Remembering Christ

And when he had given thanks , he brake [it], and said , Take , eat : this is my body , which is broken for you : this do in remembrance of me .
1 Cor 11: 24

Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is for our redemption. Redeeming us unto Himself. We are saved not for our self realization or some religions label as enlightenment. We are saved unto God that we might fulfill His plan and purpose.

In whom we have redemption through his blood , the forgiveness of sins , according to the riches of his grace ;
Eph 1: 7

Paul reveals to us that in Eph 1: 4 that from the even before the foundation of the world God has a plan. This plan and purpose of God is that we would be made holy and blameless. To live life without the guilt of any accusing finger is true liberty. Especially that the devil himself is called the accuser of the brethren and tirelessly pointing his accusing finger at the ones God has called to Himself as holy and blameless (Rev 12:10).

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world , that we should be holy and without blame before him in love : Eph 1: 4

Paul goes on to say that we have the liberty without accusations founded in love. To be loved of God is powerful and gives us every reason to stand against any accusations and temptations. As Jesus was declared the Beloved of the Father at His baptism, He was ready for the realities of the wilderness of life in facing temptations and half truths. The devil was smart enough to use words 'if you are the Son of God', leaving out 'Beloved'. Because he knows that once we come to grips that we are holy and blameless and Be-Loved of God, there lies our victory.

The sacrifices of blood was a foreshadow of good things which Christ completed on the cross. The former sacrifices reminds us of sin but our partaking of the Holy Communion is to remember Christ.

But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year . For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins . Heb 10: 3,4

No longer do we remember sin because there no longer any participation in it. It is as though remembering Christ sacrifice upon the cross bring a distaste of sin. There is no sacrifice we can offer to God in service or even our very lives that will suffice and will constantly bring the remembrance of sin. For our best works are like filthy rags before God and will still remind us of our frailty with regard to sin.

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple , and said unto him , Behold , thou art made whole : sin no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee . John 5: 14

Jesus word finds us. Indeed it's possible because of the power of the Word gives us the hope! Jesus similarly said to the converted prostitute that He doesn't condemn. What a joy and hope for us because the accusing finger of the accuser of the brethren lost it's power as did Job, Joseph, our Lord, Stephen and Paul. We enter into God's grace rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.

We enter into the new life of holiness with boldness. It takes boldness to live a holy life because the world will reject us as Jesus was rejected. Would we rather be rejected by the world than be rejected by Christ for being ashamed in living the holy life?

Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin . Having therefore , brethren , boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus , By a new and living way , which he hath consecrated for us , through the veil , that is to say , his flesh ; Heb 10: 18-20

What then ? shall we sin , because we are not under the law , but under grace ? God forbid . Rom 6: 15

Don't degrade the power of God's grace. But rather know it's power as though an anti-septic to sin.

The participation of the Holy Communion as often as we celebrate, should cause us to remember Christ our Redeemer, find sin distasteful in the light of Christ ultimate sacrifice and the boldness to live the holy life.

Famine in the last days

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
(Mat 24:7)

We should not be ignorant of things that must happen as Jesus warned us. If we have been warned by our Lord, what should be our response?

We must not be troubled (Matt 24:6). These events need to take place as the beginning of sorrows, meaning a birthing of a greater plan in God’s divine will. The end of the sinful world will come and there will be the establishment of the reign and rule of Christ. Eventually restoration will take place with the new heavens and new earth (Rev 21:1, 2). We will not be troubled if we look forward to the coming of Christ. If our lives are rooted deeply in the world and hope for better things in it we are destined to be troubled.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
(1Jn 2:15-17)

The dividing line of being troubled or not is in the focus of our love. We can't choose between the Father and the world. Why attach ourselves to the world and it’s systems that will eventually be replaced with the eternal. A lot of us probably don’t look forward to Jesus’ second coming because we think that we haven’t gained or reaped what we desire for from the world. But the price for gaining even the whole world will result in a forfeiting of our souls! Loving the world also forfeits us of an eternal hope. The way that we measure ourselves and others are mostly by what we have reaped from the world (what status in society we hold, how big a car or how grand a house or how large is our bank account). If we measure ourselves by the world's standards than when God's plumbline (Amos 7:7,8) is put against us, where will we stand.

If we continue to live in the love of the world, then we are famished spiritually. Our spirits are not fed and weak.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
(Luk 2:40)

The evidence of being strong in spirit is the filling of Godly wisdom and God’s grace upon us. Jesus was able to astonish the teachers of His time with His deep understanding. This understanding was so great that He lived a life pleasing His Father and was publicly declared as His beloved Son. How much we desire man’s praises rather than God’s. How much we desire love and admiration from people rather than God's. The grace or favor of God was so wonderful upon His life and people around Him saw the evidence of it. Many desire treasures, but few desire the favor of God. That accounts for the famine in the spirit.

I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
(1Jn 2:14b)

We need the Word of God to abide (dwell, remain, in-grain) in us in order to be strong. Lest we end up in the same situation of the prodigal son in famine, degraded to the base and be in desperation; eventually living defeated lives.

I Sam 3 is a sad documentation of where the Word of God was hard to come by. But God found the boy Samuel Whom He could share His broken heart with. So there was famine of God’s Word, but God wants so much to speak what is in His heart. The same occurs today, with the same offering of worship and supposed church life but the life giving Word lack. I believe that together with physical famine, a spiritual one will exist side by side.

May God raise Samuels who are found faithful to listen to His heart where there is spiritual famine.

May we be like Josephs (Gen 41:55) who was strong in spirit against circumstances and immorality that in the time of spiritual famine we can offer to others the bread of life and hope.

In the event of physical famine, this is where we will trust God to feed us miraculously as He did for Elijah.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
(Psa 37:25)

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FACTBOX - Facts and figures on world's worst food crises

Reuters - Tuesday marks World Food Day, with aid workers warning that war, weather, disease and deepening poverty leave more people hungry and in need of food aid each year just as rising prices make feeding them more expensive.

Below are some global statistics on food shortages and aid and a summary of some of the world's current food crises.

-- 854 million people worldwide do not have enough to eat, more than the combined populations of the United States, Canada and the European Union.


People line up for free porridge distributed by a Christian group outside a church in Manila October 16, 2007. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), part of the United Nations, marked World Food Day on October 16. (REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo)
-- In the 1990s, global poverty dropped by 20 percent, as the number of hungry people increased by 18 million.

-- Every five seconds a child dies because of hunger.

-- One in four children in developing countries is underweight.

AFRICA

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO -- widespread shortages persist despite the end of Africa's most destructive civil war, with the U.N. unable to reach a third of the 300,000 people newly displaced by renewed fighting in the east.

ETHIOPIA -- as Ethiopia's government fights a counter-insurgency campaign in its ethnic Somali Ogaden region, rebels accuse the government of "man-made famine" and aid workers say delivery of food aid to 600,000 people is patchy at best. The Red Cross and aid group MSF have both been expelled from the region.

LESOTHO and SWAZILAND -- the two southern African kingdoms are suffering drought, soil erosion and some of the world's highest HIV rates and have suffered serious shortages every year this decade.

MALAWI and ZAMBIA -- having suffered years of repeated shortages from drought, the impact of HIV and deepening poverty, both countries have reported a surplus this year after better weather and improved access to inputs such as fertiliser.

SOMALIA -- ongoing conflict and the worst drought in years combined to restrict access to aid agencies and commercial supply of food, particularly after the closure of the main market in the capital Mogadishu. The U.N. says there have been 13 deaths at WFP food distributions this year and the number of incidents is rising. Maritime aid shipments run the risk of piracy.

SUDAN -- despite growing insecurity aid workers continue to feed some 4 million people in need of assistance in Darfur, as well as others affected by the now ended conflict in the south and recent flooding.

UGANDA -- widespread flooding in northern Uganda, home to people displaced by conflict, has led to WFP airdrops of food. Some 250,000 people in camps did not receive their September rations because of flooding.

WEST AFRICA -- after serious shortages in the Sahel in 2005, West Africa is seen as having had a good agricultural year but aid workers warn pockets of shortage remain in countries such as Niger, which remain vulnerable to massive crop failures.

ZIMBABWE -- drought, HIV, economic and agricultural collapse have hit harvests and the U.N. sees food aid needs rising from a current one million people to 4 million by the end of the year.

ASIA

AFGHANISTAN -- despite ongoing conflict, Afghanistan has seen its best grain harvest in years.

NORTH KOREA -- still recovering from a devastating famine in the 1990s, North Korea this year suffered floods that damaged nearly a sixth of arable land. WFP is providing flood emergency food rations to 215,000 people.

SRI LANKA -- the resumption of civil war in 2006 restricted both commercial food deliveries and aid flows particularly to rebel Tamil Tiger areas in the north and east. The government-held northern Jaffna enclave has been effectively cut off for over a year, with rising prices and malnutrition rates.

MIDDLE EAST

IRAQ - food distribution in Iraq is difficult due to widespread violence, and AID agencies find it hard to reach the 2 million displaced within Iraq. Another 2 million people have fled mainly to neighbouring Syria and Jordan.

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES -- some 2 million Palestinians receive food aid either from WFP or from the United Nations Refugee and Works Agency, which works with Palestinian refugees. Food aid has been allowed through Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip since the takeover by Islamist group Hamas. With Gaza unable to export, food stalls are unusually well-stocked but with the economy collapsing many are too poor to buy.

LATIN AMERICA

COLOMBIA -- with years of war giving Colombia one of the highest rates of displacement in the world, WFP feeds half a million people displaced by conflict.

SOURCES: United Nations World Food Programme, UNRWA, Reuters

"It is Not for Kings"
October 2007 Message from the Major Farr, Alert Cadet

Gentlemen,
Proverbs 31 is often thought of as the checklist for a godly woman. This is true for Proverbs 31:10-31, but tucked in verses 1-9 are the words of a wise mother to her son, the king.

Solomon did not write Proverbs 31, but rather King Lemuel recorded the words his mother taught him. Look at what the king remembers, "Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy."

In my family we often talk about what a king is and does. I do this to prepare my children for future leadership positions, as God leads. King Lemuel's mother gave him three things to not do and three things to do. Let's look at them in detail.

King Lemuel was to not give his strength to women, nor drink wine, nor pervert justice. The first two represent activities that have the potential to destroy men and render them fruitless for God. In one hour a man can be reduced to a loaf of bread in a relationship with a woman who is not his wife as Proverbs 6:26 tells us. Fathers, it is imperative that we prepare our young men for the wiles of women who are bent on evil. I've found the first few chapters of Proverbs to be a very good introduction to this topic.

In the same way, wine and strong drink was to be avoided lest the king forget the law, or think he was above it. Having come from a family where my father was an alcoholic, I can personally attest to the issues created by strong drink. A king must constantly be above reproach and set the example, under the law. Nothing degrades a king's leadership faster than when he, himself, does not follow the rules he has set!

Kings also have the responsibility to not pervert justice. This is the usual result when a king is under the influence of strong drink. When the foolish are punished and the righteous rewarded, then a king further establishes his kingdom. If he does the opposite, then he will not long remain in power. God has effective ways to take care of foolish young men and foolish kings.

Now that we have looked at what not to do, the Scripture gives us clear things that a king (or future one) is to do. First, they are to open their mouths and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. While this may literally mean those who cannot speak, it also means those who have no forum to speak, such that those in authority will hear them and take action. The king must be physically amongst the people he rules so the he personally understand their needs and is ready to take appropriate action. The king cannot always sit in an ivory tower, or on the top floor of an office building, and rule effectively!

The second thing a king must do is judge righteously. When a king does this his kingdom is established, and the people rejoice as Proverbs 29:2 tells us, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." A king learns to judge righteously by reading and understanding the Scriptures. In fact, a requirement of Israel's kings was to copy, by hand, the Scriptures as Deuteronomy 17:18 says, "And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:" Dads, it is imperative that you and your son spend time in God's word to learn wisdom and how to judge righteously.

Lastly, the king was to plead the cause of the poor and needy. Why? Let me suggest it was so that the king would not forget that many of those in his kingdom did not live the lifestyle afforded to him as king. It kept the king in touch with the needs of the people whom he served. Christ modeled this for us as well during His time on this earth. As my children grew up, I sought to have them work with and amongst children, and adults, who did not have the tangible possessions they had. In fact, we also had a yearly de-cluttering of our home and personally gave the items to families we knew were in need. Pleading the cause of the poor and needy, and doing something about it, is truly the mark of a king!

There you have it, wise words from a king's mother to you and me on how to raise a king, or future leader. Take these and apply them to your life and to the lives of your sons. And remember, the next time someone quotes Proverbs 31 as the standard for young ladies, think to yourself that it also contains wisdom on raising a future king!

May God have the glory for the work He is doing in our lives and the lives of our sons.

In Christ,
Roger D. Farr
ALERT Cadet Commanding Officer and Program Director

Let me die….

And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
(Jdg 16:30)

These are the last words of Samson as a prayer to God. Having lived life as a Nazarite abstaining from wine and leaving his hair grow long. He was supposed to live a separated life unto the Lord. Though he was mighty in deeds but was weak in character. He couldn’t resist temptation of loose women.

This man’s life had 19% of the book of Judges written about his ministry. Most pictures we see of Samson were of a strong man, but in order to be extraordinary he must have been looked very ordinary with extraordinary strength. God uses the ordinary to show how extraordinary He is, that is why I think that he didn’t look like any super human being. The Jews during that time were probably small in stature which is why they were continually bullied. They had to know and know deep within that God was on their side and that He was the source of their victory. God shows us strength in our weakness.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
(Psa 51:10)

David was similarly weak when it comes to women and in his confession he cried out to God to give him a new heart not a renewed heart. It has to be a creative power of the Almighty to make such a change in our lives. His cry was also for a ‘right sprit’ which is a firm or steadfast spirit. When there is steadfastness in spirit, we can resist sin. This also requires the power of the Almighty to put it there.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(Rom 8:1)

Sadly the second half of this verse to walk not after the flesh but after the spirit is grossly left out in the NIV.
The evidence of a strong, firm or steadfast spirit in us is the obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is the key to resist the flesh and it’s temptations that destroy us and our families. Proverbs constantly warn us about women that can destroy us and the lives of our families. Instead of walking after the flesh, the right thing to do is to carry the cross daily and following Jesus (Luke 9:23).

Can one even comprehend that pain in Samson working the grinding wheel day in, day out, knowing that his true destiny was to deliver his people from oppression? Wearing the chains that cut into his skin, the agony of pondering about what he has missed out in living out God’s will for his life. The latter pain must have been much greater. Having been blinded b y his captors, it was likely loosing the ability even to shed tears. Truly such pain of failure that no one can comprehend.

Finally, coming to an end of himself prayed the most powerful prayer in his entire life. In one moment of dying, killing more than he ever slew in his lifetime. God honored Samson by having his name listed in Hebrews 11 amongst the great heroes of faith. I believe that it was this final moment of his life that earned him this honor. In all the ‘great’ deeds of Samson’s life, he lived struggling with sin and the impact was small in comparison to the final moment when he cried ‘..let me die…’.

Creativity
Adapted from IBLP's 'The Power of true success. How to build character in your life'

Definition: Creativity is cultivating wise thoughts, prudent words and skillful actions to carry out God's will

1. Root word
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his [own] image , in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Created: Bara; form, shape, fashion

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Formed: Yatsar; squeezing into shape, as with a potter forming a clay vessel

2. Importance of Creativity
A. Evidence of God working in our lives
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works , which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them .

- We are God's handiwork, not just physically but more so spiritually. As God being the Potter and we being clay. The beauty of the handiwork is dependent on how much we yield to God, not so much on us
- We are created for Good Works. Not saved by good works but rather saved for it. Our salvation is God's creation (2 Cor 5:17), old passed away and all things in our life becoming new.

Rom 12:2 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 .

- It is beyond just changing our minds but renewing it!
- We know how the much effect the creative power of God working in us by how much we don't conform to the patterns of this world (ideas, values that are contrary to the ways of the Spirit, Rom 8:1)

B. The Father is glorified

Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men , that they may see your good works , and glorify your Father which is in heaven .

First Westminster Confession states that the chief aim of man is to glorify God

1 Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink , or whatsoever ye do , do all to the glory of God .

3. What is the source of creativity?

A. Creativity is activated by thought as God determined in the counsel of His will to create whole of creation, provide a Redeemer and establish good works for believers to follow

1 Pet 1:19, 20, Eph 1:4, Titus 2 and Eph 2:10

B. Our creativity if not based on Scripture, the results would produce selfishness or evil. Therefore we need a renewed mind (Rom 12:2).

C. Creativity is energized when thoughts are expressed in words

Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light : and there was light .

Prov 18:21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

- God warns us that every word we speak must be carefully chosen before we speak

4. How can I increase my creativity?

A. Know the Source of creativity
Prov 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence , and find out knowledge of witty inventions .

B. Ask the Creator for wisdom
Jam 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom , let him ask of God , that giveth to all [men] liberally , and upbraideth not ; and it shall be given him .

C. Ask in faith
Jam 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering . For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

D. Even cry to our Creator for Wisdom
Prov 3:3-6 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge , [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding ; If thou seekest her as silver , and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures ; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD , and find the knowledge of God . For the LORD giveth wisdom : out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding .

E. The ultimate source of wisdom is God's Word

Josh 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth ; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night , that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous , and then thou shalt have good success .

Prosperous: Good, profitable, progress to God and man

Success: Prudent, circumspect, insight

Notice that the result is neither selfish nor evil but ultimately glories God!