It was 1973 and Hamsa and I were just married! It was also the start of America’s greatest recession which lasted until 1975! It was the year of the Arab Oil Embargo and President Nixon being impeached! In a matter of a few months living in Denver Colorado we were both laid off from our jobs! So together each day we would go out to the Aurora Colorado unemployment office and look for work! We were still excited about our daily trips to the office because we were living life together! We shared our problems and our joys! We no longer had to be alone! We were having fun in spite of the economic downturn! Our world was bigger now because it included two instead of one! Two could pull easier than one! We solved problems together! I was newly saved and had found Christ! Together we shared our Savior! A three stranded cord is not easily broken! I remember coming out of that office and meeting a blind man on the street! He had an escort and I asked him if I could pray for him? The escort seemed irritated but allowed so I prayed for this man for Salvation and a healing! I long for some of those days where our possessions were few but our Faith was great! When we accumulate too many earthly possessions we can begin to trust those rather than God! So what is the cure? Give them away! That is what Jesus told the rich man to do! To be rich in Christ is better than silver and gold! As Christmas is approaching remember our joy is not based on what we can do but based on what God has done for us! We have not deserved or earned his gifts we just need to receive them! Jesus purchased our RideShare tickets! He has punched those tickets for us and are now along for the ride! Never get off this Gospel train because it is taking you home! There is a joy in the journey because you are not alone and Jesus promised to never leave you or forsake you! He is true to his word! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Tag: colorado
Biblical versus Civil Law!
But hereof be assured, that all is not lawful nor just that is statute by civil laws: neither yet is everything sin before God, which ungodly persons allege to be treason. John Knox (1514-1572) Comment: No one could probably understand this better than the Colorado Bake shop owner who was fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for refusing to bake a cake for a gay couple! Then after a Supreme Court victory is still being harassed by Colorado State government? This is another ungodly civil law that when passed into statute the ungodly go after the Godly with harassment, threats of violence and civil court actions! John Knox also experienced this first hand as one of the leaders of the Reformation as Queen Bloody Mary of England took him to task! No history is new with man but just repeats itself! This is why God’s only Son Jesus Christ had to make a one way trip to the Cross for our sin! Many civil laws such as slavery, Jim Crow and others were at one time civil statute in our nation! Through a costly civil war the tide was turned! All civil laws that oppose the scriptures will be eventually overturned like abortion but often it comes with a great price! To oppose God is stupid and very costly! The unrighteous cause the righteous to suffer! That is best illustrated by Jesus to the Cross! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Reproach of Men! Isaiah 51:7
“Listen unto me carefully that you understand to discern and know righteousness. For my people are those who know my heart and inner soul of my law. Fear not the shameful displeasure of men neither be broken or despaired of their sinful rebuke.” Comment: The true commentary is we all initially opposed God! Those that have repented understand His righteousness because they understand His forgiveness! Once you understand you have sinned against God you understand His righteousness! Your night brings His light into your life! Those that live in and promote evil do not understand their error and God’s standard! God’s standard is described in your Bible but those that reject His Word reject God Himself! As described in Isaiah sinners will try to shame you and rebuke you for taking the God standard! They will sue you and drag you into court as they did with the Colorado family who refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple! Since Jesus is not around to spit in His face, mock Him, plant a crown of thorns on Him, whip Him bloody and nail Him to a Cross they only have you His follower to persecute! Remember on the Cross Jesus asked His Father to forgive them for they know not what they do! Why could not Jesus have forgiven them? Jesus had not yet completed His redemptive work on the Cross! After Jesus death and resurrection the way was open for His persecutors to repent! It would not be smart to reject the only God who can forgive you your sin! I can suffer the reproach of men but I could never survive the reproach of God on Judgment Day unless my Judge was my Savior! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Foundation for Ministry? Isaiah 33:6
So what is it? God delivered me off my death bed 45 years ago as a young man! I did not deserve it but He did it! A miracle and my first at the hands of Jesus! After this event I was actively involved in ministry through my local church! I went into prisons! I went down to the skid rows down on Larimer street in Denver Colorado! I went down to the drunks in alleys sleeping and awakening them and telling them Jesus loves you! I held Gospel meetings in the alleys of slum area’s of Denver! Saturday morning I was there among them preaching the Gospel! I was faithful for 10 years in these kind of ministries! I spent time in half-way houses holding prayer meetings! Then visions came to me in the middle of the night! Visions of going to the foreign mission field! I went to my local Pastor and explained these visions to him but he felt I should spend 4 years in Bible school. However the window was open now but for how long? I went back to other churches we had attended over the years in Denver but they all had excuses why they could not help us! Then my wife in Denver heard over the Christian radio station that the pastor of the world’s largest church was coming to Denver for crusades! My wife asked me if we should go see him? I was skeptical? If these Pastor’s here in Denver don’t want us even though we supported them for years who are we to this guy? I told Hamsa we are going to put our house up for sale this week and I am resigning my job! We are selling everything we have except two traveling bags each and buying a one way ticket to India! Sponsor or no sponsor we are going! She told me before you take this big step of faith why not take a small step of faith and go to this crusade! So we took our two little daughters who were 3 and 5 years old and went down to the crusade! It seemed uneventful? We left out to the parking lot after it was over with hundreds of cars leaving the parking lot! We went to our car and then it seemed out of nowhere Pastor Cho surrounded by elder’s was heading to his limo! My wife told me to stay with the children and I will talk to him! She shouted through the ring of elder’s and told Pastor Cho we are going to India as missionaries would you pray for us! He told my wife to bring your husband and we will pray! He took our hands and began to prayer for about 30 seconds. Then he told us we would come to Korea to be commissioned by our church for a 3 year work in India! The rest is history! So what is the bed rock foundation for ministry? I learned later that Cho as a young man was dying of TB! The hospital sent him home to die! He lived in a slum of Seoul. He was coughing up cups of blood! This little teenage girl would come by his cot in the cold winter everyday and pray for him! He would insult her and call her a Christian dog and would spit on her! She kept coming back each day for prayer! As she prayed he began to get better! A miracle walked into his life by the name of Jesus! Cho began a tent ministry in the slum of Seoul that eventually became the world’s largest church with over one million members! Suffering is the foundation for ministry! We do not look for it but God will bring it according to His will and purpose of your life! Pastor Cho looked for 60 years to find this teenage girl but never could find her? She is probably wearing a crown right now! She led Cho to Christ! Never discount who you have led to Christ! Suffering has purpose! Easter is about God suffering for you! Compassion means to suffer with! Are you willing to suffer with and for others? This is the Spirit of Easter! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Transubstantiation! Matthew 26:29
Perhaps you will say, I see something else, how is it that you assert that I receive the Body of Christ?…Let us prove that this is not what nature made, but what the blessing consecrated, and the power of blessing is greater than that of nature, because by blessing nature itself is changed… For that sacrament which you receive is made what it is by the Word of Christ. But if the Word of Elijah had such power as to bring down fire from Heaven, shall not the Word of Christ have power to change the nature of the elements?… Why do you seek the order of nature is the Body of Christ, seeing that the Lord Jesus Himself was born of a virgin, not according to nature? It is the true Flesh of Christ which was crucified and buried, this is seen truly the Sacrament of His Body. Before the blessing of the heavenly words another nature is spoken of, after the consecration the Body is signified. He Himself speaks of His Blood. Before the consecration it has another name, after it is called Blood. And you say Amen, that is, it is true. Let the heart within confess what the mouth utters, let the soul feel what the voice speaks. Saint Abrose of Milan (340-397 A.D.) Comment: This doctrine has been a Catholic doctrine for hundreds of years! We have to look at two words used in verse 29. The word kingdom in the Greek can include both Heaven and earth! That is it can mean God’s rule over the earth and His rule over the Spiritual eternal Kingdom in Heaven! Remember part of the Lord’s prayer is on earth as it is in Heaven! The other word used in this verse is the word new! The word means qualitatively new! That is the old man has become a new man! The Old Testament has a new quality! It has become the New Testament! The old Heaven has a new quality! It has become the new Heaven! The old earth has a new quality! It has become a new earth! Everything changed at the Cross! A change took place in me when I came to the Cross! The changes are still taking place in me some 45 years later! It is a continual work! A daily reformation! Are we going to take Communion in Heaven? How about at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? Some say well we will not because we will be with Jesus! Is Jesus not with you right now? Jesus said this do in remembrance of me! Do we need to remember what He has done for us in Heaven? When I take Communion here on earth what do I remember? I remember how bad I am and how good God is! I remember the price He paid for my sin! I remember I deserved death and He gave me life! I remember how hopeless and lost I was and He rescued me! Will I forget these things in Heaven? No way my friend! You see His love for me changed everything! His love for me caused me to love others! If I am that valuable then others must to valuable too! My same motivation to worship Him on earth will be the same motivation in Heaven! Ever Communion Service renews my relationship to Him! It is like being born again again! Paul warned us not to crucify Him again! We are to examine ourselves before Communion! Paul meant we are not to continue sinning after Communion! Whether the elements of the Communion are the actual Blood and Body of Jesus is not the issue with me! We can reject Christ even while taking Communion! Our heart can be somewhere else! Away from Him! So how can we test any Theology? Does the Theology move us closer to Christ or farther away from Him? If Communion causes me to feel free to sin because my slate will be clean at the next Communion Service then we have a license to sin! Does your love for Christ want you to please God and forsake your sin? Why did Lucifer rebel against God? Lucifer a created being like us that was the Praise Leader of Heaven and forsook his position and was cast out of Heaven with 1/3 of the Angels who became Satan? Lucifer looked at his job as a position only not in relationship to God! It was just a job and love was absent from his relationship to God! So self moved on the throne of his heart and rebellion followed! We attended a large church in Colorado Springs for 3 years. Pastor Brady Boyd had the congregation take Communion every week! This was a lot of work for there were about 5 thousand members! So what did this do for me? It brought to my remembrance more often what Christ had done for me and what He is doing for me today! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
God’s Government!
The Kingdom of God is a theocracy and it is the only form of government which will release and save mankind, it is necessary that every soul should rightly and thoroughly be instructed! Orson Pratt (1811-1881) Mormon Theologian and Mathematician. Comment: He designed the “roadometer”, the modern odometer which measured how far a horse drawn wagon would travel. He also had 10 wives and 45 children! He was a busy man! This is probably while Utah and Colorado is known as the wild west? He also lived in poverty! I wonder why? Joseph Smith kicked him out of the church as an elder for some time but he came back! Then Orson left the church for some time because Joseph Smith tried to have an affair with one of his wives! God’s Kingdom is a theocracy and even the Muslim’s would agree with this! However if any member of the Trinity is marginalized then error comes in! If Jesus is dressed in religious garb and taken off the Cross what do you have left? Works! I have spent years in Colorado and visited Utah in the military and the Mormon’s are good people! They are respectful and try to live a clean life! However no matter how good we are we cannot save ourselves! They are the fastest growing denomination in America today because they do it the old fashion way going door to door! A Mormon family will come by our house every month here in the Atlanta area! They gave me literature and I give them a Gospel tract! I attended a funeral at a Mormon church years ago. The Pastor closed the service by saying surely she did enough good works to get to Heaven! Someone else purchased your ticket! Jesus Christ the only Son of God on the Cross of Calvary paid your price for sin! Never try to take God’s job! No human ever can or ever will. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Is Your Faith Out of Shape?
Faith means something when it is exercised in the darkness! Joseph Bayly (1920-1986) Joseph lost three children to blood cancer! He was an American author, publishing executive and the President of the David C. Cook publishing company located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Do You Worship “little gods” ?
Money is a good thing but makes a lousy God! One day it will leave and forsake you! Sex is a good thing but makes a lousy God! One day it will leave and forsake you! Good health is a wonderful thing but one day it will leave and forsake you! Food is a good thing but we should forsake some of it! What dominates your conversation? Money, sex, health or food? Children are a gift from God but remember they are not God! Is Jesus name ever mentioned in your conversation? Is He a curse word or a Blessing? When you draw your last breath on earth what awaits you on the flip side of eternity? Do you utter His name or are you hanging unto something or someone who cannot save you? Your future is predicted by your present! Are you calling on Him today? Do you curse your enemies who you should have forgiven? Do you Bless your enemies? Kiss the Son lest you perish! After my Bible study each day I kiss the pages I have read just before I close the Book! He is the only source of eternal life! Life and death are in the power of the tongue! Your real enemy wants you to curse your enemies which God wants you to forgive them! I will never forget the story of a airliner crash years ago. People were on fire trying to escape the cabin! Some people were cursing God while others were calling on Jesus to save them! If you found yourself in the belly of a whale what words would come from your lips? If you were a Christian in an Iranian prison chained to a cold cement floor would you still Praise Him? If you were a Syrian Christian captured by ISIS who were going to behead you unless you deny Christ what would be your decision? Our very first breath we take we cry! Our breath needs to be changed to Praise to the God who has given us life! Why forsake Jesus when He has never forsaken you even to death on a Cross! Source; Some information provided by Pastor Brady Boyd, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado. NewLifeChurch.org
Turn On The Light! 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
Like King Jehoshaphat worship is a cure for me! Judah was outnumbered! Judah means “Praise!” The people of the Book were outnumbered! I want to be in that number when the Saints go marching in! Their voices were louder than ours! The King declared a fast and then they worshipped! The Lord encouraged them and told them no one can withstand you! Don’t look to others! Take your eyes off yourself and look to God! The armies surrounded Judah! Ammon, Moab and those of Mount Seir betrayed Israel! Israel had spared them and now they turn on Israel? We cried in our affliction! The battle is not yours but the Lord’s! None will have to fight in this battle! Believe in the Lord your God and you will prosper! Go out and face them! Is anxiety the projection of your future? Do you have a vision of despair? The people are against me! Do you see the Lord in your projection? God always meets me in a vision! God is Faithful to meet you in His presence! Worship does this! The King appointed singers ahead of the army! The Lord sent ambushments against the enemy! They all died from friendly fire! Hell is full of friendly fire victims! The snare they laid for others entrapped them! Worship seems foolish to the world! Why? The victory is not dependent on them! Declare the greatness of God! Midnight Praise is singing about the morning! It is the pep rally before the victory! Musicians are often insecure! When you praise the enemy knows you are coming! You are a target! We sing the love of God! We sing of His strength! Our shame is pushed back! God destroys the enemy in the midst of Praise! In Praise Satan moves out and God moves in! The great exchange! Worship confuses the enemy! Worship makes Satan insecure! Worship turns the enemies advantage into our advantage! Judah plundered the dead bodies for three days! The riches of the wicked is laid up for the righteous! As a worship leader and song writer I sometimes suffer from extreme anxiety! Some days I was ready to quit this job! Would be easier just to get a secular job? Just obey God and leave the results to Him! Leave your fears on the Cross! It is not that I am a more talented person than others! It is when I am in the deepest valley the songs of Praise come to me in the darkest night! Pastor Brady and our congregation have overcome many fears! In the midst of our greatest fears has come our greatest Praise! I am free to run! I am free to run for You! We have overcome by the blood of the Lamb! Declare your victory in Praise! He is jealous for you! Also remember to worship after the victory! Judah went down to the Valley of Berachah to worship after victory! Worship means to bow down! You cannot get any lower than a valley! Worship brings peace and rest after the win! Part of the victory celebration! We do not want fame so keep things in perspective! His love endures forever and His love endures us! When the night comes Praise comes and then the morning light! The tomb is empty and He has risen! Jon Egan, Worship Leader, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Communion Service
The act of communion is done everyday around the world in every culture, tribe and tongue! Everyone on the earth identifies with Christ by this sacred act! I have had the privilege of taking communion in a variety of places around the world! I have seen people take communion and have had their prayers answered! Please don’t take this moment lightly! This reminds you for who He is! Engage Him for who He is! Jesus unleashes the Supernatural within your space! Again do not take this moment lightly! As we take the bread we remember His body was broken for us! He destroyed every power of darkness over us! Because of Him we live free fully committed to Him! That He is a Holy God! He has all authority over every principality and power of darkness! We don’t take this bread just because we remember a day on the Cross! We take this bread because it is designed from the foundation of the earth that the redemption of mankind would come and He was broken for us! So take this in the weight of it as it sets you free! Take this bread together! In the same way when He took the cup He said this is my blood shed for you! It is finished! Done! I don’t know what your challenges or what your struggles are this morning but it is finished! It is done! He did it all! So invoke the presence of Christ in your situation and in your life. Trust Him and I am going to believe with you! As we drink this cup there is no magic in this cup! We are reminded and assured there is a good and protective God watching over us! As we drink this cup we are going to believe for a break through! Whatever that looks like as we take the cup and thank Jesus! Lord as we partake of you! In real time God! Right here right now! As the body of Christ and your body! God I pray you will open up the Heavens over us! Over our families! Once again I pray with gratitude because you answered our prayer! I pray for those families desiring children! I pray for members of New Life Church that those desiring children will receive them! God bring life into our bodies! God for every prayer and every desire we lift up to You! Let our cries and our desires be incense unto you God! I pray you meet us in a miraculous way! We love you! Lord Jesus it is because of your love we are Holy! We are Holy only because you are Holy! You are kind and merciful! You are just! Thankyou for calling us Beloved! In whom you are well pleased! For your Kingdom come! Your will be done! In our hearts and in our lives as it is in Heaven! In Jesus Name we pray! Amen! Pastor Riaan Heynes, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado.