Healing of The Nations

 

The Bible was written by men who were given inspiration and guidance from Jesus Christ though the Holy Spirit.

 

Every word that was originally written often has dual meanings. On the surface these words appear to be just casual conversation. However, the deeper meaning is spiritual. God is Spirit and speaks words of awesome significance.

As everyone knows our world is in a big mess. It seems the Evil One has the upper hand, but don't let appearances and circumstances fool you. God is not mocked. ~ Galatians 6:7

The Bible is written in such a fashion we have to connect the dots to get the full understanding of the mind of Christ.

For example, Jesus tells us in John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

On the surface it seems obvious we need to stay connected to the true vine if we want to bear much fruit. However, it does not stop with just the Vine and the branches. Branches have leaves. What do leaves produce?

In Revelation 22:1-3, the Apostle John wrote down what Jesus dictated to him

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.

No matter how hard the Evil One, and his willing accomplices try, they can do nothing to thwart the will of God because they are not connected to the Vine. They can tax us, deprive us of our God-given rights, imprison us, even kill us, but praise the Lord, Jesus Christ has overcome the curse of death. As it is written: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live."  ~ John 11:25

So the next time you see or hear anything about the deeds of evil doers, simply rejoice and give thanks. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 Their end is near. The wicked shall be turned into hell (the grave), And all the nations that forget God. ~ Psalm 9:17 

 

 

You Are Cordially Invited to Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group

 

Renew Your Strength is not a "know-it-all" type ministry. The purpose of Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group is to get people to think about what they believe and why they believe it, not debate who's right or wrong.

Over the years, as Renew Your Strength has continued to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have recognized that some of the things we once held as true, in fact, are not; and therefore we will not “cast in stone” a statement of our beliefs. We reserve the right to be wrong and to repent of such error when we discover it.  

 

To learn the revealed truth of God we must know and understand the true meaning of the words God inspired to be written. Use Strong's Concordance to check the original word before it was translated. Do your own research, make up your own mind, rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you.

The Challenge

 

 

My name is Mike Farris. I make public confession that I am a Christian and I love the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm not a "saved" person telling people they need to "get saved," rather I am a beggar telling other beggars where to find bread.

I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, was crucified on the cross, died for my sins and rose again to give me salvation and eternal life. In addition, He loves me dearly, and forgives me as I confess and repent of my sins.

His word says if you confess Him before men then He'll confess you in before of His Father who is in heaven. ~ Matthew 10:32

Here's the challenge for you. If you love God and love your neighbor as you love yourself, and you are not ashamed to confess that you are a Disciple of Jesus Christ, replace my name with yours and make seeking His Kingdom your priority. (post your confession on all social media) 

~ Matthew 6:33-34

The Lord is exalted over all the nations,

his glory above the heavens.

Who is like Yahweh our God,

the One who sits enthroned on high,

who stoops down to look

on the heavens and the earth? 

— Psalms 113: 4-6

You Are Cordially Invited to Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group... https://mlf1070.blogspot.com/2021/01/renew.html

  

Andy Rooney

 

 

Andy Rooney at his desk in 1978, his first year as a commentator on "60 Minutes."... credit Carlos Rene Perez/Associated Press.

Born: January 14, 1919, Albany, New York, United States

Died: November 4, 2011 (age 92 years), New York

Andy Rooney was one in a million. At the end of '60 Minutes' he usually had his own 10-minute segment that, unbelievably, was never censored by CBS. He's probably the only one who could have gotten away with this. May he rest in peace.

Andy Rooney once said . . .

 
“I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America.

Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens....Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door.

Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game.I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, which is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts!

 

I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion.

I have the right 'NOT' to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off.

When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling; it is the Law of Probability.

I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American citizen, you should have to speak English!

My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours.

I think the police should have every right to shoot you if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word 'freeze' or 'stop' in English, see the above lines.

I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special loan programs, government-sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store, or any other business.

We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document; and open to their interpretations.

I don't hate the rich; I don't pity the poor. I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you from watching them.

It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say 'NO!'

I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!

I am sick of 'Political Correctness.' I know a lot of black people, and not a single one of them was born in Africa; so how can they be 'African-Americans'? Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great,great, great grandfather was from Europe. I am proud to be from America and nowhere else, and if you don't like my point of view, tough...”

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!

Note: If America is such a terrible country, why do millions of people want to come here, and why do the complainers want to stay here? It's career politicians who cause the most problems. Term Limits NOW!

 

Brush Arbor

 

Where did the tradition of brush arbors come from?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My maternal Grandmother was born in 1890 and grew up in the Methodist Church in Texas. I can remember her telling me about brush arbors days at the Methodist Campground.

 

A brush arbor is temporary shelter that consists of a roof constructed out of tree branches or brush that are held up by poles. 

 

Early American Christians held brush arbor meetings until false teachers taught them to abandon the custom and substituted man-made holidays for God's Holy Days.

In the Old Testament brush arbors were called booths

And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.’ ” ~ Leviticus 23:40-43

In the New Testament "booths" can be any temporary shelter, i.e., motel, camper, tent, etc.

The Old Testament or Old Covenant was made with physical Israelites. The New Testament or New Covenant is made with spiritual Israelites... anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is adopted or grafted in to the Commonwealth of Israel. (the family of Israel, NOT the country called Israel. We are saved by GRACE not RACE. Old Testament Israel was for our example. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:1-11  (verse 6)

The name Israel means "overcomer with the Mighty One." New Testament Israelites are to dwell in "booths" for seven days during the Feast of Tabernacles each autumn at God's appointed time to remind us we were brought out of the bondage of sin.

Read About The Feast of Tabernacles

 

You are cordially invited to join Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group 

The Greatest

 

 The Greatest by Mike Farris

 

Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and activist. Self-proclaimed, "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.

I did not agree with Ali's choice of religion, but I admired him as a human being and a man of integrity. Although I served in the Marine Corps, my respect for Ali was only heightened by his refusal to be inducted into the US Army. I loved his remark, "no one in Vietnam ever called me a nigger." I respect a man who takes a stand for what he is willing to fight. It takes great courage to stand up for your beliefs. Ali was certainly no coward.

Speaking of taking a stand, there was a man in the Bible named Job who was the greatest of all the people of the East. After all God put Job through, he never lost his integrity. Read what Job said: "Though He (God) slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him." ~Job 13:15-16

There is another man that I admire and respect more than Ali or Job. His name is Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One. He is the greatest of all time. When asked what was the greatest commandment, he replied: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." ~Matthew 22:37-40

Being the greatest at something means you are willing to give your life for what you believe. Jesus certainly proved that by taking all the sins of the world on himself and volunteering for the death penalty in our place.

As it is written: Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ~ John 15:13

 

By the way, I was born white. I blame my white parents. They didn't know any better than to have a bunch of white kids. I will have to give them credit for teaching my brothers and sisters and me to respect ALL people. My friend and business partner, George Gould, is a black man that I love like a brother... no pun intended. Racism is a tool of the devil. Tell that old deceiver to take a hike... For there is no partiality with God. ~ Romans 2:11

You are cordially invited to join Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group

 

Trust and Obey

 

An Exposition of  “When we walk with the Lord.” 

By Dewey Painter Sr.

When we walk with the Lord,

In the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

Let us do His good will;

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey,

For there's no other way,

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey.

Songs of the faith should inspire us, not just entertain us.  Many of the greatest songs of the faith carry a message that goes beyond just the words of the song.  Can a song be looked at in an expository way?  If it can then great truths can be found in each portion of the song.  For example, one of my most loved songs is “Trust and Obey.”  The prevailing truth of I Kings 17:1-16, Elijah only did two things. 1] He trusted God, not knowing all that God was planning or fear of his safety, and he trusted God to be his shield and portion.  2] He obeyed God in all things, he went to the King, he went to the brook,  and he went to the city of the widow, all that God told him to do, he did, because he trusted and obeyed the Lord.

 

Rather than put forward with my words, let the Word of God give us an expository of the song.

 

When we walk with the Lord:

 

Deuteronomy 5:33 “Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

Joshua 22:5  But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

1 Kings 6:12 Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:
1 Kings 8:61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

 

In the Light of His Word:

 

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

II Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

II Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

I  John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

 

What a glory He sheds on our way:

 

Genesis 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

Exodus 18:20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Exodus 33:13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

Deuteronomy 5:24 And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.

Deuteronomy 5:33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

Deuteronomy 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deuteronomy 8:6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.

Deuteronomy 11:22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

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

Judges 18:5 And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.

I Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

II Samuel 22:22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

II Samuel 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

II Samuel 22:33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

I Kings 8:58 That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.

II Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Job 23:11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psalm 5:8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Psalm 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

Psalm 27:11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Psalm 86:11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psalm 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Jeremiah 17:10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 42:3 That the Lord thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.

Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Haggai 1:7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Acts 18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

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

II Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

II Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

II Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

 

LET US O HIS GOOD WILL

 

I Chronicles 28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Hebrews 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

HE ABIDES WITH US STILL

Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

Psalm 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

hat thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

Psalm 139:18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Isaiah 5:25 Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Matthew 20:32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

 

AND WILL ALL WHO WILL TRUST AND OBEY

 

Deuteronomy 13:4 Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

II  Samuel 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

Job 36:11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

Psalm 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalm 26:1 Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.

Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Isaiah 50:10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

 

You are cordially invited to join Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group