End Of Sorrow In Christ

by Chuck Ness

An interesting lesson was given to me. Please follow my thinking on this. Consider this about our walk in this World as a born again child in Christ

While reading through Leviticus in my morning quiet time, I came to Leviticus 21:10. This is where GOD gives HIS regulations to the son’s of Aaron, which the line of High Priests are to come from, as to how they are to conduct themselves.

In particular, this part speaks of how the priests are to act towards the dead. One regulation is that the one’s anointed to be high Priests among their brethren, are never ever to uncover their head nor ever tear their cloths.

Love Demonstrated

The word love is used to mean many different things. We say we "love" this house house we just bought, or that we "love" a particular vacation spot, or that "we" love a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We also "love" a certain television program, and we "love" our husband or wife. Hopefully we don't love our spouse the same way we love a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

The greatest love of all, however, is GOD's love for us. A love that showed itself in action. A friend once observed, "Love talked about is easily ignored, but love demonstrated is irresistible." The Bible says, "GOD demonstrates HIS own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) Now, that is real love! How will you respond to HIS love today?

Teach me to love as YOU love, LORD. Give me the boldness to bring YOUR light into dark places and the compassion to carry YOUR beauty to broken people. May my life be evidence of YOUR irresistible love.

A Type Of The Law

Boaz discussing Ruth and her future with nearest unnamed kin

by Chuck Ness

As I peruse through my notes in my preperation to make outlines for the Book of Ruth, I was struck by a thought that makes me again put forth an idea. We are told that the fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom and knowledge, and in James 3:1 we are told that those who teach will be held to a higher standard. Well, I always fear being wrong lest I condemn myself by misleading others.

So, my theory would be that the unnamed Kinsman could also be a symbol of the Law of Moses. Allow me to elaborate.

Just as God handed down the Law to Moses, who in turn gave it to the people. It was actually given so that they could see what sin was. Paul tells us in Romans 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” So the Law came first to show us what sin is, and thus we realize we are sinners, as Paul wrote in Romans 7:7 “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET."

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger & Thirst

by Chuck Ness

In my ministries, I never emphasize food nor clothing. While it is true that these are essential for a physical existence, they are not as essential as the Word.

Dear brothers and sisters, the primary purpose of the Church isn’t to take care of the symptoms of a fallen World, such as starvation and crime, but rather to bring the Gospel to men so that they will be brought into a position of hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

A strong desire for anything is often represented in the Scriptures by hunger and thirst for the blessings of a pardon and peace because of our sin.

Those who are lost thirst for the Living water Christ offers (John 4:14) (John 7:37) (Isaiah 55:1-2) To hunger and thirst after righteousness is to hunger and thirst after Christ

The Last Sacrificial Lamb Is Born In Bethlehem

by Chuck Ness

When you think of the first story of Christmas, it's usually about Mary and Joseph looking down at their new born son in a manger, surrounded by barn animals and maybe a shepherd or two looking on. Angels singing praises of joy to the Lord Most High, and maybe even the star that is guiding the wise men from Babylon to the destination of the Jews Messiah.

We live at a time when children are born in sanitized hospital rooms with the best of care, before and after the mother gives birth. When we hear of stories of women giving birth at home, or alongside the road where the car had to pull over because the child would not wait, we are captivated and amazed of such a thing happening in today's world.

Yet, for the vast majority of man's history, women have given birth in conditions we would not expect our pet animals give birth in. So when you consider what Mary had to endure in her last week leading up the birth of her first child, I want you to consider the following. Then maybe, just maybe, you will look at the story of Christmas a bit differently than you have in the past.

When you consider that Luke was a Doctor, it kind of makes sense that his version of the Gospel is the only one that tells the story of the birth of Christ. It makes even more sense when you consider that Luke was not just a good friend and traveling companion, but he was also the Apostle Paul's Doctor. Another point of consideration is that, in Paul's letter to the Galatians he wrote that he did not receive the Gospel from man, but from Christ Himself. So who better to know the events leading up to the birth of Jesus, than the man He shared it with.

“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ." Galatians 1:11-12

What About The Sabbath?

To be used with Matthew 11:1-19 Study

To understand the division of Bible into chapters and verses

by Chuck Ness

Throughout His ministry, Jesus never once broke the fourth commandment which required that all Jews observe the Sabbath. He was after all Jew. However, He did give us a clue that a change to the Sabbath was coming. To make my point, you must first understand that the original manuscripts of the Scriptures were not divided into verses and chapters.

The Old Testament manuscripts were written by scribes for the religious leaders to study. The New Testament manuscripts were letters originally written to be dispersed amongst the believers to read. They were like the letters you receive today. Just a document written in sentences and paragraphs with no verse or chapter numbers.

God's Wisdom vs Man's Wisdom

by Chuck Ness

This is a topical message I shared with the Ladies of Windchime back in 2006. I only have a handful of messages recored, because I lost 99% of them when I had a hard drive fail on my some years back. This is one of the messages I was able to save.

Paul tells us that Christ is the Wisdom of GOD, so if you do not have Christ in your heart, it is impossible to make wise decisions. Without the Wisdom of GOD, we will continue to make decisions based upon man's wisdom. Yet we know that God uses foolish things to bring man's wisdom to shame.

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.1Corinthians 1:26-31

A Harlot's Faith That Moved A Mountain

by Chuck Ness

There are four women mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus Christ, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. The second one, Rahab, was the harlot of Jericho who protected the men sent out by Joshua to spy on the city. Besides being a direct ancestor of Christ, Rahab is also one of only two women mentioned in Hebrews for their triumph of faith. The other being Abraham's wife Sarah.

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a
child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
(Hebrew 11:11)

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot
Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
(Hebrew 11:30-31)

Then we read in James,

An Ominous Feeling For The Future, Yet Still In Peace Through Christ

by Chuck Ness

An ominous feeling came over me while I was in my morning quiet time of reading the Scriptures. I pray it’s just a feeling of human despair, but it seems so much more. What has happened around the World in the last few Months is similar to what was happening around the World in the mid 1930's. OH how I feel the Lord has truly turned away from us.

It is without a doubt there are many Christians in America who are not ready for the next chapter of the end. Like in the days after King Josiah of Judah died, so too are the days for America today. While not all the people were evil then, it's a fact that the vast majority did not follow God. So too are the people of America today. The vast majority of Americans do not follow Christ. Even most who call Him Lord do not follow His ways, they are more carnal than spiritual. God wants us 24/7, not just on Sunday morning for a few hours.

Is God Your Financial Adviser?

by Chuck Ness

When the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, He said to him;

"Ask! What shall I give you?" 1 Kings 3:5

Solomon could have asked for anything his heart desired; wealth, women, slaves, victory in battle over all of God's enemies, or even a very long healthy life. Yet, he asked for none of those things. Instead, Solomon humbled himself and said to the LORD;

".....give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" 1 Kings 3:9

Wisdom vs Folly's Invitation Proverb 9

by Chuck Ness

Advice from Wisdom vs advice from Folly is continually compared throughout the proverbs. We’ve seen these analogies often, but one thing that stands out in this chapter, is not so much the difference, but the similarities.

Satan often imitates God to lure us in. After all, when you put out poison to kill a rodent, you do not use 100% poison, you only use enough to kill them. So you use 99% of a type of food they like, to lure them into eating. Once they eat, they get the 1% of poison that will kill them.

In chapter 9, both wisdom and folly throw themselves at those of us who are simple and those who lack sense. So each are available to all of us. Both sit in “the high places in town,” so they are equally accessible to all of us. The difference is in what they are offering and the type of life that results in following each of them.

Wisdom offers insight and multiplication of days while folly offers material things such as sweet water and bread that already is ours, but by being lured away with material goods of the world, we can be led straight to hell. I take this as another way of saying that we need to chase after insight and not just stuff, because if we are following God's precepts, the rest will follow as a reward.

I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ.
Amen

Isaiah, The 5th Evangelist

by Chuck Ness

I would like to broaden your understanding of the book Jesus read from while in the synagogue of His home town, Luke_4:16-30 so that you may better appreciate the book written by the Fifth Evangelist.

Isaiah is the most often quoted prophet in the New Testament, yet his book can be as obscure as it is interesting. Even many Christians will admit they know very little about the book and what it has to offer for their walk with Christ. Other than being familiar with a few famous passages that foretold the advent of Christ Isa_9:6 and his suffering Isa_53:1-12, most people don’t know that there are prophecies that coincide with the book of Revelations. Isa_13:1-13, Isa_14:1-22. Unfortunately, because of their unfamiliarity they miss out on the true gift Isaiah has to offer.

I Know I Will See Christ Face to Face

by Jose Barajas

We all gathered as a family the day we celebrated the life of our father with friends and people who had known my dad. That day was beautiful as the sun shone and I had spent the morning crying and admittedly even had a few shots with my brother in law. I was chosen to be one who would speak to the crowd that gathered and really didn’t know what I was going to say.

I remember talking about each of my siblings and making people laugh because that’s what my dad would have wanted but I know I was in a daze! When we took his body to the spot where it would lay, all of my family stood there, and God only knows what they were thinking. However, because of what Jesus did on the cross, I know in my heart that I will see my dad again.

He Is Risen

by Adam Lustig

From the day Mary Magdalene met Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane after Jesus arose from the dead to her pounding on the door of the upper room, where Jesus’s disciples were hiding from the Jewish leaders and Roman authorities, these three words, “He is Risen”, have been the heartbeat of every Christian.

Jesus’s promise of His resurrection to His followers while He was alive came crashing down when he died on the cross.

For 3 1/2 years of Jesus’s ministry, He engrained into His disciples “destroy this temple,” speaking of himself, “and in 3 days I will raise it up” the religious leaders of Israel did not understand Him even Jesus’s inner circle Peter, James, and John were doubtful.

Choose Wisely by Reading a Proverb A Day, Proverb 1

by Chuck Ness

The purpose of Writing the book of Proverbs was to reveal the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations. Through Solomon, God shared His Wisdom, and He made sure that no topic was left to question. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and Godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings. Without wisdom, knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, influenced by emotional feelings. Many highly educated people are in positions of power in the United States, but very few of those educated leaders have the wisdom needed to rule properly. One can say that they have been educated well beyond their intelligence. A cursory look at the court system will prove my point that knowledge without wisdom will only lead to an immoral society that eventually crumbles from within. Judges are supposed to be above the fray, and immovable to emotions. Instead, the vast majority of judges today are Godless individuals who are vacant of wisdom. So their rulings are totally based upon emotional feelings. We the people are to blame, because we ignored God's guidance in appointing our leaders. Instead of appointing God fearing men in positions of power, we chose those who would scratch our itchy ears to lead us. It is incumbent upon us to chose leaders who have faith in Christ, then and only then can we be assured that they will make wise decisions. Paul tells us that Christ is the Wisdom of God, so if you do not have Christ in your heart, it is impossible to make wise decisions. Instead our leaders continue to make decisions based upon man's wisdom. Yet we know that God uses foolish things to bring man's wisdom to shame. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.1Corinthians 1:26-31 Now of the 31 Proverbs, only the first 24 were written by Solomon. King Hezekiah wrote 5, Proverbs 25 to 29, Agur wrote Proverb 30, and Lemuel's mother wrote Proverb 31. Many scholars believe Lemuel was in fact a nick name Solomon's Mother, Bathsheba, gave him. If so, then Proverb 31 would have been written by Bathsheba. Solomon wrote over 3000 Proverbs and composed 1000 songs, but the only Proverbs of Solomon that God decided to preserve for us are Proverbs 1-24. Like the New Testament epistle by James, it is impossible to get a chronological outline for a study since they all bounce from subject to subject, and no one can be sure of the dates. Other than to say that Solomon wrote most of the Proverbs in his younger years, and as he got older his many wives led him into idolatry. He did return in his late years, and that is when he wrote Ecclesiastes. Along with my daily routine of reading the Bible, I try to read through the book of Proverbs once a Month. It's an easy task when you consider there are 31 Proverbs. So all you need to know is what day of the Month it is. In the Months that have 30 days, or in the case of February, I just double up by reading more than one proverb so I can begin the next month with Proverb 1 on the first again.

Today is the 1st of the Month, so we begin with Proverb 1 (NKJV)

The Beginning of Knowledge

01 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

02 To know wisdom and instruction,
00To perceive the words of understanding,
03 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
00 Justice, judgment, and equity;
04 To give prudence to the simple,
00 To the young man knowledge and discretion--
05 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
00 And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
06 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
00 The words of the wise and their riddles.

07 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
00 But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Shun Evil Counsel

08 My son, hear the instruction of your father,
00 And do not forsake the law of your mother;
09 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
00 And chains about your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,
00 Do not consent.
11 If they say, "Come with us,
00 Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
00 Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
00 And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,
00 We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us,
00 Let us all have one purse"--
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them,
00 Keep your foot from their path;
16 For their feet run to evil,
00 And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread
00 In the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,
00 They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
00 It takes away the life of its owners.

The Call of Wisdom

20 Wisdom calls aloud outside;
00 She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses,
00 At the openings of the gates in the city
00 She speaks her words:
22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
00 For scorners delight in their scorning,
00 And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
00 Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
00 I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused,
00 I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
00 And would have none of my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
00 I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
00 And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
00 When distress and anguish come upon you.

28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
00 They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
00 And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 They would have none of my counsel
00 And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
00 And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
00 And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
00 And will be secure, without fear of evil."

Proverb 26:1 Only A Fool Would Want Rain At Harvest Time

by Chuck Ness

1.) As snow in summer and rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool. Proverb 26:1

Very interesting in the way Solomon explains the folly of a fool in verse 1. No one but a fool would desire a snow blizzard in the middle of the Summer. Judea was primarily an agriculture society, so they needed the weather to be as it was meant to be. Just as a rain storm at harvest time would be a disaster for the farmer. So too would the weather needed for snow in mid Summer be a disaster to crops.

Israels climate is very similar to that of California's San Joaquin valley. It never, if ever, rains at harvest time, and it never snows in July. Imagine the mess a rain storm would create for workers and machinery in the muddy field as they sludge along to pick the crop, it would be very devastating.

In Northern California where I live, the walnut, and almond farmers lose millions if it rains when the trees are flowering. Their crop will be thin and they could very well fail to break even at harvest time.

Weather out of Season is a very undesirable, in fact it can and usually is very hurtful to the fruits of the earth. So only a fool would desire the weather to be different than God has ordained it to be.

When the Israelites told Samuel that they wanted a king like the other nations had, he told them their King was God, and warned them how a human king would treat them. In an attempt to bring them to their senses, he asked the Lord to send a thunder storm at harvest time to show them their folly. To Samuel, asking for a king was as foolish as asking for rain at harvest time.

“Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the LORD, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking a king for yourselves.” So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.1 Samuel 12:17

If we have the faith of a mustard seed, we would accept things as they should be, and not desire the things that should not be. Whether it be rain or snow out of season, or a king to rule over us. It is but a foolish act to desire something which is not in our best interest. Who I ask, knows what is best for us besides our Lord and Creator, our Father in Heaven? So be wise in what you ask the Lord for, and understand that some things are not in our own best interest.

Proverb 26 (NKJV)

Honor Is Not Fitting for a Fool

01 As snow in summer and rain in harvest, 
00 So honor is not fitting for a fool. 

02 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, 
00 So a curse without cause shall not alight. 

03 A whip for the horse, 
00 A bridle for the donkey, 
00 And a rod for the fool's back. 
04 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, 
00 Lest you also be like him. 
05 Answer a fool according to his folly, 
00 Lest he be wise in his own eyes. 
06 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool 
00 Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. 
07 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp 
00 Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 
08 Like one who binds a stone in a sling 
00 Is he who gives honor to a fool. 
09 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard 
00 Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 
10 The great God who formed everything 
00 Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. 
11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, 
00 So a fool repeats his folly. 
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? 
00 There is more hope for a fool than for him. 

13 The lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road! 
00 A fierce lion is in the streets!" 
14 As a door turns on its hinges, 
00 So does the lazy man on his bed. 
15 The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; 
00 It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. 
16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes 
00 Than seven men who can answer sensibly. 

17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own 
00 Is like one who takes a dog by the ears. 

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, 
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, 
00 And says, "I was only joking!" 

20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; 
00 And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. 
21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, 
00 So is a contentious man to kindle strife. 
22 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, 
00 And they go down into the inmost body. 

23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart 
00 Are like earthenware covered with silver dross. 

24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips, 
00 And lays up deceit within himself; 
25 When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, 
00 For there are seven abominations in his heart; 
26 Though his hatred is covered by deceit, 
00 His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. 

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, 
00 And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. 

28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, 
00 And a flattering mouth works ruin. 

Are You Cheerful Or Hesitant When You Give?

by Chuck Ness

Sometimes it's those with the least that give the most. Jesus used a widow's offering to teach a lesson of giving from the heart.

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them;

The Way Human's Treat Animals Reveals Their Heart

by Chuck Ness

Back in 2013, two days after Christmas, I had to have our beloved 18 year old dog, Hershee, euthanize. Her kidneys had shut down and she was in so much pain she could not even settle down for more than five minutes at a time. So the merciful thing to do was to end her life.

It's easy to talk about it now, but at the time it was as if a member of our family had died. Maybe this should not be, I mean after all, she was just a dog. But, whether we choose to accept it or not, Hershee felt that she was one of us, and we treated her as if we would treat any member of our family. We were her "pack" so to speak, and I trust that she felt herself a valuable member of that pack. She ate good when we ate good, was happy when we were happy and always tried to do her part, even if it was just to bark and growl at people she didn't know.

John The Baptist, The Last Aaronic High Priest

by Chuck Ness

Many may be baffled by this, and some may even disagree, but if you allow yourself to step away from what secular history has told you about the religion of Judaism, you will realize that there is truth in what I am about to share.

Let me begin by stating, there is absolutely nothing “Jewish” about God's revelations to Moses at Mt. Sinai. Everything Moses wrote that God instructed him to write, was distinctly Hebraic. NOT Jewish. The followers are called Jews, because the Southern Kingdom was the only one to return, and all who were part of it became known as Jews. However, that has to do with their DNA, not their religion.

The Jewish religious tradition was born in the late second temple period, by the Pharisees. There are 613 laws that God handed down to Moses, called the Torah. These laws were to guide the nation of Israel and, as Paul told the Galatians, to be a tutor and disciplinarian to guide God's people to their Messiah, Christ Jesus. However, the Pharisees added what is known as the Mishnah, which is an oral tradition of commentaries on the Mosaic Law.

How The Ides Of March Led To Jesus Being Born In Bethlehem

by Chuck Ness

What is so interesting about today, March 15, in Christian history?

Now I agree this is a bit of a stretch, but in the scheme of things it does makes some sense. If for no other reason than to bring it up for discussion. They say that the more you know the more you do not know, so here is a tidbit to consider.

Today is "The Ides of March",which is the fateful day in 44 B.C. when Julius Caesar was assassinated. Why is it interesting to note?

Well, the man who succeeded Caesar is Emperor Augustus who brought peace and stability to Rome after Julius Caesar was assassinated known as the Pax Romana.