I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. - John 15:5
And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. - Mark 4:35
...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. - Psalms 30:5b
...strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. - Matthew 7:14
...And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. - Genesis 1:2b
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. - Psalms 23:1-2
Welcome to Adam2.org!
Thank you for visiting ADAM2.ORG and your interest in our studies and resources. We are currently going through a growth
phase and editing and expanding to include other features and writings. We hope you check back often for updates, especially in our Studies' Section.
About Us ▼
Adam2.org was established by our founder, Ken Livingston, in July 1999.
Having grown into an international organization consisting of thousands of members and visitors from over 50
countries, we are not affiliated with any group,
denomination, church or other controlling entity or otherwise, with the exception of... Read more...►
Studies ▼
Thank you for your visit. We hope you benefit from our resources and ask you to
recommend us to a friend.
If you aren't sure what your state of life will be when this one is over, we encourage you to seriously
consider this while you have opportunity. Nothing in this life you will do will be as important!
Likely, you have made every preparation for your present life.
You owe it to your self to prepare for what comes next. It won't cost you a thing! Continue reading...►
Excerpts From Studies' Area ▼
Excerpt from: In His Presence.
"A self surrendered in the silence of His presence is a soul at peace in Him who reclaimed it! The earth and its burdens no
longer bind you and you are free to walk the stars, revel in His glory, bathed in His love. Time affects only the earthly,
but your spirit is free to soar the heavenlies -- and the hours pass quickly, while In His Presence!
To journey where no mortal may go: This Is Prayer!"
Excerpt from: Proofs of Growing In Grace. 1. Less temptation to focus on troubles or talk about them to others... 2. Less temptation to resent and retaliate when insulted or abused... 3. Joy under crosses, disappointment, and severe pain...
Each month a featured writing from different authors will be posted below as a main feature in our center section.
The nature of these writings will vary from devotional, to inspirational, topical and informative for the current
state of our Christian culture. You may access this full feature with the link below. ▼
Opportunities for Service ▼
Each day a host of members and visitors from around the world visit our site and use our online resources, all at no cost. We plan to continue doing so. As we have grown, so too have our needs. We would like to extend an invitation for you to become an integral part of our efforts in helping others. Read more... ►
For those who would like to contribute to our Online ministry, we welcome your donation. Some of you have been looking for a way to give towards an international effort in helping others. Your contribution will not only go a long way in meeting our current and future challenges in maintaining and improving our capacity to aid others, but will place you within His channel of blessing to you for having done so. Your bread upon the waters will not go unnoticed by Him (Hebrews 6:10). Read more... ►
Shocking Finding: Two-thirds (67%) of pre-teen parents claim to be Christian, but only 2% of all pre-teen parents actually possess a biblical worldview...
American Values Personal Survey
Poll: American Majority Wants Congress to Pass Pro-Life Protections
Downward Trend Who Say Same-Sex Relations Morally Acceptable
Satan, The Father Of Lies
Battle For America's Soul
Ligonier Ministries' Biennial Study of The State Of American Theology
Among the Shocking findings are -
1. "31% of adults say it is very important for their religious faith to influence every dimension of their life."
2. "49% accept reincarnation as a possibility after they die."
Just one question: If, if this is true then why do our politicians and those who do their bidding in the media possess the spirit of antichrist—an anti-Christian spirit that treats others with such hostility, disrespect and mean-spirited? Why is the state of our country so godless and in an advanced state of decay and decline?
Something is grossly immoral and amiss!
Consider this from 3 of our founding fathers:
Benjamin Franklin - Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants.
Jedidiah Morse - Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government - and all blessings which flow from them - must fall with them.
John Adams - Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
This may help to answer some of your questions as to our current national state of affairs. The honest student of history knows this to be true. Also read:
In light of current world events, I was asked recently to comment on what seems to be an ever-growing darkness in so many areas of our lives today. This is a brief excerpt of those thoughts.
If one has lived long enough, we remember days of our past when the events of the world did not encroach and embed itself into our lives with the alarming number, regularity and intensity it seems today. We enjoyed days, if not weeks or months, without waking to a new or ongoing crisis that captured our attention. Our activities were not overshadowed with the pall of today that seems never-ending, provoking such anxiety we see and hear throughout our society. We awoke in our mornings to the peaceful hopes and expectations of continuing to pursue our happiness in the course we were making for our lives, satisfaction that came from all levels and stages of our progress in life. Occasionally, if we had heard from someone during the day of a newsworthy event, we might find the time from our busy lives to tune in at the end of the day to the news to see firsthand additional details that aroused our attention. We might even discuss it with others for a short time before moving on to other more personal priorities—job success, family events, community involvement, church and recreational activities, etc. Those things that divide us today along so many lines were not exacerbated by politicians seeking votes, certainly not to the extent we were less civil to each other as today. For most of us, life had yet to become a "game" with clearly defined sides in vehement opposition to one another. Labels were something on a product we purchased. Many of us did recognize moral and legitimate social injustices and worked cooperatively toward ending those divisions that prevented the fulfillment of the dreams of our forefathers, dreams we share in becoming one within a nation that values the rights of individuals without abolishing those of others. Our desire was that all would be given the opportunity to achieve their God-given potential. We understood there was much work to be done, not only in our own personal lives, but within our society. We elected representatives to see to the matters of government that we could not ourselves. We trusted them for the greater priorities of our nation and not to intrude upon our liberties promised within our constitution, especially infringement upon our religious freedoms and conscience. Our constitution was a contract we all understood to mean the church was not the government nor the government the church, taking to itself matters of social, moral and religious duties that have long been the calling and mission of the church, proselytizing from it through programs to obtain votes to grow it in competition and final defeat of it, using taxes gained at the point of the gun in contrast to tithes and offerings freely given to the local church. How is the church expected to compete with that system? To this point, we have abrogated our place in our society today. Somewhere along the way we went astray. National security and greater injustices of our time gave way to more petty personal grievances and social programs, so much so that the rights of many are being taken away in lieu of the offended feelings of one—a lesser group over the majority. The good causes of many seem to have been coopted by the selfish desires of a few. It seems those whose rights are favored are those whose voices can be magnified the greatest while the majority are suppressed in fearful silence. Logic appears turned upon its head—reason and common sense discarded upon the heap of the unpopularity of truth. And its shadow grows.
The world seems to be in chaos with no visible sign of abatement. Dangers from within threaten to rip apart the fabric of our country while our enemies plot and execute their plans to destroy us. We rightfully ask: Where are our elected? There is no answer. They have abandoned us. The state grows while our churches continue to decline. Who will stop the darkness? Who will stop the assault of the state on the rights of the people and the ordained role of the churches? Can it be stopped? Two thousand years ago Jesus clearly taught His kingdom was not of this earth and issued a call to any who would hear: "Come unto me you who are heavy burdened..." Today, our government has coopted that call and the hands reach out by the millions each year, year after year, creating a dependency without dignity, degrading and diminishing the human spirit to an almost sub-human level. And we wonder why the baser instincts of the masses are rising like a tsunami that will soon sweep us upon the rubble of history as it has other nations before us. I understand the sentiment of the sensible heart as it looks upon today's world scene. It is understandable why such anxiety exists, especially if one allows the bombardment of the gloom of world events to permeate ones thinking via a twenty-four cycle of breaking news. It consumes our national conversation. We wring our hands as we helplessly watch beyond belief events spiral ever more chaotic.
The following is taken from the Book, Adam2: A Guide For The Walk Home, written by our founder.
It is A Commentary On The Gospel Of John, complete with a background look at the contemporary Jewish groups active in Jesus' day.
It includes a summary of each chapter, a redacted study of each disciple, a brief study of Gnosticism of the time, pertinent timelines,
and much more. Each chapter of study includes extensive Biblical references to the notes on the chapter.
A chronological excerpt of each section will be posted here at the beginning of each month. You can access free of charge at any time
a complete online digital version
for your further study. It is also available on CD. Thank you for your interest in this study. Our hope and prayer is that
through the work of the Holy Spirit as you study you will be blessed by it, and if so, recommend it to a friend.
Turning this month to the background study of the 5 major Jewish groups in Jesus' day: the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots and Essenes,
we look first at the Scribes from the book: Adam2.
I. MAJOR JEWISH GROUPS IN JESUS' DAY.
A. SCRIBES.
Of the five groups we have chosen to study, only one fails to appear by name in our Bible—the Essenes—which
we will consider last. Of the remaining four, the scribe is the only one appearing by name in both the Old and New Testament records.
Although the remaining three, Pharisees, Sadducees and Zealots, do not appear by name in the Old Testament, traces of each's origin can be seen there,
and in the New Testament even the leader of the first Zealot uprising in A.D. 6 is identified in
Acts 5:37 and corroborated by Josephus in his record (Antiq.8.1.1; Wars 2.8.1 - pp. 376, 476).
However, since the scribes are the first to appear in the early days of Jewish national life, we have chosen to examine them first.
Unlike the remaining four groups to be studied, the scribes are not identified as a political or religious party, or sect,
within the Jewish state. This is not to say that they were not individually involved in matters of Jewish affairs,
for indeed they were quite active, as we shall see in our study. However, according to a well respected contemporary Jewish historian,
the scribes as a group merely "represented a function rather than a sect" (Simon, p. 86). Indeed, it is precisely the evolution of this
function that gave rise to this large group in Jesus' day and was arguably His greatest antagonist. But numbers alone do not constitute a sect.
Without exploring the difficulties and technicalities of a literal definition, suffice it to say then for our purposes that a sect in that
period was a viable current within the mainstream of Judaism as seen in the Pharisee, Sadducee, and Essene. Though not a sect, the scribes'
function had a significant influence upon the Jewish people and played a direct role in the death of Christ. For this reason we have chosen
the term "group" rather than "sect" to refer to these five bodies that we might include the scribes in our study. Let us look now at their name.
In the Old Testament, Young makes no distinction in Hebrew for the scribe, or saphar, meaning "to cypher, number, or write."
However, he does separate the scribe more commonly of the former kind, seen in the pre-exilic era, to that of the latter in Ezra's
post-exilic days
(
Ezr.4:8,9,17,23; 7:12), with the exceptions of
Ezr.7:6 & 11
and all those designated in Nehemiah and Esther.
In the New Testament, we find only one Greek designation, grammateus, meaning "scribe, writer, or clerk," or more precisely,
nomikoi, meaning "lawyer," and nomodidaskaloi, meaning "teacher of the law," referring in the main to those scribes
of the law of Moses (cf.,
Lk.7:30;
Jn.3:2,10). Only in
I Co.1:20
do we see in the term an inference to a universal meaning, since the implication there seems to include all world systems,
or knowledge, be it government, religion, or otherwise.
A scribe by name clearly had his origin in pre-Hebrew cultures, as evidenced in the many archaeological findings among earlier peoples.
Two can be seen in those early times. In the beginning, a scribe was mainly designated as an officer of a government whose function
was that of a clerk, or secretary of government affairs and records. Another was called an amanuensis, that is a public writer,
or one who takes dictation, as in personal, business, commerce, etc. Characteristics of these two types of scribes would later be seen
in the pre-exilic scribe that would eventually produce the Mosaic scribe of the post-exilic era. Both of these examples can be seen
within our Old Testament record (for the former, cf.,
II Ki.12:10;
22:3;
25:19;
I Chr.24:6;
27:32;
II Chr.24:11;
26:11;
Jer.36:20;
52:25; and the latter,
Jer.36:3,26,32).
When the Hebrew people appeared on the scene with their religion concomitant with secular life, the lines that were once distinctly
drawn between government and religious affairs were no longer applicable. In addition to recording the affairs of state, as did his
predecessor, the Hebrew scribe would quite naturally become involved in the responsibilities of recording and preserving the religious
annals and archives of his greater community, since these were the laws and practices given by God to be implemented in daily ceremonial life.
Even before the early Hebrew scribe appeared, if we use the third, final, and literal definition of a scribe as it applied to his
unique post-Babylonian function—a copier of the Mosaic Law—then Moses himself would be the first
(
Deu.31:9).
And it was Moses who first read this law to this newly forming Jewish nation (Ex.24:3-8). After it had been completely transcribed by him,
he then committed it to the future care of the Levites
(
Deu.31:9,24-26),
from whom was evolving the priesthood and would the latter day Mosaic scribe (Ezr.8:15-21; Neh.8:1-9; 9:4-38).
(It must be remembered that Moses himself was also from this Levite tribe -
Ex.2:1.)
The following is the second article to date addressing the changes being seen with alarming detail in modern churches.
It is more practical in nature in response to this common dilemma occurring in more and more churches today. The members
of these churches are being forced to choose whether to submit to obvious changes over which they have no control or say or
look for another path that will be consistent with their beliefs and practices in their Christian walk and worship. The article's
focus will sometimes shift from speaking to the opening question being asked to addressing those causing it to be
asked—namely, their church leaders. I trust the reader's own wisdom to discern those pivot points for their
intended purpose. Thank you for understanding. Please know these thoughts were not written without much prayer and consideration.
I, too, am alarmed by these questions being asked about the fundamental changes occurring on a broad scale that spans denominational ties.
There is a clear redefinition of church in today's modern world by a different class and generation of preachers
stepping forward in church leadership. What is witnessed in most megachurches within large populations is rapidly
being duplicated in smaller churches and communities as well. The meteoric rise of this model and movement whose origins
can be traced and identified is catching up young impressionable ministers who are not yet grounded in sound Biblical doctrine
and New Testament practice, and deficient in Godly wisdom. It is appealing. It is glamorous, almost in the same vein as the
temptation of Jesus in the wilderness by satan for power. It is dangerous! Buying into this new model, they are pushing their
people into compliance in extraordinary unBiblical ways. The sad thing is there are many older and much wiser pastors and leaders
who are succumbing to this pressure or temptation and going along to get along. They know, or believe, if they too don't assimilate
into this new church culture and way of doing things, their people will be drawn away by others who do. Their numbers
will decrease, their budgets will decline and the status they once held in the church world will vanish. They
excuse themselves by asking: What are we to do? Rather than grounding their people in sound Biblical doctrine that
will root them firmly in their faith and place of service, the appeal begins for more money to fund the
architecture of this new church model. Yet others see it as a way to raise their level of standing among
their peers once thought not possible. No matter which angle this new movement is viewed, once you look
past its facade you see the imprint of man all over it. That alone should be a clue for anyone still wondering
whether they should step within its path and walk in that direction causing others to follow. True Christianity is
not a cult with a following. What we are seeing more and more has many traits of being just that, with each
church having its own adored charismatic superstar.
His Word clearly teaches we are not to turn to the wisdom of men in matters of faith and service in His name
(1 Co.1:19-20).
When leaders come to the point they think God is not capable without their human wisdom and that gleaned from worldly
construct they have moved away from walking within the footsteps of Jesus as He walked within the will of the Father
and power of the Holy Spirit. When the Bible is used to find, pick and prove some idea the leader has devised and
arrived at for imposing their view of success the church stands in danger. It has already been down this road
before. Success is not nor should ever be the goal of any church! In the eyes of the world, Christ was an utter failure.
They crucified Him at age 33 because He would neither court it or compromise with it. Why, then, are these Johnny-come-lately
so-called Christian leaders courting it today? I would suggest more time is required on bended knee than in book stores and seeking
ways to make themselves more profitable and popular by appealing to the world. I will say at the outset, this new
structure will eventually collapse. It cannot be indefinitely sustained on the foundation of mammon and the wisdom of men
upon which it is built. Always true to His Word, He will destroy the wisdom of men. Look at the tower of Babel if
you question His veracity in such a serious matter (Gen.11:1-9). When this destruction comes, possibly when
the coming tide of economic collapse sweeps across the lands where it stands, it will crumble, as did the house of which Jesus
spoke built upon a sandy soil. JumboTrons will be out of place in the basements and closets of homes where
genuine Christians will be forced to retreat as in the beginning. With their place of worldly assembly decimated,
a tide of unregenerated people caught up in this meteoric fancy will be abandoned with no where to seek for shelter
and swept away as rubble in the wake of so great a collapse, comparable possibly to the flood in the days of Noah...
I am often asked about today's Christian or church culture of worship. Many who are rooted in sound Biblical
doctrine and have achieved spiritual growth far beyond their early days of salvation are questioning what is happening within
their church today. With increasing dismay, they are walking out the doors of their church on Sunday questioning their own
spiritual condition as, apparent to them, there is a change occurring within them of their sense of having worshiped, or,
whether what they experienced was worship at all. Husband and wife walk together with their heads drooped in silence,
each reflecting on the events of the morning. As they walk or drive away, they begin a discussion of their thoughts
and are unable to point to anything they have seen or heard as being at odds with their core beliefs. But their hearts
tell them there is really something amiss—something serious. I am even asked whether they should participate in
singing what they are now required to sing, or chant. Astonishing that I would be asked such a question! The music has
changed as well as its presentation from what they have been accustomed. Some tell me they refuse to participate.
They stand when required but hold to the back of the pew in front of them in silence. Others, for various
reasons given, accept it to some degree with the modern changes they see in every other area of their daily life.
No, there's more to it than that. But what, they ask themselves. Revisiting in discussion the sermon heard from the pulpit,
they find no fault with their pastor's words. All seem to be true. But the sermons are different. The subjects, style and
tone have changed. There seems to be something missing they can't quite put their finger on. They believe him to
still be a Godly man. With no answers to these troubling questions, they plod along, Sunday after Sunday, falling into
deeper desondency over their worship life and the life of their church. They are affected both spiritually and emotionally
throughout the week. Their joy is not as prevalent as before. Their hunger is no longer being fed with that Authentic Bread.
Where is the Rock from which they once drank?, they ask. Should they leave? But so many friends, they say!
So much of their lives invested! And where would they go that is any different? Many have already left. These are serious matters!
When I hear those accounts I am deeply saddened. I am also reminded of the accounts in olden times when God's
people similarly thirsted and experienced an emptiness for various reasons, some due to their own disobedience,
but others because there was no true shepherd. Without casting any aspersion on any one report of this phenomenon,
think of those times yourself as you reflect on the record of the Old Testament. The Psalmist spoke often about
being in a dry land where there was no water for his soul. At others, the people went without rain for years and
thirsted because their leaders had led them astray. The Hebrews complained often of thirst in the wilderness during
their exodus from Egypt. Twice they were led to a rock where Moses smote it and there gushed from it a stream
sufficient enough for all to take their fill (Sinai and Kadesh; Ex.17:6; Nu.20:8). Not one went away without
being refreshed when God gave the increase—when God gave the increase.
Imagine their joy, a scene in stark contrast with their worship before the golden calf constructed by Aaron!
When God divided Solomon's kingdom after 40 years reign, the ten tribes in the northern kingdom split were
banned by its new king, Jeroboam, from visiting and worshiping at the Temple in Jerusalem for fear of their
lack of loyalty to him (I Kings 12). Consequently, he built two places of worship at his kingdom's southern
and northern borders, Bethel and Dan, erecting symbols forbidden by God in worship. What followed in the next
200 years was a bloody succession of nineteen kings with little or no peace for the people. God's judgment
was finally brought upon that kingdom by a Gentile nation and the people were led away in captivity and
dispersed throughout other vassal kingdoms it had conquered. You likely know them as the "lost ten tribes of Israel",
all because they turned from His way to their own ideas and ways of worship. One only has to read Romans 1 to see
the dangers and warnings of forsaking God's way...
The following is taken from the Book of Old Testament Summaries.
Chapter
(1520 B.C.?)
Job, a man from Uz, perfect and upright, who feared God and hated evil, who had seven sons and three daughters,
with many possessions, was the greatest man of the east. He offered sacrifices continually for his children after
their merrymaking for fear they had sinned. Satan presents himself before God with the host in heaven, challenging
God to test Job. God agrees, but Job himself is not to be touched. Four separate messengers come to Job with the sad
news of the loss of his possessions, servants, flocks, and children by four separate calamities (2 by sword, 1 by fire,
and 1 by wind). Upon receiving the devastating news of the loss of his children, he arises, rents his clothes, prepares himself,
and falls to the ground in worship, accepting the judgment of God without sin.
Again Satan goes before God and this time is allowed to smite Job but cannot take his life.
Job is smitten by Satan with boils from head to foot (complete), scrapes himself with a potsherd
and sits in ashes. He rebukes his wife's attempt to get him to curse God and die, escaping his misery.
Job's integrity remains. Three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, come together to mourn with and comfort Job.
Because of the greatness of Job's grief, they sit in silence with Job seven days and nights.
Finally Job speaks, cursing the day he was born: better he had gone from the womb to the grave not seeing the light of day,
and be at rest than endure his present suffering. What he expected all his life has finally happened;
and he was not surprised in the least when this trouble came.
Eliphaz speaks to encourage him. That which befell others whom Job had encouraged and strengthened has now come to him.
He reminds Job that the innocent nor righteous is cast away or cut off by God, only the wicked. None is greater than God!
All are made of clay, from the dust, and many die even without wisdom.
Eliphaz continues his speech. There is none righteous for Job to turn to for help. God's correction will bring a happy end,
therefore, his chastening should not be despised by Job. God will deliver man from every kind of trouble known to him,
even from the touch of evil; and his days will be prolonged with his house much blessed.
Job answers. His grief is too much for his soul to bear. His sorrow is complete. God's arrows have found their mark.
He wishes to die! Job accuses his friends of dealing deceitfully with him, reminding them he did not seek their
help in counseling him for his deliverance. He challenges them to examine his words and actions (his life)
and to look upon him and tell him what his sin is, if their words be true, then he won't oppose them.
(They had yet to tell him of his sin.) Job declares he has no knowledge of any sin responsible for bringing
on this great calamity.
Job is reminded of the brevity and frailty of life. He finds no rest for his soul, not even in sleep.
He will not keep quiet! Even in his dreams and visions he is terrified. He wonders who man is to God
that He would desire him and then turn from him in such a way, delaying His pardon. He reminds God of
his few days on earth, and some morning He will seek him and he will not be there, having departed
keeping his appointment with the grave.
Bildad, his second friend, rebukes Job's strong words of denial of wrongdoing. Surely God would have pardoned
by now if Job was upright, having sought Him after His punishment upon his children who may have sinned bringing
His judgment upon them; he would be restored manifold over. He instructs Job to remember the teachings of the lives
of the fathers. God will not cast away the perfect man nor will He help evil doers.
Job answers Bildad, agreeing with the truth of his words and the justice of God, but he knows
God destroys both the perfect and the wicked and that he is afflicted without cause. Again he
acknowledges the brevity and frailty of life and that there is no one just enough to mediate his
case with God. He appeals directly for God to remove His rod of correction.
Job, weary of life, seeks to know why God is dealing with him so. Certainly God is not as man, made of flesh,
unable to see his sin, having to search first to know it before pardoning him! God knows he is not wicked and
has no other deliverer than He. He reminds God that he is as He made him, from the dust, short of days.
Job is confused. Why did He give him life, visit him in such a way, and then hide Himself from him?
Job declares his state would have been better if carried from the womb to the tomb. He pleads with God,
because of his few days on earth, to cease and desist that he may finish his days in rest before going
to the grave forever.
Listen to this young German Christian artist create, in the moment, the composition he later entitiled, "Prayer". (We love his T-shirt. Take a close look. Expand and freeze frame.)
WEF Official Calls for AI to Re-Write the Bible 'Correctly'
"In a few years, there might be religions that are actually correct … just think about a religion whose holy book is written by an AI. That could be a reality in a few years," states WEF advisor Yuval Noah Harari, "a homosexual, Israeli author and historian who holds mostly to atheistic beliefs in spirituality," - Charismamag.com.
Transgender Lutheran pastor on the Bible's clear line of male & female: "It's hard to relate it to modern-day times b/c it wasn't written for 2024. It was written for then. When we read in the scripture that God created man and woman, yes, and god created everyone else, as well." pic.twitter.com/rFIKhlv7OW
To the cast down and disheartened, stop and remember the joy of the beginning of your new birth. Remember, there is no battle you face that He has not already fought and overcome. The victory is yours. Embrace it.
Featured Sermon
The Triumph of Christ Over Satan - 4/9/1990
Matthew 4:1-11: Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
When Praying, Do Not Look Upon It As A 'Badge Of Honor' To Be Worn Publicly For All Others To See Such 'Great Spiritual Depths' You Have Achieved. Read More
Such praying is shallow, often mechanical and repititious, and such our Saviour warned to avoid. People who pray often in public,
often love to be heard praying in public. It is the shy one whose heart is humble whose words are heard by the Master's ear. May your
service ever to Him in prayer be so private that no one else sees you standing there. To be recognized only by Him and not give
reason for another to diminish your position in prayer by pointing to your place in praise in comparison to others.
THIS IS PRAYER!
To Lose Self In The Sight Of All Others When Entering His
Presence, Especially When Speaking On Their Behalf.
AND SO PRAY:
"Lord, may it ever be your head my words seek to turn, that it
be for your praise and not another's my soul yearns."
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh."
In every believer's heart there is a constant struggle between the old nature and the new. The old nature is very active, and loses no opportunity of plying all the weapons of its deadly armoury against newborn grace; while on the other hand, the new nature is ever on the watch to resist and destroy its enemy... Read More
Grace within us will employ prayer, and faith, and hope, and love, to cast out the evil; it takes unto it the "whole armour of God," and wrestles earnestly. These two opposing natures will never cease to struggle so long as we are in this world. The battle of "Christian" with "Apollyon" lasted three hours, but the battle of Christian with himself lasted all the way from the Wicket Gate in the river Jordan. The enemy is so securely entrenched within us that he can never be driven out while we are in this body: but although we are closely beset, and often in sore conflict, we have an Almighty helper, even Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who is ever with us, and who assures us that we shall eventually come off more than conquerors through Him. With such assistance the new-born nature is more than a match for its foes. Are you fighting with the adversary to-day? Are Satan, the world, and the flesh, all against you? Be not discouraged nor dismayed. Fight on! For God Himself is with you; Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the healer of your wounds. Fear not, you shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on, "looking unto Jesus"; and though long and stern be the conflict, sweet will be the victory, and glorious the promised reward.
"From strength to strength go on;
Wrestle, and fight, and pray,
Tread all the powers of darkness down,
And win the well-fought day."
Thunderheads rolled ominously over the Western hills,
as the lightning bolts streaked across the sky. In a lush green valley below, two birds together in a barn lot reacted in
different ways. Appearing similar in some ways, the birds were actually different as day and night. The chicken, with her
head down and her beak busy in the trash of the barnyard, stepped up her pace as she scratched among the debris and filth
searching for grubworms, scraps, and bits of corn. Knowing that time was short, and that she would soon have to take refuge
in the safety of the barn, she worked frantically to get a meal before the full fury of the storm struck... Read More
Quite strange was the appearance and actions of the other bird. He sat on a fence post, his head lifted to the sky and his sharp piercing
eyes searching among the clouds. He stretched his wings lazily, and gusts of wind almost lifted him from his perch. It was a thrilling sight
to see the magnificent wingspread, and it was easy to see that the feathers of his wings that had once been clipped back to prevent him from
flying away, had once again grown to their full length. It was obvious that this bird was not a chicken...
"What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the Lord? or, lo, they are gone because of destruction:
Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them:
thorns shall be in their tabernacles."
(See also: Proverbs 24:31; Isaiah 34:13.)
Nettles of neglect and thorns of forgetfullness grow where the heart fails to tend the important people and
places of our lives as our days pass... Read More
Haven't we all at some time or other stood overlooking a scene that at one time was so fresh and vital to someone's life,
maybe our own, but now lies in shambles, with nature all but obscuring it?...
The consequences of the magnitude of such a broad scale world-wide implementation of a "new church model" cannot be ignored. It must be examined by the serious Bible student and Christian! It must be looked at in light of Bible prophecy. We must heed the warnings of both Jesus' own words when He walked the earth and those inspired by the Holy Spirit written later for our advantage in alertness of end-time events and trends. Not to do so would be perilous. So, I have prayerfully written 5 articles on this demonic phenonemonen with hopes they will help you to understand how serious this modern attack is on the true church of Christ - Articles on the Modern Church.
A Giant Tree Has Fallen
Most of us have heard the little riddle
of "the tree falling in the wilderness": If no one is around to hear it, is a sound actually made? On Friday, May 30, 2020, a familiar tree to many fell in the wilderness of America. Although many were there, only a few have reported having actually heard it fall. Like a sentinel, it has stood for centuries. Many have looked upon it over the years, embracing it with great admiration, love and affection. Others, without seeing its essential value and inspirational beauty, will celebrate its demise. In fact, they have openly advocated for its felling in every generation.
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Welcome to Adam2.org!
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. - John 15:5
And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. - Mark 4:35
...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. - Psalms 30:5b
...strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. - Matthew 7:14
...And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. - Genesis 1:2b
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. - Psalms 23:1-2
Those things that divide us today along so many lines were not exacerbated by politicians seeking votes, certainly not to the extent we were less civil to each other as today. For most of us, life had yet to become a "game" with clearly defined sides in vehement opposition to one another. Labels were something on a product we purchased. Many of us did recognize moral and legitimate social injustices and worked cooperatively toward ending those divisions that prevented the fulfillment of the dreams of our forefathers, dreams we share in becoming one within a nation that values the rights of individuals without abolishing those of others. 
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Two thousand years ago Jesus clearly taught His kingdom was not of this earth and issued a call to any who would hear: "Come unto me you who are heavy burdened..." Today, our government has coopted that call and the hands reach out by the millions each year, year after year, creating a dependency without dignity, degrading and diminishing the human spirit to an almost sub-human level. And we wonder why the baser instincts of the masses are rising like a tsunami that will soon sweep us upon the rubble of history as it has other nations before us. 
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Strength To Strength
Galatians 5:17
The Way Of the Eagles
Nettles & Thorns
of "the tree falling in the wilderness": If no one is around to hear it, is a sound actually made? On Friday, May 30, 2020, a familiar tree to many fell in the wilderness of America. Although many were there, only a few have reported having actually heard it fall. Like a sentinel, it has stood for centuries. Many have looked upon it over the years, embracing it with great admiration, love and affection. Others, without seeing its essential value and inspirational beauty, will celebrate its demise. In fact, they have openly advocated for its felling in every generation.
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