Respecting Differences Through Christ's Love.

We as Christian believers may need to brush up on Romans 14 again (myself included). Read with the Holy Spirit. He will help us, using the Word, to learn how to respect differences of conviction between Christians and how to do it in love. Basically, not everything needs to be agreed upon. Humans need to feel both love (agape) and respect (basic human worth). God loves us and respects us so we need to love and respect each other. We should respect our differences and recognize that God accepts the faith of people with different views on natural matters.

Let's open the Word by the Spirit and refresh our minds with the Mind of Christ here. Let's read the whole chapter:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+14&version=NKJV
Take your time with it. I'll be here waiting....

OK you've read through the chapter?

Great! Let's continue. 

Verse 13 is very key when dealing with outward appearances and surface matters (non-salvation issues). V17 is also very crucial. Paul teaches us how to handle the surface stuff that Christians always seem to disagree on: Food, drink, holy days, circumcision, and more recently, masks and cleaning supplies etc etc. Your personal faith on these outward matters is good! But what is NOT good is using it to condemn or trip up fellow saints. I can tell you that it displeases the Heavenly Father to see His children taking hurtful jabs at each other and calling each others' faith into question. That is terrible, and it breaks my heart. It doesn't matter what "side" you take. Both "sides" have merit. In this coronavirus situation, I know people with weak immune systems that need to wear a mask. So wear it. Have your faith before God (v22).

I also know people who have special health conditions that prevent them from wearing the mask or suffer anxiety from it. Or they simply believe God will keep His word (Mark 16:18) and see God as their protection in the midst of working their essential services job. But they take still take other health precautions like others do. So those people don't wear a mask. Have your faith before God. (v22) Just don't use your personal convictions (whatever they may be) as a clubbing weapon against other dear sisters and brothers in Christ. Respect differences using the Love of Christ.

SO what does matter is acting in love and respecting our brothers and sisters in Christ. They don't have to agree with you on every issue. We only need to agree on Christ and on the key doctrines of salvation such as John 14:6. So out of mutual love and respect, we must sometimes graciously agree to disagree and move on.

The common misconception I sometimes observe with us Christians is that we all have to agree on the surface issues. No we just need to agree to love and respect each other as Jesus commanded us. :) Love meaning we care for and have godly affection for each other (agape), and respect meaning we recognize each other's inherent worth in Christ. Christ paid His pure sinless priceless BLOOD for you and for your brother and sister in Christ. That automatically means that YOU, and your siblings are of worth. Respect means we treat each other as someone of worth, and that we don't allow the temporary issues of the day (such as masks) to cause us to loose sight of this.


Just let the Word minister life to you and to your Christian siblings. We can all agree as Christians on this: 

Rom. 14:13 NKJV Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

In other words, do you have a brother that believes Jesus' promise of divine protection (Mark 16:18)? Great! let him believe!! Coercing him to wear a mask against his faith is sin. (v23). But if a Christian's faith DOES include wearing a mask, then for them specifically, taking it off is also sin. Whatever is not of faith is sin. So you can see the issue for God is that we need to respect each other, especially online. And don't let the minor issue take the place of the main eternal focus. Why? Because.... 

Romans 14:16-18
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Nothing in my own personal convictions is more important than my brother's faith in Christ. Nothing in his personal convictions is more important than my faith in Christ. Christ is the One Door to Heaven (John 10:9). On this we can all agree, and by abiding in His love, we can love one another.

Rom. 14:21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak

John 15:9-12 NKJV
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Another word for respect is "honour". We need to honour all people, including those we disagree with in the Christian community! This is because God bestows WORTH on every human being. He sent His Son to die for them. Even if they do NOT yet believe Him, they still have worth to God. This is important for us to remember.
  SO what does this honour/respect and love look like? Well, sometimes out of love and respect, we choose not to bring certain topics up if we know it will cause unnecessary contentions. We choose to bypass certain comments and instead, choose to EDIFY them with good encouragement. People matter to God. So here is a key passage on honour... a word that also refers to respect in its definition.

1 Peter 2:17 NKJV Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

I myself am still learning and growing in this as the Holy Spirit has to keep me on track! I hope that you will join me in this lifetime journey of learning and growing in Christ's love and respect/honour.

God bless you!
Pastor Curtis

Mon May 18 2020 1:16am EST

Spiritual Food Delivery Is An Essential Service

Spiritual Food Delivery and Prayer for others in Jesus' Name is an ESSENTIAL SERVICE. Christian Spiritual Services are indeed essential... whether they are provided in person, online with live-streams, through telephone calls, through emails, or through texting.
In person is the best! But sometimes we need to take alternative approaches to essential services, as a temporary measure.

Think about this Bible verse which declares the Word of God to be our spiritual food:

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. (Heb 5:12 NKJV)

The Word or Teachings of God is both spiritual MILK and spiritual SOLID FOOD. One is for the immature, newborn believer, the other is for the growing believer who is maturing in the faith.

The writer to the Hebrews says that this congregation NEEDS milk. That would make it essential. 

 To deny this is to deny the spiritual nature of humans (as opposed to animals).

Here is another verse telling us that Christ has been our spiritual drink and spiritual food all along.

1 Corinthians 10:2-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

Some thoughts to consider:
How does God supply the ESSENTIAL NEEDS your SPIRIT has? Who are His spiritual hands, feet, and Body?
(1 Cor. ch.12, Eph. ch.4)

Is Jesus (The Head) Healthy? Did He defeat death? (Hint: yes He is. Yes, He did.)

Humans are three in one. (1 Thes. 5:23) They have three-in-one ESSENTIAL needs!
1. Spiritual salvation/connection/food.
2. Soulish connection- emotional/mental/social.
3. Physical supply/health/food.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [that is, separate you from profane and vulgar things, make you pure and whole and undamaged—consecrated to Him—set apart for His purpose]; and may your SPIRIT ("pneuma") and soul ("psysche") and body ("soma") be kept complete and [be found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thes. 5:23 AMP - Greek words inserted by me in order to show the distinctions)

God bless you during these difficult days. May He guide and direct your steps as you take His promises to the bank, and cash them out!! His word, (the Great commission, and divine protection), is still in effect (Mark 16:15-18), and His Body is still in the earth... that's us, the Churches! How we go about delivering spiritual food may look a little different right now. It may mirror what restaurants are doing to stay alive: home delivery. Churches are reaching out in new and creative ways as a temporary measure. Our church is currently doing live streams on the following platforms (as a TEMPORARY MEASURE):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/48711223086/ 

https://www.youtube.com/user/ChurchOnTheGO/videos

 But the main long-term pattern is consistent assembly and congregational worship and fellowship. 

Now, in my last blog post I make it clear that BOTH physical distancing and healing the sick are Biblical and needed. These two Bible principals are all fulfilled in Jesus. So I am not against the needed self-quarantines that many of us are going through. We need to beat this COVID19 disease for sure. With proper health precautions and also with prayer in Jesus' Name.

Nevertheless, let me give you a little thought of mine. 

The worst disease to infect the planet was and is the spiritual disease of sin. Sin ALWAYS causes death. COVID19 does not always lead to death. So SIN is the very worst problem our planet has EVER FACED! Jesus Christ alone is the CURRENT and PERMANENT SOLUTION to cure us from sin!
(Rom 3:23; 6:23; 1 Cor 15:22)

 It's a good thing Jesus did not "stay home" (in Heaven) or else He would not have been able to "save lives" (die on the cross for our sins)! Jesus took the opposite approach to the world's current message of "stay home, save lives." I am not denying the need for that. But I am commenting on Jesus' seemingly counter-intuitive approach. But indeed He is the Wisdom from Above. He did not stay home to save lives. He went into the disease-ridden depths of human suffering on earth to cure us once and for all. He was constantly in danger, constantly in sorrow. He suffered things we cannot mentally fathom in our heads. 
I need to remind us that there was a true danger to Jesus taking on human form. Nothing worth doing is without risk. Jesus endured all the temptations. And He felt them as a human. He never gave in to them. But they were REAL temptations. He wouldn't be able to relate as a human being to the temptations we feel as humans if they were not real for Him. No, they were real. He could have chosen to give in. But instead He chose to obey and honour His Father's wishes! He is sinless, and holy and righteous!  Praise Jesus forever! He took the NEEDED RISK to leave His heavenly home, become a vulnerable BABY, grow up, and be the Saviour of the World, as prophesied in Scriptures! He defeated the evil disease of SIN, which had claimed billions of lives. Before Jesus, NOT ONE PERSON ever recovered from their sin sickness. It was ONLY Doctor Jesus who finally killed the spiritual sin virus and set the captives free. He is the very cure. And if He is the cure against sin, He is most certainly the cure against any of the lesser (but still serious) diseases like Swine Flu, SARS, and COVID19.

Jesus is truly awesome. There is nothing He cannot conquer. He is the Head, acting through His believing Body, the Body of the Husband.
 Wow!!

Now, the ESSENTIAL NEED of  SALVATION is available! And it is only through Jesus!!
Spiritual fellowship and spiritual food is an ESSENTIAL service. It is available through the hands and feet of Jesus.
 That's us, his believers, the churches of God! His spiritual churches are His body, providing essential services! They are essential because they are spiritual, and humans are spiritual (unlike animals)! The lesson we learn from Jesus is, If God sent us (He has), then He will protect us (He does)!

God bless,
-PC
Thu Apr. 16 2020 6:43am EST

Jesus Fulfills the Mosaic Law of Physical Distancing- By Healing the Sick.

DID YOU KNOW? Isolation (Physical Distancing) was a Biblical Practice among the Ancient Israelites to prevent the spread of disease. God instructed them to do it through Moses. This seems particularly relevant today now that the world finds itself fighting against yet another global pandemic, known as COVID19.



Leviticus 13:4 But if the bright spot is white on the skin of his body, and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and its hair has not turned white, then the priest shall isolate the one who has the sore seven days.

Leviticus 13:5 And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day; and indeed if the sore appears to be as it was, and the sore has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall isolate him another seven days.

Numbers 5:1-4
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
2 “Command the children of Israel that they put out of the camp every leper, everyone who has a discharge, and whoever becomes defiled by a corpse.
3 You shall put out both male and female; you shall put them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camps in the midst of which I dwell.”
4 And the children of Israel did so, and put them outside the camp; as the Lord spoke to Moses, so the children of Israel did.

Jesus fulfills all these laws and precepts! (Mat. 5:17) He HEALS THE SICK!! When someone is sick, then God sees Quarantine as a necessary measure. It is needed to protect the weak and the community in general. Yet Jesus can END QUARANTINE through healing! Do we think like our Lord? Do we have the two sides of the picture? One side is Biblical Law requiring Physical Distancing for those with contagious diseases. The Other side of it is Jesus the Healer of all disease - the One who fulfills all of Mosaic Law!

Matthew 8:2-3
2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

If you need another example, read about the TEN lepers that Jesus cleansed all at once!!

Luke 17:11-19
11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.
13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

NOTICE: The 10 lepers were practicing Moses' instruction of physical distancing. Our culture, in the midst of this COVID19 pandemic has come up with a new word - social distancing, but that is a bit of a misnomer. Physical distancing is more accurate, and it is what Moses prescribed according to the word of the Lord. SO those 10 lepers did what we find ourselves doing today. They weren't wrong for doing physical distancing. They had to in order to protect their loved ones and community from the disease that had ravaged their bodies. 

BUT..... 

Jesus ends the quarantine by speaking the word of healing to them. When He tells them to go see the priest, that was in reference to the Mosaic law of Physical Distancing (Lev. 13:4-5, Num.5:1-4). The leper was not supposed to go back to camp until the priest had given the go-ahead. So for Jesus to tell them this, it must have been a relief to them. It meant their quarantine period or physical distancing was coming to a close! They would soon be able to interact with their loved ones in a normal and physical way once again! Praise God!! Their obedience/faith in Jesus brings about healing!! Yet only 10% of the lepers (1 out of 10) actually return to thank Jesus and worship Him.

Thus Jesus fulfills God's Law of Physical Distancing (AKA Quarantine).
So there are two sides to the coin. It's not "either or". It's both. Physical distancing AND reaching out to heal the sick. Jesus changes everything. Notice Jesus was not afraid to touch the leper. He was full of life. He IS LIFE! Therefore, any death or disease that came in contact with Him was instantly eradicated!! So His believers carry the same power, from His Holy Spirit.

Jesus promises those who believe and follow Him:
Mark 16:15-18
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 

18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Do you believe? His promise has not ended. He is still working today, and you can have these signs today! 

God Bless!
Pastor Curtis
Thu Apr 9 2020 4:03PM EST

Never Limit God

Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

Did you know that ALL THINGS are possible for God, and with God, in Jesus' Name?
Too often we find ourselves limiting God or using faulty logic like "that only happened once in the Bible, so God could never (or would never) do that again."

BUT God can do all things. All. Things. All of them. Any of them. Whenever and where ever He pleases. In response to faith. In response to His own divine counsel. And the only limit is not God. It's us. It's our belief in Him. If God did something miraculous for a man (like bring a wife to a man's location -see Adam, see Isaac, see Boaz) then of COURSE God can do it again. If God made the dead rise, He can do it again. If God helped a man win a war with something weak like a donkey jawbone, He can do it again.
Jesus cast out the most stubborn of demons. (See the context for the above verse Mark 9:17-29)
Nothing. Is. Too. Difficult. This is the God over all the Universe and Heavens. He has zero limit. He has all the options. These are options we know nothing about. (So how could we choose them?) But He does wait for us to believe. Child-like faith in Jesus is all it takes when we ask Him. :) Let us never limit God in our minds and souls.
God bless and be encouraged!
PC

Thu Mar 12 2020 7:09am EST

The Comforter Helps Me Step Outside my Comfort Zone

Recently, for my birthday, I was told I should live outside my comfort zone. I got thinking about that.

For the past 40 years, that is exactly what I have been doing. How? All by the Power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ! He sent me the Holy Spirit, known as the Comforter. He keeps me strong and stable in the midst of uncomfortable change.

Being outside my comfort zone has become easier for me, since I used to hate change. But the last decade has been a real refining process. Jesus promised me this, and He promises it to all who call on Him:

John 14:16 KJV And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

John 14:26 KJV 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.

He, the Holy Spirit, comforts me, teaches me, and guides me consistently and continually in the midst of leaving my comfort zones. Let me share with you some of the comfort zones I have left over the years. Some were negative changes brought about by people, but somehow God miraculously turned those circumstances for His good plan for me and for others. Some were growth changes. And some were happy and positive, yet still pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Change is inevitable. And at my birthday (Dec 23) and at Christmas, I have been reflecting on my years here on earth.
People who see a stable and consistent working man like me may not understand that I have been constantly stepping out of my comfort zones... and I can only do it by the consistent and ever present Comforter who abides in me, the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ! Praise to Him alone!

Here are some examples of how I left my comfort zones:

1986- Recognizing that the Bible is right: I am a sinner (Rom 3:23), needing God's grace. (Talk about uncomfortable!)
I cannot work for or earn my own salvation, but I NEED salvation. I am doomed to hell and punishment if I stay in my sins. The GOOD NEWS IS I can HAVE salvation if I accept it as a FREE GIFT from Jesus (Eph 2:8)! I believed Christ (John 10:9, John 14:6) for salvation and then I immediately told others about it in church the next day!

1989 - Getting a Gideon Bible and reading it.

1991- flying in an air plane for the first time!

1995 - working in retail! (going for an interview, getting a schedule, working for a manager.)

1998 - going to college, living away from home and family in a different town for the first time!

2000 - Comfort zone: not going to church for years. It was time to LEAVE my comfort zone get back into fellowship! By God's guidance, I did it! After nearly 20 years, I am still in fellowship with this church. They are my spiritual family in Christ!

2002 - attempting small business - and doing contract work for my father (website design). I left my comfort zone (working as an employee) to try this for about 8 months. Eventually I saw that the business was going in a geographic direction I could not practically follow, so I returned to what worked for me. I was hired back to my previous job.

2003- taking out ministry credentials (local license at first) with Anchor Ministerial. Later in 2006 I would apply for the next level (the general ministry licence) and I was granted it as a recognized maturing minister of the Gospel.

2004 - being called a "pastor" for the first time.... a step out of my comfort zone! I was the Youth Pastor back then. Nowadays I am the Assistant Pastor for the church.

2005 - getting married, and learning to share life at home!

2006 - changing jobs! My former company was going downhill fast, and I was given a offer.... to a new position in town. It was related to what I already do, and they were desperate for experienced help. So I took the plunge and left my comfort zone.... for a NEW JOB! It worked out well as my former job eventually disappeared as the company sadly went out of business.

2007 - learning and playing piano at church - and learning to sing and lead worship! (my now-former wife had stopped playing piano or coming to church).  I had a background in music and in playing many instruments. Just not in piano. So I stepped out of my comfort zone, and I felt like I was unqualified (I had the basics of chords and pitch etc, but I was not as good as my ex-wife). I felt in over my head. But I kept trying and pushing myself to get better with the keys.... and I grew in skill! God even gave me new songs to write and play. I now have over 10 original songs  that are a part of our regular worship services. Oh! And did I mention that sharing an original song also required me to step out of my comfort zone? Seriously, it's a part of my heart... and I am letting others hear something that is personal to me. I am exposing a piece of my inner self. But thank the Lord my church was gracious and allowed me to explore my songs. The songs that really resonated with me and the others in the Lord, they became regular worship songs.

2008 - being abandoned in marriage by a now-former wife who did not truly believe God or the Bible (1 Cor 7:15). Being forced to reevaluate who I am in Christ.

2009 - deciding to KEEP following Jesus, even if no woman will ever support me or stand beside me in my calling (1 Cor 7:17). Divorce was a huge step outside of my comfort zone (my parents were happily married all their lives). But God turned even this for good. This year was a tough year, but a defining moment in my coming of age, in what made me a MAN. No woman could ever make me a Man of God. Only Christ, who is fully MAN and fully GOD, could do that!! And He did, praise Him!

 People do not realize the amount of courage it took for me to choose Jesus' path in the midst of my pain and grief. Other men of God close to me told me they do not think they would have had the courage to choose the path that I did (to follow the call of God alone) . But I give all the credit to the Holy Spirit. He comforted me and made me strong, in Jesus' Name! I am still unmarried to this day, and the woman is "not my wife" any more. (Hos. 2:2)
 More than ten years later, God has made me strong when I felt weak.
 Being unmarried is still not my true comfort zone, but I have learned the BENEFITS of HOLY SINGLENESS (more on that in a minute). I have learned to forget about what I wanted... it was never about "me" anyway. It is all about abiding in and loving God, and about loving and helping the people around me in life. Marriage is now nothing more than a future possibility that can wait until God is done doing good things in my life with singleness. Singleness WAS outside my comfort zone...but not anymore. Now, I am comforted by the Holy Spirit and completely at rest. And singleness in Christ is dynamic, action-filled, and full of purpose and ministry to others. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to take action as a man of God.
 Some of my best music, sermons and lessons, and prayers for others have been done as a single! God has given me some great revelations from the Bible!

2009- management change at work was also a huge change that forced me out of my comfort zone. I had to adapt to a new style of management! To this day, I am still thriving at that job, because I embraced a change, and relied on the Comforter - the Holy Spirit to guide me. But make no mistake, it was a tough change. Again, God gave me the comfort and courage needed to hold fast in the midst of the storms of change.

2014 - being asked to start a Christian Singles Ministry!! It wasn't my idea to start one, but I was approached by the church. We had many older singles and some were interested in a group for singles.
 I felt the Lord was in it, so I agreed to it, and established the ONLY regular Bible study in the Newmarket area for Christian Adult singles (never married, divorced or widowed). The age can be 18 and up. There is no upper age limit. I knew of a non-regular singles group in the area, but they only met semi-periodically, and oddly, they limited the singles ages to 35 and under. That made no sense to me since singles come in all ages. As long as they were a legal adult aged 18 or older, then they can join in my Christian discipleship Bible studies with music and prayer for singles! 5 and a half years later, I am still leading the Christian singles ministry. I have been given key Biblical revelations from God about singleness for Christ. More on that here:

www.churchonthego.ca/christiansingles.html

www.facebook.com/christiansinglesonthego/

2015 - attempting small business (again) in order to help a friend (and a group) who wanted to try it as partners. I care about people.
BUT.... In this life, you learn that some things are not your metronome, they are not your calling. I learned this about small business. It was a huge step out of my comfort zone, and it was not a happy time. But I love helping people. Through this, I learned that I can help people in other ways. It does not have to be in small business. Some people are truly anointed for small business and marketing. God bless those people as they are truly needed!
 SO I know that by at least attempting it one last time, I now have the authority and reason to say "no" to any future business proposals. :) That way I can stay focused on my own calling for this time and season.

2016 - being promoted at work... in an environment that did not seem likely for promotion!! I was surprised when I got the promotion to be a department manager (I was already a key-holder). I was yet again, being invited to step outside of my comfort zone. I did NOT feel ready, yet, here I was, being given a wide open door into more responsibility, more chance at failing, more chance to not have it all together. Yet somehow, God keeps me afloat and gives me His grace. He blesses the staff and the management there. And He blesses me. I am never completely at ease at work because there is always something new to be aware of and there is always something changing. But I have nevertheless been given the room to grow into my position and slowly gain influence and proficiency at managing. THIS is how we learn, by staying in an active environment of change and growth... not remaining stagnant and "safe".

2018 - my dad passing away. He knew Jesus, so he is home with the Lord. He had a sickness that eventually took a toll on his body. But he was ready for heaven. He believed in Jesus and accepted the free gift of salvation from an early age.
 But I had to leave my comfort zone anyway, despite knowing all this. I had to get used to not having a dad on the planet, not having a father in the flesh to talk to, confide in, and have fun with. I still miss him and think of him often. But God has helped me adjust and move forward in a positive way. Now, I rely on my Heavenly Father all the more to be my Dad. I am comforted by The Comforter.

Change is inevitible. Except for Christ. He is always the same. The Comforter is always the SAME.
When stepping out of your comfort zones, as I do, remember these comforting words: Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday, today, and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)
This is my key and my advice for you. When all else is changing, abide in Christ Jesus, who never changes! His Spirit, the Comforter, will comfort you and guide you in your life, when circumstances call for you to step outside your comfort zone!

Merry Christmas! Jesus was born to be our Saviour!
Pastor Curtis A
churchonthego.ca
Christmas Day Dec 25 2019 12:09pm

The Law of Divorce and Remarriage is Fulfilled in Jesus Christ, The HEAVENLY HOSEA!

DIVORCED ISRAEL REDEEMED THROUGH CHRIST ALONE

Jesus does not set aside the Law of Moses. Instead He fulfills it.

Matthew 5:17-18 New King James Version (NKJV)
Christ Fulfills the Law
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Does all mean "all" or "some"? If all means "all" then this would have to include Moses' holy law regarding divorce and remarriage inspired by God.

The Law of Divorce and Remarriage

Deuteronomy 24:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
1 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, 
2 when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man’s wife, 
3 if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife,
4 then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.

 Divorce, though not God's original design for marriage (His original design is Gen 2:24-25) still cannot be considered a sin since it was allowed in God's holy law as written by Moses. Divorce was a necessary PROVISION in the Law due to sin... the sin of Israel.
 As we will see, God the Father uses this law Himself to divorce His adulterous wife, Israel.
Divorce ends the covenant, the contract is over. REMARRIAGE is the HOPE of SCRIPTURE to start AFRESH with someone NEW! NOTE that the only "abomination" mentioned in Deut. 24:1-4 is if the FIRST husband attempts to remarry his ex-wife AFTER divorcing her and AFTER she has had a new husband. There is no other sin or abomination in this passage. 

And Jesus FULFILLS it ALL with Israel, the Ten Divorced Tribes! Jesus is the NEW HUSBAND that made it possible for individuals of the divorced Wife to be remarried! Jesus is the Husband and New Jerusalem is the Bride! 

(For more teaching on this, follow this link: https://view-finder-blog.blogspot.com/2019/05/new-life-and-healing-after-divorce.html )

So how does Jesus Christ fulfill this law? Either He fulfills ALL the Law, or He has failed and is lying. And since we know Jesus is TRUE and FAITHFUL, we KNOW He has succeeded and He is telling the truth! So we should study Israel and the promises God made to Israel after they cheated on God the Father and abandoned Him. God the Father was her husband in the Old Testament. In order for Christ to fulfill Deut 24:1-2 He cannot forget the divorced tribes altogether or replace them. He cannot ignore the promises of remarriage made to natural Israel in Hosea, especially in chapter 2.

Why? Because Jesus fulfills the actions of Hosea. (Hos. ch.1 and 3)

Follow God's process in Holy Scripture:

The Father divorced Natural Israel (hardness of heart caused her to commit adultery/idolatry)
Jeremiah 3:8 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also.

Hosea 2:2 NKJV
2 “Bring charges against your mother, bring charges;
For she is not My wife, nor am I her Husband!
Let her put away her harlotries from her sight,
And her adulteries from between her breasts;

Such a statement "I am Not her Husband" serves to support the "dismissal and divorce certificate" principal of Deut 24:1-4 and Jer 3:8. The Father's marriage to the wife is over, ended, finished. But He does not leave this divorced woman who is NO LONGER HIS WIFE in dispair. He promises her a betrothal! WHAT? Yes!! A betrothal for a divorced woman?? Wow!! That flies in the face of the legalist's claim that remarriage is a sin. Follow along with me in Hosea chapter 2.

The Lord does not replace Israel. Instead He promises a remarriage to her (It will be to the Father's Son NOT to the Father):
Hosea 2:19-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
19 “I will betroth you to Me forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Me
In righteousness and justice,
In lovingkindness and mercy;
20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness,
And you shall know the Lord.

- Note that "know" is a marriage term here, indicating the consummation of a marriage.

The Father prepared the Divorced wife (Israel) for a NEW HUSBAND, His Son Jesus:

Mat. 22:2 NKJV
2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,

The Son is the Groom = Jesus Christ (Son of God) and His Body the church (attached to the Head).

The Bride is....the Heavenly New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2, 9-12) which includes....

the Redeemed of Divorced Israel. Israelite indivduals are redeemed only in the Blood of Jesus Christ. This is shown symbolically with the number "12,000" repeated 12 times. (Twelve is a symbolic number of godly government and also of the 12 tribes of Israel). 1000 = Divine perfection.

Revelation 7:4-8 NKJV
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

Israelite individuals from all 12 tribes (Not just the Jews/Judah) who trust in Jesus Christ's Grace for salvation are the sealed ones who are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Israel is restored through Christ, the Only Door of Salvation (John 10:9). They are not replaced, nor do they get a different way into Heaven (no dual covenant theology and no replacement theology).
 Jesus is the ONLY way into Heaven for both Jew and Israelite and Gentile.

The seal of Revelation 7 is identified here:
Ephesians 1:13 In Him (Jesus) you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Acts 26:23 NKJV that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

The Heavenly City is The Bride. Christ the Son (Who is Head of His Body the Church) is the Husband who takes a remnant of the divorced tribes (whoever believes on Him).

Rom 10:12-13 NKJV
 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Hebrews 12:22 New King James Version (NKJV)
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

Revelation 21:2 New King James Version (NKJV)
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:9b-11 New King James Version (NKJV)
The New Jerusalem
9b ...“Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

The Heavenly City New Jerusalem is the mother of us all.

Galatians 4:26 New King James Version (NKJV)
26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

The remanant/redeemed individuals of Natural Israel are remarried to the Son of the Father, Jesus Christ. Israel is restored through Christ and Christ FULFILLS the Mosaic Law in Deut. 24:1-2.

The Law of Divorce and Remarriage is fulfilled in Christ who takes a remnant of divorced Israel as His Bride forever, and she will never be divorced again!

Deuteronomy 24:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)
Law Concerning Divorce
24 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, 2 when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man’s wife,

Jesus fulfills Deuteronomy 24:2--- HE IS "ANOTHER MAN". He is the Heavenly Man, the Last Adam! (1 Corinthians 15:45-49) He DIED, then ROSE again... the purchase price for the divorced woman has been PAID IN HIS BLOOD. The purchase price for the adulteress was originally found in Hosea chapter 3:1-5. But Jesus has PAID FOR HER SINS! He desires MERCY on those who are divorced, whether they were innocent or guilty. He desires a NEW START for divorced folks. The old covenant is finished. The New Covenant is HERE!

The Father does not remarry. It is the Father's SON, Jesus Christ who became the Husband of the Bride, who is New Jerusalem. And part of this New Bride are the redeemed ones from the divorced tribes of Israel. Jesus Christ (Husband) and New Jerusalem His Bride are the fulfillment of Natural Israel's remarriage! 

This article/Bible study in no way is meant to promote divorce as an easy way out of  marriage. Instead, Jesus always promoted healthy and holy marriage between one man and one woman for a lifetime. That is also what I do... I encourage married people to try and stay together, try to make it work, with the power and help of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus Name. Pray together, love each other sacrificially. Study the Word together. Attend church together. Die daily to self. Live to Christ's will in your marriage. Unless you are abandoned or cheated on or are oppressed (modern word: abused/threatened) then you should make the effort to stay together.
However, sadly, hardness of hearts sometimes causes people to leave their spouse and divorce becomes necessary. But there is HOPE!!

 Even when Israel had been a cheater and an adulteress, who was divorced...  God STILL gave her a way to be REMARRIED.... not to Him, but to HIS SON, Jesus Christ! She is redeemed in Christ alone, and has become a part of the Bride, the New Jerusalem! Jesus is the HEAVENLY HOSEA!
-CJA
Sat Jul 27 2019, 10:34pm 

Story Time - The Spiritual Surgeon

A short story for the broken hearted.

By Curtis J Alexander
---

There was, many years ago, a young man, who grew up with happily married Christian parents. It was very early on when he developed his own dream of being married to a beautiful godly woman and serving Christ together. Then that dream became reality. Sharing body, soul and spirit with his special woman his wife. He had learned what it was to be a husband and to be one flesh with his wife and to love sacrificially. It took practice as he certainly was not perfect. But he was always eager to grow and flourish and nourish the love.

And then that dream got smashed. His wife abandoned him and wanted a divorce... for no reason other than her own selfish ambitions. The heart of the man now found itself riddled with the shards of what was once a beautiful dream. That very same dream became nothing but a complicated set of painful needles digging in every time the heart tried to move. So the solution, in order to avoid pain, became to not desire anymore. Yet, for a long time. this man who trusted Jesus still had to ask every question - was she ever being real with me? why did she promise and then break her word? Was it something I did wrong? What more could I have done? Was she faking her intimacy with me? All these things were part of the shards of glass... a once beautiful ornament that became jagged and cutting, and dangerously embedded. He had been abandoned not by a girlfriend or a friend, or even a fiance.... but by his very own wife, his own flesh and bone, who had promised to stand by him through all life's challenges. After being abandoned, he found himself stuck on "replay" and trying to make sense of nonsensical abandonment. He had always been true, and always tried to be the best husband he could be. But it was never enough. And now here he was, left alone, and asking questions in his head and replaying everything in his mind's eye. Jesus would be patient with this one, knowing that there would be no "quick fix" on this road of mourning, loss, death of a marriage, and eventual recovery and healing and forgiveness. This healing would be a beautiful journey. And all the man knew how to do was cling to Jesus, and stay obedient to Him. For all his personal weakness, his hand strength was still pretty good, as he would refuse to let go of the Lord.

Only the most skilled spiritual surgeon in the Land could operate on such a damaged yet tender heart. And when the Call went out to that Surgeon, He responded immediately. And as He responded, He assured the man that there would be healing, but it would come in stages. The man would have to be patient as the Surgeon knew He could only draw out one shard at a time.

Eventually, the heart could move again. It could breathe again. And after many lengthy sessions, some quite painful and tear-inducing, the Surgeon from Above had successfully removed every single piece of the broken dream. That Surgeon was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He and the man walked together, and never did Jesus forsake the man.

The man became fixated on the faithfulness of Jesus. He continued to remind himself of the Word that said Jesus would never leave him or forsake him. And he found purpose in the call of God as always.

Then, For a long time, that man became unable to dream personal dreams anymore. But he was healed... thank the Lord. He no longer suffered from endless questions in his mind or from endless replays of what should have/could have happened in the former marriage. And... he was at peace as a single-again Christian. He even found new ability and purpose in leading worship with a piano and in leading other Christian singles to be strong disciples of Christ. He found new purpose in teaching and comforting God's people, especially Christian singles. He simply did not think about dreaming. Not for a long time. He did not miss it. He could not imagine a new wife or a different future. But that was ok by him. He just enjoyed working bivocationally, in the call of the Lord and walking daily with Jesus. he had been broken, and then healed. Grace repaired his heart, its scars and cracks were sealed. He was now a whole man, with a whole heart... and where the shards had cut in, there was nothing but lines of grace, like a rich adhesive honey showing where God had repaired the rips. Each line tells a story in the heart. And the main story of the heart is that Jesus heals the broken hearted, and uses that brokenness to produce HUMILITY and LOVE for Jesus and COMPASSION for others who are broken.

It would take courage, and many years, for the man to once again handle a crystal-like dream ... one that is so beautiful and delicate, yet in danger of shattering if given into the wrong hands. Eventually, the heart recovered from the surgery of the Master Surgeon, Jesus, and the heart felt a new freedom... possibly the ability to ... dream again?

-CJA Sun Jun 30 2019 2:19am EST