and spirit. God describes it differently. He says “Your whole spirit soul and body.”
A person without Christ living inside is a body and a soul without spiritual life.

When Christ lives inside you, you have an alive spirit a soul and a body.

With your alive spirit, you will be able to talk to God and hear His voice.

It's Jesus' life death and resurrection that makes all this happen! We are reborn, and restored to God's design! And you He has made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Eph 2:1

Learn all about this in John chapter 3. Even an old man named Nicodemus got it!

God's invitation to become a living spirit,a complete person, is to everyone on earth- including you!

Next on the Mountain- A new you living for God!

A redeemer is a person with the assets to pay a ransom.
A ransom is a payment to get something back.

Oh it feels so good when the bad guy gets his. We all want justice, speedy justice on others, but none on us. The truth is the whole human tribe, all of us, face justice for what we have done. We have “fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23).

God is Just. He is all that is right and true and that includes justice against wrong, all wrong. So how can there be Love and Justice? His solution was to allow Jesus to take our place as the guilty party. Justice was served and God demonstrated His love for us.

We are guilty. Our thoughts and actions can dishonor God and hurt others. This guilt is why Jesus paid a blood ransom.

Remember, the redeemer has the assets to pay the ransom.

Titus 2:13-14 “Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us...”

1 Pet 1:18-19 “And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”

So Jesus paid our ransom. God the Father accepts Jesus death as payment for our wrongs. He is just and...He can forgive!

So how do we get this forgiveness, this ransom for our souls?

We believe what Jesus did. “Jesus, I believe you took my place in judgement, You are my redeemer. I am guilty, and You paid for me. I accept!

When you do this, you are reborn! You get a new life, free from all guilt. Jesus, the Redeemer, paid the ransom so we could be free!

That friend at work keeps telling you about Jesus. He says you need to believe in or “accept Jesus.” It's strange, makes you feel defensive. “Why should I change my life for someone who (maybe) lived 2000 years ago? Is it true? Can't I just live like I want?”

Well, your friend didn't come on his own, he is a messenger. He is delivering God's offer of eternal life through Jesus. You say, “God is making me an offer?” Yup!

Here's the story: Humans have been disconnected from God. It started ages ago in the Garden of Eden. Man chose his own way and rejected God's way, resulting in a big disconnect between God and people.

This God disconnect couldn't be fixed by us. “You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.” Unless God did something, no connection was possible.
“All of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ.”

Jesus came from heaven, entered the human tribe and made reconnection possible through
His life, death and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:3). “Accepting Jesus” simply means accepting God's offer. Everybody now has the right to be God's child if they accept His offer.

Here's the summary: Man is disconnected, Jesus made a reconnection, we accept God's offer to reconnect with Him through Jesus.

It doesn't get any cooler than that! Connected to the God of all Creation, guided by Him daily. Protected by Him, living a true adventure with Him... and... with the last breath, ushered into His presence to live and enjoy all He has forever.

So if you haven't already, Accept the Offer! God, I accept what Jesus did. I want to connect with You now and forever!

Coming, a personal tale of reconnection with God!

Here's an odd phenomenon in God's order—Blood can clean!

Here on earth blood ruins things, but God's ways are higher and different!

Sin is an indelible stain on the human soul, like a bloodstained shirt. Sin inside us make a stain on the soul like a bloodstain on the cloth. Just like a bloodstain can't be removed, we can't remove guilt from our soul, whatever kind of act is involved. Once the act or thought is done, the conscience is permanently stained with the memory. This causes some to attempt soul cleansing through religious rites or practices. Sadly, human acts to wash the soul don't work. Some people even go insane with guilt. Jesus met a crazy man, alone, screaming, crying, hurting himself. (Read the story in Mark 5.) He restored him, made him a new man and the great news is...He is still doing it today!

So what is the cleaner for the guilty conscience?

It is Jesus' blood shed on the cross. People like us get His same touch of healing by trusting Him to forgive our sins, cleaning our souls of guilt for the wrongs we have done. Jesus is the “Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

God says, “Come now, and let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:18).

Today's Action: Talk to Jesus. Tell Him you accept the soul cleaning power of His blood. Accept His ransom, His payment for your soul. Start a new life of trust in Him. You will have a clean conscience and a freedom unlike anything you have ever experienced!