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Why does Jesus tell his followers to never swear oaths? Referring to retaliation and revenge, Jesus says, “don’t pay back an evil person,” or “do not resist-in-kind an evil person.” How would you summarize what he encourages his followers to do instead (see Matthew 5:37-42)? According to Jesus, why is it not enough to simply tolerate your enemies? Why is it better to love them? Jesus commands his followers to love their enemies because God—who is good to everyone, regardless of their behavior—also loves their enemies. What are some ways that God shows kindness to all people, and how can this inspire us to love without partiality? How does making peace and loving others in these ways make us “whole” or “complete?” Take some time to reflect on any themes from the video or passage (Matthew 5:33-48) that resonated with you.

Why does Jesus tell his followers to never swear oaths? Referring to retaliation and revenge, Jesus says, “don’t pay back an evil person,” or “do not resist-in-kind an evil person.” How would you summarize what he encourages his followers to do instead (see Matthew 5:37-42)? According to Jesus, why is it not enough to simply tolerate your enemies? Why is it better to love them? Jesus commands his followers to love their enemies because God—who is good to everyone, regardless of their behavior—also loves their enemies. What are some ways that God shows kindness to all people, and how can this inspire us to love without partiality? How does making peace and loving others in these ways make us “whole” or “complete?” Take some time to reflect on any themes from the video or passage (Matthew 5:33-48) that resonated with you.

How is the video’s description of righteousness similar to or different from the way you’ve typically understood it? In your own words, how would you describe the Torah and the Prophets as presented in the video? How might Jesus’ first audience have understood his claim that he was going to fulfill the story of the Hebrew Bible? What kinds of attitudes or actions could be seen as "doing right by your neighbor" for Jesus followers today?

How is the Jesus-style revolution described in Matthew different from most revolutions? What does it mean for someone to be pure in heart, and why is it important for Jesus' followers to be pure in heart? What does it mean to be a peacemaker, according to Jesus? How are Jesus’ followers similar to Israel’s prophets? What kinds of attitudes and actions do they share?

Jesus opens his sermon with descriptions of people who are already experiencing the good life of God's Kingdom. What might this tell us about God's nature? Rather than speaking from the temple to the most powerful Israelites in Jerusalem, Jesus heads into rural Galilee to speak with oppressed, powerless people. Why might he have chosen this location and these people? Take some time to reflect on any themes or ideas that stood out to you from the video.

In prayer this morning the Lord showed me that all our suffering, past failures, loss, abuse, hurts, and dysfunction serves as a platform in our life for God to work if we will allow him too. We often ask God why, or feel low, or even get depressed about the things we have been through that caused us hurt and pain. He impressed me this morning that it all has purpose ... HIS purpose! According to Luke 4:18, if He is going to use us to fulfill His vision of preaching the gospel to the POOR, healing the BROKENHEARTED, preaching deliverance to the CAPTIVES, recovering of sight to the BLIND, and setting at liberty them that are BRUISED, then we can actually THANK God for all our hurt, loss, and problems. They position us to be able to bring this gospel with a heartfelt compassion, sympathy, and care because we have been there and know the redeeming power of God! Today, I thanked God for letting me grow up in the "hood" (inner city) where people were poor and sin was rampant, for being raised by a single mother, for the abuse and dysfunction I saw and experienced, and for the loss in my family and the cycle of sin. It doesn’t make sense in the flesh to thank God, but spiritually, These are to whom and to where Jesus called us to preach the gospel, according to Luke 4:18. It has set the platform for great ministry!! I am passionate about proclaiming the Gospel to the hurting, poor, and wounded souls. I am glad that God has allowed me to walk the path I have had to walk. Now I get to see others experience the same freedom in Christ that I have found! Evangelism is my love! The inner city, the poor, and the wounded has my heart! Don't allow the Enemy to depress you. Don’t begrudge your past or your hurts. Embrace them, love through them, preach through them, and do the work of Luke 4:18 that Jesus called you to do! YOU have purpose, my friend! Now you have a platform to minister from! Credit: https://kathyshaw.net/blog/f/your-past-has-purpose (Kathy Shaw Ministries)

The Testimonies We Don’t Always TellMany are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 NIV We love stories that end in joy. The kind where the waiting is rewarded, the prayer is answered, and the promise is fulfilled. We celebrate the woman who finally had the baby, the man who finally got the job, and the couple who finally got married. And we should. But what about the stories that don’t end that way? What about the woman who never became a mother… and still found purpose? What about the person whose long-awaited “yes” never came, yet they chose to stay faithful? This is a reflection on both. A story about hope fulfilled, and hope surrendered. And how, in both, God is still good. When the Movie Feels Like a Mirror: Watching “Broken Hallelujah”A few weeks ago, I watched a Nigerian film called Broken Hallelujah. I’m a Nollywood girl through and through, so when I saw a new faith film from my favourite actresses, I had to tune in. The story follows a woman who was barren for close to a decade. A faithful woman of God. A woman who loved the church, served alongside her husband in ministry, and built a beautiful life, except for the one thing her heart ached for: a child. Year after year, she believed. Year after year, nothing happened. The movie beautifully portrayed the pain, the broken faith, the marital strain, and the quiet heartbreak of waiting on God for something so good, so deeply longed for. And then, God answered. Not just with one child, but triplets. The ending was powerful. It was what we often call a “happy ending.” And it was deeply moving. But what happened the next day in class is what truly shifted something in me. When the Prophecies Don’t Come TrueIn my Christian counselling class, my lecturer shared her personal testimony. Her story echoed the movie, but with a very different ending. She, too, was barren for many years. She had received countless prophetic words about motherhood. One in particular stood out: a word that she would conceive a baby girl before the year ended. So she planned. She believed. She took pregnancy tests month after month. But by the end of the year… nothing. And to make matters worse, she had gone up for prayer with three other women. All of them fell pregnant shortly after. Except her. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 NIV Her hope became heavy. She grew bitter. Angry. She stopped going to church, stopped praying, and stopped serving. And yet, God was still pursuing her. The Divine Question That Demands a ResponseAs she processed the disappointment with the Lord, something unexpected happened. God asked her a question: “Would you be willing to surrender this one thing you desire most, so you can become who I’ve truly called you to be?” She couldn’t answer immediately. Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24 NIV To let go of something so precious—something so longed for—is no small ask. But eventually… she said yes, just like the disciples. She let go—not of the desire completely—but of the expectation. She placed it on the altar. Not as a bargaining chip, but as a sacrifice of trust. And in that surrender, God revealed her real assignment. Called to Mother NationsGod had called her not just to mother one child, but to mother many. Through her work as a Christian counsellor, she began healing marriages, guiding women, leading hurting people to Jesus, and helping the broken find freedom. “Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child… because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord. Isaiah 54:1 NIV She is now a spiritual mother to many. Her “yes” to God’s will bore fruit far beyond anything she could have imagined. Her story reminded me that we serve a God who gives purpose, even when He doesn’t give us what we asked for. Two Stories. One God. No Less Faithful.So here I was, reflecting on these two stories One ends with triplets. One ends with a purpose beyond expectation. And both are valid. Both are beautiful. Both are testimonies of a God who writes different endings for different people, but is never less faithful in any of them. Do I Love God More Than the Thing I’m Praying For? This reflection confronted me. How many times have I measured God’s goodness based on what I received from Him? How often do I come to Him with a prayer list, but not with the humility to ask: “Lord, what do You want for my life?” Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NIV We love this verse. But “delight” doesn’t mean manipulating God into saying yes. It means coming so close to Him that His desires become our own. That’s a harder kind of faith. But it’s the one that sustains. The Testimonies We Need to Hear More OfI love the stories of “God did it!” But we also need to hear: “God didn’t do it the way I thought, but I trust Him anyway.” These are the testimonies that anchor people. That disciple heart. That reminds us faith is not about outcomes, it’s about obedience. Even if He does not… Daniel 3:18 NIV This kind of faith isn’t built on the fire being quenched. It’s built on the God who walks with us in it. What If His “No” Is an Invitation Into Something Greater?We must ask ourselves: Are we surrendered enough to live out God’s story, even if it doesn’t look like our dream? Because sometimes, the greatest act of faith isn’t waiting for the door to open. It’s choosing to be content with where He’s placed you now. Watch the Film + Reflect For Yourself 🎥 Watch Broken Hallelujah here: [https://youtu.be/modAD9y-9Tw?si=-VrcWl21_n78risE] 📖 Reflect on these questions: What is one desire I’ve been struggling to surrender to God? Have I asked Him what His desire is for my life? Am I willing to follow, even if the path looks different from what I hoped? Whether God gives us what we’re waiting for or calls us into something different, He is still good. Still faithful. Still enough. Let’s build a faith that loves Him more than the things we’re asking Him for. A faith that says, “Even if not… You are still worthy.”

Posted at 08:33h in Christian Blog, Christian Book Reviews, Christian Devotional Book Reviews, Christian Living, Christian Non-Fiction Book Reviews by Lea Peters 0 Comments Jentezen Franklin’s book, Fasting: Opening the Door to a Deeper, More Intimate, More Powerful Relationship with God, explores fasting and its transformative effects on a believer’s life. Grounded in Biblical principles, Franklin emphasizes that fasting goes beyond mere food abstinence; it is a deliberate act of devotion intended to deepen one’s relationship with God. My insights from “Fasting”The book’s central theme is the Biblical basis for fasting. It discusses the different types of fasts found in Scripture—absolute, normal, and partial—and offers guidance on choosing the right fast according to personal circumstances and spiritual objectives. The link between fasting and prayer is thoroughly explored. The book highlights that fasting alongside prayer enhances our spiritual sensitivity and aligns our hearts with God’s intentions. Franklin emphasizes the importance of managing our Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Expectations. Fasting has both challenges and rewards, including physical hunger, mental clarity, and spiritual breakthroughs. Finally, advice on implementing fasting in daily life is explored for Practical Application. Readers are encouraged to approach fasting with a spirit of humility and dedication. Fasting by Jentezen Franklin What I took away from “Fasting”1. Fasting is a personal discipline that fosters a partnership with God. 2. There are various types of fasts. I need to discern what God is calling me to. 3. Fasting serves to control the flesh. Jesus fasted, so I should too. 4. I need to blend faith and patience into my experience when I fast. Results aren’t always immediate. 5. The question I must ask myself during the fast is, what is God’s goal for the fast? Not what my goal is for the fast. 6. A lack of repentance and unforgiveness will invalidate any fast. I need to approach a time of fasting with self-awareness. Who should read “Fasting”?I highly recommend Fasting by Jentezen Franklin to all believers, regardless of their current stage on the spiritual journey. Whether you’re new to fasting or have fasted before but wish to deepen your understanding, this book offers Biblical insight and practical guidance that can transform your spiritual life. Many Christians today overlook fasting, treating it as optional or outdated—but Franklin reawakens its significance as a powerful, God-ordained discipline. Through this book, readers will better appreciate how fasting can unlock a more intimate, focused relationship with God. Franklin explains the “how” and the “why” of fasting, helping believers grasp its spiritual impact—from breakthroughs in prayer to increased spiritual clarity to a renewed hunger for God’s presence. This book holds significant value for individuals seeking guidance, longing for renewal, or experiencing spiritual dryness. It’s also perfectly suited for church leaders and small group discussions, offering clear instruction and motivation to reinstate this frequently overlooked practice in our spiritual journeys. Ultimately, Fasting empowers and motivates believers to seek God with greater intensity, sacrificing physical desires to attain everlasting rewards.

Serving is not just a duty—it’s an act of worship. Whether it’s helping a neighbor, volunteering at church, or simply offering a kind word, our service reflects the heart of Christ. Joyful service flows from gratitude. When we remember all that God has done for us, we can’t help but pour His love into others. Even the smallest acts—like a smile, a meal shared, or a hand extended—can be seeds God uses for His glory. Reflection Question: Who can you bless this week through a simple act of service?

Life’s storms come in many forms—financial struggles, broken relationships, or uncertain futures. Jesus never promised us a life free from challenges, but He promised His presence through them all. His peace is not the absence of trouble—it’s the presence of God in the middle of it. When the waves feel too high, remember Peter walking on water. As long as his eyes were on Jesus, he stayed above the waves. The same is true for us—when we fix our eyes on Christ, His peace steadies us. Prayer: Lord, help me to trust You when life feels overwhelming. Teach me to rest in the peace only You can give. Amen.

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys (Song of Solomon 2:1). The Rose of Sharon is a flower that grows on mountaintops, and that’s why the Lord referred to Himself as The Rose of Sharon. His mountaintop was Golgotha, and the Lord let me know that people can only find this Rose on Mount Calvary. Roses are noted for their fragrances, and the fragrance from this great Rose travels down from the mount of God and into the valley for us. When the Lord gave me this message, He told me that this Rose was trampled to the ground and crushed into pieces. People did everything they could to destroy it, but instead it rose up to bloom forever. It was such an unusual Rose, and there’d never been one like it outside of Eden. Now, it’s our Rose, the Rose of all roses. A Rose from HeavenThat Rose first appeared in the valley of human needs, a valley full of darkness with no light. But suddenly there was light from a most unusual Star, one with endless, heavenly manifestations. Oh, how the Rose budded and bloomed that night; the manifestations of the Star must have been tremendous. The shepherds saw the Star and were the first ones to receive the good news that the Rose had arrived from the Garden of God. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:8-11). When salvation was born, the Rose was in the manger in the form of a little baby. The Rose of deliverance had come with divine blood. Then the Bible tells us, And the common people heard him gladly (Mark 12:37). The same is true today. Many common people will accept Jesus while others reject Him. The shepherds saw Him as just a bud in the manger; but they had never seen a rosebud of love and grace like that before or smelled the fragrance of Eden. The wise men also saw that Star, but it took them two years to follow it to Bethlehem because they were so far away. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him (Matthew 2:1,2). The Rose Brought FreedomLater, that same Rose was crushed on Golgotha, but it brought the very fragrance of Heaven to a lost world. All sins could now be forgiven, and all people could be healed and set free; they could receive happiness, peace, joy, and they could walk without condemnation. The fragrance from the Rose could make men and women into new creatures made in the image of God. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17). All people could have divine faith and live through the life that is in the Rose of Sharon. Herod tried to destroy that Rosebud, but he couldn’t do it. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men (Matthew 2:16). Later, when the Rose was in bloom, Jesus said that no man could destroy Him. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father (John 10:17,18). The Rose Had All of God’s LoveThe Rose brought the whole heart of God as well as all of His love and peace. It had all the divine blood needed to save the world, defeat Lucifer’s kingdom and destroy all sicknesses and diseases. It contained all the joy and happiness God had planned for mankind to enjoy forever. This Rose of Sharon is such a grace-Rose that it took the whole heart of God to produce it for us. The Lord told me one day that the only time He ever used all of His love was when He made Calvary for us. He said He didn’t use it all when He created the earth, the moon, the sun and the stars or even when He made Eden and the first man and woman. He let me know that He had never used all of His love until He sent Jesus. The Lord has since let me know that if people won’t accept His Calvary love, He has no more to give. If His love-Rose won’t save them, there’s no hope for them. If they’re not drawn to that fragrance of divine love, divine grace, divine gentleness and divine kindness that only comes from the divine heart of God, then they can’t be saved. We’re told, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). The Rose could change the whole world if people would accept Him. No other rose can do this; it’s the only One of its kind with the fragrance to save a lost world. The Rose Was AbusedImagine how the Lord must have missed His Son, the Rose of Sharon, when He came to Earth. That Rose, Jesus, had been at the right hand of His throne for over a trillion years, and now the Rose was missing. He gave that Rose with all of His heart to sinful men and women, but they took it and mistreated it. Who would want to mistreat and crush such a beautiful Rose? Only an evil mind could destroy such life and beauty. Audacious men marred the beauty of His countenance so badly that one of the great prophets said, He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not (Isaiah 53:2,3). A Rose of SacrificeJesus, the beautiful Rose from God’s very heart, was sent all the way from God’s garden in Heaven. What a love sacrifice! For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). A red rose always makes me think about how wonderful the divine blood is. The Lord said, He will beautify the meek with salvation (Psalm 149:4), and He does it through the blood. It’s the greatest beauty treatment that anyone could receive, the beauty of His holiness which comes through the beautiful Rose of Sharon. Man had originally had that image, but he lost it when he sinned. It was the will of God for man and woman to have always been God’s roses. He made them in perfection, and they were just as beautiful as the Jesus-Rose. They were children of God; and the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost would come down in the cool of the day to walk and talk with them. The Rose VoiceThe Rose had a wonderful voice like no other. Nicodemus saith unto him [Jesus], How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again (John 3:4-7). Nicodemus was a great teacher, but he didn’t understand how he could enter again into his mother’s womb. You don’t have to enter your mother’s womb, Nicodemus; the Rose has brought divine blood, divine love and divine power. The Rose spoke with such a beautiful voice, and still today there’s no other voice like it. It’s more beautiful than all the voices of the angels. Listen to it say, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). Don’t be afraid, little Lamb! I am the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep. 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 (Psalm 23:1,2). I’ll take you to graze in green pastures where there’s no lack of happiness and love. Follow thou me (John 21:22). When we have Jesus and we’re yielded to all of His will, we have the Rose voice that is always recognized by God the Father on the throne. Our voices become the same as that of His Only Begotten who said, I knew that thou hearest me always (John 11:42). The Rose brought great confidence and assurance. Man and woman were in the darkness of night. They had gone to the tree of death and destroyed the plan of God. The angel of judgment and discipline then guarded the gate into Eden, and they couldn’t get back in. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life (Genesis 3:24). The Scriptures never tell us whether or not they ever got back in. Others who failed God are mentioned, but not Adam and Eve. They may have kept their arrogant spirit toward God or even taken on Satan’s hate for God, and the Lord’s voice could never get into them. A Grace-RoseAt one time, God was going to destroy all the inhabitants of the earth; but He heard the voice of one man. Noah received the revelation of the Rose, the Savior; and he found grace. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:7,8). God’s grace kept Noah for one hundred and twenty years, but later his family lost this grace. What a tragedy that was after God had wiped out all sin through such mighty love and grace! No matter what God does, many people still don’t want grace because it won’t mix with sin and disobedience. You have to walk, talk and be like Jesus for His grace to be sufficient for you. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (II Corinthians 12:9). Unless you carry the Rose of Sharon, His grace is not sufficient for you. You’re on your own, and you have no one to blame but yourself. You can’t blame the devil because the devil can’t keep anyone away from this Rose. It’s available to everyone; and it’s always surrounded by, Whosoever will, let him come and drink of the water of life. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14). A Rose of Great PriceHeaven paid a great price to make it possible for us to have the Rose of Sharon, and He longs to save every one of us. You should caress that Rose to your bosom, but you can only do that by being ready to do the will of the Father from the time you wake up each morning until the time you go to sleep. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7). God came down on the mountain for the Israelites, but they couldn’t have the Rose of Sharon. Heaven would first have to pay a great price for us to have that Rose. When God’s feet touched Sinai, it trembled; the thunder roared and the lightning flashed, and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake (Hebrews 12:21). The voice of God sounded out in great love, but the Israelites didn’t hear it through love. You have to have the Rose to hear God’s voice through love and to listen to all that God tells you. Would man and woman ever again sense the fragrance of the Rose outside of Eden? Would there always be death outside of Eden? Would there always be judgment between man and his God? Only the Rose could bridge the gulf between God and man. God said, Come now, and let us reason together (Isaiah 1:18). At last the Rose is available outside of Eden, and the door into God is open; but you have to accept the Rose. It’s your passport, and you can’t get into Heaven without it. You’ll find its beauty to be so rare and its heavenly fragrance to be so unusual that you’ll remember the moment you found it as the greatest one of your entire life. You knew you could keep this Rose of Heaven for the rest of your life. Abraham had learned about the Rose, and he believed it. He went in search of that city where the Rose would be blooming forever, where it would no longer be marred but only scarred. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). Abraham found that city, and we’re on our way to find it, too. Follow the RoseMoses prophesied that the Rose would come. He said, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear (Acts 7:37). You must hear the Rose! All the prophets, major and minor, also prophesied of the Rose of Sharon—Jesus. They knew about Him through the Holy Ghost. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (II Peter 1:21). But no one told the story of the Rose like Isaiah the prophet when he said, His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). All the power, strength, wisdom and knowledge of Heaven that we need are made available to us; and that includes good health. The love handkerchief belongs to the Rose of Sharon, and with it He will dry our tears and comfort our hearts. The Holy Spirit wants to live and dwell in us, but we must first have the Rose blooming in our souls. The Holy Ghost will not come in until the Rose has been accepted in its greatness as the heart of God, the power of God and the divine blood of Jesus. The Rose arrived saying, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6). Follow the Rose and see it in all its many manifestations. Of all the billions of stars in the sky, there’s not another star like it; and its manifestations never end. I watch it move while people are being healed, and I see their diseases depart. It’s all done through the miracle Rose; and I know it will happen because I have perfect, divine faith, the same faith that brought me back from death and made me whole. At one time, my soul was alive with Jesus; but my body was at the edge of the grave. I didn’t think I’d ever be well; but the Rose that brought the miracle for my soul, the One I loved better than life, came one night and made me whole all over. The Rose vs. the DevilJohn the Baptist saw the Holy Ghost descending upon the beautiful Rose. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:16,17). Jesus is our example; and with that great baptism of power, the Spirit led the Rose into the wilderness. 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 hungered (Matthew 4:1,2). The Rose was now in the wilderness among the thorns and thistles and at the mercy of dangerous animals, but the worst foe of all was also there—the devil. Jesus fasted forty days; and then with the great fragrance of Heaven, He faced the devil. Jesus knew him when he was the most beautiful angel in Heaven, but He also knew him as the ugliest and most vile enemy of God. He met the devil head-on outside of Eden; but as the Rose with no weakness, sin or guile, He is the one who can never be conquered. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth (I Peter 2:22). He is the Rose of all roses, and He’s yours! Recognize the RoseThe disciples had the Rose, but only at times did they recognize Him to be the great Rose of power that He claimed to be. Remember that Simon Peter walked the waters. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus (Matthew 14:28,29). We don’t know how far Peter walked, but it was a miracle that he walked at all. Peter was the disciple who pulled a fish out of the sea when the Lord prophesied that it would have money in its mouth. Go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee (Matthew 17:27). Everything the Lord told the disciples came to pass, and yet they allowed the voice of the Rose to grow dim. You have to be careful with that voice in this hour; it will grow faint if you yield to the flesh at all. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would (Galatians 5:16,17). No Life without the RoseIt’s wonderful to do the will of God! But Simon Peter missed it when he denied Christ, and Adam and Eve missed it when they chose the devil’s way. God doesn’t look into a person’s future when He calls them. He told me that when He created Adam and Eve, He didn’t know they were going to sin. He said He didn’t look into their future because He wanted man and woman to trust Him; therefore He had to trust them. The Lord doesn’t look into the future of a person when they come to Him wanting salvation. He gloriously saves them and puts His faith and trust in them, and He gives them His whole heart as He hands them His Rose of life. These are days of persecution for those who are sincere in the Lord. More people hate that Rose than ever before, and they seek to destroy it. But when they do, there will be no life at all left for them. How sad that they’ll let the devil deceive them into fighting against the true God and into accepting and worshipping false gods. Many bow to their golden calves of money while others cling to their personal “Benjamins” without realizing that they won’t receive all God’s blessings for them. Jacob thought he would just die if something happened to his son Benjamin. And he [Jacob] said, My son [Benjamin] shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave (Genesis 42:38). Jacob finally realized that he couldn’t get any more food for his family unless he gave up Benjamin; and when he did, he found life and love like he had never known before. And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die (Genesis 45:25-28). A Beautiful Type of the RoseJacob found a savior in his own son Joseph whom he thought had been killed. He had never loved anybody like he loved Joseph, and I can understand why; Joseph was more like Jesus than anyone else in the Old Testament. He was sold as a slave, falsely accused and put into prison; but he carried no bitterness. It seemed that he was forgotten by both man and God, but he never gave up. Nothing mattered to him except that God was his God. Devilish people tried to destroy that Joseph-rose, but it bloomed all over Egypt. During the great famine, Joseph’s brethren came to buy corn; but they didn’t recognize the rose or its fragrance. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him (Genesis 42:5-8). Joseph’s brothers had been so jealous of him that they sold him into slavery and thought they’d never see that rose again. But their paths crossed later, and they couldn’t believe what a fragrance of forgiveness was on that rose as they heard him say, God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance (Genesis 45:7). All that they had done to him faded away when they saw the beautiful Spirit of the Rose in him. The Rose of Eternal LifeIn Old Testament days, God could do very little with the man and woman He had created. He brought the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night (Exodus 13:21). But those things meant nothing to them, and they never even missed the cloud when it left them. Man’s odor outside of Eden was so repulsive to God that He couldn’t stand it, and He turned away. But through His great love, He reached out and tried to help man once again by sending us His Rose of Sharon. Now, all you have to do is reach out and accept the Rose, and He can be yours forever. You’ll have the passport to take you through the gate of Glory when you have the Rose, and you’ll be perfumed and ready with the same Godly fragrance that Adam and Eve had. You have no life without the Rose, no will of God and no road to Heaven because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:14). The strait gate is here on Earth, but you can’t go through it without the Rose. You have to leave all your sins behind and meet the Rose, the Bread of Life. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world (John 6:51). Work for the RoseWhen you have the Rose of Sharon, child of God, you’ll be kind and tender as you walk in His shoes. You’ll have your hand in His and do His work, and you’ll always keep the vision of the Cross. When the disciples had the Rose with them, He stilled their storms of life. When they thought their little boat was going down, they cried, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm (Mark 4:38,39). The devil wants to make us think that God doesn’t care, but the Rose is always there. Take time to inhale that fragrance, and it will give you strength to believe. It will enable you to put divine faith and love into action, and it will help you open your heart’s door to God’s will one hundred percent. The prophet Isaiah didn’t want to go to the house of Israel; but when an angel took a coal of fire from the altar of Heaven and placed it to his lips, he had the message of the Rose. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me (Isaiah 6:6-8). Suddenly, it didn’t matter how rebellious the house of Israel was; Isaiah said, Here am I; send me. I’ll tell them how great you are and how much you love them. David’s RoseDavid was just a young boy when he found the Rose, but with it he was able to kill both a bear and a lion. Then follow him on his way to the battleground. I’m sure he was anxious to see the battle thinking, Who could possibly defeat King Saul and the armies of God? However, he was shocked to find an army of scared soldiers all running from the front line. Carrying only his slingshot, he hurried to see what they were running from; and he saw the biggest man he had ever seen shouting, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid (I Samuel 17:10,11). A Rose of CourageBut David had seen God move through faith and love; and he had the Rose of power, greatness and vision. He said, Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God (I Samuel 17:26)? The power from the Rose made David feel like a man, and he declared, “I will go fight this Philistine!” And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle (I Samuel 17:28). I can just hear him saying, Oh, you little runt; you really think you’re something! You know you’re too young to fight. If you were older, you wouldn’t be bragging with your devilish ego! But it wasn’t ego; it was God’s “go-ye,” and there’s a drastic difference between the two. In the meantime, somebody ran to tell Saul what David had said; and Saul sent for him at once. Saul was anxious for somebody to be willing to fight because he was in a backslidden condition, full of condemnation, paralyzed with fear, and he didn’t want to die. And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine…Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee (I Samuel 17:32,34-37). David stood there with just his sling declaring, God will deliver him into my hands! A Rose of VictoryAnd he [David] took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine (I Samuel 17:40). David had found the brook of life, and he knew exactly what kind and how many stones to pick up—J-E-S-U-S. David had the Rose, and that’s all he needed. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him (I Samuel 17:49,50). David was able to kill Goliath because he had the blood-Rose of Sharon. We can have victory, too, when we have the Rose. With Him we have unspeakable joy and nothing to fear. Our garments are perfumed with the Rose of Sharon; and the devil knows that he’s no match for the Rose. Jesus is our victory! A Rose of Healing and LifeGod the Father promised that one day the Rose would come with life from Heaven and that it would bloom outside of Eden. Never had men seen such sights as the Rose produced; the disciples were totally amazed at all He said and did as the Rose went forth to the shores of Galilee and the streets of Jerusalem healing the people. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people (Matthew 4:23). The Rose faced the blind, and they cried, “I can see!” And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way (Mark 10:51,52). The Rose stood before Lazarus’ sepulcher, and His fragrance raised him up from death. He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go (John 11:43,44). The Rose told Lazarus’ sister, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God (John 11:40)? The voice of the Rose is going forth today, too, saying, Only believe and you’ll see the glory. There is no death that that fragrance can’t wake up. If you have the Rose in your soul, your body will awake one day even if it’s already in the grave. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (I Thessalonians 4:16,17). Hear the voice of the Rose of Sharon saying, When you see all these things coming to pass, you’ll know my return is nigh, even at the door. A Delivering RoseHow much time do you take with the Rose? You never had to feed it or cultivate it; it was just there blooming for you. And it wasn’t just a bud; it was in full bloom. You may not have thought you were worthy of the Rose, but you fell on your face and cried out to God. You knew only God could make a Rose like that, and His fragrance covered you up when He came into your life. Then, to your surprise, you became a new creation; and the old you was completely dead. You were in a brand-new world with no stench of sin and degradation. You could see the beauty of God and the beautiful works of the Rose of Sharon all around you. Heaven became a real place with a real Jesus, a real God, a real Holy Spirit and loved ones waiting. Power and goodness are in the Rose of Sharon, and Jesus tells us to hold fast to them. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good (I Thessalonians 5:21). There are no thorns on this Rose; but at one time, cruel men crowned it with thorns trying to disgrace it and show how much they despised it. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head (Mark 15:17). The Rose was so marred that many people couldn’t even recognize Him. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). With the blood stripes of the Rose of Sharon, we have physical healing. There’s no disease that He can’t cure and no devils that He can’t cast out. When people fail and sin against the Rose today, they place another thorn in the crown. The Rose that was precious and beautiful in the eyes of the Father was so crushed and hurt that He cried, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me (Matthew 27:46)? That crushed voice almost took the heart of God right out of His bosom. He had to turn His back on His beautiful Rose, the love of His heart, or He would have come down and destroyed mankind. That was the nearest thing to death that God could ever experience, and He did it so we could have His Rose. He let us know that its fragrance is in the valleys; and the Rose will be your strength if you take time to inhale it, and it will be your bread if you take time to digest it. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). Be Faithful to the RoseTake another look at the Rose being crushed to the ground. The apostles had all left Him but John, who was there risking his life because of his love for the Rose of Sharon. He loved Jesus so much that he was the one who was leaning on His breast at the Last Supper and the one who also loved Jesus’ mother. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home (John 19:25-27). What marvelous books John wrote! When you feel unloved or think that the Rose of Sharon doesn’t really care for you as much as He does for someone else, read the Gospel of John. You’ll find all the love you need to take you from here to the gates of Glory. Jesus had a heart full of love for John, and John had the same heart of love for the Rose of Sharon. No matter what anybody said about Him, John was faithful to Jesus. Unlike John, Thomas let go of his faith. While Jesus’ body was cold in the grave, Thomas was at home pouting; and he wasn’t with the disciples for the first appearance of Jesus. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God (John 20:24-28). Mary Magdalene kept her faith and was at the Cross when Christ was crucified. She had been a degraded woman of the streets until she found the Rose of Sharon, and it changed her life completely. At one time, she had used her body and cheap perfumes to entice men; but when she found the fragrance of the Rose, it drove degraded men away. Just as John and Mary did, you’re going to have to stay at the foot of Calvary if you want to keep the Rose of Sharon. You can’t keep His love or have victory unless you live at Calvary. Then Calvary will take you to the Upper Room where you can be filled with the precious Holy Ghost. The Rose of PowerThe Rose of Sharon still speaks today. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matthew 28:18-20). He also says, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (John 14:12). The Father gives all power to the Rose, and the Rose gives it to us. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues… they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:17,18). In the name of Jesus, He said devils will be cast out; and as I use that name, people are delivered and set free. Gather this Rose to your heart today and love it like never before. If you haven’t given everything into the hands of the Rose of Sharon, do it now. There are no hands like those of the Rose of Sharon and no other foundation on which to build. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ [the Rose of Sharon] (I Corinthians 3:11). When you have the Rose, you will have divine love, faith, hope, gentleness and goodness. You will also have divine patience and divine self-control as you hold on to God’s unchanging hands because there’s power in the Rose of Sharon. Use that name, and you’ll trample devils underfoot. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19). Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). The Great Hope-RoseWith this Rose, we have hope when our loved ones die in the Lord. The Holy Ghost told us through Paul, But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope (I Thessalonians 4:13). Of course we’ll weep, but we’ll also have hope because we have the Rose and the great hope of God. The great hope-Rose makes us the righteousness of God with no more sin! The voice of the great hope-Rose said, For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14). Your spirit will match that of the angels in holiness and righteousness. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1). You will have no further condemnation when you have the Rose of Sharon; but without it, you have no Eden, and without Eden you have no Tree of Life. You won’t find the Tree of Life in the world; you’ll only find it in God’s Eden. Jesus, the Rose, made the gate in the form of a Cross back into Eden where the fragrance of God always lingers, where the strength of God abounds and where good health can be yours. In God’s Eden, you’ll hear the voice of the Rose of Sharon saying, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). A Resurrected RoseThe devil doesn’t want anyone to find this Rose, and he’s determined to destroy it. That’s why he caused audacious men to rise up, crown it with thorns and stomp it to the ground. It was in such a mangled condition when it was taken down from the Cross that they thought they had succeeded in destroying it. He was God’s Rose, and He’s our Rose today. Oh, what a dark time it was for the disciples! Jesus had told them, I am the light of the world (John 8:12), but the light had been put out. The disciples didn’t know it would bloom again and shine brighter than ever. They didn’t know what the morning would bring. The crushed Rose was placed in the sepulcher and sealed with a great stone. Roman soldiers stood guard to insure that no one took the mangled Rose away, but it took just one angel to roll away the stone. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men (Matthew 28:2-4). God’s angel must have rolled that stone far away because no one has ever been able to find it. Then, out walked our Rose of Sharon in full bloom. He walked out as the conqueror of death, hell and the grave; and He had love for all mankind. Look around and see the glory of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost! It’s almost Rapture time; and the Father will soon say, Son, Heaven’s ready for you to bring the Bride home. The Rose WonWe must work for the Lord and bring in every last one we can before the Rapture. We must be able to cry as Paul did, For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand (II Timothy 4:6). Paul had gone through so much to hold on to the Rose of Sharon. Even his friend and co-worker Demas had forsaken him, and it hurt Paul very much. He told Timothy, Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world (II Timothy 4:10). It’s sad when people go astray and fail God, but I cry it out and then move in closer to the precious Rose. It gives me such comfort through the Holy Ghost as the Lord points me to Paul and all he went through. But Paul won with the Rose of Heaven; that fragrance gave him everything he needed, and that same fragrance is as strong as ever today. That Rose was the Rose of God, but the Lord let me know that it had to be crushed so He could come forth in all the glory of the Father that He deserved. What a day of rejoicing it was for the Holy Spirit when the shout went up that the Rose of Sharon had arrived in Heaven with the divine blood. I’m sure every angel gathered to line the way from the entrance gate to the throne of God. What a shout of victory went up as He stood before the throne of God and said, Father, here is the divine blood shed for a sin-cursed world. Now every man, woman, boy and girl can please you. They can have your divine love and faith because I have made it all possible as the willing sacrifice. Mount Calvary brought victory! There was nothing like the crushed sacrificial offering of the Rose of Sharon—so innocent and so beautiful in every way. The Glory of the RoseAnd now we’re in the glory cloud, saith the Lord. God lets me see the glory in so many different colors, and He said that we only have to believe. Through much fasting, praying, crying and sacrificing, I found His glory to believe to see before it happened just as the Psalmist said. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13). God tells me so much about what will happen through the voice of the Rose of Sharon, through miracle power and through the glory. He lifts me up and sends His Holy Spirit to teach me night and day. He takes my mind and uses it as His very own; He takes my eyes, and I see as He sees. I’m able to see diseases inside of people and go into their minds and know what they’re thinking. I can see the glory that will defeat all demonic spirits if people want them destroyed. The deceit of Lucifer is deadly, but the power of the Rose of Sharon destroys it all if people will just yield to the Rose. The Lord really wants His children to be fed in this hour. We must have the revelation of this hour or we’ll never bring in all the harvest. We’re limited on time, and the world is being destroyed; and the Lord said it’s going to get worse. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors (Matthew 24:32,33). That wonderful Rose is in full bloom today, and He’s at the door. No one can destroy it or mar its beauty again. He is the Rose of Sharon from Heaven and the divine fragrance in all of our valleys. Behold the glory of the Lord as He makes plain paths for your feet and heals your body. He promised to never leave you. For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5). Come to the RoseOh, Sinner and Backslider, you don’t have that fragrance. It’s getting dark, and the night cometh; and the Lord is doing everything He can to bring you home before dark. If you haven’t been treating the Rose of Sharon right and have been putting self first, answer the call today and bow low before Him. Even if you haven’t backslidden on God but have failed Him in any way, meet with Him today. He sent this love message to you, so pray this prayer with me: Oh, God, save my soul. I’m so sorry I failed you, but I’ve come home. I’m going to serve you, Lord, the rest of my life. And I believe that the divine blood of Jesus washes away all of my sins. Come into my heart, Jesus! If you meant that prayer, the Rose has come. The Healing RoseNow you can be healed of anything through our divine Rose. Hearts and lungs are coming to normal, and the Lord is re-creating parts of people’s bodies. It’s all done through the presence of the Rose, and He is moving with His miracle power; ask what you will. Lord, I call healing down upon the people today. Nothing is too hard for you, and I know you will bring deliverance for every affliction and disease. Heal them, Lord; get them well through the wonderful, powerful blood of the Rose! Expect to get well and praise God for every sign of improvement. Thank God for our glorious Rose of Sharon!for every sign of improvement. Thank God for our glorious Rose of Sharon!

By Kathy Shaw Kathy Shaw is a pastor’s wife in Denver, Colorado. She spends her time blogging, writing, and teaching Bible studies, running a Facebook group called “Jesus the Wounded Healer,” reaching out to multicultural groups through outreach, and has served the Colorado District as the Ladies Ministry Secretary the last six years. Her greatest passion is to spiritually help the wounded and those who have come from dysfunctional homes. She writes and teaches with a burden to help them become healed emotionally and grow in the Scriptures and their relationship with God, through which they can find their freedom. You can visit her website at kathyshaw.net _____________________________ When people get saved and become born again they tend to think that God and going to church will fix all of their problems. This is not the case because they are spirit, soul, and body. Each part requires not only for God to help and change them, but for them to help and make changes themselves. The spirit becomes new and is made spiritually alive at the born-again experience. It desires God and His Word, and it longs to pray, worship, and obey His commands. The spirit longs for supernatural and divine power above human ability and strength. It reaches deep to know God. However, the soul, which is the mind, intellect, and emotion, is not made new. It is filled with past sins and traumas. It has formed strongholds of thought and unhealthy ways of attachment even from early childhood that may be ungodly and detrimental to the spiritual nature. It wars against the spirit and fights to surrender to the things of God daily. Though God and the church community help us, we must renew and reprogram our soul and mind daily so that godly transformation can happen and our problems can be fixed. This takes work and discipline on our part! Ways to work through soul problems: Repent of your past sins and stop making provision for those sins. Bring thoughts to the obedience of the Word by memorizing, applying, and acting on scripture in the areas of your sin battles. Pray the Word daily and declare His truth in prayer time to renew and set the focus of your mind from the carnal (doubt) to the spiritual (faith). Take time to restore your mind (soul) by reading and absorbing the Word every day in devotion time. Refresh your mind (soul) by listening audibly to the Word being preached and taught. Write out scripture daily as the Lord imparts to you. Refuse to watch or listen to things that discourage you, go against godly living, or cause your mind to worry or fall back to past despairs. Watch and listen to things that uplift and inspire. The body is not made new at our born-again experience. The body has to be presented to the Lord as holy as it is the temple for God to dwell. We have to participate with the Spirit and treat our body as holy. We have to do the work of keeping contamination out with substances that would abuse it. We have to do the work of keeping our bodies sexually pure. We have to do the work of keeping the body healthy, fit, refreshed, and rested. Yes my friend, God and going to church will NOT fix all of our problems. God will do His part but we have to do our part at the same time. If God says that He will heal us emotionally, and we are not doing our part to renew, restore, and refresh our mind (soul), and not tending to our body with health, exercise, purity, refreshing, and rest, then we will not be healed. It takes effort in all three areas of body, soul, and spirit to be victorious.

Gossip is one of the most destructive of all human sins. What does God think about it? What biblical principles can we apply to stop gossip in its tracks? A Definition of Gossip Let’s first take a look at a secular definition from the dictionary about what gossip is. The definition of gossip includes: Rumor or talk of an intimate nature that is personal and sensational. Something spoken by a person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or facts [1]. The words that stand out to me are “personal”, “sensational”, “rumors” and “spreads.” These are spoken by others about someone that can involve rumors or facts, but either way they are private…or at least should be. A conversation that involves talking about another person when they are not present can include malicious, damaging, rumors or facts. These tidbits can either be true or false. Either way, they are damaging to the person who is not present to hear them. Like a wildfire, gossip can spread rapidly and cover a great many people in a short amount of time. I live in a small town and it is a frequent occurrence to hear gossip about others. Sadly, there is no way to confirm whether these rumors are true or not. Even if it is true, it’s an invasion of privacy and generally tends to assassinate a person’s character. It degrades the person being spoken about. Gossip devalues them, embarrasses them, and can humiliate them if the gossip gets back to them. What the Bible Says About Gossip “a whisperer separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28) Proverbs 16:28 A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. Proverbs 26:20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. Proverbs 11:13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. Proverbs 26:22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 20:19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. Proverbs 17:4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. Exodus 23:1 You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. 2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger [3], hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 1 Timothy 5:13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. Leviticus 19:16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord. Romans 1:29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips. Proverbs 10:18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. Tips on How to Stop Gossip Walk Away From Gossip Those who listen to gossip are just as guilty as those who are spreading it, for if there is no audience, there will be no one to tell or as the Bible says, “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases” (Proerbsv 26:20). If everyone who began to hear gossip walked away, then the fire would go out. If there is no one to listen, then there will be no one to tell the tale. God commands us to not even be “around as a slanderer” (Leviticus 19:16) nor join in with them (Exodus 23:1). If you are at a job or situation where you can’t walk away, you can refuse to listen or try to change the subject. Refuse to Listen If you refuse to listen to gossip, you’ll be less tempted to pass it on. Even if it’s too late and you’ve already heard it, keep it to yourself, because the Bible says, “but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered” (Proverbs 11:13). If you are a friend of this person or not, please remember that “a whisperer separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28) and “sows discord” (Prov 6:19). Distance Yourself from the Gossiper I know this sounds a little harsh, but if you’ve refused to listen and had to walk away, and they still insist on telling you things that are none of their business, just choose to “not associate with a simple babbler” (Proverbs 20:19). You can’t choose your enemies, but you can choose your friends [4] or at least those who you associate with. Rebuke the Gossiper Again, this may be hard to do, but to God “a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers” must be told that gossiping is an abomination to Him (Proverbs 6:19). The word abomination simply means that God detests or hates gossip. Maybe they honestly don’t realize that this is wrong, but I seriously doubt that. Take the Gossiper to the Gossip Victim This is one of the most powerful means of all to stop gossip in its tracks. I have put it last but it is perhaps the greatest tool to stop gossip and cut it off at the source. If you offer to go and talk to the person being gossiped about right away with the gossiper or tell them what you heard from them, the chances are very good that the gossiper will stop sharing their gossip with you altogether. If you can’t go to them then right away, tell the gossiper that you can talk to the person they are gossiping about when you get home, tell them that you could call them on their cell phone, or maybe go over and speak to them about, in person, what you heard. The person that is the gossiper, I promise, will never want to go to that party about their gossip and tell them to their face what they said. This shows that inwardly they really know that what they are doing is wrong. Conclusion Gossip is worse than lying, it: is destructive to the person being talked about, assassinates a person’s character and good name, divides people, distorts the truth, makes people who gossip not trustworthy, exposes what is supposed to be private, and above all, violates God’s laws. God hates gossip because of what it does to all the parties involved. Gossip is sin. We should not stick our nose into anyone else‘s business and not use our mouth to repeat or make itching hears to hear what is none of our business (1 Thessalonians 4:11). There is nothing more destructive that can bring down a home, divide a church, and make enemies of friends. Those who gossip are full of pride because it always wants to make them look better compared to others. No one who is truly humble will talk behind someone else’s back. We know that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, so God will resist you who cannot tame the tongue (James 4:6). Gossiping is actually akin to breaking of the commandment to not bear false witness (Exodus 20:16). In fact, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26). The Proverbs forewarn us that “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble” (Proverbs 21:23). Jesus said that “on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matthew 12:36). We would do well to heed these biblical warnings