Acts 1:7-8 And he (Jesus) said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth...
God is not a man that He should lie; therefore, when we read about the promises of God in the Holy Scriptures, we should take Him at His word, regardless of just how impossible that promise may seem to us. Years ago, a minister told me that he had a message from God for me; obviously, just as any other sane person would do, I thought he was crazy, for the message he had for me was that I would live for God, that I would preach the Word of God... In my mind, I simply decided that this guy was nuts, didn't he know I was a "gangsta" we don't serve God... Or so I thought...
Acts 1:13-14 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren...
You see, God had a plan for me, a plan for my life that He wanted me to know, and although I hadn't agreed to His plan, the price for my services had already been payed for in blood and the seeds of what would become my ministry sewed in prayer. Prayer is indeed a powerful thing; while I terrified the streets with madness, my parents tarried, waiting, praying that my mess would some day become a message for all to see... You see, my parents tarried, they waited for the promise, and they prayed in one accord, with unity, and God delivered on that promise... This is the message of Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, the promise was fulfilled, and just as God fulfilled the promises of old, and just as He fulfilled the promises to my parents, He will fulfill His promises to you... But you will have to tarry and wait, you will have to pray in unity and Faith, and we will have to all be on one accord... God Bless... Amen...
What are we missing today? Why is the world in the condition it's in now? Why are we not seeing the mighty examples of God's Power like they did in the days of old? Well, quite simply, I believe it is because we are missing unity in prayer, fasting, and as one unified Body of Christ, and without unity, we simply cannot stand. Almost everything good that happened in the New Testament after the Gospels was centered around prayer. Wether the Apostles were headed to a prayer meeting, leaving a prayer meeting or participating in a prayer meeting, this is when the majority of miracles, and other mighty things happened. There are many examples of this throughout the book of Acts and other New Testament books; however, one of the most important examples of this can be found in Acts chapter two.
Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance...
Now, it's important to realize that the importance of this event is not simply regulated to one set of denominations, or one branch of Christianity; in fact, there were no Catholics, Baptist, Pentecostals, or Methodist in the upper room when this occurred, there were only followers of Jesus Christ, they were all just Christians. Mary, the mother of Jesus, Peter, the foundation, Matthew, Andrew, and Phillip, and so many other Apostles and Disciples, all followers of Christ. So, what is the importance of this upper room event anyway? Well, this is the day that was prophesied by the prophet Joel, this was the Holy Ghost baptism described by John, and this was the activation of the promise given to the Apostles by Jesus Christ in Acts 1:8, you shall receive Power! That promise that Jesus made to His Disciples all those years ago, is still in affect today! When you tarry and wait on The Lord, your reward shall be Holy Ghost Power! The same Power that rose Christ from the dead, the same Power that opened blinded eyes, un-clogged plugged ears, and the same Power that is the Source of Living Water is available to us today because Jesus died, rose again, and ascended up into Heaven! Holy Ghost Power, released by the Prayers of a Unified Body, has the Power to heal, the Power to restore, the Power to break chains, and the Power to Save! That's the Power of the Holy Ghost... And it's available to all who Believe! It's Freely Given, just ask Him, and He will give it... God Bless... Amen...
What is this Holy Spirit of which you speak? And why are those who proclaim to have it always seem so happy? Why do they seem so joyous? Are they drunk? Well, these are great questions, and instead of giving you some long drawn out explanation, I will defer to Peter's explanation... His answer says it all...
Acts 2:14-21 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved...
The Power of the Holy Ghost is so Amazing, and yet there are those who deny it's power, there are those who say they don't want it nor do they need it; however, there are many more who want it but simply do not know who to attain it, it's simple, we just ask...
Acts 2:37-39 Now when they heard this , they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call...
The Power of the Holy Ghost, the Power that Heals, the Power that Saves, and the Power that Restores is available to All who Believe. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter given to us by the Father , the Comforter is the Spirit of Truth, (John 14:16-17) the Holy Spirit is the Promise that God will never leave us alone... The Holy Ghost is He who will teach us all things, He who gives us Peace, (John 14:26-27) and the Holy Ghost He who will Testify to us and through us of God's Greatness! (John 15:26, 16:7) The Holy Ghost is a freely given Gift, available to those who Believe, to those who turn away from sin and evil, and to those who are Baptized in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!
I've seen the Power of the Holy Ghost; ask, and you shall receive... God Bless... Amen...
About Me
- Rev. Fred Blackman II
- Today, I am a Minister of the Gospel; however, that was not always the case. As a younger man, I found out that I was good at getting in trouble, and for a while, I thought that was fun... until... There's always that moment, especially when you live the life I was living at one time, when you realize that there is a choice to make, one direction leads towards the light, while the other, darkness. Fear consumed me, fear of an early death, or a life without meaning; however, life through a curve ball, and I knew that this was that moment, would I choose the darkness, or would I rest in the cool rays of the morning light. Believe it or not, that can be a tougher decision than one might imagine; however, purely by God's Grace, I walked into the light, and my life has never been the same... The overly Sufficient Grace of God, the Prayers of a Crying mother, the Word of a loving father, combined with the respect, and stern encouragement from a friend that stuck closer than a brother... And, here I am today! God is Faithful... Trust me. taste and see, the Lord is Good....
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
One Prayer Away
How do you even know that the Bible is real?
Well like a wise man once said, "I know that I know that I know that I know I know, and I thank God that I know!" You see, as a child, I was raised in church, as a teen I began to turn away from God, and I became preoccupied with my own agenda. Although I had my own agenda, consisting of causing trouble and scaring my parents, I was always reminded of the presence of God in my life; unfortunately it was usually when something negative occurred. Living the "street life" there are certain events that come natural, friends get assaulted, gun violence, and I myself had been stabbed. Through the years, I have lost friends to gun violence, drunk driving events, and oddly enough, cancer. Although we knew that we were not exactly living the "God Life" in each of these situations, we would gather as a group and pray; unfortunately, it was only during these times that we called on God, looking back now, I have realized just how important my biblical raising was to the rest of our group.
So, how do I know the Bible is real? How do I know there is a God? Because I know He has answered many prayers time and time again...
Only a few years ago, my older sister was diagnosed with cancer, I can still hear the trembling of my father's voice when he informed me, he said, "son, she's not doing to well, you need to go see her." At that time, I was saddened by the news, and I was very afraid of what might happen, and so I delayed going to see her. Later, my younger brother informed me that my dear sister was not getting any better, and I should go see her soon. Finally, I did go see my sister, and a few days thereafter, she passed away, and I was distraught and heartbroken; unfortunately, there was more bad news, another of my sisters had been diagnosed with cancer. Again, I avoided seeing my sister, I was saddened, horrified, and angry about the situation but one day while at work, I would get the call that would change it all.
On Tuesday morning, while at work, I received a most disturbing phone call, it was my brother, and he said that I needed to come quickly, my sister didn't have much time. Frantically, I sped home, the entire family was there, and hurried into the room as the paramedics were leaving, I heard them say "there's nothing we can do, just make her comfortable, and call us back and we'll pick her up" but I was not ready to accept that, and so I went into a dark room by myself, and prayed. This prayer was not your ordinary morning or evening prayer, it was probably the firs time I've actually prayed with any real emotion, it was an agonizing prayer, a prayer full of tears, it was a prayer of depth and determination, and it was a prayer that God answered. My dear sister did not die that day in December, she lived past Christmas, she lived past her birthday, she lived past New Years Eve and Day, and she Lives past Valentines day, a few days later, she went home to be with The Lord in paradise, and as I look back on that prayer, my Faith in God increases more and more. In order to understand why I believe so strongly, you have to understand what my prayer was that day, and here it is... I prayed that she would live to see all the days that I had mentioned earlier, I prayed that I would have more time to spend with her, and I prayed that I would be able to get to know her in new ways like I had never done before, I did not want her to pass away like my sister Cheryl, without having the time to spend with her, I wanted to be there, and that's exactly what I got.
After returning to work a few days after receiving the phone call early Tuesday morning, I was terminated from the place I had worked for ten years, after filing a complaint with TWC, there was a hearing, and the company was found to have violated my civil rights, and they were instructed to pay my health insurance as well as my wages for the next six months, what this meant, was that I would have time to spend with my sister, and I did not have to worry about any financial issues; therefore, I had time to not only spend with my sister, I took care of her, and I learned so much about her... Answered prayers... That my friend was nothing short of a Miracle, that is why I believe, that is how I know there is a God, that is how I know the Bible is real, a real and true experience with The Lord, and this is only one of the examples of His Faithfulness, there have been so many situations in my life, I could write a book about it, or maybe I will one day, but I know God is real just as much as you know that after the rains come the Rainbow... Listen to me brothers and sisters, God is real, seek Him and you will find Him, call Him and He will answer, lean in Him, and He will hold you up... He is only one Prayer away... God Bless... Amen...
Well like a wise man once said, "I know that I know that I know that I know I know, and I thank God that I know!" You see, as a child, I was raised in church, as a teen I began to turn away from God, and I became preoccupied with my own agenda. Although I had my own agenda, consisting of causing trouble and scaring my parents, I was always reminded of the presence of God in my life; unfortunately it was usually when something negative occurred. Living the "street life" there are certain events that come natural, friends get assaulted, gun violence, and I myself had been stabbed. Through the years, I have lost friends to gun violence, drunk driving events, and oddly enough, cancer. Although we knew that we were not exactly living the "God Life" in each of these situations, we would gather as a group and pray; unfortunately, it was only during these times that we called on God, looking back now, I have realized just how important my biblical raising was to the rest of our group.
So, how do I know the Bible is real? How do I know there is a God? Because I know He has answered many prayers time and time again...
Only a few years ago, my older sister was diagnosed with cancer, I can still hear the trembling of my father's voice when he informed me, he said, "son, she's not doing to well, you need to go see her." At that time, I was saddened by the news, and I was very afraid of what might happen, and so I delayed going to see her. Later, my younger brother informed me that my dear sister was not getting any better, and I should go see her soon. Finally, I did go see my sister, and a few days thereafter, she passed away, and I was distraught and heartbroken; unfortunately, there was more bad news, another of my sisters had been diagnosed with cancer. Again, I avoided seeing my sister, I was saddened, horrified, and angry about the situation but one day while at work, I would get the call that would change it all.
On Tuesday morning, while at work, I received a most disturbing phone call, it was my brother, and he said that I needed to come quickly, my sister didn't have much time. Frantically, I sped home, the entire family was there, and hurried into the room as the paramedics were leaving, I heard them say "there's nothing we can do, just make her comfortable, and call us back and we'll pick her up" but I was not ready to accept that, and so I went into a dark room by myself, and prayed. This prayer was not your ordinary morning or evening prayer, it was probably the firs time I've actually prayed with any real emotion, it was an agonizing prayer, a prayer full of tears, it was a prayer of depth and determination, and it was a prayer that God answered. My dear sister did not die that day in December, she lived past Christmas, she lived past her birthday, she lived past New Years Eve and Day, and she Lives past Valentines day, a few days later, she went home to be with The Lord in paradise, and as I look back on that prayer, my Faith in God increases more and more. In order to understand why I believe so strongly, you have to understand what my prayer was that day, and here it is... I prayed that she would live to see all the days that I had mentioned earlier, I prayed that I would have more time to spend with her, and I prayed that I would be able to get to know her in new ways like I had never done before, I did not want her to pass away like my sister Cheryl, without having the time to spend with her, I wanted to be there, and that's exactly what I got.
After returning to work a few days after receiving the phone call early Tuesday morning, I was terminated from the place I had worked for ten years, after filing a complaint with TWC, there was a hearing, and the company was found to have violated my civil rights, and they were instructed to pay my health insurance as well as my wages for the next six months, what this meant, was that I would have time to spend with my sister, and I did not have to worry about any financial issues; therefore, I had time to not only spend with my sister, I took care of her, and I learned so much about her... Answered prayers... That my friend was nothing short of a Miracle, that is why I believe, that is how I know there is a God, that is how I know the Bible is real, a real and true experience with The Lord, and this is only one of the examples of His Faithfulness, there have been so many situations in my life, I could write a book about it, or maybe I will one day, but I know God is real just as much as you know that after the rains come the Rainbow... Listen to me brothers and sisters, God is real, seek Him and you will find Him, call Him and He will answer, lean in Him, and He will hold you up... He is only one Prayer away... God Bless... Amen...
Sunday, April 20, 2014
The Anticipation/Who is This Jesus (Part II)
Who is this Jesus? Who is this Messiah that would Die for you and me? That is the question that I've been trying to answer... Perhaps by sharing with you, the readers, the "Holy Ghost Downloads" and my own personal feelings from throughout this past Holy Week, you may begin to see just who this Jesus is...
Spent the night crying... Tears rolling down my cheeks as I dreamed about blood infused sweat, agony, and pain on the face of my Lord and Savior... It won't be long before He's taken from the Garden and given over to the Pharisees and Pilate... There He would pay the Price for our souls in His Beautiful Sinless Blood... The ultimate sacrifice... The Lamb without Blemish... The Savior of the World...
Here in Austin, there's a light rain, perhaps the skies have begun to cry as well, knowing that the Apostles, those closest to our Lord, could not even wait an hour for Him who is destined to die on their behalf... Perhaps, tonight would be a good time for us to pray an hour... Thanking Him for the chance we have now... A chance to not just live, but to live more abundantly... After the anguish of the Garden... After the Blood Sweat, and Tears... Shed for us... The betrayer arrives... He is Placed in shackles... And He is taken away... Questioned as a criminal, and beaten till the very edge of death... My Lord... My Savior... Jesus Christ... Another night filled with tears... God Bless... Good Night...
Today, the people who were yelling and cheering "Hallelujah, Make way for the King" just days before, spit upon Him and follow Him as He struggles up the Via DeLa Rosa... Falling to His Knees... Crawling... Agonizing... Yet not saying a Word, for He knows my life is at stake... Your life is on the line... He thinks to Himself... Not my will, but Yours... Soon thereafter... He is nailed to a Cross... To finish what sin has started... He will trade His Life for ours...
As the evening approaches... Mary Magdalene &Mary sit watching in front of the tomb... The Pharisees approach Pilate, insisting that he seals the tomb and place guards in front... Fearing that the followers of Christ would steal the body of our Messiah... I can only imagine how the two Mary's felt... The pain, the agony, the confusion... Watching as the Roman soldiers seal the tomb and stand watching... And all of creation mourns, not knowing what lies ahead... They walk away in tears... My Lord lies in the tomb...
Saturday morning, imagine the grief of the Apostles... Mary... And even the Roman Guards who at the very end... Realized that He was indeed the Son of God... The Messiah, the One who was and is and is to come... They were waiting in agony... Wondering what was next? Will He rise again? Was He really who He said He was... Doubting Thomas? But shortly, all of their questions would soon be answered... And so we wait patiently... Tear stained cheeks... The stresses of the moment... Soon to be gone... He will Rise Again... And the tears shall soon be cheers... Patiently...
All of Creation groans in anticipation... Knowing that the prophecy states that He will Rise again... Three days... One left... Will it Happen? Or will all be Lost... The Apostles... The Mary's... The followers of Christ Jesus, they all wonder... What will happen on the third day? Will the Temple be Lost, or will it be Rebuilt... The emotional tides rise high and fall low... The anticipation of what is to come... Sadness leads to tears.. Tears lead to fears... The fears are relieved after the reciting of the Prophets... But is it true? If He doesn't rise, then all is Lost! If He doesn't Rise... Then there is no god and our lives no longer have meaning... We are just dust in the winds of time... C'mon Sunday Morning! Let Your Glory Shine Through... Let it All be true... A gentle breeze, followed by the sweet aromatic smell of the Rose... And then we wait patiently until the morning...
With heightened anticipation, we rush towards the stones... The Son peaks over the horizon... His raiment brightens the sky... As we approach and see the centurions Lie... The door has been opened... The Stone has been moved, and inside we rush! O' my we dare not touch! The Body is Gone! What have you done with Him! And then the most peaceful voice... What are you doing here? The one whom you seek is gone, for He has Risen! Hurry! Run! Go tell the others! The Joy of the morning! Yes, we wept, but the Joy of the Moment has come! Jesus Christ has Risen! Go quickly to Galilee, there you shall see me! "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth"... "lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" these are the Words of the Chosen One! Joy! Happiness! Hope! And Life! These are the gifts which we receive today!...
Hallelujah! Our tears have been turned to dancing! Jesus is Alive! I met Him on the on the Road to Emmaus... Yes, He is Risen... On this day, we celebrate the King who died, but now Lives Forevermore! May your day be full of the Blessings of The Lord... I pray that our Journey together has Blessed you as much as it has Blessed me... The Holy Spirit was our Guide while I was Blessed to be the Penman and Although it would appear that we have reached the end of the story.... The truth is, it has only just begun... Acts 1:8 KJV But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth... God Bless... Amen... It Is Finished... Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to read my blog... I Pray that it has Blessed you in some way... May God Bless you All... Amen...
Spent the night crying... Tears rolling down my cheeks as I dreamed about blood infused sweat, agony, and pain on the face of my Lord and Savior... It won't be long before He's taken from the Garden and given over to the Pharisees and Pilate... There He would pay the Price for our souls in His Beautiful Sinless Blood... The ultimate sacrifice... The Lamb without Blemish... The Savior of the World...
Here in Austin, there's a light rain, perhaps the skies have begun to cry as well, knowing that the Apostles, those closest to our Lord, could not even wait an hour for Him who is destined to die on their behalf... Perhaps, tonight would be a good time for us to pray an hour... Thanking Him for the chance we have now... A chance to not just live, but to live more abundantly... After the anguish of the Garden... After the Blood Sweat, and Tears... Shed for us... The betrayer arrives... He is Placed in shackles... And He is taken away... Questioned as a criminal, and beaten till the very edge of death... My Lord... My Savior... Jesus Christ... Another night filled with tears... God Bless... Good Night...
Today, the people who were yelling and cheering "Hallelujah, Make way for the King" just days before, spit upon Him and follow Him as He struggles up the Via DeLa Rosa... Falling to His Knees... Crawling... Agonizing... Yet not saying a Word, for He knows my life is at stake... Your life is on the line... He thinks to Himself... Not my will, but Yours... Soon thereafter... He is nailed to a Cross... To finish what sin has started... He will trade His Life for ours...
As the evening approaches... Mary Magdalene &Mary sit watching in front of the tomb... The Pharisees approach Pilate, insisting that he seals the tomb and place guards in front... Fearing that the followers of Christ would steal the body of our Messiah... I can only imagine how the two Mary's felt... The pain, the agony, the confusion... Watching as the Roman soldiers seal the tomb and stand watching... And all of creation mourns, not knowing what lies ahead... They walk away in tears... My Lord lies in the tomb...
Saturday morning, imagine the grief of the Apostles... Mary... And even the Roman Guards who at the very end... Realized that He was indeed the Son of God... The Messiah, the One who was and is and is to come... They were waiting in agony... Wondering what was next? Will He rise again? Was He really who He said He was... Doubting Thomas? But shortly, all of their questions would soon be answered... And so we wait patiently... Tear stained cheeks... The stresses of the moment... Soon to be gone... He will Rise Again... And the tears shall soon be cheers... Patiently...
All of Creation groans in anticipation... Knowing that the prophecy states that He will Rise again... Three days... One left... Will it Happen? Or will all be Lost... The Apostles... The Mary's... The followers of Christ Jesus, they all wonder... What will happen on the third day? Will the Temple be Lost, or will it be Rebuilt... The emotional tides rise high and fall low... The anticipation of what is to come... Sadness leads to tears.. Tears lead to fears... The fears are relieved after the reciting of the Prophets... But is it true? If He doesn't rise, then all is Lost! If He doesn't Rise... Then there is no god and our lives no longer have meaning... We are just dust in the winds of time... C'mon Sunday Morning! Let Your Glory Shine Through... Let it All be true... A gentle breeze, followed by the sweet aromatic smell of the Rose... And then we wait patiently until the morning...
With heightened anticipation, we rush towards the stones... The Son peaks over the horizon... His raiment brightens the sky... As we approach and see the centurions Lie... The door has been opened... The Stone has been moved, and inside we rush! O' my we dare not touch! The Body is Gone! What have you done with Him! And then the most peaceful voice... What are you doing here? The one whom you seek is gone, for He has Risen! Hurry! Run! Go tell the others! The Joy of the morning! Yes, we wept, but the Joy of the Moment has come! Jesus Christ has Risen! Go quickly to Galilee, there you shall see me! "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth"... "lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" these are the Words of the Chosen One! Joy! Happiness! Hope! And Life! These are the gifts which we receive today!...
Hallelujah! Our tears have been turned to dancing! Jesus is Alive! I met Him on the on the Road to Emmaus... Yes, He is Risen... On this day, we celebrate the King who died, but now Lives Forevermore! May your day be full of the Blessings of The Lord... I pray that our Journey together has Blessed you as much as it has Blessed me... The Holy Spirit was our Guide while I was Blessed to be the Penman and Although it would appear that we have reached the end of the story.... The truth is, it has only just begun... Acts 1:8 KJV But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth... God Bless... Amen... It Is Finished... Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to read my blog... I Pray that it has Blessed you in some way... May God Bless you All... Amen...
Monday, April 14, 2014
Signs Of The Times
The coming Blood Moons have caused a stir amongst the people of God as well as the people of the world... The people have inquired, what is the meaning of this Blood Moon, and where does it lie in prophecy... As I answered the questions of the people, I began to read the Word, knowing that we are to study the Word and be prepared at all times... As I read Matthew chapter 24 and the Daniel chapters 10-12, the Holy Spirit began to prompt me and push me forward... My intentions were to read Ezekiel 38-39 and then head over to Revelations chapter 19, but the Spirit sent me to Hosea...
Now, to be completely open and honest, I have not spent much time reading or studying the book of Hosea; however, today, the book of Hosea just leapt from the pages and into my heart. It is important for us as individuals to read, study, understand, and be prepared to share the Word with others, if not, we will not only defraud ourselves of the knowledge that God wants to share with us, we may cause ourselves and others to suffer... (Hosea 4:6-7)
Hosea 2:18-23 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord . And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord , I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God...
Hosea 14:4-8 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say , What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him , and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found...
The signs of the times are all around us, the upcoming Blood Moons are just another, sign to reinforce and validate the Word and the prophecies that have existed since the days of old... However, in Hosea, we see that there shall be an ending to the end times... This will be a time of peace and love, a time when the weapons of destruction are no more, a time when we shall clearly see God's Faithfulness, His Mercy, and His Love... A time when the world is at peace, and safety is all around... A time when we shall be His people, and He will be our God, a time when all of our sins have been permanently cast away, and we shall rest under the shadow of The King... Christ Jesus...
Friday, March 28, 2014
Who Is This Jesus?
Who is this Jesus? Before we can define who Jesus is, we must first establish who God is; He is the creator of the universe, the giver of life, the keeper of the peace and the King of kings… Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth… Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords… Now, without turning this brief description of Jesus into an all-out Bible study, we will establish just who this Jesus is by first discussing who the Bible said He would be… In the Book of Micah chapter two, the Bible stated that He would be born in Bethlehem, which He was according to Matthew 2:1 and Luke 2:4-6. In the Book of Isaiah 7:14 the Bible states that Jesus would be born of a virgin mother, this was confirmed in the Books of Matthew and Luke as well… Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel…
Matthew 1:22,23 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us… The Bible also states that Jesus would be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David which was confirmed in Matthew chapter one and verse one which reads “Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” There are many prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Jesus, and once again in an effort to prevent this simple description of Jesus from becoming an all-out Bible study, we will mention only one more very important prophecy before establishing who Jesus is…
Isaiah 61:1,2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn… Jesus declared these verses almost word for word in Luke chapter four, verses 18-19; thus, confirming once again that He is the one of whom the prophecies spoke. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin in a small town called Bethlehem, He was born for a purpose, and that purpose is to set the captives free, to heal the broken hearted, and to give us life more abundantly.
Now that we have established who Jesus is Biblically, I want to tell you who He is to me. This Jesus is the man who set me free from a life of bondage, not physical bondage, but of mental and emotional bondage that forced me to believe that I had no future, it forced me to believe that there was no way out of the lifestyle that I was living, and that I would be forced to die in my sin and burn in hell, that is who this Jesus is to me. Jesus Christ quite simply stated was God in the flesh, both man and God, He has experienced every single emotion, pain, and discomfort known to man, and so much more.
Who is this Jesus, He was a man who did not sin, but was ridiculed (Luke 23:35) His clothing was tattered and torn and yet again and again, He sought to pray for His enemies… Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots… He was pierced and hung on the cross amongst common criminals and thieves (Mark 15:27-28, John 19:34 & 20:25-27) and in His deepest anguish, He was forsaken by God Himself in Matthew chapter 27 verse 46, and He did It all for you and I, that is who Jesus is; yet, the story doesn’t end here, in all actuality, this is only the beginning... Matthew 28:1-7 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you… In simple terms, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead He was resurrected on the third day, and ascended into Heaven where He sits at the Right Hand of God… Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God…
Jesus Christ the Savior gave Himself up as a ransom, to cover our sins, He paid in blood, His own Blood (Romans 5:6-8) So, how do you answer the question, who is this Jesus, that is really up to you, but to me, He is the best thing that ever happened to me, He changed my life, He is my Best Friend… His Grace is Sufficient, and He is the Giver of my Peace, who is this Jesus, He is the Living Word, the Bread of Life, and the Author and Finisher of our Faith… The truth is, I can go on and on, describing to you who Jesus is to me, but the best thing to do is to find out for yourself. How do I do that? Great question, the easiest way to do that is to ask God to come into your life, to reveal Himself to you, and to make your life brand new; however, if you’re not ready to do that just yet, go ahead and look these verses up yourself, there are many free Bible apps available as well on the internet, and if you have any questions at all, feel free to contact me Fred Blackman Jr, and I will be more than happy to assist you on your quest to find out just who this Jesus is…
Feel free to reach me via email: fredblackmanjr@gmail.com
Monday, March 10, 2014
REDEMPTION
Redemption, according to Dictionary.com, is an act of redeeming or atoning for a fault or mistake, or the state of being redeemed. Another definition of redemption is deliverance or rescue. When speaking of Theology, redemption is the deliverance from sin, salvation, or the atonement for guilt. Now, here are some of my favorite definitions of redemption which are the repurchase, as of something sold, paying off, as of a mortgage, bond, financial note, or the recovery by payment, as of something pledged or owed...
Psalms 49;7 and 8 tells us that no man, woman, or child can pay a ransom for their own redemption, "for the redemption of their soul is precious". So, we can see that there is nothing that we can do to redeem ourselves, we can only be redeemed by the Love and the Blood of Christ Jesus's sacrifice on the cross...
I Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins...
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption...
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" wow, there it goes again, the Holy Spirit! It's by the Spirit that we live and it's by the Holy Spirit that we are Redeemed... no matter the crime, no matter the time, without Christ, there is no redemption... So many people fall into that trap that I've done this, or I've done that, there is no way out, but God has sent His only begotten Son into this world of chaos and sin so that we may have a chance at life, so that instead of condemnation for our sin, we can receive Redemption for our Righteousness through the Holy Spirit who was sent as the comforter after Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and the promise of Acts 1:8 was fulfilled... The gifts of God are Freely Given, all you must do is ask and Grace, Mercy, Redemption, and the Holy Ghost can all be yours... God Bless... Amen...
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Beware The Wolf
Matthew 7:15-17 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.... Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
As I live my day to day life, it is becoming increasingly obvious that there is a war on religion like never before in the history of our nation... Initially it was a war on Islam which was only a disguise, a smoke screen and a lie... The truth is that the enemy had to first present himself as an aid, someone or something that could help us protect ourselves from the enemy... But now, the truth has come forward, and we see the attacks on all who would believe in One God Above All...
Now, we see the Catholics are being attacked because of their stance on birth control and other hot topics... Then the "conservative"Christian base has been attacked because of their literal interpretation of the Bible... More "liberal" Christians are being forced to choose between their political party and their own beliefs at the risk of being outcast from their own party if they disagree with the way the party as a whole is voting on any given policy...
On television, we see shows like Amish mafia, snake salvation, and now preachers of LA, these shows are designed to minimize and diminish the faith of those on the fringes of the Christian Faith while portraying all Christians as crazy or extreme... The Bible told us this day would come, but the sad thing is so many of us have missed it... It just snuck up on us, and before we knew what hit us, Christianity is under attack and we find ourselves with our backs against the wall...
The time is now to rise up, the time is now to unify, the time is now to kneel down in prayer... The wolves are at the door and the smell of blood is in the air... The time for Prayer and Fasting is now, not tomorrow, not next week, but now...
I John 4:1-5 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
As a child of God, we must not fear, we have nothing to fear... However, we must continue to share the Gospel with those around us, we must continue to pray, and as always... We must keep the Faith... God Bless... Amen...
As I live my day to day life, it is becoming increasingly obvious that there is a war on religion like never before in the history of our nation... Initially it was a war on Islam which was only a disguise, a smoke screen and a lie... The truth is that the enemy had to first present himself as an aid, someone or something that could help us protect ourselves from the enemy... But now, the truth has come forward, and we see the attacks on all who would believe in One God Above All...
Now, we see the Catholics are being attacked because of their stance on birth control and other hot topics... Then the "conservative"Christian base has been attacked because of their literal interpretation of the Bible... More "liberal" Christians are being forced to choose between their political party and their own beliefs at the risk of being outcast from their own party if they disagree with the way the party as a whole is voting on any given policy...
On television, we see shows like Amish mafia, snake salvation, and now preachers of LA, these shows are designed to minimize and diminish the faith of those on the fringes of the Christian Faith while portraying all Christians as crazy or extreme... The Bible told us this day would come, but the sad thing is so many of us have missed it... It just snuck up on us, and before we knew what hit us, Christianity is under attack and we find ourselves with our backs against the wall...
The time is now to rise up, the time is now to unify, the time is now to kneel down in prayer... The wolves are at the door and the smell of blood is in the air... The time for Prayer and Fasting is now, not tomorrow, not next week, but now...
I John 4:1-5 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
As a child of God, we must not fear, we have nothing to fear... However, we must continue to share the Gospel with those around us, we must continue to pray, and as always... We must keep the Faith... God Bless... Amen...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)