The Women Of Jesus' Genealogy

Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba

Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.
Matthew 1:3-6
It is without a doubt that Matthew's desire was to present Jesus to a Jewish Christian audience as a Jewish royal figure. Not just the Son of Abraham, but rather the Son of David as mentioned in the very first verse. Thus the legal heir of King David's throne. This is why he had to incorporate the genealogy that traced his lineage back to David. However, something that has intrigued theologians since the early years of Matthew's Gospel, is his inclusion of four gentile women. Women who, with the exception of Ruth, possessed no exemplary character. To modern readers this might not seem so out of place, but for a first century Jewish scribe to include women in a record of ancestry was unheard of. The World of the first century was based upon Patriarchal systems where women had no rights to speak of. They were but possessions of the men who controlled the World.

Speaking Of Schisms

by Chuck Ness

As I was enjoying a picture commentary about the time king Saul attacked David, I was given an insight I had never previously considered. It's a connection that ties Saul's attack on David and our Lord Jesus being confronted by the religious leaders for plucking kernels of grain to eat on the Sabbath. Jesus used the moment in history when David was fleeing Saul to teach the religious leaders about the true nature of the Sabbath as meant by GOD. Yet, when you consider all the factors involved in the two moments in history, you will learn that there is much more involved than just a lesson on the Sabbath. Like many portions of the Scriptures, GOD has hidden nuggets for us to find, and in this lesson we uncover the connection of two schisms and the fulfillment of a 20 year old prophecy.

A schism is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization, movement, or religious denominations. Weaved into the incidents of David and Jesus are two schisms where the ones in control lash out at God's anointed. Thus causing a schism that puts the very lives of GOD's chosen in jeopardy, while ultimately culminating in GOD's plan for mankind's salvation.

Pour Out Your Blessings To The Lord

Peter C. Steinhagen

He would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord.
2 Samuel 23:16

What has been like “water from the well of Bethlehem” to you recently— love, friendship, or maybe some spiritual blessing (2 Samuel 23:16)? Have you taken whatever it may be, even at the risk of damaging your own soul, simply to satisfy yourself? If you have, then you cannot pour it out “to the Lord.” You can never set apart for God something that you desire for yourself to achieve your own satisfaction. If you try to satisfy yourself with a blessing from God, it will corrupt you. You must sacrifice it, pouring it out to God— something that your common sense says is an absurd waste.

Giving Comes With A Price

by Chima Anaele Sylvanus

Sometimes the beauty of our faith is not seen in our preaching, anointing, noise making, programs, nor in our zealousness but rather in our simple act of kindness. Just as David's heart was revealed in the kindness he showed Johnathan's  grandson, Mephibosheth. (2Samuel Ch 9)

For many, ministry is just tool they use to acquire earthly treasures, yet for the Apostle it was the other way round. Their labor was more intense and harder than other men so as to be a blessing to the weak and the poor saints. They did not mind doing anything for the glory of The Gospel Of Jesus Christ.

Prohibition on Homosexuality Was Not Repealed By Christ

Today there are many false Christian teachers who are are leading many poor souls straight to hell by claiming that Jesus never spoke against the union of two men or two women, so homosexuality is now condoned by God. 

 Let me say right from the start, except for the ceremonials ones (which Jesus repealed), all of the Mosaic laws are still in force. That is because there were three categories of laws given to Israel: civil, ceremonial, and moral. The civil laws were ONLY given to the Israel. The ceremonial laws were filled and abolished in Christ. The moral laws, such as the Ten Commandments and other Mosaic moral laws are universal. They are part of Natural and Divine Law. As for the Sabbath, Jesus is our Sabbath rest. Our rest is in Him. Homosexuality, however, is clearly contrary to moral and natural laws. All forms of homosexuality are condemned, past, present, and future.

The Picture Bible

by Chuck Ness

I was in an old used bookstore the other day. I like looking for old books written by Christians who came and went long before we lived. If I find one I like I purchase it. Well as I was looking I came across a Picture Bible, put together for children. Now it's not as old as many I find, it was actually published in 1979. I just could not resist. Every page is illustrated with just enough words added to tell the story. 

As I flipped through it I was impressed at the accuracy of their short explanations they added to the illustrations. As you know, with children you must truncate stories to get the idea across to their young minds, without sacrificing the message of the event.

I took some pictures of the story they illustrated about king David and Bathsheba. Many are familiar with the story.  The pictures have few words added, but enough to do a good job of summarizing the story.  Even if you are an adult you will enjoy it.

Why Worry Christian?

By Chuck Ness

It has been said that while money is the biggest stumbling block to the rich, worry is the biggest stumbling block to the poor. However, I have read about many rich people worrying about their money and I have known many poor people who have stumbled with what little money they did have.

We live in the most powerfully affluent society the world has ever seen, not since Solomon ruled Israel has a country been so affluent as America is today. Why even the poor are wealthy when compared to the poorest people in places like Bangladesh. Even with the country in a virtual lockdown over the COVID virus, America is still the country everyone wants to come to for success and tranquility in their lives. Which says something about the rest of the world.