Tag: men

Second Christmas! Hebrews 9:28

“So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Comment: Are you looking for him just like the wise men did? Are you waiting for him? If you are not looking for him and waiting for him then you are not saved! The first Christmas came to those who were looking and waiting for him! The second Christmas will come to those with the same expectations! Today where are your expectations? In your job? Your family? Your politicians? Your government? This world? If so you will be very disappointed! When everything is taken away from you except Christ you will have been a wise person! When everything is taken away from you including the Christ you did not trust you have played the fool! The fool has said in his heart there is no God! Your faith must be based on the expectations God has promised you through his only Son Jesus Christ! I want you to experience the soon coming second Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Watch! Witness! Worship!

These three words describes the actions of all the participants of the first Christmas night! Jesus light pushes back the darkness of your life! The Angel’s, the wise men and the shepherds all watched that night in great wonder! God did not accomplish the birth of his Son all by himself! He engaged the help of his creation to get the job done! From the lowest to the highest in cultural rankings he used people who were watching for him! The shepherds were raising a special breed of sheep! They were broad tailed sheep that were only used for sacrifice! Remember Cain and Abel? Cain’s vegetarian sacrifice was not accepted by God however his brother Abel made an animal or blood sacrifice that was acceptable to God! Abel was a shepherd! The Shepherd’s were culturally familiar with every manger in Bethlehem! By contrast the wise men of the East were men of science studying the scriptures and astronomy! They could have been Persians, Iraqis or even Jews! The Arab’s would have been familiar with the Jewish scriptures since the Jews were captives in Babylon for 70 years! We assume there were three wise men from the three gifts however traveling across the Arabian desert would require a caravan of people for supplies and safety! These men were wise because they were watching for God! They were looking for him! Are you looking for God? They had read the scriptures and were looking for that special star! They were educated in the sciences of astronomy and scripture! They were so familiar with the stars they would recognize a new star! Are you so familiar with the scriptures you would recognize Christ’s second coming? So they watched the scriptures and the signs in the heavens! The Angel’s watched that night from Heaven and earth! They were watching those who were watching for God! If you want God’s attention look for him! You may have temporary success in this life and people will watch you for awhile but then they will move on to the next celebrity! They will forget you! When we get God’s attention he will remember you forever! King Herod was not looking for Jesus! However when he discovered he had missed Jesus he took revenge on the small babies of Bethlehem! When the world misses Jesus second coming they will cry and wail and take revenge out on one another! This season is a great opportunity for us to watch, witness and worship Jesus! If you do eternal life with Christ is the gift under his tree that will never perish! Source: Pastor Oscar Cope Message.  James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Wise Men! 536 B.C.

Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having Salvation: lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” Comment: Yes! Zachariah lived 5 centuries before our Messiah’s arrival yet he saw him coming! He saw Christ as many other prophet’s did with great detail hundreds of years before this event! Yet 2000+ years after Bethlehem many do not see him? The alternative to a wise man is a fool! There are no fools in Heaven! The fool has said in his heart there is no God! Many still deny God! Why? Pride! There are millions of little gods running around on planet earth trying to be God! The WANNABE’S of Hell! If you try to replace God you displace yourself away from God separated forever! You forfeit your place in Heaven! Two King’s are present at Christmas! King Herod and Jesus our King! The Kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of light! No star is following us around! Zachariah looked forward and the wise men looked back! Both confirmed the truth of God’s Word! Do you want to be confirmed? Believe his word! Take Christ at his word! History confirms him how about you? Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh!

What was done with these gifts? What did Jesus do with these gifts given to him by these Kings of the East? Since Jesus was only about two years old his parents Joseph and Mary had to decide! Did they give them to the poor? They were poor themselves! Did they give them to Herod paying taxes on them? Did they distribute them to a local charitable organization in Bethlehem? Did they give them to the local synagogue? They used these funds to finance their trip down to Egypt to escape the clutches of King Herod! They used these funds to live in Egypt for two years and returning to Israel after Herod died! Joseph used the funds to set up his business as a carpenter in Nazareth! God will always make a way for his people when there seems like no way! You say no way my friend? He is the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father but by him! Wise men still follow him! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Thoughts about the Star!

This star is not an astronomical object! The star appeared at the moment of Jesus birth. It was visible to the wise men of Babylon. If they saw the star over Israel, it would indicate it was not astronomical because stars do not rise in the west! They rise in the east. If it rose in the east it was very special because star gazers like these wise men would not have difficulty recognizing the planet Venus! Traditional images show the wise men traveling over the desert following a star. However Matthew 2 does not say they followed a star to Israel. In fact, it would appear, from their reaction, that the star newly reappeared in Matthew 2:9. How could a star go before the wise men? Bethlehem is to the south of Jerusalem! Stars do not move south. They move west. Stars do not settle over houses. The Greek word for star (Aster), implies something strewn! What could it be? What could it be that moves easily from west to east appearing as strewn light? A pillar of fire would be a good example! Remember the Shechinah Glory of light that moved with the Tabernacle representing the presence of God? This light could have been interpreted as a star! It is believed the wise men reached Bethlehem about 2 years after Jesus birth. That is why Herod ordered the murder of the children 2 years and younger! Source: CreationToday.org   Comment: Point here is you cannot explain this star or light naturally! It was supernatural. Very seldom does God oppose his creation! Only to deliver his people! He turned the sun and time back for Joshua to win the battle! He opened the Red Sea for Moses and drowned the pursuing army with the same sea! Mary bore Jesus yet being a virgin! Jesus raised the dead and has promised to raise those who believe and trust him! Jesus himself was raised from the dead! Peter at midnight was delivered from the prison! Do I believe in miracles! Absolutely! Jesus delivered me off my death bed some 45 years ago! Is it a stretch to believe God at his word? It is a stretch not to! God who created all this can change anything or everything at his will! He transformed me from sin to righteousness with his atoning blood! Was it a star? All things are possible with God! He can create anyone he wants to! He can create anything he wants to at anytime at any place! He came to Bethlehem so he could prepare a place for you in Heaven! Why not follow Jesus to Heaven! He will return one day soon to earth with his church! If you wait until then to follow him it will be too late! Wise men still seek him! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Vanity Fair! Revelation 2:13

Jesus said Antipas is my faithful martyr! Antipas was the Bishop of the church at Pergamos during the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian. The Apostle John ordained Antipas as Bishop of the church at Pergamos. Antipas was burned inside an idol which was a bull shaped copper structure. His crime was casting out demons worshipped by the local population! Some of the hero’s of the Faith are listed in Hebrews Chapter eleven! Stephen was a faithful martyr listed in the Book of Acts! Antipas was most likely a Greek who converted to Christianity. Antipas is the shortened name of Antipater. Remember that was the name of one of Alexander the Great successful Generals. (397-319 B.C.). Remember Herod the Great was known by this name! Jesus will avenge the blood of the Saints! Why did Jesus call Pergamum Satan’s Seat? Even Ephesus with all of its advantages with the Great Temple and bustling port, could not match the importance of the once royal seat of the Attalids! Situated on a scenic acropolis Pergamum was embellished with the largest number of Greek and Roman Temples in the whole of Asia Minor! Examples are Zeus, Athena, Apollo, Demetia, Dionysis and Aphrodite. On another site was housed the largest Aesclepium of the Empire. Its library of two hundred thousand volumes rivaled the renowned library in Alexandria! The eminent Doctor Galen was among her favorite sons! Roman Emperors came to seek healing at the famous Aesclelpium!  Aesclepium was honored as the god of healing in the classical world. When the cult of “Dominus et Deus”, was initiated at Pergamum, the great Basilica was erected, adding to the rostrum of numerous idol Temples! The visitor today Bergama (Turkish name of the present day city), will see the immense structure at the edge of the bustling center. Basilica became the monument of vice and cruelty! Every citizen was forced to burn a few grains of incense here and worship the Emperor of Deus. Then they would proceed to their preferred practice a common syncetistic act which never lacked its double-faced devotees! For anyone who refused to submit to this profane practice death was imminent! Where as the Temple of Zeus was referred by the early Christians as the “Seat of Satan”, the appellation was later transferred to this center where some Christians felt compelled to pay obeisance! Source: Thomas Cosmades   Comment: Remember God’s church was established in the midst of all this evil! The venerable Polycarp followed Antipas in martyrdom! Christ and his Cross was raised up over “Satan’s Seat”, to defeat Satan the eternal enemy of man! This battle rages on today between the One True God and the millions of the gods of men! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Mystery Solved! Revelation 1:20

Comment: The word mystery translated from the Greek means a sacred spiritual mystery! Something that is hidden but to be revealed later. This is why a believer in Christ lives by faith! We do not see everything about our faith immediately but God reveals himself to us in steps as we progress in following him! The word angels used here simply means a messenger! Someone with a message! It could be Gabriel however this word angel in the Greek can also mean a Bishop, Pastor or a designated elder! The word churches means a congregation of believers following Christ. I believe the angels were the seven Pastor’s of the seven churches in Asia Minor (Turkey).  This letter was for them! Some believe the Roman guards would have read John’s letters so he coded them so only the churches would understand what he was saying! When the Roman guards read these letters they probably thought John was crazy! I am sure the world today looks at us the same way! The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men! The reason the Romans released John from prison is probably because they thought he was not a threat to Caesar but just plain crazy! Remember the whole Book of Revelation is the unveiling or uncovering the mystery of Jesus Christ! Look for Jesus Christ as you read and study this Book! To those who have not received the Revelation of Jesus Christ this Book would look foolish yet to those who have received him it is the power of God! The stars and the candlesticks ultimately all point to Christ! There was a star over Bethlehem and Jesus is the light of the world! Let him light your path so you do not stumble in the darkness! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Observations of God and Men!

I have done some studies about events and the leaders of the world prior to WWII. I have studied the ideologies of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and Emperor Hirohito of Japan! What was the driving purpose for their ideologies was determined by their belief about God! Their supporting cast were their cultures! Much of Eastern and Western Europe at this time in history embraced Darwinism or Evolution! Charles Darwin was an atheistic Jew who believed that since there is no God things must have happened this way! That is we must have evolved from very primitive life forms! Japan was very different in their culture where they worshipped the Emperor as God! The west and the east were are on very different ends of the spectrum in their belief about God but with the same devastating results! What about Islam? What does believing in a false god lead to whether religious or not? If you are an atheist you make yourself God! If you make man god then you make yourself equal with God! Jesus was man but he was also God! I have noticed in history and in my own life that if you worship a false god you will sacrifice others for your own perceived gains! If you worship the real God you will sacrifice yourself to help others! Whether you wear a religious cloak or not this is the bottom line! The sacrificing could be your laying down your life for others as the disciples did or living one day at a time sacrificing for your family and the community! Sacrificing for friends and sacrificing for strangers! It could be coaching a youth basketball team! Serving in your church! The day I discovered God’s only Son Jesus Christ sacrificed his life for me for my sin I wanted to sacrifice my life in service to others! There is a righteous sacrifice and an unrighteous sacrifice! The righteous sacrifice will always benefit others the unrighteous sacrifice will always destroy others! Serving the living God will benefit all. We face the false god of Darwinism in American culture today! Sacrificing children through abortion to cover sin with 57 million victims so far! Death cannot be our motto! Gay marriage cannot produce children ending in the death of our culture! Gay’s, lesbians and transgenders have about a 40 percent higher suicide rate than the rest of the culture! The only ones holding America together today are the Christians and Orthodox Jews who vote Republican for traditional values that have always made America great! The Bible and the Holy scriptures promote life and not death! When we choose life and Christ we say no to death! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Time Shall Be No More! Psalm 90:1

Lord God, thou has been our dwelling place in all generations. Comment: Moses wrote this Psalm and is the oldest Psalm in our Bible! What was Moses saying? Generations represent the revolution of time! Time reveals everything! It includes the revelation of God to men! It also reveals the character of man and the character of God! Time is linear and measurable! Time is the result of creation! Time does not measure creation it is creation! Time is your best friend or worst enemy depending on what you do with it! It allows you to find the living God or allows you to reject the living God! Time proves God’s faithfulness and man’s folly! Time is the opportunity presented to you for redemption! Time marches on as generations come and go! Every generation has to make a choice about God! Reverence him or reject him! After time passes for us the opportunity for accepting redemption passes! Then our choices are locked in forever! God wants to forgive you of your wrong choices but that requires repentance on your part! Humility rather than pride! Time opens the door and closes the door! Time presented the incarnation of God into flesh through his Son Jesus Christ into the earth! Time allowed his crucifixion on the Cross for our sin! Time will present his second coming into the earth! Time will reveal you redemption or judgment! Time is the best friend of the believer and the worst enemy of the unrepentant! Time allows us to receive God’s love and demonstrate God’s love to others! Water saved Noah and his family but destroyed the rest of the world! If you choose God the elements of the earth created by God will save you! If you reject the Savior the elements will destroy you! Which side of history will you choose? Your way or his way? Life or death? Sin or redemption? Living in Hell is not an option worth considering! Time shall be no more is declared in Revelation 10:6! This is the echo of Moses in Psalm 90! When judgment comes to you your only escape is if you allowed Christ to take your judgment upon himself! Have you done this? James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com