Some people think that prayer means asking for things, and if they fail to receive exactly what they ask for, then they think the whole thing is a fraud! Gerald Vann (1906-1963), British Catholic Theologian, Author of 24 Books. Comment: Prayer is really fellowship with God! Fellowship with the Father through His Son! You remember some of Jesus words! Father forgive them for they know not what they do! Father if possible let this cup pass from me nevertheless not my will but Thy will be done! We can pray for the stuff but it will perish one day! I can pray for the sick which is good but they will die one day! The fellowship with our Father through Jesus will last forever! We pray expecting but according to the will of God! All Jesus disciples were martyred except John who was boiled in oil and sentenced to a slave labor camp stone quarry on the island of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation! Some in the church today might think they were out of the will of God because they did not die rich with a lot of stuff? Success is more than stuff! The Gold Standard for success with God is to love others and sacrifice yourself for their benefit! What are our prayers like? Lord I am a sinner forgive me as my Savior! Lord forgive them and forgive me! Do we continue to fellowship and worship God through prayer in Heaven? What is Jesus doing right now in Heaven? He is interceding for the Saints here on earth! Satan has no prayer life and is separated from God! The Old Testament Hebrew word for prayer means to intercede for someone else! Jesus is following this pattern in Heaven today! One of the Greek words for prayer in the New Testament means to ask for a specific benefit from God! Send your Holy Spirit and dwell in me! Whatever the benefit it is to benefit others! Pray more for souls and less for stuff! What will be our prayer in Heaven? Praying for those here on earth! Why not start today? An American Pastor Charity and Ruth Harris ministered to us in a church in Denver Colorado back in the 1970’s for two years. They have spent over 40 years on the Mission field in Africa! They build hundreds of Tabernacle churches in the remote villages of Africa! Charity is now old in a nursing home legally blind. What is he doing today there? Praying for others including my family and preparing himself through prayer for Heaven! No one on earth can bestow a greater honor on you than to lift your name up to the Son and to the Father! Jesus said my House shall be called a House of prayer and not a den of thieves! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Tag: spirit
Are You a Pilgrim? Hebrews 11:13
“These all died while believing and acting while not receiving the gifts graciously given by God but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them and embraced them publically praising God that they were aliens and foreigners on the earth.” Comment: Are you a Christopher Columbus? Is your faith based upon science, intellect or reason? Columbus said he navigated to the missing continent of his then known world based upon the Bible! When you live by faith you see your final destination not by physical sight but by trusting God’s promises to you! The world says show me the money! I will believe it when I see it! The Christian has just the opposite view of life! I believe it through His Spirit according to His Word and one day I shall see it! Columbus sailed west and no one in that day would dare do that! Suicide! He was navigating according to the Word of God! If you trust the Bible as Columbus did and those in the Hall of Faith then you will build God’s Kingdom while down here on earth and you will help prepare the earth for Christ’s return! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
God of Mammon! Luke 16:13
The Greek word translates as a comprehensive word used for all kinds of possessions, earnings and gains and is designated for a material value. Jesus said we cannot serve God and Mammon! We cannot have two masters for we will hate the one and love the other! Idol’s are easy to make but hard to abandon! Once entrenched in our soul extraction is very difficult! We are born into a material world! We are material ourselves! Wealth is not evil of itself but Jesus said the love of money is the root of all evil. We can have a misplaced trust in something that will perish! Jesus was trying to get us to focus on eternal values such as your spirit and soul that will never perish but spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell depending on what you with Jesus Christ! You will either worship Jesus or Mammon! Chose Jesus! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Philippians 2:6 Greek Translation
He continued to be who He was before and after the flesh and His outward appearance, idea’s and reality was the true God! He did not value highly to be equivalent with God but continued to be who He was before the flesh! Comment: It is interesting that most human’s value the flesh more than the Spirit and the Soul? The flesh is not eternal and Jesus did not let the flesh distract Him from who He is! Neither should you! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Do You Need Intervention? Romans 8:27
Greek Translation: ‘He that searches the thoughts and intentions of the heart knows what is the purpose of the Spirit because He intervenes for the morally blameless (Saints), according to the will of God.” Comment: Mt biggest surprise when translating this passage from the Greek are from the two English words “Maketh intercession.” The two English words used here have nothing to do with prayer! In fact I looked up every Greek word used for prayer in the New Testament and the Strongs#1793 is never used for prayer! I assumed all my life that this scripture was talking about prayer? The Holy Spirit is the active agent of the Trinity! The Holy Spirit is the servant of the Father and the Son! The Holy Spirit will and does intervene for the Saints when required! The word intervene is a more accurate English word for making intercession! The virgin birth is probably the best example of the Holy Spirit intervention into our natural world! The Holy Spirit intervened into the natural biological processes of Mary and Jesus Christ the Son of God was born into the earth to redeem the earth! This is important because Muslims believe according to the Koran that God had sex with Mary! Another example of intervention would be the speaking in Tongues at Pentecost! God knows the thoughts and intensions of our heart! The Holy Spirit knows His purpose and the will of God for you and me! The will of God is expressed in the Word of God! You might want to read your Bible regularly? Based upon the will and Word of God He intervenes as required for us! Are the thoughts and purposes of our heart right with God? We may need intervention! Start by confessing your sin to Jesus and ask Him to clean and sanctify our hearts! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Forgiveness! Matthew 27:50
Yielded up here means Christ voluntarily gives up His Spirit in His body! To forgive sin means to remove those sins from oneself! Only God is able to do that for us! To forgive sin is not to disregard them or do nothing about them, but to liberate a person from them! That is to remove the guilt and power of sin over and in a person! We are to ask God to forgive us our sin and remove them from us so we do not stand guilty of them and under their power and control. Christ has forgiven us and He also asks us to forgive others! Remember our forgiving others is a sign of our salvation but only Christ has the power to redeem others! This is why Evangelism is so important! I can forgive a snake for biting me but if I go back to that snake he will bite me again! You can forgive that poor devil but he is still a devil. The sinner must still come to the same Christ we have come to! One sign that you have forgiven a sinner who has offended you is that you regularly pray for them that God will Bless them and that they will find Christ as their Savior! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Earthquakes and Air! Matthew 8:24
“And behold there arose a great tempest in the sea, inasmuch that the ship was covered with the waves; but He was asleep.” The Greek word “seismos”, used for tempest can either mean an earthquake or a gale of wind. Are these events related? Could this have been a tsunami? Regardless Jesus used the air or His breath to command the storm to cease! Let us go back to some other voices from the past! From the lifetime of Greek Philosopher Anaxagoras in the 5th Century B.C. to the 14th Century A.D. believed that earthquakes were attributed to air(vapors) in the cavities of the earth! The Greek Philosopher Democritus (460-371 B.C,) blamed water in the ground for earthquakes! He did not know anything about fracking! Also remember the earth in history was completely flooded in water for months! Noah’s flood! What would that do to the earth’s crust soaking and submerged for months? Perhaps this is why the Greek word became associated with earthquakes, air and water? We know earthquakes can cause floods, fires, volcanos and elevate the earth’s temperature! Jesus predicted an increase of earthquakes before His second coming! Could this increase cause global warming? An earthquake of 8.6 in magnitude releases the same amount of energy as ten thousand atomic bombs the size used in WWII. Remember the earthquake when Jesus died on the Cross? The graves were opened and many other things happened! When Jesus stopped breathing (air) the quake occurred! Let us look at Revelation 16:17-18. Chapter 16 covers the seven vial judgments released upon the earth! Notice the seventh angel poured out his vial out into the air! Then God spoke it is done or finished and then the largest earthquake ever recorded in history took place! Jesus said in Luke 21:11, “there shall be earthquakes in diverse places and great signs from Heaven.” Remember Paul and Silas in prison? Acts 16:25-26. Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God! Your praises and prayers involve breath or air! Suddenly an earthquake came and freed them from prison! God can use a supernatural event to save you or destroy you! Without breath we die! God breathed into man the breath of life! Creation involved air as God spoke it into existence! When a baby is born it is slapped on the bottom to get it to breath! When opposing winds collide they form cyclones or a tornado! Opposing words between nations can cause a war! Words are important because they can either pollute the air or fragrance it! Remember when the Holy Spirit came as Jesus had promised? The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples as a mighty rushing wind! We can repeat Jesus words with our breath or we can speak our own words in destruction! Use the breath God gave you to praise Him! Your life and others will be changed! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Spirit or Flesh? John 11:25-26 (Greek Translation)
Verse 25; “Jesus said unto her I will cause his body to stand on his feet again from the grave! I am the principle of life and the spirit and the soul but not the flesh! He that will believe or give me credit though he were dead yet I will cause his spirit to dwell eternally with me!” Verse 26; “And whosoever dwells with me spiritually and eternally and believes or gives me credit shall never die on account of sin!” Comment: My first thought was how could I believe in Jesus if I were physically dead? Jesus is talking about a spiritual death! The second death! Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead spiritually and physically but Lazarus died again! Jesus is telling us that the spirit and the soul is eternal but not the mortal flesh! Yet it is the mortality of the flesh that controls most people! Remember Jesus said we must be born again! Translated from the Greek he said we must be conceived from above! That is an important reason why at His ascension He sent us the Holy Spirit! There are two things in life that can destroy you eternally! Sin and to trust your flesh! Jesus heals sick bodies but only with eternity in mind! He said go and sin no more! Your flesh is temporary but your spirit and soul will dwell somewhere eternally! Either with Christ or separated from Him! Have you ever heard a Christian say I have never sinned since coming to Christ? The big lie! Your sin past, present and future is covered by the blood of Christ! You are not Holy by your own efforts! All will be raised from the dead! No one will miss this whether righteous or unrighteous! When you appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ you if in Christ will be pardoned from judgment! You will miss the second eternal death! Are you giving Christ credit for your Salvation right now while on earth! Do you tell others or are you mute? Salvation is about what you do with Christ and what He does with you! This is what the Easter message is all about! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Made Whole! Luke 8:48-50
Jairus the Temple ruler had one daughter 12 years old who was very sick! Jairus had sent for Jesus but He got delayed when a crowd of sick people thronged Him! A woman in the crowd touched the hem of His garment and got healed! Jesus commended her for her faith! Jairus sent another message to Jesus telling Him not to come for his daughter is dead! You might call this a cold case! Jesus presented two conditions for restoration! Fear not and believe and you will be made whole! So what does the words made whole mean? Elementary Watson! The Greek root word used here is “Sozo.” It is the same word used for our English word “Salvation.” This word means a spiritual and eternal rescue granted immediately by God for those who believe in Christ! It is the current experience of God’s power to those who believe in Christ! It is God’s power to deliver us from sin and death! What death are we talking about here? It is the second death or eternal judgment made by Christ Himself! Remember Jairus daughter and Lazarus were raised from the dead but they died a physical death again! Lightening can strike twice! I was delivered from my death bed in 1973 and have served Christ for the past 44 years but I will experience another physical death! Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:5? Remember the congregation member living with his father’s wife? Verse 5: “To deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Remember Physical death is Satan’s work not God’s work! Death is the result of sin! If Salvation was a rescue of our physical bodies here on earth then we would never die again while here on earth! At the resurrection we will receive glorified bodies that will never get sick or die! Remember at the Judgment seat of Christ some Christians will lose their rewards but not their Salvation! When some Christians get to Heaven will they be on probation? Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us! Jesus went back to Heaven to pray for us, send the Holy Spirit and prepare a place for us! He will come again! You cannot go there unless you have Salvation with a new body and a redeemed soul! He can provide that to you because of Calvary! The Easter message is about this hope we have in Him and His promises to those who accept Him as Savior! Our hope is in Him! Our past is in Him! Our present is in Him! Our future is in Him! He is the same yesterday, today and forever! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Galatians 6:7-10 (Greek Translation)
Verse 7; Do not go astray, do not be a tramp, the God of all is not mocked, for whatsoever the imperfect and mortal man sows that will he reap. Comment: When you sow a seed whether good or bad you will get a harvest! Life or death! Verse 8; For he that soweth to his mortal body shall of his mortal body reap decay and ruin, but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life both past, present and future! Comment: Sowing to your mortal body is sin and death! Sowing to the Spirit is sowing salvation, love, peace, joy, and eternal life! Verse 9; Let us not be slothful and lose courage in valuable words for in ownership at the set and proper time we shall reap if we do not relax! Comment: Laziness is a sin! We take ownership of our words! Good or bad they own you! They identify you! In God’s time you will reap a reward! Verse 10: As we have time and season let us labor and toil for what is profitable and useful to all men, especially to those that are of the family of religious Faith! Comment: Your labors for the word of God will profit many! Especially to fellow believers! You are saving the lost and encouraging believers! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com