2 COR.1:22 Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
The word EARNEST in this scripture is the Greek word ARRABON. 2 COR 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
In other words when we are saved and born again we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and indwelt by Him. I have heard preachers explain these scriptures as a down payment on a contract. OK I believe that. But one day when I started studying Greek words I ran across the Greek word ARRABON. And when I found out that in modern Greek ARROBONA is an engagement ring, It all fell in place. The Spirit is our engagement ring and one day we will be part of the Bride of Christ at the Wedding Supper.
EPH 1:13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
14. Which is the EARNEST of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN YOU AS AN ENGAGEMENT RING. TREASURE HIM.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
CALVERY BAPTIST CHURCH
I went to Morningside Baptist Church and after a year or so I went to Calvary Baptist Church. I worked in Bible Schools teaching in the younger groups and was really growing in the knowledge of the Lord.
Ann Dempsey was the organist at that time and had seen how I used the drawings to teach. We had a revival coming up and she asked me if I would do a drawing one night. I felt at ease with the children but before the whole church ! I had to think that over. I finally agreed and set about to get the right picture to draw. I decided to do one about the Return of Christ. I used fluorescent chalks, invisible chalks and poster paints. I used a 18 by 22 canvas and attached drawing paper to it securing it all around with masking tape. Ann Played music while I did the drawing - I'm talking about maybe 5 minutes and it was finished. When the picture was finished the lights were dimmed and the blacklight would activate the fluorescent chalks and the picture would come alive. Then you could see Jesus descending from the heavens. With the naked eye you could not see the Lord because it was done with invisible chalks only activated by the blacklight.
As the preaching began suddenly the picture folded in half and closed like a book. The masking tape had come undone. Ann said go up and open it up and I said not on your life.
The following week I was approached by several persons asking what was in the picture. Ronnie a young man who lived several houses down had brought a friend to church and they were sitting together. He could not see the picture but his friend could. I knew Ronnie was a believer so I ask him if his friend who could see the picture was a believer and he said NO. A lady who brought her husband to the revival ask me what was in the picture. She was a Christian and could not see it but her husband who was NOT A CHRISTIAN. could see it.This happened with several others that told of it and the only thing we could figure was the painting was geared toward the unsaved. I never knew what the sermon was about because I drew to music. GUESS WHAT THE SERMON WAS ABOUT???????? The Second Coming of Christ.
Ann Dempsey was the organist at that time and had seen how I used the drawings to teach. We had a revival coming up and she asked me if I would do a drawing one night. I felt at ease with the children but before the whole church ! I had to think that over. I finally agreed and set about to get the right picture to draw. I decided to do one about the Return of Christ. I used fluorescent chalks, invisible chalks and poster paints. I used a 18 by 22 canvas and attached drawing paper to it securing it all around with masking tape. Ann Played music while I did the drawing - I'm talking about maybe 5 minutes and it was finished. When the picture was finished the lights were dimmed and the blacklight would activate the fluorescent chalks and the picture would come alive. Then you could see Jesus descending from the heavens. With the naked eye you could not see the Lord because it was done with invisible chalks only activated by the blacklight.
As the preaching began suddenly the picture folded in half and closed like a book. The masking tape had come undone. Ann said go up and open it up and I said not on your life.
The following week I was approached by several persons asking what was in the picture. Ronnie a young man who lived several houses down had brought a friend to church and they were sitting together. He could not see the picture but his friend could. I knew Ronnie was a believer so I ask him if his friend who could see the picture was a believer and he said NO. A lady who brought her husband to the revival ask me what was in the picture. She was a Christian and could not see it but her husband who was NOT A CHRISTIAN. could see it.This happened with several others that told of it and the only thing we could figure was the painting was geared toward the unsaved. I never knew what the sermon was about because I drew to music. GUESS WHAT THE SERMON WAS ABOUT???????? The Second Coming of Christ.
Monday, March 8, 2010
THE EYES OF JESUS
THE EYES OF JESUS
After the near death experience I suffered in July of 1967, I was consumed with the presence of the Lord. I would read the bible all the time. Have dreams in the middle of the night about the Bible and would be told the meaning of the scriptures. I think Kenny Ryals and I were the number 1 and 2 on the sinners list in the neighborhood. We were judged like this for we didn't attend church. Lucille and my other sister had accepted Christ and attended church regularly. After I had the encounter with Jesus Christ, I was baptised at a Bible School graduation. (I plan to write about that at a later time and will tell more about the encounter I had with the Lord.). I volunteered to help around the church and they asked what I would like to do and I said I don't care I can clean bathrooms.
That is exactly what I started doing when I started serving the Lord.
I slowly started working in the beginners class in Sunday School and began teaching .I discovered I had the ability to draw and illustrate lessons . I knew that God had given me this talent. As time went on the talent began to grow and I started doing chalk talks at revivals using fluorescent chalk, invisible chalk and black light.
Along came the Vietnam war and the beginning of drug usage in the young people in Brunswick. Several adults from local churches started a program called HOT LINE. They gathered young people and adults to man telephones and we set about to help the kids who were being drawn to this new movement.. IF the kids got in trouble they would call us and we would go rescue them. Anything to prevent an overdose.
We had drive-in theaters at that time and that was a good place for them to hide and do drugs and sell them. The owner of the drive-in was a Christian and allowed us to set up in a viewing room right near the concession stand. I would set up at a large table and start drawing and the teens would come in to watch. The others in the group would witness to them. We did often get punched in the face going from car to car.
I had painted a picture of the face of Christ and it came out rather strange when I finished it. This was not planned but when I hung it on the wall everyone gasped and said "THOSE EYES ARE ALIVE. THEY GO EVERYWHERE YOU GO" The news got around the drive-in and we had a crowd come in. It became a drawing feature with the kids.
One night a motorcycle gang came into the drive-in and the bikers lined the walls going into the concession stand. They started making crude remarks and making whistling noises at anyone passing by. The owner came and told us he was going to call the police. It was a very frightening experience. I had never been in a situation like this before. A girl they knew had joined our group and they were not happy bikers. I remember I was the only adult there at that very moment. I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED. I didn't know what to do. I had been repairing the picture of Christ for so many people had handled it and it was the most popular of the art displayed.
I took the picture from the wall and walked out into the hall where the bikers were lined up along the walls. A boy about 8 or so came in and I said,"HOW DO YOU LIKE MY PICTURE. FINE HE SAID. DO YOU SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT IT? NO HE SAID. I SAID LOOK AT THE EYES. WHEREVER YOU GO THEY MOVE AND WATCH YOU. He looked at it , got on the floor and tried several other positions and he said "WOW JESUS IS WATCHING ME." As I glanced at the motorcycle gang I could see they were climbing on tables, laying on the floor in fact getting in any position they could to test the eyes. Just as fast as they showed up they mounted their bikes and were gone. The owner of the drive-inn came up and said WHAT HAPPENED. I said I SHOWED THEM JESUS. We were extended an invitation to come there any time we wanted to. We accepted the invitation for a very long time.
LUKE 21:13 AND IT SHALL TURN TO YOU FOR A TESTIMONY.
LUKE 21:14 SETTLE IT THEREFORE IN YOUR HEARTS.NOT TO MEDITATE BEFORE WHAT YE SHALL ANSWER.
LUKE 21:15 FOR I WILL GIVE YOU A MOUTH AND WISDOM WHICH ALL YOUR ADVERSARIES SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO GAINSAY NOR RESIST.
I know this comes from the chapters talking about persecution but it worked. At the presence of Jesus the enemy fled. I did not know what to do but I did what the Spirit told me to do.
I am planning to write a book about my life after I came to Christ. Thanks for reading.
After the near death experience I suffered in July of 1967, I was consumed with the presence of the Lord. I would read the bible all the time. Have dreams in the middle of the night about the Bible and would be told the meaning of the scriptures. I think Kenny Ryals and I were the number 1 and 2 on the sinners list in the neighborhood. We were judged like this for we didn't attend church. Lucille and my other sister had accepted Christ and attended church regularly. After I had the encounter with Jesus Christ, I was baptised at a Bible School graduation. (I plan to write about that at a later time and will tell more about the encounter I had with the Lord.). I volunteered to help around the church and they asked what I would like to do and I said I don't care I can clean bathrooms.
That is exactly what I started doing when I started serving the Lord.
I slowly started working in the beginners class in Sunday School and began teaching .I discovered I had the ability to draw and illustrate lessons . I knew that God had given me this talent. As time went on the talent began to grow and I started doing chalk talks at revivals using fluorescent chalk, invisible chalk and black light.
Along came the Vietnam war and the beginning of drug usage in the young people in Brunswick. Several adults from local churches started a program called HOT LINE. They gathered young people and adults to man telephones and we set about to help the kids who were being drawn to this new movement.. IF the kids got in trouble they would call us and we would go rescue them. Anything to prevent an overdose.
We had drive-in theaters at that time and that was a good place for them to hide and do drugs and sell them. The owner of the drive-in was a Christian and allowed us to set up in a viewing room right near the concession stand. I would set up at a large table and start drawing and the teens would come in to watch. The others in the group would witness to them. We did often get punched in the face going from car to car.
I had painted a picture of the face of Christ and it came out rather strange when I finished it. This was not planned but when I hung it on the wall everyone gasped and said "THOSE EYES ARE ALIVE. THEY GO EVERYWHERE YOU GO" The news got around the drive-in and we had a crowd come in. It became a drawing feature with the kids.
One night a motorcycle gang came into the drive-in and the bikers lined the walls going into the concession stand. They started making crude remarks and making whistling noises at anyone passing by. The owner came and told us he was going to call the police. It was a very frightening experience. I had never been in a situation like this before. A girl they knew had joined our group and they were not happy bikers. I remember I was the only adult there at that very moment. I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED. I didn't know what to do. I had been repairing the picture of Christ for so many people had handled it and it was the most popular of the art displayed.
I took the picture from the wall and walked out into the hall where the bikers were lined up along the walls. A boy about 8 or so came in and I said,"HOW DO YOU LIKE MY PICTURE. FINE HE SAID. DO YOU SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT IT? NO HE SAID. I SAID LOOK AT THE EYES. WHEREVER YOU GO THEY MOVE AND WATCH YOU. He looked at it , got on the floor and tried several other positions and he said "WOW JESUS IS WATCHING ME." As I glanced at the motorcycle gang I could see they were climbing on tables, laying on the floor in fact getting in any position they could to test the eyes. Just as fast as they showed up they mounted their bikes and were gone. The owner of the drive-inn came up and said WHAT HAPPENED. I said I SHOWED THEM JESUS. We were extended an invitation to come there any time we wanted to. We accepted the invitation for a very long time.
LUKE 21:13 AND IT SHALL TURN TO YOU FOR A TESTIMONY.
LUKE 21:14 SETTLE IT THEREFORE IN YOUR HEARTS.NOT TO MEDITATE BEFORE WHAT YE SHALL ANSWER.
LUKE 21:15 FOR I WILL GIVE YOU A MOUTH AND WISDOM WHICH ALL YOUR ADVERSARIES SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO GAINSAY NOR RESIST.
I know this comes from the chapters talking about persecution but it worked. At the presence of Jesus the enemy fled. I did not know what to do but I did what the Spirit told me to do.
I am planning to write a book about my life after I came to Christ. Thanks for reading.
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