If I ask you, “does God have enemies” you might think first of Satan, who popular imagination presents as God’s arch enemy, but what about people? Are there human beings who are God’s ENEMIES!That might conjure up an image of some fiendish villain like Adolph Hitler, or perhaps an angry atheist media celebrity sputtering forth with accusations, demeaning jokes, or sarcasm. The painful reality is that there are far more enemies of God than you could have ever imagined.Romans 8:7 the mind of flesh is hostile toward God. It does not allow itself to be ruled by the law of God… nor is it even able to. Let that sink in…it means that every human being … by their very nature, by the very way their mind operates is an enemy of God!Cuz, Baby you were born that way… [Note: you were not born a wrong doer or under a penalty for crimes you had not yet committed, but you were born with a mind made of flesh that cannot and will not submit itself to the laws of God… so you quickly wandered off into disobedience to God’s laws… and the penalty for that is that you are cut off from eternal life]. Your whole way of thinking and acting is a state of conflict with your creator God. Its a core conflict… it doesn’t just stay in your head… it’s a way of thinking and acting that creates the war, violence, oppression we see in the world. Divorce, anger, bitter disagreement, and resentment are everywhere… even reaching into the church of God.How Do I Fix This Way Of Thinking?First, your relationship with God your creator must be fixed. You and God are enemies until that hostility begins to be addressed. But, before God can get to work on you... we have to deal with the penalty stuff [cut off from God, cut off from eternal life]. That’s what the Passover… and baptism are all about.Colossians 1:21-22 our hostile relationship with God can be set on a path toward, friendship, love, grace, peace… good stuff like that. After that we move to fix our relationships with our fellow humans. But, it begins with Christ. He takes that penalty away… and you are no longer cut off from God. That free access opens up all kinds of wonderful opportunities.Romans 5: 8-10 - God is the peacemaker. God makes the first move. He sets an example for us of proactive reconciliation which we can [and must] then use to repair and maintain our human relationships.Matthew 5:9 God’s goal for us is that we become like Him. We become peacemakers at work, in our neighborhoods, in our marriages, in our church, among our friends.How Can I Identify This Way Of Thinking?The way of thinking that leads to hostility with God and conflict with others builds on top of our natural needs and desires… but does so in a way that leads to bad results. Pride – an exaggerated view of self… to see the rightness or wrongness of a situation by how it affects me, how others are treating me… rather than how am I contribution to this problem or how do I treat others. The only acceptable outcome of a proud mindset is that I get what I want… I win. But, where does that leave the other party? Whether God or man. Emotional need to have others heal me and my feelings rather than take the process of reconciliation into our own hands. Who will say I’m sorry first. Combine this with point #1 and you have a you could have a standoff… someone has to make the first move. Quest for happiness – looking for others to provide us with feelings of happiness, or emotional satisfaction, a sense of stability and justice… Problem because other people fall short of our expectations… and we end up in conflict Think of the love languages… you express love through gifts, so you are expecting and wanting gifts. She expresses love through acts of service. She shows you love in a way that is important to her… you are disappointed because you are expecting gifts. The emotional needs are legit… but how we seek to fulfill them can drive conflict. Because we start to see that other person as an obstacle in the path towards our personal fulfillm

Human marriage reflects the spiritual relationship between Christ and the Church. Even though we live out our marriages in the flesh, marriage is a spiritual relationship as much as it is a physical relationship… and it’s a relationship that is desirable and purposeful. Has God Given Us Instructions to Follow For Marriage?Or, are we left on our own to figure the rest of it out? Are we left wondering what God really intended? The answer is: God our creator has indeed given us sound instructions regarding marriage… The First MarriageThe importance of marriage in the bible is perhaps best seen in its placement in the book. After creation itself the bible begins with… a married couple. In the beginning God made two models in His own likeness or after His own kind. One was male and the other was female - Gen 1:27 (note: the fact that they were different sexually but still both in God’s image tells us that sexuality or gender is not a factor in being made in God’s image).God the creator gave the man and the woman the ability to reproduce through sex… “be fruitful and increase in number”! They had body parts that fit together in an obvious manner that made reproduction and increase happen. This is a truth from biology and creation that should be self evident. And what did God say about this self evident reality? He looked at what He had made and said “this is good” – Gen 1:31.Sexuality is more than just having the right parts. It is the centerpiece of a relationship that takes place on a very high level… a God plane relationship… marriage between a man and a woman… which teaches us about the relationship of Christ and the Church… of which you are part.Gen 2:18Man was not designed to be alone… a man is designed to be with a woman. Likewise the woman was explicitly and specifically made to be a companion on his own level. Regarding the word help or helper: it’s a translation of the Hebrew word ay'-zer, used 21 times in OT… mostly to describe God in action. For example: “We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield” Ps 33:20 … so its not necessarily conveying the sense of subordination we have in our common use of the word “helper” in the English language.I say this to emphasize the high level of the husband and wife relationship… the God plane level of this marriage relationship between two beings each made in the image of God. We will cover roles of male and female in marriage later on in the message.Nor is this intended as a slam against single people. A single person can also be whole and complete. Jesus was single…. Paul drew out the spiritual significance of singleness in his epistles… but right now we are specifically discussing marriage.Where Do We Find The Most Important Biblical Teaching on Marriage?Gen 2:24-25– once again its right here at the very beginning of the book. From this short verse we are going to find 4 fundamental concepts regarding marriage. Leaving/Joining/Oneness/Goodness/and then I am going to add another… AuthorityONE: Leaving Your Father & Mother… to Establish a New Family UnitHonoring your parents, closeness, seeking their advice is a good thing… and advisable. But, you two are a new family unit. The family you grew up in had their own way of doing things… but that does not mean your spouse will want to do things the same way. Their family had their own manners & traditions which they likely see as equally valid. So, you must learn to work together, in harmony. Showing respect, honor, understanding and love toward each other. This sounds like something very simple like you learned in kindergarten… yet, it is a highly spiritual principle and one that reflects the relationship between Christ and the church.TWO: Joined & United TogetherAnother way to say it might be to bond together… other than bonding with God, bonding with your spouse should be your highest commitment and priority. We build that bond through actions… physical affection, hugs, kissing, affectionate and kind words,

I like biographies. I learn about history through the lens of a person’s life. Scripture does not give us much information about people. A few personalities have a fair bit of coverage… Abraham, David, Daniel, Paul. But what we have is bare bones… facts, snippets of dialogue, what was said, record of key actions taken. The scriptures don’t often delve into the motives, emotions of persons and personalities... ex. Why is this incident recorded and many others not? But we can often look at the actions or events, consider the context, and use our understanding to figure out what is going on.The life of Jesus Christ is also like that. We know more about Him than any personality in scripture… we are given brief glimpses into the motivations, emotions of His life. But many times we have to read the report we have and try to connect the dots ourselves. For example: why would He say what He said before He did what He did?Let's look into something Jesus did on a regular basis… He prayed. The circumstances surrounding the recorded instances we have of Him praying may teach us about the nature of prayer and its place in our lives.We'll use Luke's record [Luke & Acts for Jesus' followers]. Jesus is found in prayer before new developments or crises arise, when decisions need to be made etc.… suggesting that prayer is a preparation for what is to take place next... seeking guidance from God. James 1:5You are told that if you lack wisdom [i.e. you don’t know what to do] you should ask God who is very willing [glad] to give you what you are seeking. The context appears to be facing a trying situation... what does this mean? Why am I going through this? Help me understand.Why Would Jesus Seek Wisdom?We often fall into the trap of thinking of Jesus as coming out of His mother’s womb… fully formed… at least spiritually… as if there were nothing He did not already know or would learn. But one of the first comments made about Him while He was still a boy is that Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man Luke 2:52Examples of Jesus’ praying [not the content - but the occasion]Luke 3:21 – While in prayer the H.S. comes upon Jesus and the Father makes a formal acknowledgment that Jesus is His Son… also, a new phase of Jesus life begins: His ministry.This is our first example of important revelations [instructions] coming during the activity of prayer. These revelations were also a preparation for what lay ahead.Luke 5:16– Jesus was gathering fame. You or I would probably respond to this by thinking we were HOT STUFF and therefore we should start calling the shots rather than seeking God's help in humble prayer. However, Jesus was committed to prayer and seeking the will of the Father. He would withdraw from the adoring crowds and seek God.Luke 6:12-13– once more we do not know the content of Jesus’ prayer. But the context and circumstances indicate that He was praying about a very important decision… who would He select and train for the future role of apostle. Who would follow Him and continue the preaching etc. Is it is far fetched to conclude that He sought wisdom [what is your will, what should I do here?].Luke 9:18-20– another important unfolding of understanding from comes on an occasion of prayer [praying together?]. The reality of who and what Jesus’ was is confirmed to the chosen disciples. Luke 9:29-31now a further and more intense revealing of the divine person and purpose of Jesus the messiah. Note that “as Jesus was praying” this vision and supernatural experience happened. Surely it was a further revelation to the three disciples… but read carefully and you will see that the 2 men [Moses and Elijah representing the law and the prophets] were speaking to Jesus about His coming death [exodos/departure] which would take place in Jerusalem. You could interpret this event as also being for Jesus’ benefit. He was fully human and did not relish the idea of death. Here He is given a preview of the resurrection an

For most of us marriage is the longest… most intense… most intimate relationship we will ever experience. We might spend many hours at work… but our relationships there are narrow and task focused nowhere near the breadth experienced in marriage. Friendships can have similarities possibly approaching the breadth we find in marriage… yet not with the same investment of time… both day by day, or over the span of your life. You get the picture. Considering the time, the intensity, the intimacy… surely your marriage will have a profound, if not defining, effect on your spiritual life. The hours, days, years and decades of your marriage… or more to the point your actions and attitudes within your marriage… will help shape and mold the spiritual creation God is working in you.  For better… or for worse. If you cannot see the audio controls, listen/download the audio file hereMarriage is a blessing God has given you that can bring you much joy, contentment and satisfaction… or possibly daily mental, emotional and physical struggle. Either way through marriage you will learn about yourself… but also do something with what you learn… practice spiritual discipline… grow in grace and knowledge and build a Godly  mind. This outlook on marriage isn’t always our default setting. Even those who are spiritually minded there lingers a notion that marriage is a worldly consolation. Meant for those who cannot handle real spirituality. Supposedly, there is a higher state of spiritual discipline… a person totally devoted to God… with no attachments… no worldly cares… truly  seeking first the kingdom of God… renouncing marriage, family, passions and positions. This concept of holiness is familiar to western culture and non-western cultures alike… monks, nuns, gurus, holymen, and more… renunciation of marriage and family life allowing more time for prayer, fasting, study and other good works etc. Is this a better way? Is it a harder way? Or… Is it an easier way?Consider the challenges of marriageI’m speaking here of a biblical marriage involving two people (or perhaps only one) who take their covenant with God seriously, who are trying to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, and want to build the fullness of Christ in themselves and their mate. Consider the trials and tribulations of raising children… the physical exhaustion of caring for them, the mental challenge of keeping your head when everything within you wants of scream, or yell, or lose your temper. What about the emotional slights must be overlooked… the tiny indignities, the unnoticed sacrifices… you could so easily ask “what for”… are these not spiritual challenges… are they easy? Matt 19:8-12 I read these words of Jesus to mean if you cannot handle the commitment God expects in the marriage covenant then don’t get married. If you can’t handle it don’t go there. Marriage isn’t for spiritual wimps.Paul’s comments on Celibacy·        I Cor 7:1refers the preceding scenario… avoid sexual immorality get married.·        1 Co 7:6  From my own knowledge (sungnoomeen) and not as a command, I am saying this:·        I Cor 7:10-11 toggles back and forth God’s command… my word (logos)·        1 Corinthians 7:25  (Simple English Version) About virgin girls. I don't have a command from the Lord , but I am giving you what I know (gnome). I'm dependable; the Lord has given me mercy. ·        See also verse 40Why does Paul offer his opinion in Corinth at this time? I Cor 7:26-28 a lot of what Paul says here is circumstantial… ·        marriages were mostly arranged often with little control or say so in who  you were married to… ·        times were troubled for God’s people… persecution etc. ·       

What is the point of prophecy?On one hand people don’t like uncertainty… where will I get the money for rent next month?... will the stock market crash and wipe out my retirement savings? … will my son get home safely tonight?On the other hand many of us dislike the idea of a future where everything is alreqady decided. Statements like: “I have no choice in the matter”… “its inevitable”… “I can’t change anything”, are statements of despair not confidence.God’s word gives us a way of understanding life that is a balance between a future that is reliable and true and a future that is changeable based on the choices we make. For example:Kingdom of God – the coming rule of God on earth and in the universe is set and will not change.Salvation & Reward – your relationship to the Kingdom of God is based on the choices you make. Both these aspects of the future are addressed by the word of God.God’s word shines a light on the path you must actively choose if you want to live, and receive reward in the kingdom of God.God’s word provides you with prophecies and promises of the certain and inevitable future. Note: by definitions that future has not yet happened. SO…God’s word also provides contains prophecies of events that happened just as they were foretold… Knowing these “past prophecies” gives you greater confidence in what has not yet come to pass. 2 Timothy 3:16 – anyone can claim their writing is supernaturally inspired. Telling about a future event and then making it actually happen is what makes an audacious claim like “this is the word of God” believable. You will not find fulifilled prophecy in other supposed holy writings (Koran, Mormon, Hindu or Buddist literature, etc.). Prophecy and fulfillment is what sets the word of God from Genesis to Revelation apart. Isaiah 46:9-11 the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob not only claims to reveal the future… He proves Himself by demonstrating the power to make it happen.2 Peter 1:19-21 … its in your best interest to give propehcy attention!ProphetsA prophet is one through whom God speaks to humanity. There have been many prophets throughout human history… the greatest of all the prophets sent by God is Jesus Hebrews 1:1-2. [Luke 13:33 refers to self as a prophet].Jesus’ teaching was about the kingdom of God. It had the elements of certainty and choice:a kingdom of God way of living you must choosea sure outcome of human history ie. the rule of God on earth.Note: Jesus birth, life, death, and resurrection is also the most extensive and greatest fulfillment of events foretold centuries before in the word of God. Both Scripture and human history speak to the credibility, and reliability, of scripture. A sobering thought when consideringthe future...Gut check: What is You First Reaction to Prophecy?You might see only strange beasts, cryptic coded messages, riddles, or confusing chronologies… unappealing and unrelated to life as we know it. How does prophecy help me find personal happiness? How does prophecy help me become a better person?If you take time to study and understand the prophecies of scripture they can give greater personal clarity as to why the life decisions you make matter. And help you see the choices you make as incremental steps toward a very positive future.To get this kind of perspective on prophecy lets step back and take a big picture view of scripture. What are the consistent (an persistent) core messages… what are the consistent threads of events found in scripture? How do these interact with history?We’ll get to those in coming weeks… but today let’s go over nine guiding principles to help us to understand prophecy:Guiding Principles of Prophecy1. Role of the Messiah – the key player in almost all prophecy is the Messiah and His intervention in human affairs… what He hasdone, and what He is going to do in the future Luke 24:44.2. Kingdom of God – almost all prophecy is in some way related to the establishment of the Messiah’s rule over humanity on earth Daniel 7

Shema Yisrael Yahweh Elohim Echad YahwehHear O Israel, the Lord is God, One is the Lord [Jews call it the SHEMA]I’d rather not wrangle about the Hebrew grammar and syntax… the gist of it is “there is one God, YHWH [the LORD]”. That much most people agree upon.Deuteronomy 6:4 the SHEMA trips people up. Misunderstanding this verse and this concept can take you right out of the Church of God! So, who needs to know about this stuff? You do [1 John 5:5].-------------------------------------------------------------------How Does The Shema Affect Doctrine?The Jewish people use the Shema as a proof text to deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God... on the same plane as the Father. To them, Jesus’ claims to be on the God level are considered blasphemous and therefore He deserved execution. Many try to take the sharp pointy edges off but the Jewish position is still about the same.The Catholic Fathers read this verse and developed the Trinity concept to reconcile this “SHEMA” with other clear statements found in the new testament claiming both the Father and the Son Jesus Christ are God. Good examples are: Hebrews 1:8, John 1:1,14.The new testament scriptures are not offering up something contrary to what we read in Deuteronomy. They also teach that God is one. Good examples are: 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 Timothy 2:5.How do we get these seeming contradictions to all work out? We answer that question by asking a question about our assumptions: Is the SHEMA [and other similar biblical statements] commenting on numerical one or as something different?Definitions of One/EchadThe Hebrew language of the bible has a very limited vocabulary. Often a single word stands for multiple things or concepts. Echad, the Hebrew word for one, can be used in multiple ways:Numeric: the number 1: the NC Panthers are number 1 [first] in their divisionOne and the same: yep, she’s the one I am going to marryTogether, unified: the NC Panthers defense played as oneEach and every: the ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah!Alone: there is only 1 Michael JacksonThree of these fit the grammar and context of the SHEMA. Lets see how:FirstThe true God is to be our first priority. This would have been a necessary shift of thinking for the people coming out of Egypt with its many Gods.The context of the SHEMA supports this approach. Let’s take a look at the following verses: Deuteronomy 6:5 love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 22:36-38. The way it reads here definitely gives you the sense of making God your top priority. So, this seems like a valid interpretation of the use of the word one in the SHEMA.AloneYHWH and no other is truly God.Mark 12:28-34 the Jewish scribe’s reply in verse 32 indicates that this is how he understood the SHEMA… YHWH and no other is truly God. Jesus did not correct this man, or redirect him, so understanding the word ONE as ALONE, or ONLY is definitely a valid interpretation of what the word Echad or ONE means.UnityUnderstanding the Hebrew word ECHAD as unity is how we take all the various statements about who and what God is and reconciling them with the SHEMA. Also, using this definition does not mean we have to throw out the previous two [use example of the Panthers].Here are some examples of ECHAD used this way: Judges 20:1, 8-11; Genesis 11:6; Genesis 2:24In all these instances we understand ONE as involving multiple unique individuals. We do not have to perform strange mental gymnastics to merge them all into one single being.Does Jesus also use this definition of ONE? Yes He does!He describes the Father and the Son as, of one mind and purpose – John 4:34; 5:30He describes this relationship of the Father and Son as being one – John 10:30He uses this idea of being one as a model of unity for the church – John 17:20-22We certainly don’t need to take these statements and try to conceive of the members of the church as merged into a single being!A

The subject of dating and attitudes toward human sexuality must be discussed in the context of marriage. Marriage is the foundational relationship of human life. Marriage affects our biological viability, defines a positive social culture, and is the stabilizing factor for all forms of human government. Key Features of Godly Marriage:Genesis 2:24 marriage is designed by the Creator of Humanity as a separate and distinct organizational unit.Ecclesiastes 9:9 marriage is designed to last [a feature which teaches important spiritual lessons, lifelong commitment to each other teaches us about God’s eternal commitment to us] Malachi 2:15 marriage is designed to produce Godly children. Physical creation is the first stage in the expansion and growth of God’s spirit born family… and it has been assigned to you and me. God says go forth and multiply. This is not a directive to go and seek our own pleasure its an invitation to participate in God’s amazing project to grow His divine family.Before the spiritual creation comes the physical. God places a spiritual component in each new human being and when combined with the power of the Holy Spirit we have the potential to become an eternal spirit born member of God’s own family.Ephesians 5:31-32 Through our participation in this project we learn valuable personal and spiritual lessons along the way.Creative and curious humanity are constantly dreaming up new hypotheses about what human sexual interactions should be, or what marriage should be. Then we start experimenting to see if our hypotheses work. Ours is an age of intense speculation and experimentation. For success in marriage look to the Creator of marriage. God has given us... simple, basic, concepts. Simple but challenging… because they run counter to many human passions BUT you can count on them to actually work.Laying the foundation for success in marriage starts long before your wedding day… even before you find Mr. Right, or the woman of your dreams. So let’s talk about dating… Dating: Love American StyleWikipediadefines dating as “a stage of romantic relationships in humans whereby two people meet socially with the aim of each assessing the other's suitability as a prospective partner in an intimate relationship or marriage”. Social interactions that lead to marriage vary greatly from culture to culture. Some are arranged by parents… or extended family, or professional go-betweens… with negotiations, contracts and so forth. These emphasize the practical elements and show little concern for the emotional. In our western world we have a system where the individual carries most of the responsibility for finding a mate with a heavy emphasis on the emotional. Often over-riding some of the serious practical considerations necessary for a successful marriage. Scripture does not indicate any preference for one method over the other. Scripture contains examples of both ways of finding a mate. Both approaches have their pros and cons. The western way of doing things is what we have to concern ourselves with here. Parental control in modern western culture is very limited once our children reach the age where they are ready to start seriously dating. Wise parents will make every effort to teach their young people wise principles, and biblical standards for dating long before they are actually ready.If you wait too long you will miss that important window of opportunity when you can still control the situation. What is that age? There is no biblical instruction for what is the appropriate age for dating. You have to make your own determination of the right age when you see readiness to accept responsibility for actions. But the time to start laying the foundations is early.Instruction is a Gift You Give To Your ChildrenThe gift you give them is life… a better life now, and a hope for eternal life. Don’t just turn your children loose and hope for the best. When it comes to sex and marriage there are just too many

There is no real difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. The two phrases are simply two different ways to indicate the same thing… a kingdom or system of government that is ruled by God. Examine the scriptures about the coming kingdom of God... as told by Jesus, the apostles and the Church. He said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God... for I was sent for this purpose”. You owe it to yourself to learn more about what Jesus Himself said on the matter!  This Free eBook is a great way to study the scriptures and gain a more complete understanding of Jesus' teaching about the coming Kingdom! If you'd like a printed copy please provide a mailing address (optional). #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:500px;} /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ * indicates requiredEmail Address * First Name Last Name Address Address Line 2 City State/Province/Region Postal / Zip Code Country USAAaland IslandsAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntigua And BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire, Saint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandColombiaComorosCongoCook IslandsCosta RicaCote D'IvoireCroatiaCubaCuracaoCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of the CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJersey (Channel Islands)JordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacauMacedoniaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMoldova, Republic ofMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlandsNetherlands AntillesNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth KoreaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalQatarRepublic of KosovoReunionRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoa (Independent)San MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan Mayen IslandsSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks & Caicos IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican City State (Holy See)VenezuelaVietnamVirgin Islands (British)Virgin Islands (U.S.)Western SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabwe (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[3]='MMERGE3';ftypes[3]='address';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);

A promise from God is a prophecy from God. If God says He is going to do something you can be sure He will do it. Not only is your Creator faithful and reliable… He wants you to enjoy the feeling of security in His faithfulness… and He wants to enjoy your confidence in Him. Trust & Confidence: the foundation of a healthy relationship.God’s word speaks His promises to you [and to all humanity]… from beginning to end.Genesis 3:15 God’s first promise to humanity is a prophecy directed at the adversary… the serpent… the morning star Lucifer who by his own choice became God’s enemy.God promises a solution to the problems and suffering humanity have brought upon themselves. A choice to go their own way apart from God. A choice with no good future.God tells Satan [the serpent] that from the descendants of Eve there will come a “Seed” or descendant who would step/stomp on his head and crush it. Satan would be permitted to attack the foot of the “Seed” and temporarily disable, harass and impede His work [a reference to the execution of the Messiah and the 3 days in the tomb, also a reference to the continued harassment of the present body of Christ as they bring the true gospel to the world]. But the end is decided and certain. Satan gets stomped.Scripture begins with a promise: God will send a “Seed”, a Son of Man, a descendant born of woman, to restore humanity from the pain, suffering, and death they chose… He will crush and replace Satan, and take charge of the course of humanity on earth. The rest of prophecy expands and elaborates on this promise.Promises to AbrahamGod calls Abraham and sets him apart. And He makes some promises to Abraham that show how the original promise from Genesis 3:15 will happen.Genesis 12:1-3 from Abraham will come a nation through which God will bring good to all humanityGenesis 22:18 from Abraham will come the “Seed” or descendant who will bring good things, and the promise of a brighter future to all humanity.Through Abraham God reveals a new pathway for humanity. On one hand we have the path set by Adam, to follow our own heart, our humanly devised sense of what is right and true. Its the way of all physically created beings, but it has no future. Physical life comes to an end after about 75 to 90 years. Without God there is nothing to look forward to. Just nothingness. [there is a way that seems right to a man but the end is death]On the other hand we have the path set by Abraham, to believe God, have confidence in His promises and to live by His word [obey His voice] because of that confidence. This is the way of spiritual creation. To have the mind of God built in you… a way with a bright a glorious future beyond those 75 to 90 years… a hope of eternal life in the family of God. The promise to Abraham is an example of one prophecy fulfilled in multiple ways [duality]: The Messiah would be born as a descendant [or seed] of Abraham Abraham’s millions of descendants would become a nation. God would make known a better way of living through that nation… His commandments, judgments, and statues… a way of mercy, faith, holiness and righteousness All who believe God and follow the path of faithful obedience would be of the same spiritual family as Abraham Galatians 3:16The Nation of IsraelWhen Abraham was old enough to be a great grandfather, and his wife was decades past menopause, they had a son Isaac. Isaac had two sons: Esau the oldest son & Jacob the younger. Against all tradition and precedent Jacob [the younger] was chosen to receive the promise over Esau [the elder]. These children were the beginning of God making good on his promises. The circumstances sent a message about how God works: God starts things small and causes them to grow larger. God’s blessing is a miracle… over-riding the laws of physics and biology. Isaac was a miracle baby Passing the promises along to Jacob was God’s choice. It was not deserved or earned. However, God does expect a positive response from us in returnJa