The message here is to the Gentile-Jewish Christians! It is believed by Biblical scholars that the Book of Hebrews was written prior to the destruction of the Jewish Temple and Jerusalem in 70 A.D. What was Paul trying to tell us? Why should we not forsake public worship? First let us look at Heaven! Do the believers in Heaven forsake assembling together? Is one believer on the golf course and one working a Sunday job? Believers by the billions are surrounding the Throne of God worshiping! Our High Priest is in Heaven! Remember the part of our Lord’s prayer that says, “On earth as it is in Heaven!” Jesus said where two or three are gathered in my name so will i be there!” Satan’s followers are gathered together warring against the Saints and have a congregation in Hell. Paul went on to say we are to exhort and encourage each other! What did Paul mean by the day approaching? Some scholars believe Paul was warning the church of the coming destruction of the Jewish Temple and the city of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Jesus predicted this! Some scholars think Paul was talking about Jesus second coming! Paul could have been talking about both events! Paul was also warning people who claimed to be Christian yet have forsaken public worship! We are to practice Holiness here on earth! This life is dress rehearsal for Heaven! If we are doing something different than we would do in Heaven while on earth we have missed the Ark! Remember Jesus taught and worshiped in the Jewish Temple! So did Paul. Paul knew that the Christians would be scattered throughout the realm after the 70 A.D. apocalypse! He wanted the flock to regroup and continue worship after the pattern set before them in Heaven! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Tag: Priest
Mary’s Song! Luke 1:52
“He hath overthrown with violence the ruler’s from their seats and exalted them of low degree!” Comment: By events in the earth God makes it clear to the Ruler’s on the earth that He is in charge! What happened to Caesar, Herod and Caiaphas the High Priest? Caesar and Herod came to a bad end! Caiaphas the High Priest was deposed! What about Mary? God took her and exalted her to a high degree then and now 2000 years later! Mary’s song expresses the hope we have today through Christ that we are not a forgotten people and God has us in remembrance! What is the Christmas story really about? It is about you! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Coronation at Bethlehem! 1 Samuel 16:13
Samuel the Priest anointed David at Bethlehem to replace King Saul. The estimated date is around 1030 B.C. About 1000 years later another King was born in Bethlehem! The Jews recognized that the Messiah, the Christ would come through David’s lineage. One of the key titles given to Jesus during His earthly ministry was “Son of David.” David was more than a King he was a warrior! Jesus was more than an earthly King! He is King over heaven and earth! He pre-existed Creation! He is Prince of peace but He is also a warrior! He will lead the armies of Heaven when He returns for His Millennium Rule here on earth! Those that do not submit to His rule will be ruled with a rod of iron! The war here on earth is a war between good and evil! Between light and darkness! Between Christianity and Islam! The coronation of Jesus at Calvary made a way for us to repent of our sin! Man has declared war on God! Peace will come when man accepts the King! Left to our own capacity sin will rule us! Submit to the King and let His peace reign in you! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Worship The Right Way! 1 Samuel 13:
Saul was the first King of Israel. He was appointed and anointed by Samuel the Priest of Israel. Saul won a lot of military victories but lost the Spiritual victory! If you lose this victory you lose everything! Saul worshiped the wrong way! He tried to do the Priest’s job! Do not try to worship without the Priest! Jesus is our High Priest but we also have an earthly Priest! Jesus had an earthly Priest and his name was John the Baptist! He prepared the way for Jesus! Your earthly Pastor or Priest prepares the way for you to meet Jesus! Through Jesus you worship the Father! Please do not let your earthly Priest live on locust and wild honey! Your tithe supports your Pastor! You honor your High Priest by honoring your earthly Priest! Give your tithe do not be a fake worshiper! Judas stole the tithe! Saul was in great danger surrounded by the Philistine armies! Samuel was separated from him so he offered the sacrifice for worship! Caiaphas the High Priest of Jerusalem felt threatened by Jesus so he unknowingly offered the true sacrifice for the redemption of man! God Himself! The earthly Priest arranged for the redemption of man! Why we worship and how we worship and who we worship is very important! We worship God alone but understand God became man to establish His Kingdom here on earth! God uses men and women to build His Church! He chooses earthly men and women to lead His Church towards Heaven on earth! Enlist in His Army and follow your leader here on earth! Find a Church this Sunday and worship Him! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Cast Your Vote! 1 Samuel 8:4
Samuel made his son’s judge over Israel when he was old. However his son’s took bribes and loved money more than God! Their judgments were perverted! The Jews got fed up and wanted a King! They were going to take their chances with a political leader rather than a Priest! So they got Saul! As elections loom over America we try our best to find someone better than the last guy! Every four years our hopes are dashed! Surely the next guy will be better? Hope and change? No thank you! I would remind our voters there is only one Prophet, Priest and King! His name is Jesus Christ! He has been running for election for 2000 years! There is only one who is both God and man! He is not a democrat, republican or dictator! He rules in love! He sacrificed Himself for you! Usually politicians sacrifice you for their gain! He went voluntarily to the Cross for you! He is returning to redeem this lost world! A vote for Christ will frame your eternity! A vote for the world will separate you from Christ for all eternity! Your eternity can begin today with Christ! The choice is yours! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Sanctuary Cities Numbers 35:9-34
God made it clear to Moses that these cities were to be provided to those who have killed by accident or by none intended error! An example would be a ox owner who’s ox breaks down a fence and then kills a small child. The sanctuary cities were not for criminals intending to do others harm! They were not for law breakers! There was always a trial and if someone murdered someone else the shedding of guilty blood was required to atone for the innocent blood. God viewed the shedding of innocent blood a pollution on the land and only the shedding of the guilty blood would remove the pollution of sin on the land! It is interesting that those who were sentenced to the refuge cities had to remain there the rest of their lives except on the death of the High Priest! After the death of the High Priest they were released and their full rights were restored! Notice it does not count if the High Priest got murdered! The blood of the innocent could only be avenged by the blood of the murderer. The death of our High Priest Jesus Christ who was innocent of our sin took our sin to free us from guilt and sin! In the Old Testament the guilty blood avenged the innocent blood! In the New Testament the innocent blood avenged the guilty blood! Just the opposite! Jesus was not murdered! He voluntarily went to the Cross! Is your sin a sanctuary living inside of you? Do you feel at home in your sin? No one knows but you and God! The High Priest has died and rose again! Do you believe He has died and rose again for you? If you do then act upon your belief! Leave the prison of your soul! Accept the work that was finished for you over 2000 years ago! Take refuge in Christ! Don’t try to make it on your own efforts! It has never been done! There will be no trial for you because He will judge the living and the dead! He has commuted your sentence! He paid it all! Let His Grace come alive in you! Grace is God doing for you what you cannot do for yourself! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Moses Gets Rocked! Numbers Chapter 20
One of the greatest Patriarchs gets into trouble with God along with his brother Aron the Priest! On their journey from Egypt they get in a rough place in the desert of Zin. A dry desert with no water! How would you like two million people at your customer service counter complaining they have no water? They complained to Moses and told him it would have been better if he would have left them in Egypt! Moses goes to God and He tells Moses to take his rod along and speak to the rock! The rod represents his authority! God did not tell Moses to use the rod but simply speak to the rock! So Moses instead of speaking to the rock hits the rock twice with his rod! He got the same results as speaking to the rock as water gushed out of the rock but was in disobedience to God! Moses name means to be drawn out of the water. However in this case the water got him in trouble! It was the same water that saved him on the Nile River but this time not in obedience! Moses was saved by the water as a baby by the obedience of another! We are saved by the obedience of another Christ on the Cross! Moses and Aron got punished and did not enter the Promised Land! Leadership is not easy! The rewards are great and so are the risks! God may have or is performing Miracles through you but remember He can use anyone or anything! To steal God’s Glory has consequences! We must not be presumptuous in regards to God’s character! We do not live in fear of God but recognize His ways are always higher than our ways! Moses today is most likely one of the 24 elders seated before the Throne of God in Worship! If we sin and make a mistake repent quickly and give the outcome to Christ for the rest of your eternity! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
What Happened To Jesus’ Prosecutors? Easter 2014
1. Judas Iscariot- Hung himself 2. Pontius Pilot- Married the daughter of Emperor Tiberius. He was ordered back to Rome after harshly supporting a Samaritan uprising after the death of Tiberius which occurred on March 16, in 37 A.D. He was replaced by Marcelus who the new Roman Emperor installed. The new Roman Emperor Caligula (37-41 A.D.), exiled Pilot to Gaul and Pilot committed suicide in Vienne. 3. Herod the Great- Murdered the infants of Bethlehem trying to get Jesus. He murdered one of his wives and several family members. Afraid no one would mourn his funeral he ordered distinguished people of the culture to be executed on the day of his death so people would mourn! Josephus the noted Jewish historian said Herod suffered an excruciating death! He suffered from Founier’s Gangrene (Rotting of his testicles), severe itching, intestinal pain, shortness of breath, convulsions, raging fever, tumors of the feet, inflamed abdomen and severe kidney disease. 4. Herod Agrippa- The grandson of Herod the Great. He was eaten by worms in 44 A.D. 5. Tiberius Caesar- Murdered in Capri in 37 A.D. Killed at the hands of the Prefect of the Praetorian Guard Nevis Sutorius Macor with the help of his successor Emperor Caligula. 6. Saint Claudia Procks of Judea- Pilot’s wife became a revered Saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Remember she warned Pilot after a dream not to have anything to do with Jesus. Some say the dream was from Satan to spare Christ from the Cross and the redemption of man. 7. Joseph Caiaphas (High Priest)- Remember the High Priest was appointed by the Roman governor. Remember Caiaphas said it is expedient that one man should die for the people. A new governor Proconsul Vitellius deposed Caiaphas from his position as High Priest. 8. Annas (High Priest)- He was the son-in-law of Caiaphas. He was deposed by Procurator Gratus. Annas was assassinated in 66 A.D. Comments: What would Jesus do? Father forgive them for they know not what they do! The same applies to all of us today. Thank you. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Can Wealth Cause Us To Forget God?
Amos was a prophet who made pleas to his people and made some predictions of the destruction of Israel ! He was unpopular because he ministered at the peak of Israel’s material and political success. Israel was enjoying a prosperous reign under Jeroboam II, who had expanded Israel’s territory and secured it from external threats. However as Hosea observed and Moses predicted (Deut. 6:4-10, Hosea 2:5-13), this prosperity caused the people to forget God! Amos strongly denounced the rich and privileged classes who were using their power to exploit the poor. He also condemned the false religion practiced at the altar of Bethel. As a result, Amaziah, the false high priest of Bethel opposed him. Some how false religion and materialism are linked together! These are two beasts that work together to consume the poor. America today faces the same problem as did Israel then as false religion promotes materialism. Prosperity preaching sells big in America! The books, CD’s, ect, rake in hundreds of millions of dollars every year. All want to get on the band wagon by producing more books for profit! We have one Bible that covers all our needs! What would happen if millions of Christian’s in America just went out and took their hundreds of millions of dollars and went out individually and helped the poor? One thing that would diminish is the anti-Christian bias in America. Make no mistake there are many ministries in America doing a great work. The problem is too many live a wealthy lifestyle with airplanes, mansions, luxury cars, ect, that oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not want America to end up in judgment as Israel did in the days of Amos the prophet! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Hindu Temple
The year was 1987. We were nearing the completion of our 3 year commission to India by the Korean Church. We needed to sell our vehicle in preparation for returning to the United States. The way you sell things in India is just put the word out amoung the local villagers! News travels fast in these remote areas. A young man named Benny told me this Hindu Priest was wanting to purchase my vehicle and if I would come up to the Temple he would pay me. Local Pastor’s in India warned me never to accept invitations to Hindu Temples! So I refused many invites by these Hindu Priests. So I told Benny no! Benny told me this is different. He only wants to buy your vehicle. It is simply buisness. So I decided to go. So Benny got in my vehicle with me and we made the steep pull up the mountain into the remote tribal area. As we approached the front entrance of this big Hindu Temple I could smell the sweet fragrance of incense sticks burning in the Temple. We were greeted at the front entrance by two beautiful young girls! They could have even been teen agers. One girl went to my left side and the other to my right side. They put one hand into my hand and the other on my forearm and escorted me into the Temple. I felt like the chosen King on prom night back in high school! With their collective beauty,perfumes and incense burning in the Temple I began to feel sedated! I began to feel sorry for the folks back home in America! Then the thought hit me. Where is Benny? As I was escoted deeper into this Temple some things began to trouble me? The doors into the rooms and halls had iron gates on them much like a jail cell? There seemed to be alot of girls in this Temple? Some not modestly dressed? Then I walked by this European looking guy sitting on the floor with his head shaved! This young man was like staring into space. His eyes were glassy and his soul looked empty? I glanced into one room as I walked by and there were these 3 iron stakes anchored into the cement with leather straps tied on them? I asked one of my escorts where we were going? I cannot completely descibe the foreboding feelings I had at this time? The girls told me they were taking me to the guest room where the Hindu Priest will give me the money for the vehicle. Even though I wanted to pull away and get out of there I was like mesmerized by the spiritual atmosphere there! It was like something was taking control of me? Much like the cobra spitting his venom into the air in a room to disable his victims! The girls finally took me into this room and asked me to sit down in the chair. The girls pulled the curtain over the door and left the room. This room only had one chair in the middle of the room and I was sitting on it? No pictures on the walls and only one door to exit the room. No windows either? I began to have more concerns! I got up out of my chair moved the curtain back but the iron gate was locked behind the curtain! No time to panic but I did begin to sweat! I went back to my chair. Where was Benny? Suddenly two different girls came from behind the curtain! They were as pretty and young as the first two but were not modestly dressed? They wore short grass skirts with their tops adequately displayed chanting and dancing around me in my chair? They had ankle chains on their legs with bells attached so when they danced the bells would jingle! They had tambourines they were beating. My natural defences began to further abate. My thoughts were now who cares where Benny is! As the girls would dance, chant and sway their bodies around me with the beat to the music they began to make eye contact with me. They would fix their eyes on my eyes and then shift their eyes rapidly left to right and then right to left. I began to feel dizzy! This went on for about 10 or 15 minutes. I really lost track of time? I was now moving into a deeper hypnotic state! Then the girls abruptly left the room! I wanted to get out but now unable to even get out of my chair? I was like unable to respond to my natural senses? I would later learn the European looking guy was made a eunuch in the Temple along with some other fellows there. Now there was an ominous quiet period while I was waiting for the next act! Suddenly these huge drums began to beat? Then I began to hear this male voice chanting in the distance. This voice began to get louder as this man got closer to me! I could also hear a tambourine beating. Suddenly this huge man broke through the door curtain! He must have weighed 300 pounds and looked like a sumo wrestler! He was bare chested with bright colors were painted all over him! He like the girls were dancing,chanting, banging his tambourine and trying to focus his eyes on mine. He had a full beard and long hair. He looked like a bat out of hell! The girls softened me up and this guy was going to take me down! Then about a dozen girls entered the room and joined the high priest in their chants and dances! Yes the choir was now in place! His cheer leaders! Then behind the girls stood Benny! Betrayal at its best! I cried out to Jesus and called on His Blood to break this demonic spell! Suddenly this spirit of control over me was broken! Yes in the twinkling of an eye satan’s spell over me was broken! The priest with his harem stopped and left the room! I got up out of my chair left the room and temple and drove my vehicle back to Yercaud. I sold my vehicle in Madras and we left India for the United States! These Hindu Priests make prostitutes out of the women and eunuches out of the men! Stay out of the Hindu Temples! James Sasse. GodWgoisGod.com