All clamouring for our attention, whether they are spoken, sung or written. And, truth be told, so much of it is mindless, infantile, non-sensical chaff that we are the poorer for it, and deeply regret having wasted our time listening or reading the stuff.

But this is not always so.

The right words can make a huge difference. If you pay close attention to the words that truly matter, the words that carry weighty meaning and eternal significance, the words that are crucial to your development and destiny, the words that can impact your very soul and give meaning to your mortal existence, then you are near to acquiring true wisdom.

True wisdom is, in part, the ability to distinguish words that convey thought that transends the fog that surrounds us and enable enlightenment.

Understanding eternal things, appreciating things beyond mortal grasp, things outside our frame of reference calls for enlightenment.

The fool is not enlightened, so he can glibly declare his lack of understanding, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1)

The pseudo-wise who have acquired a smattering of worldly wisdom, but have fallen short of true wisdom, failed to acknowledge God when they saw him, and so like fools became unenlightened, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:21)

But the wisest person ever to walk this earth, the most enlightened entity that ever existed, and the only person to reside in eternity before his earthly sojourn said this, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Living, full wholesome living, living to our highest potential both physical and spiritual, living transcendent and eternal comes by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

No one with a sense of balance, no prudent person with sense and understanding, with a sense of spiritual awareness, a yearning for and a relish of truth can read the Holy Bible and not find it touched with a sense of divine contribution.

That is why, throughout the ages, the Holy Bile has been the most popular book bought and read throughout the whole world.

It is because the right words make the difference that enemies of God have relentlessly attacked the Bible to destroy it, have tried where that failed to restrict its use, and where that failed to water it down and try to make it ineffective.

The attacks on the Bible are continuing up to this day.

But here is something quite amazing. God has determined that his words will go forth and reach all those who are called to salvation, all those who will accept Jesus Christ, and this will carry on until all the saints are gathered in, i.e., until God calls time on this earth.

It is not a matter of opinion, it is not a matter of speculation, it has been amply demonstrated that what matters for eternal life, what hope there is for immortality, what prospects there are to live with God in eternity, lies in the words of Jesus Christ.

Let there be no doubt that the words spoken by Jesus Christ are the right words that make the difference, and we should take heed of their importance:

Paul encourages the saints, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16)

John warned believers, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (1 John 1:9)

Jesus directed the church to teach like this, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20)

Jesus spelled out what his words will mean in the judgement, “…the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48)

John declared the importance of the words of Christ, even with the reception of the Holy Spirit, like this, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)

Jesus affirmed, for the saints of all ages, the importance of his words like this, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

There is a song that expresses well the life-saving words of Jesus Christ:

Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.

Refrain:
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

Christ, the blessed One, gives to all
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life;
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven. [Refrain]

Sweetly echo the Gospel call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
Sanctify us forever. [Refrain]

It is still true what Solomon said, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11) Only Jesus has total command of all these words and he will speak them to every needed heart; regardless of circumstances.

If you are grieving, then turn to Jesus Christ, and let him do what he can do better than any one on earth; speak words of comfort and consolation to you in just the right tone you need.

If you are discouraged because so much seems to be going wrong in your life, you seem to reach the end of your limit, can’t take any more, then embrace Jesus and let his healing words wash over your soul.

If you are sick, discomforted, miserable and unsettled and seem unable to get a grip on things, then know that Jesus Christ has just the right, uplifting, comforting words for you.

If you are sick letting Satan beat you up, had enough of sinning, don’t want to carry on as you are because you know there is something better, then know that you can turn to Jesus Christ and find hope, and salvation, in the majestic words of Jesus Christ.

Always remember that Jesus promised, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

Staff Writer; Henderson W.

You can contact this Christian brother at: HWard@ThyBlackMan.com.

In a court of law, the burden of proof is defined as the duty placed upon a party to prove or disprove a disputed fact. In criminal cases, the burden of proof is placed on the prosecution, who must demonstrate that the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt before a jury may convict him or her..

Judges explain the reasonable doubt standard to jurors in a number of ways. Often jury instructions provide that proof beyond a reasonable doubt is proof of such a convincing character that a reasonable person would not hesitate to act upon it in the most important of their own affairs. Reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof used in any judicial proceeding.

As a believer in Christ should there be a burden of proof upon others to prove that we are what we say we are: Christians (which by the way means Christ like or like Christ). Rather, shouldn’t the burden of proof be upon us? In other words, we should not let there be a reasonable doubt in the minds of those observing us that we are anything but Christ like. Since Christ represents the truth couldn’t it be better said that we have a burden of truth. That means we have a responsibility to the truth, to live it, to speak it and to demonstrate it in everything connected to us.

You see for those who are not concerned with truth but practice to deceive in order to get what they want, it can be hard work and exhausting because one lie leads to another and yet another. Then they must track what lie was spun and make sure that subsequent lies coincide with the first and that they agree. If this lying gets out of hand it can be quite complicated. No wonder Sir Walter Scott said “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” We can get caught up and weighed down in a web of lies if we’re not careful. Before you know it, you can forget about truth altogether and think that the lie you’re living is the truth but yet you feel heavy, entangled or entrapped and can’t seem to get ahead.

Jesus said “…the truth shall make you free,” which definitely sounds good to those of us who desire freedom, but what was He really talking about? This quote comes from the Gospel of John, Chapter 8, and verse 32 of King James Version of the Bible. The entire quote is “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Notice the beginning word in the quote is the word “And” which tells us this is connected to what was said previously. Therefore we need to back up and understand the earlier conversation of Jesus. As you read through Chapter 8 of the Gospel of John, it becomes clear that Jesus has identified that the source of truth is God (see verse 26) and if we believe in Him, and that He dwelt bodily in Jesus, we too can experience truth.

Therefore, to have a burden of truth must mean that we have a compulsion as believers to live as God would have us to live and to follow the example of Jesus. If we don’t, then as John also said in his epistle: “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1-John 2:4 KJV)

I know at first glance this can seem like quite a burden to carry but in reality it is a much lighter burden than living any other way (and in fact the only other way there must be to living in truth is living in deception or lies and we’ve already talked about the weight of that life). This is why Jesus was also prompted to say: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30 KJV)

A yoke was used to place a pair of oxen in and have them plow the field. So what Jesus was saying is essentially this: when you pair up and work with Him, He illuminates the areas in your life that need work and since you’re not able to do it alone, He will help you out and as a result you will begin to experience and understand truth, thereby becoming free of your old patterns and ways.

Sounds pretty good wouldn’t you agree? So now what do you think of the burden of truth?

Staff Writer; Rick S.

One may contact this man of God at: RS@ThyBlackMan.com.

All people, everywhere, have notions of God, and those notions are colored by what is acceptable or normal for that society. Often what is acceptable and practiced are a mish-mash of beliefs and practices, that have their roots in mysticism, ignorance, history and superstition.

Sometimes, sadly, some people live and die and never experienced anything other than their ethnic religion, and never have considered God in the true and the wider context of religious faith.

I say sad, because some ethnic religions are so mind-boggling, and silly, that it is hard to see how intelligent people can adhere to such nonsense. It beggars belief that anyone can believe that you can carve out an image with your own hands from a block of wood, and then bow down, and worship it as your God.

It is equally hard to understand how any people can believe in Hinduism, an ethnic religion of Asia, and the third largest religion in the world, with a billion followers, mainly Indians, that allow their group to have many gods, no god, or one god, and to Hinduism it makes no difference.

With a world full of gods, how do we as Christians present Almighty God, maker of Heaven and earth, and all things seen and unseen, so that thinking people can examine for themselves whether He is worthy of being accepted as their only God and Saviour.

True religion must surely be more than cultural assimilation, something you born into, practice, and die in, and Christianity has shown that it is the true religion because God sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, and by a number of infallible proofs demonstrated that God Almighty is the one and only true God.

All religions have some good things about them, Hinduism of the Indians, Judaism of the Jews, Shenism of the Han Chinese, Shinto of the Japanese, and Candombl of the Brazilians, to name but a few, but they all fall short in having a living God able to prove his existence with miracles and other flawless proofs.

And that is why Almighty God is so special, and for good reasons we should love him, do him justice by having faith in him, and let his grace impact our life.

Some additional reasons for loving God are:

1. God’s willingness to show himself real to us. Whenever we are dealing with God, we are dealing with faith, abstraction, things unseen and ill-defined. A lot of people don’t bother with religious matters, because to them, God is wrapped up in complex ideas, deep concepts, spiritual obscurity, and even elusiveness. This is understandable. None of us has seen God at any time and the Bible tells us, “God is a Spirit…” (John 4:24). People are uneasy venturing into the realm of spirituality, where it is all about beliefs, opinions, theology, and nothing firm and solid to get hold of and observe.

God understands this predicament concerning our cognitive limitation, our inability to perceive Him as He is, and helps us to overcome this deficiency in a way that leaves no doubt that He is real.

Take the case of Elijah on Mount Carmel as recorded in I Kings 18: 1- 40.

On Mount Carmel the prophet Elijah wanted Israel to choose between Almighty God and the false prophets of Baal, and so a confrontation was arranged. Notice Elijah’s proposal and their agreement, “And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.” (I Kings 18:24.)

The false prophets of Baal prayed, shouted, cut themselves, balled all day and yet there was no answer from Baal, how could there be, Baal was just that; false. But when Elijah had his sacrifice drenched with water to make sure no one could accuse him of trickery, and he prayed to Almighty God, then fire ignited the wet sacrifice and consumed it, and licked up the water that gathered in the trenches.

Almighty God, in consequence, demonstrated his reality for all to see.

Take the case of Daniel in the lions’ den as recorded in Daniel 6:16. Notice well the key words from the King, “Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.” (Daniel 6:16b) Here again Almighty God powerfully demonstrated his reality for all to see.

Let me give you one more example. Take the case of the crippled man as recorded in John 5:1-8. This man was crippled for 38 years, and all the people knew it. Jesus healed him and the people saw it. Remember what Nicodemus said, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” (John 3:2) Sure enough, we see yet again Almighty God demonstrating his reality, through Christ, for all to see.

This is one of the great reasons we love God, because God comes to us, personally, according to our individual need, to convince us of his reality. For some it is through a vision, for some it is by answered prayer, for some it is in a dream, for some it’s a chilling, unmistakable presence, for some it’s a voice, and for some it’s a miracle of some sort. Once we are sincere, God never leaves us hanging. “For every one that asketh receiveth.” (Matthew 7:8)

2. God’s assured presence in times of crisis. Nearly everyone passing through this life will, sooner or later, experience a crisis that may be life changing. For many it would seem that their life is crisis-ridden; crisis after crisis and scarcely any fault of their own. The truth is that no one can predict what anyone will go through in this life, and all the talk cannot prevent you from the storms that surely will come.

Because believers are spiritual, we rely more on God than any other, because we are so acutely conscious of other people’s, and our own, inadequacies.

Believers’ battles are mostly spiritual, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) and as a consequence supernatural powers are lined up against us. Demons and Satan are supernatural beings, although they can appear in physical forms, God permitting.

Even when the crisis is caused by something physical, for example the death of your young son or daughter, there are still spiritual undertones. When the agony is so deep, and the loss so great, that you need support to endure, then whom can you turn to. Friends at times will let you down, even your very parents can fail you in crisis situations. It is then only one person who you can depend on and he never fails. Hear what He says:

When parents fail, God is still there standing with you, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” (Psalm 27:10). God provides an impregnable shelter always, and especially, in times of crisis, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

When God promised that he will never leave you nor forsake you, (Hebrews 13:5), he was affirming to us his presence in any, and every, crisis; and this is yet another great reason for loving God.

3. God’s ability to transition our soul beyond the grave. It matters not what religion you are aligned with, or your own beliefs, the truth is that at some time you are going to die. It is Almighty God, and him alone, who has the ability to take you to his heavenly home. And none can stop him. “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:29)

This assurance is summed up in verse by James M Black, 1893:

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain:

When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Don’t you just love it that when all is said and done, when the last battle has been fought, when all the confusion and uncertainties are over, when you enter your eternal rest, that the God who loves us, and whom we dearly love, gives us another great reason, like this, for loving him?

Staff Writer; Henderson W.

You can contact this Christian brother at: HWard@ThyBlackMan.com.

Table Of Contents

1. Why Overwhelm Feels So Heavy
2. Start With A Pause
3. Build A Simple Scripture Routine
4. Choose Passages For The Moment
5. Turn Worry Into Action
6. Set Healthier News Boundaries
7. Use Prayer And Journaling
8. Stay Connected To Others
9. Know When To Seek Extra Help
10. Questions Readers May Have

There are seasons when ordinary responsibilities feel heavier than usual. Difficult news, financial pressure, health concerns, grief, relationship strain, and a constant stream of notifications can leave little room to think clearly. In those moments, practical rhythms of faith, rest, and connection can help. Some people also benefit from faith-based online pastoral counseling when they need a caring space to talk through spiritual and personal concerns.

Feeling overwhelmed is not proof of weak faith or poor character. It is a human response to carrying too much for too long. Groundedness does not mean pretending life is easy. It means responding to what is real with honesty, wise limits, prayer, and appropriate support. It may also mean accepting that not every question can be answered today. When life feels unsteady, the goal is not perfect calm; it is finding a faithful, workable way to take the next step.

Why Overwhelm Feels So Heavy

Overwhelm often builds gradually. A demanding week becomes a demanding month, then attention becomes scattered, and small decisions begin to feel exhausting. Stress may pass after a difficult event, but ongoing distress that affects sleep, work, relationships, or basic routines deserves closer attention. A 2018 study on Bible reading, religious coping, stress, and hope suggests that spiritual practices can be meaningful resources, though personal circumstances and support systems matter too.

Sometimes the weight comes from one clear crisis. At other times, it comes from many ordinary demands arriving without enough recovery between them: unanswered messages, caregiving, deadlines, household tasks, and worries about people you love. The body and mind can respond as though every concern requires an immediate answer. Recognizing this pattern can reduce shame and make it easier to choose a calmer response. You may not be able to remove the pressure at once, but you can begin to separate urgent needs from concerns that can wait.

Start With A Pause

When your mind is racing, begin with a short pause rather than trying to solve everything at once. Put your phone down, lower your shoulders, and take a moment to identify what is happening inside you. A pause creates a small gap between the feeling of panic and the decision you make next. It can be especially useful before replying to a stressful message, making a major choice, or continuing a difficult conversation.

A Three-Minute Reset

1. Take five slow breaths.
2. Name the feeling, such as fear, sadness, anger, or fatigue.
3. State the concern in plain language.
4. Ask what needs attention right now.
5. Choose one small next step.

This reset is not meant to erase a serious problem in three minutes. It is a way to return to the present moment. If it helps, place both feet on the floor, notice a few things around you, and remind yourself that you only need to decide what comes next. The broader context can be revisited once your thoughts are less scattered.

Build A Simple Scripture Routine

A hard season is rarely the right time to create an elaborate routine that adds pressure. A short, repeatable Scripture practice can offer a steady point of return without becoming another task to complete perfectly. Keeping a Bible, a devotional book, or a written passage in an easy-to-reach place can reduce the effort needed to begin.

• Morning: Read a short passage before checking messages.
• Midday: Repeat one sentence that speaks to your present concern.
• Evening: Write down one burden and one reason for gratitude.

Five to ten minutes is enough to begin. Consistency matters more than length, especially when energy is limited. Missing a day does not mean the routine has failed. Simply return when you can. Some people find it helpful to read the same brief passage for several days, allowing its words to become more familiar instead of rushing to cover more material.

Choose Passages For The Moment

You do not need to find one perfect verse for every problem. Instead, choose passages that meet the need in front of you. Reading slowly can be more helpful than reading a large amount while distracted. Notice a word, image, question, or promise that stands out, and consider why it feels important today.

• For fear: Read passages about God’s presence, then ask, “What would change if I faced this moment less alone?”
• For grief: Read a psalm of lament and name the part of the loss that hurts most.
• For confusion: Read passages about wisdom, then consider which decision can wait for greater clarity.
• For exhaustion: Read passages about rest and ask what responsibilities can be shared, delayed, or returned. Also, help to resist the temptation to use Scripture as a quick way to silence difficult feelings. The Bible includes prayers of praise, questions, grief, fear, repentance, and hope. Bringing your actual experience to the passage can make the practice more honest. If a particular text feels difficult or confusing, choose a shorter passage or discuss it with a trusted pastor, mentor, or mature friend.

Turn Worry Into Action

Prayer and practical action belong together. Faith does not require ignoring a difficult problem. It can help you approach the problem with a clearer mind and a steadier pace. A concern about finances may call for reviewing bills or asking about available assistance. A concern about health may call for making an appointment. A conflict may call for an honest, respectful conversation rather than repeated private worry.

The Name, Give, Do Method

1. Name: Describe the concern without assuming the worst outcome.
2. Give: Bring it to God through direct, honest prayer.
3. Do: Take one useful step, such as making a call, sending an email, scheduling an appointment, or asking for help.

One action will solve every situation, but it can interrupt helplessness. If a task is too large, break it down into the next manageable step. For example, instead of deciding that you must solve an entire financial problem today, gather the relevant documents or contact one organization. Instead of trying to repair every part of a strained relationship at once, ask whether a brief check-in or sincere apology is the next right step.

Set Healthier News Boundaries

Staying informed is different from absorbing every health concern each day. You can care deeply about the world while protecting your attention and rest. Constant exposure to upsetting headlines can make distant events feel relentlessly immediate, particularly when reports are repeated across multiple apps and platforms.

• Check reliable news sources at set times.
• Turn off alerts that repeatedly trigger panic or distraction.
• Avoid scrolling in bed or immediately after waking.
• Pause before sharing emotionally charged content.
• Choose one meaningful response, such as prayer, donating, volunteering, or contacting a representative, instead of endless checking.

News boundaries are not indifferent. They are a way to remain compassionate without letting every alert dictate the day’s emotional tone. Consider choosing a defined window for updates and then returning to work, family, rest, or prayer. If a major event affects you personally, it may be wise to seek trustworthy information while also taking breaks from commentary and speculation.

Use Prayer And Journaling

Prayer does not need polished language. You can offer one honest sentence, sit quietly, repeat a short passage, or write down concerns you cannot solve today. Journaling is not a demand to feel positive. It is a way to slow racing thoughts and notice what is true. A written prayer can be especially helpful when you find yourself repeating the same concern without knowing how to put it into words.

• What feels heaviest today?
• What is within my control?
• What needs to be released?
• Who could offer wise support?
• What small sign of goodness appeared today?

You do not need to keep a detailed journal for the practice to be useful. A few lines, a list of prayers, or a single sentence at the end of the day can be enough. Over time, looking back may help you notice patterns: situations that repeatedly drain you, supports that bring relief, or prayers that have changed how you see a problem.

Stay Connected To Others

Isolation can make a hard situation feel even larger. Trusted people may offer prayer, practical assistance, a listening ear, or simply calm company. Send a direct message rather than waiting for perfect wording. Ask for something specific, such as a phone call, help with a meal, or someone to sit with you during a difficult evening.

Connection does not require sharing everything with everyone. Choose people who are trustworthy, respectful, and able to listen without rushing to judgment. If you do not know what to ask for, begin simply: “I am having a hard week and could use someone to talk to.” A church community, small group, family member, neighbor, or longtime friend may be able to offer support that is both practical and personal.

Know When To Seek Extra Help

Spiritual practices can support emotional well-being, but they do not replace medical or mental health care. Contact a qualified professional when anxiety, depression, grief, or fear persist, worsen, or interfere with daily life. Prompt support is especially important when sleep, eating, work, relationships, or safety are seriously affected.

Seeking help is not a failure to pray hard enough or trust deeply enough. A doctor, licensed mental health professional, pastor, or other qualified support person can help you assess what is happening and identify appropriate next steps. If you are supporting someone else, take their distress seriously, listen without minimizing it, and encourage them to seek professional care when needed.

If you are in the United States and feel unsafe or have thoughts of self-harm, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support by call, text, or chat at any time. Call emergency services if there is immediate danger.

Questions Readers May Have

Does Feeling Anxious Mean Faith Is Failing?

No. Anxiety and sadness are human experiences. Faith can shape how you respond, but it does not remove every difficult emotion. Honest prayer, wise boundaries, supportive relationships, and professional help when appropriate can all be part of a faithful response.

What If Prayer Feels Empty?

Begin with honesty. Pray a single sentence, read a lament, sit in silence, or ask someone you trust to pray with you. It is okay if prayer feels simple or unfinished; returning to God with what you have is still a meaningful practice.

Can Scripture Replace Counseling Or Treatment?

Scripture can provide spiritual comfort and direction, while counseling and treatment can address mental health needs. Both forms of support can be valuable. When symptoms are persistent or daily functioning is affected, professional assessment and care can be an important part of the healing and stability process.

Conclusion

Staying grounded is usually built through small choices repeated over time. A brief pause, a focused passage, an honest prayer, a news boundary, and a trusted conversation can create steadiness in a difficult day. The goal is not to deny the weight of life, but to meet each moment with faith, wisdom, care, and support. Even when circumstances do not change quickly, these practices can help create room to breathe, receive help, and take the next faithful step.

Staff Writer; Quincy Parker

We resign ourselves to the ideal that if God wants us be [ or our loved] to be healed he will make it happen…and he doesn’t need our assistance. Because remember, “he will never put more on us than we can bare”; the problem may have begun with a gross misreading and misunderstanding of scripture. There is a big difference between not putting more on us than we can handle, and not allowing us to be tempted beyond what we can handle. One implies God is applying the pressure, and the other implies he is not the cause of the pressure. This misunderstanding can affect how we pray our understanding of what we need to do to assist our wellness.

I can remember the accident that began the journey that has been repeated health challenges. There have been so many limits given my life I’ve lost count. There were times where I felt God was testing me, so I kept praying to show myself worthy of living…basically begging for life. Then came the why me Lord phase…that saw me angry with God and questioning why I must go through such unspeakable pain. This eventually led to the thought that if I’m going through it that must be because I can bare it. All of these phases caused an inconsistency in what I was praying for verses what I wanted from God.

Furthermore, in the midst of all the “tarrying” I wasn’t putting for the maximum effort to care for myself. Basically, it was prayer or nothing. I had no concept of working with God. Basically, if God wants to fix it he will, and it it’s not fixed this is what he has assigned to me to carry as my burden or “cross” per se. Granted today I am able to say that a lack of understanding about God, faith, healing and prayer led to me almost giving up my faith in the midst of my health crisis, as my original mindset led to despair and depression.

Healing is something that, in most cases, doesn’t occur overnight. It is a combination of faith, work, and in many cases following medical direction. Having an understanding that this doesn’t work like magic, God is not afflicting us, and that we must put work with our prayer can mentally prepare us for the journey that is healing. This journey is not always a matter of physical illness, but where there is a need for healing there will need to be prayer and work. Training our mind to speak spiritual healing to the body is one area that requires time in God’s Word, and plenty of mouth control discipline. Yes, discipline has to become your new best friend as it helps us work past what we feel, and what we see.

Taking time to do a biblical study on healing will aid your discipline, and help you understand healing from God’s perspective verses what you’ve been told by others. It was a game changing revelation the day I was able to understand God won’t allow the enemy to tempt me beyond what I could handle, a price was already paid for my healing, and there is a connection between my physical health and the health of my Spirit. Granted it has to be understood that this is a position on healing from a Christian perspective, so if the believe system is different of course what is required is different.

However, regardless of one’s spiritual belief, or lack thereof, the person seeking healing will have to find a way to engage with the issue, the health issue they are facing with positive words/meditation/prayer and be willing to do the work required. This is not a journey built for perfection, but one built for consistency and discipline. Showing up for oneself becomes a crucial necessity on the road called healing.

Staff Writer; Chelle’ St James

May also connect with this sister via Twitter; ChelleStJames.

We look at our economic times and see the hardship and difficulty all around us. Hence, we are all looking for a good deal and want to get the things we need at the cheapest cost possible. So, we buy only if it is on sale or discounted. Well, with this mind set in place, it can be easy to treat people the same way and soon we begin seeing the effect.

When people do not feel they are worth much, they begin selling themselves at a discounted price. I have heard of single mothers in desperation turning to work at strip clubs to obtain an income to support their children because the father has run off. How sad in every respect!

But, what about the drug addict selling themselves for another hit or even the alcoholic trading his reasoning for another drink. Sure, it can be clearly seen in the obvious down and out but it runs rampant beyond what we consider obvious. Take for example the executive at the corporate office who seems to have everything like a wonderful home and loving family who is willing to compromise his time with his family to work seventy or eighty hour weeks for an increase in the bottom line. Perhaps it’s the manager on the manufacturing line who sells his morality when they look the other way as product is taken home by an employee rather than inventoried. Why do people feel these things are justified? I believe it’s because they are attempting to increase their value in their subconscious.

Somewhere, someone perhaps told them things like; they were stupid, worthless or would never amount to anything. Therefore, it hurts, it wounds and it devalues – I know because I’ve been there. Maybe they were made to feel like they did not measure up to others, when sly comments were uttered or comparisons were made. So they viewed themselves as cheap and their value declined – I know since I have experienced that too. It could be as simple as one small seemingly innocent trade off that began the ball rolling down hill when a supposed friend said just try it once, it won’t kill you. And so the one small theft, the one small puff, the one small sip began the leak of one’s self worth until it was hard to plug the hole and now maybe you’re not even sure it can be fixed, repaired or restored.

Let me tell you it can! Instead of repeating the phrases you’ve heard perhaps all of your life about how terrible you are, you need a new script and it can be found already written out and well rehearsed for thousands of years now in the Bible. Countless others have found the means through God’s word to encourage a turn around in their lives and it can help you out as well!

Sure, we can assume that Scripture was written for the masses but it was dedicated to the individual – YOU. When God authored the words, He had you in mind! He designed you with such creativity and specialty that there has never nor will there ever be anyone exactly like you.

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14 KJV)

I know you say but you don’t know me, and how can God be concerned about me when there are billions of people living on earth right now. Well, to respond to that I have to ask you to think about the snowflakes. Scientists will confirm that there are no two alike and yet how many fall each winter? There are thousands of bird species alone and yet if you lined up a thousand cardinals or robins or sparrows, no two of them would look exactly alike. Think of all the thousands of animals and fish and insect species there are and yet no two of them look exactly alike. Do you think it is all coincidence or could perhaps a creative God like to express Himself uniquely with each design of His.

Then think about each blade of grass and each flower and each tree or plant and how on the surface they may appear similar but in the smallest of details, they are each different. Why does God create all these differences? To show or to demonstrate His love to each one and that includes YOU! You are unique and special to Him and if you need more encouragement here:

“Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” (Isaiah 43:4 KJV)

God has allowed others to pass away over the course of time to allow you to be here today. In America, we have had countless brave men and women fight to the death to provide the very freedoms we experience. However, even above and beyond that God gave His one and only begotten son – Jesus Christ for our eternal redemption.

God wasn’t looking for a bargain or a deal when He suffered and died for our sins. He was willing to pay the greatest most expensive price there was for our salvation. To pay anything less would have been to discount His creativity, His love and our worth. Knowing this then, you need to view yourself as worth a gazillion dollars or a billion times that or else you’re giving the devil the steal of a lifetime when you sell out for a few dollars, a line of coke, a drag or a ten finger discount at work.

I would encourage you to remember this from Luke 12:7 (kjv): “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than……” (you fill in the blank). If God is concerned about even the hairs on your head, don’t you think He values the rest of you? I sure do!

This is just something I thought you should know!

Staff Writer; Rick S.

One may contact this man of God at: RS@ThyBlackMan.com.

The above topic, as believers well know, is the first part of a most interesting scripture and one that so many fights with to their own destruction. People wrestle with scripture at times not because the scripture is difficult to understand, and let us be honest and admit that some scriptures are difficult and puzzling, but because of its logical application.

No other book comes close to the mighty Holy Bible. This is because the Bible is not a dead document like the works of Shakespeare or Plato but the living word of God; and you can read the same verse of scripture every day and get entirely new and different insights and inspiration; and it will address your needs and concerns as if God is addressing you by telephone.

For this reason, above all else, the Bible is the most valuable and effective document in all creation and no matter how perverse and wayward the world is, the Bible is still the most read document there is, and year after year it is the world’s best-selling book.

Believers need to start looking with fresh eyes at the Bible, stop taking it for granted and move away from the routine use of last thing at night or first thing in the morning and start dipping into it frequently, unplanned and impulsive and enjoy the spiritual gems on offer.

The gem on offer from our topic, and if the righteous scarcely be saved, is mined from 1 Peter 4:18 and the full verse reads like this, “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

The Apostle Peter, leader of the church universal, was writing to the churches in the Roman Province of Asia Minor (present day Turkey) and was encouraging them to be ready for the coming brutal assaults and persecution.

By the same token this verse, 1 Peter 4:18, is appropriate to our time; not because we are physically abused and brutally persecuted as in pre-Constantine times but because the world is drowning in a surfeit of ungodliness. The things Paul warned us about, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God…” (2 Timothy 3:2-4) are here and happening now and those not anchored in Christ run the risk of being overwhelmed.

The Apostle Peter was not saying that believer’s salvation, or status with God is tentative, cautious or unsettled, he was not alluding to any uncertainty or lack of sureness that would leave believers in a spiritual state of doubt or inertia.

Peter would not because the Bible gives mighty assurance to all believers about their salvation:

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

“And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39)

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)

No, there is nothing tentative about believer’s salvation and there is absolutely no uncertainty as regards believers standing with God. So what did the Apostle Peter mean by those words in 1 Peter 4:18? Here is the verse again but from the Easy-to-Read Version, “If it is hard for even a good person to be saved, what will happen to the one who is against God and full of sin?”

God does not punish the obedient righteous with the wicked, but the righteous because of their bad choices put themselves in peril and at times escape God’s judgement by the slimmest of margins.

This is what the Apostle Peter was referring to.

The story of Lot makes interesting reading and we know that Lot, because of his bad choices, barely escaped God’s judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah. In spite of repeated warnings, and the strong arm of angels, Lot almost got caught up in the deflagration that consumed those two cities as recorded in Genesis 19:1-26).

Bad choices are not necessarily sinful, but when people make bad choices there is the tendency to defend those choices even when there is convincing evidence that those choices are harmful. People hate saying “I was wrong” “I am sorry” “I messed up” “I should have known better” and move on to better choices. This is one of people’s most besetting faults and believers are not exempted.

Believers, just like many people, make bad choices in many areas of their lives and sometimes they suffer in silence the awful consequences.

We make bad choices in our politics.

Many people have very little interest in politics and they never get involved in the political process except at election time when they cast their vote. If you vote for a political party and that party wins the election and then goes on to do foolishness you might then effortlessly condemn them for their foolishness, regret you voted for them and move on.

This is commendable but many people are partisan, they belong to the party and will defend its policy even when in their heart of heart they know their party is on the wrong track. I understand that certain “Christians” were still “blessing” Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party throughout World War 2 and army chaplains employed by Hitler’s army were busy bolstering their morale and giving them spiritual sustenance during their campaigns.

Today believers are still making bad choices in their politics and are afraid to speak out against wrongdoing because they are afraid of being victimised.

Whatever your politics, and it is good that Christians have different political affiliations, unlawful activity and bad behaviour should never be tolerated and the principles that you live by should never be trodden underfoot without your most vociferous objections.

We make bad choices in our friendships.

Some friendships are special and we all wish that we had a special friendship like that of David and Jonathan. Throughout the Bible there was no closer friendship than these two and the Bible records the essence of it thus, “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (1 Samuel 18:1)

A lot of people will find themselves in hell because they made the wrong friendship and were not perceptive enough to see where it was leading and did not exercise enough courage to sever the friendship bonds.

Rehoboam made the wrong friendships when his father King Solomon died and as a consequence he tore Israel apart, ruled for a time in Judah and eventually submerged himself in wickedness on the advice of his friends, “And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.” (1 Kings 14:22)

Alas some people, believers included, would rather stick to their friends and sink with them into perdition rather than make the sensible, life-saving choice and move on. Happily some do.

We make bad choices in our church affiliation.

Church affiliation is not only a spiritual matter it is also an emotional matter and it is not surprising that people are almost irrational in their response when their church affiliation is questioned.

Many people still do not understand that there is only one church, The Church and it belongs to Jesus Christ and all true Christians are part of that church. Jesus referred to it as “my church” (Matthew 16:18) and there is no other Christian church.

The denomination to which you are affiliated or the local assembly that you attend may or may not be part of the true church.

As we evangelize we never tell converts to go to any specific assembly or join any specific denomination but we always tell them to affiliate to a proper Bible believing, gospel preaching, mainstream church that is Christ-centred.

But some people make bad choices and end up in assemblies that are spiritually toxic and mentally devastating and may even be physically destructive like the assembly of Jim Jones of the Guyana disaster or David Koresh of Waco infamy.

Many believers still affiliate to denominations that are shown to be Christian cults that do not teach sound biblical doctrines or follow the Apostolic Traditions handed down through the ages or respect the faith, “… which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 1:3)

Judgement is surely coming to this world and believers need to be ready; need separation and distance; need to take seriously their calling and being chosen by God and strictly observe the admonition of the Apostle Paul when he wrote, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Staff Writer; Henderson W.

You can contact this Christian brother at: HWard@ThyBlackMan.com.

Unfortunately, this has been the mode of operation during the past several decades here in America for many involved in politics, business, healthcare or other areas of our modern society. Many have overlooked petty thievery of office supplies by coworkers who took a few “extras” home. Others have overlooked the cash paid to workers that did not have the required taxes deducted by their employer. Several have chosen not to see the infractions of infidelity made by leaders who were elected to stand up for family values. Some businesses have chosen not to see the impact of poorly constructed products or policies that have gouged or taken advantage of their customers. Still others every day have closed their eye or even eyes to the injustices around the world so long as they don’t affect them personally.

What happens, however, the minute an injustice does affect someone personally? They complain about it, they scream and holler if necessary, they draw attention to it, but if others continue to turn their blind eye to the situation then nothing more happens. Its usually only when many are affected that their combined complaints, screams and hollering finally draws the attention of those who can not help but see their plight and begin to address it so that things can quite down and get back to business as usual (which is another great topic for a different blog).

Here is an interesting thought to ponder: Several centuries ago, physically blinding your enemy was the chosen method of victorious kings to ensure that the enemy would not be able to rise up again and combat them. Even if they did, now the enemy would be at a tremendous disadvantage and would be easily conquerable once again.

Well, I have news for you and here it is: We have an enemy of our souls! Yes that is right, the devil, satan, the evil one or whatever you want to call him is out to destroy us. He’s is waging war on us and trying to blind us.

However, the good news, as scripture tells us, is that we are not unaware of his strategy. “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2-Corinthians 2:11 KJV) That simply means, if we are observant, we can tell what he is up to and his biggest tactic is that he wants us to destroy ourselves because the truth of the matter is that he can’t do it himself. In other words, he is stifled in his attempts because of our free will. However, if he can cause us to surrender our free will or the power to choose, then he can begin to influence us in ways that suit him.

One of the greatest ways we surrender our power to choose is simply not to choose. When we know of something we should do that would set situations right or would be the right thing to do but we choose not to do it or even choose to do nothing, we have sinned and surrendered our free will. “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17 KJV)

Did you also know that over time, this type of blindness leads to other sensory losses and eventual disheartenment? While it may be true that the physically blind develop heightened senses such as smell and touch, it is only when they make the concentrated effort to do so in order to make up for the loss of sight. On the other hand, if nothing is done to compensate for the impaired vision, the opposite is true, the other senses become dull and as a result, a depression or disheartening emotion takes over through an attitude of “woe is me” or “nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen,” which becomes self-defeating. When we get to this stage, it’s as if the enemy has won the battle.

If you have been defeated in this battle for your soul, let me encourage you that one battle does not a war make. A war is usually made up of several battles and scrimmages. Therefore, take heart and begin to fight back. It’s time to open up both eyes and see things as they are. Its time to take a clear look and focus on getting things back in order to make things right. You can choose today to make a difference. You can be the one to stand up, scream and holler about someone else’s injustice and not just your own. If you and I do, then our collective voices will begin to prevail. It won’t take much just open that blind eye and begin to see the need all around you.

Staff Writer; Rick S.

One may contact this man of God at: RS@ThyBlackMan.com.

People of different persuasions, philosophers, atheists, scientists, scholars, historians, communists, sociologists, and even some liberal theologians, are amazed, baffled, and some are perturbed that in spite of the hard going journey through the ages, Christianity has managed to survive, and even thrive.

They are surprised that Christianity has emerged virtually unscathed, and that spirituality and religion are so highly valued even in today’s godless culture of materialism and secular domination. They thought that once newfangled ideas came on the scene, ideas cultivated by people like evolutionary scientists, militant atheist, and New Age advocates, to name a few, that Christianity would not only be sidelined or submerged, but possibly killed off permanently. It has not happened, it will not happen.

Christians need to remember that all these fanciful ideas are just that, fanciful, and in time they will vanish as surely as the flat earth theory vanished after it was shown to be  just another European fantasy.

If Christianity survived the murderous external assault of the Muslims, the wretched, blood-spattered warfare of the Crusades, the internecine battles for doctrinal orthodoxy, and the enormous rupture caused by The Reformation, then it must have done so because of something beyond human’s ability to destroy.

That something beyond human’s ability to destroy can be identified, and as always, when you are stumped for answers, when the magicians, and soothsayers, and philosophers, and talking heads, and the willfully blind are clueless, as they so often are, then look to the scriptures for proper enlightenment.

The Bible tells us why Christianity is very much alive today, why all attempts to destroy the faith has failed, why the so-called intellectuals are baffled at its longevity and continuing appeal and vitality. The Bible puts it like this, “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)

Whole countries, indeed entire empires, have fought against God and none has won that battle. The Babylonian Empire fought against God, and they lost, and are no more. The Persian Empire fought against God, and they also lost. The Greek Empire, that brought so much to civilization, also fought against God and lost. And the mightiest of them all, the Roman Empire, fought against God and lost too. They all lost out in the end because they turned to secularism and ungodliness as their way of life.

Even in more recent times we saw powerful countries, even so-called “superpowers”, who tried desperately to wipe out Christianity, and failed. A good example is the Soviet Union that tried to wipe out Christianity agrees perhaps that, “Religion is poison,” as Mao Tse-Tung was said to have stated. The Soviet Union failed, its legacy is now a footnote in history, but Christianity is still going as strong as ever. Believers, and indeed the whole world, should remember the mantra, “…if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it”.

In a previous article I said, “So Satan’s ploy, in pushing an evil, many-sided agenda, is to sift you, to move you away from the verities of the word of God and the Christian faith, to detach you from the groundings that will guarantee your anchorage in Christ and let you be lost.”

The tactics may differ, but the aim is always the same; to get you to relinquish your godly stand, to unbalance you, to get you into a state of uncertainty and equivocation, because it is then that you may move away from God.

Paul was very conscious of this, of the real possibility that under pressure some believers may go away from God, and so he encouraged the believers like this, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)

The plain truth is that when some people are confronted with certain events, or when they are certain to face some upcoming challenge, they allow themselves to be intimidated. It is true that some challenges can be tough, but challenges also provide opportunity for you to see God at work if you stand your ground.

Let us be mindful of what happened to Moses when he led the Israelites out of Egypt, and was confronted by the formidable challenge posed by the Red Sea. God was about to do something unheard of, something spectacular, and mighty, but first, Moses had to stand firm and keep his cool, and not allow the Israelites to panic. Moses did as God instructed and was able to achieve success, “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord”, and as we say the rest is history.

The Apostle Paul was the most persecuted and abused apostle of Jesus Christ, the list of some of his sufferings is listed in 2 Corinthians 11: 23-25, and before he finally left Asia Minor he called the leaders to say goodbye, made them aware of his upcoming tribulations and ended the discourse with these words:

“And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.” (Acts 20: 22-23) It was going to be perilous going forward, undoubtedly not something to look forward to, but Paul was determined, “But none of these things move me” (Acts 20: 24)

Believers everywhere are in a similar situation, no one is immune from the assaults of the enemy; although the specifics may vary. As long as you are a believer, no matter how strong your faith, or where on this planet you live, you will be sorely tested. And if, for some reason or another you think you are different, then I warn you what the Bible says, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

So how are we to make sure we stand firm in the faith?

Here are some things believers can do to stand firm in the faith.

1. Refresh your belief in God and his power to aid you. It is often the case that we get lulled into a state of helplessness, and forget that God is the God of miracles, and can do what to us might seem impossible. Just like a Christian revival, certain bad habits can diminish our fervour and reliance on the Almighty God and his power, and we are not firing on all cylinders. We often know the scriptures, but do not bother to petition God to act on his word, like here, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7”14) God’s power is available to assist you, but you must not only want it, but request it in times of need. Refresh, test, evaluate; this is the way to success.

2. Refuse to be over-burdened by circumstances. This is harder than it may seem at first sight because, sometimes, tragedies in the family, and such, can be extremely tough to handle. But the excuse some believers make, that they tried, but could not help themselves, or that the pressure became too great, are instances of being over-burdened. Being over-burdened is evidence that you are taking on your shoulders what you should not. God knows what you can bear, will not place on you more than you can handle, and the Bible tells us, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22) Even when you are over-burdened, when things become too much for you, it is still time to reach out to God in faith. I believe this is what David meant when he said, “From a faraway land I call to you for help. I feel so weak and helpless! Carry me to a high rock, where no one can reach me.” (Psalm 61:2 Easy-to-Read Version)

3. Remember to focus on God and eternal things. The truth is, that there is a strong tendency to become too strongly attached to earthly things, to let matters concerning property, wealth, general matters of living, family, and the like, consume our time and attention. We must make time, quality time, to study the Bible, pray, meditate and do the spiritual things that bring us closer to God. Sometimes we forget that earthly things are trivial and fleeting, whereas the heavenly things are glorious and eternal. The Bible puts it like this: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2)

What we know, what is certain, is that the devil has not the power to move you if you stand firm in the faith. It is up to every believer to be strong-willed, determined, resolute, not budging from what is true and unchanging. God will give you the victory if you stand firm, “I must calm down and turn to God; only he can rescue me. He is my Rock, the only one who can save me. He is my high place of safety, where no army can defeat me.” (Psalm 62:1-2 Easy-to-Read Version)

Staff Writer; Henderson W.

You can contact this Christian brother at: HWard@ThyBlackMan.com.

“ Remember Lot’s wife.” (Luke 17:32)

There is an abiding danger, however caused, that the present generation, and indeed generations to come, forget the significant milestones of the past, and thereby nullify the achievements, endeavours, and travails of those who have passed this way, and how God has been central to their survival and accomplishments.

Europe today calls itself “post-Christian” as if Christianity is a worn garment that you can cast off after it has served its purpose. Sadly, this same attitude is seen in some non-European countries, and coupled with the spread of vicious atheism, believers need to look back and remember the important role God played in the preservation of humanity.

It is also important that we see how essential and interlinked are the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Some believers think that the Old Testament has no relevance to Christianity and the Church Age, and they deem the Old Testament as nothing more than the Jewish Bible.

While it is true that the Old Testament is a Jewish document recording the dealings of God with the Jews, and detailing the beliefs and practices of Judaism their religion, it is also true that the Old Testament is a fore-runner of the New Testament and is the foundation on which is built a lot of Christian theology. And it stands staunchly as Holy Scripture for all time.

In addition, it’s true that the Old Testament saints (nearly all Jews) and the New Testament believers (nearly all Gentiles) are one people in Christ with a common heritage, as noted by Paul in Romans 3:29-30. Hence, when God asks us to remember something that pertains to the one, it must of necessity have some relevance to the other.

The biblical feasts and festivals should be remembered, above all, because God  instructed the Jews to keep them in mind, but also for their significance, “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.” (Leviticus 23:1-2)

Israel, like all countries, have different years. Here in Barbados, for example, we have the financial year that begins on 1^st April, as well as the calendar (Gregorian) year that begins on Ist January. In Israel, each month begins with the new moon, and the first month of the new year, Nisan, is in the Gregorian calendar month of March or early April. Israel’s 12 month calendar is as follows:

1. Nisan, 30 days – 2. Iyar, 29 days – 3. Sivan, 30 days – 4. Tammuz, 29 days – 5. Av, 30 days – 6. Elul, 29 days – 7. Tishrei, 30 days – 8. Marcheshvan (or Cheshvan), 29/30 days – 9. Kislev, 30/29 days – 10. Tevet, 29 days – 11. Shevat, 30 days – 12. Adar, 29 days.

In the Bible, Israel had seven feasts, or festivals, that they were to keep throughout their generations. They added several others after independence in 1948, but the seven biblical ones are as follows in calendar order:

1. Passover, Exodus 12:13-14

2. Unleavened Bread, Exodus 23:15

3. Firstfruits, Leviticus 23:13-14

4. The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), Leviticus 23:16-21

5. The Feast of Trumpets, Numbers 29:1

6. The Day of Atonement, Leviticus 23:26-32

7. The Feast of Booths (Tabernacles or Ingathering). Leviticus 23:39-41

The Passover is perhaps the most wellknown of the biblical feast, and it commemorates the time when the firstborn of the Egyptian household was killed and the Israelites spared. The Israelites were instructed to kill a lamb and spread its blood across the door posts and lintel, and when the death angel passed, it would pass over the Israelites, sparing their firstborn. The full details of the event are recorded in Exodus 12:1-14.

Why does the Passover matter to believers?

The Passover is the most important festival to believers because the Lord’s Supper, (that we take regularly as the Holy Communion), was a Passover meal. Remember what Paul said regarding this, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:25). When Jesus passed the bread to his disciples and told them that it was his body, and that they should eat it, Jesus was portraying himself as the Passover lamb, and Paul acknowledged it, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was the event when the Israelites were instructed to eat bread without yeast, illustrating the hasty preparation they made to depart from Egypt. The Feast of Unleavened Bread lasted for one week and followed immediately after the Passover. The full details of this event are recorded in Exodus 12:15-20.

Why does the Feast of Unleavened Bread matter to believers?

In Matthew 16:6-12, Jesus described the Pharisees as hypocrites, and their teaching as yeast. He warned his disciples to, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6) In the New Testament , yeast is often associated with evil, and Paul said, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” (Galatians 5:9) Since believers are to purge themselves of evil (1 Corinthians 7:1) and to present their bodies as a living sacrifice unto God (Romans 12:1), it is apt to remember both the origins of this feast and its application by Jesus.

The Offering of Firstfruits was a festival that took place at the beginning of the harvest and commemorated Israel’s gratitude to and dependence on God. In fact, Israel brought first fruits to God at various times of the year, depending on the specific crop that was harvested, but the Offering of Firstfruits, detailed in Leviticus 23:9-14, occurred in combination with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and focused on the barley harvest. The full details of this event are recorded in Leviticus 23:9-14.

Why does the Offering of Firstfruits matter to believers?

Many churches throughout the world still engage in this Old Testament festival, the Harvest Festival, because all life on earth depends on crops of every variety to exists, and believers show their gratitude to and dependence on God. Some regard this festival as symbolic of the resurrection of Christ, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

In addition to these three, they are four other feasts that were to be remembered. The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) that celebrated the grain harvest, and the day Christians celebrate the arrival of the Holy Spirit; the Feast of Trumpets as stated in Numbers 29:1, was a celebration at the end of the agricultural year, and which Christians associate with the end of the age and trumpet blowing (Matthew 24:31, 1 Thessalonians 4:16); the Day of Atonement was concerned with atoning for the sins of the people, and which Christians associate with the sacrificial death of Christ on Good Friday (or Jesus’ Second Advent); the Feast of Booths (or tabernacles or Ingathering) was concerned with living in huts made from palm fronds to recall the sojourn of the Israelites in the wilderness before entering the land of Canaan, and which Christians associate with the start of the Millennium (and Christ living among us).

All these feasts were related to the spiritual life of the people. When God asks us to remember, he is not asking us to do a trip down memory lane for sentimental reasons, but for practical reasons related to our spirituality. In the most significant cases that God asks us to remember, he wants us to do something, to act, to take steps in a certain direction, to follow a course of action to uplift, invigorate and strengthen us in the faith. Here are three examples:

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8). The world has gone mad in disrespecting and disregarding the sabbath day, and everywhere you can see how Sunday, for them, is just another day. Alas, some believers follow the example of the world, and engage in a number of unimportant things, things they could easily do on other days, and forget that God says to keep the sabbath holy. Believers need to remember, and act, “To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” (Psalm 103:18)

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2:5). This is not only true for the Ephesians, who had left their first love, but for all believers who have fallen away, regressed, or relinquish their enthusiasm and passion for the things of God and of Jesus. Get back to where you once were, is the call here for believers to remember.

“ Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (Revelation 3:3) The Sardisians had gotten sloppy, and it was badly affecting their spirituality. Believers today can get sloppy too, not being watchful and attentive, and being vulnerable to calamity if God puts in his appearance.

God loves his children, and so prompts them to remember things – for their own good.

Staff Writer; Henderson W.

You can contact this Christian brother at: HWard@ThyBlackMan.com.