Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for letting me survive another week, this week has been of the roughest weeks I have ever had, I never thought I was going to preach on Resurrection Sunday, where we Christians gain power and love from all over the world from the resurrected Christ our Savior and friend Jesus. Dear Jesus, we worship You and thank You for everything You have done for us, and even though we were sinners You still cared for us and laid down Your life for us and let yourself be lifted up to suffer and die for all of us, and today You have walked out of Your temporary tomb to give us all eternal life with You. We praise Your Name Holy Jesus, we all can’t experience and put into words how we feel about the love You have shared with us. Father we worship You and cannot thank You enough for letting Your closest thing to Your heart go and have the worlds sins put upon Your Son and You had experience the feelings in Your heart what Your Son has went through and experienced all the pain from others and all the criticism and the howling and all the terrible words, and all Your son did was come to teach us a new way of life to You Father, Jesus taught us to focus on You through His teaching and suffering. When Jesus had to leave us and go to be back with You, You both sent the comforter the Holy Spirit to live in us to guide us and direct us back to You also. Thank You for the life of Jesus and the power of the resurrection on this day about 2,000 years ago, My lord we love You with pure love, and we are nurturing our spirits to become at one with You and Jesus, that is all we need, we do not need anything from this world, all we need is the closeness and love of You and Your Son Jesus and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. It is a glorious day for all of us and I know it is a glorious day for You and Your son. Please be with us this service please hold us in Your arms and please let us feel your presence throughout all computers, screens, gatherings all over, and maybe just with the words of someone reading this prayer to You, we just thank You that we simple Christians , Your children can be heard. We love You all, In Jesus Name, Amen
Good Morning everyone, my brothers and sisters, the church congregation, and all visitors and pastors and all evangelists from Hilo, Hawaii throughout the world. I welcome you all to a Happy Resurrection Day, I say this because this church is not going to call it Easter Sunday, we as a church are not going to worship any idol or are we going to conform to any traditions and changes made by man. We are celebrating the resurrection power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As I have been studying all this week and fighting incrediable attacks, trying to compose this sermon, and I was being carried by the Spirit to hit on certain areas of the holiday and where it came from and when it was established and the origin of it all, being this is a Bible Truth Christian Church we are not going to conform to the ways of this world. We are being led by the Holy Spirit and that my dear brothers and sisters is where this church is going to stand. Easter is not mentioned at all in the New Testament or the early church, and we do represent the early church of the original Apostles. Sorry we are not going along with the King James Version of the bible of the book of Acts 12:4 where as through the years they changed the word from Passover to Easter;
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Acts 12:4 KJV
After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. Acts 12:4 NIV
When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. Acts 12:4 NASB
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matt. 5:6 NASB
Well my brothers and sisters, I am not going to stand back and let people learn the traditions of man but the truth of the word the word of God. I am deeply surprised that the one translation that mentions Easter is in the KJV and I would say the mis-translation of “pascha” which is Greek for Passover. And to tell you the truth that is not the only place the KJV have added or mis-translated scripture, and we can talk about that next week but for now we have to pray for the people that have changed the words of the bible. Somewhere along the way most likely around the end of the first century and the mid- second century the word for Passover was changed. We all have to be very careful remember the words that Jesus said in Rev. 22:7
"And behold, I am coming quickly Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book." Matt. 22:7 NASB
And behold, I am coming speedily. Blessed (happy and to be envied) is he who observes and laws to heart and keeps the truths of the prophecy (the predictions, consolations, and warnings) contained in this [little] book. Matt. 22:7 AMP
In other words even many translations refer to this little book we can intend for the words spoken by Jesus could just be the book of Revelation , but as we approach Rev. 22:18-19 it seems to me we are talking about the whole bible in itself. I am not the judge Jesus is.
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. Rev. 22:18-19 NASB
Now in one bible translation the study notes it tell us that this warning is only for the book of Revelation which I tend to differ, remember it is also who writes the notes. We have many writers of the notes in the bottom of all the study bibles, being I have done the research and own all of them I can compile all the summaries and at least come up with some explanation, never the less the warning in Deuteronomy 4:1-4 and Prov. 30:5-6 covers most the bases of the whole book meaning the bible, besides it is who writes the notes for the particular book and claims what. I have noticed even the notes of study bibles don’t agree with each other. Some say that John is just talking about the book of Revelation; one says that we must take extra care in how we handle the words of the bible, with total respect so that none of us distort the message. Also no man and their explanation or interpretation of God’s word should be higher to the same authority of the text itself. This warning is given to those who might misrepresent the book and let us turn to Deut. 4:1-4 then to Prov. 30:5-6
"And now, Israel, listen carefully to these laws and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you from the LORD your God. Just obey them. You saw what the LORD did to you at Baal-peor, where the LORD your God destroyed everyone who had worshiped the god Baal of Peor. But all of you who were faithful to the LORD your God are still alive today. Deut. 4:1-4 NIV
Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6 NASB
I also pulled a Matthew Henry commentary out and that speaks for itself.
The Spirit, by the sacred word, and by convictions and influence in the sinner's conscience, says, Come to Christ for salvation; and the bride, or the whole church, on earth and in heaven, says, Come and share our happiness. Lest any should hesitate, it is added, Let whosoever will, or, is willing, come and take of the water of life freely. May every one who hears or reads these words, desire at once to accept the gracious invitation. All are condemned who should dare to corrupt or change the word of God, either by adding to it, or taking from it. Rev. 22:20
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible is available in the Public Domain.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. Rev 1:3 NASB
Rev. 1:3 is the beginning of the beatitudes in the book, and even if you read this aloud to people you shall be blessed, It is describing the positive situation God has put people into, here we are not just talking about prophecy but proclaiming any word of God, whether for history, instruction, predictions, or commandments.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2Tim. 3:16-17 NASB
Dear brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who eagerly look for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They patiently wait for the precious harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Don't grumble about each other, my brothers and sisters, or God will judge you. For look! The great Judge is coming. He is standing at the door!
For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord's plan finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness and mercy.
But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned for it. James 5:7-12 NIV
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb. 4:12 NASB
Now that we have heard the words of James we are not the judges the great judge is standing at the door, sometimes we all get away with ourselves and we are all brothers and sisters waiting for the true judge to return.
Anyway back to our discussion we should not be changing words of the bible,
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matt. 6:34 NASB
This is what we all should be doing seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness and then everything will fall into place.
"Do not judge so that you will not be judged. "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Matt. 7:1-2 NASB
Remember brothers and sisters we are not to be the judges we only have one Judge and to His glory on this day the Resurrection of Christ our Lord.
Some of us must make a call or to enlighten or edify or Christian people we have to stand in truth, in order to be judged by truth, all I know is I would not want our God adding any of the plagues written in this book, or have anyone’s name taken out of the book of life, or the holy city and I don’t think anyone would. That is why we all must continue to love one another and care about one another, and continue to have relationships with the Father and the Son so we can all be at one together, and be totally led by the Spirit of the Living God.
"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matt. 7:12 NASB
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "So then, you will know them by their fruits. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' Matt. 7:15-24 NASB
I know I would not want Jesus to say that to me, and I would not want Him to say it to you. Changing words and unknown practices of forms of idolatry is what? We are not going to follow traditions of men, we are again going to tell you, and we are to be led by the Spirit of God, and even when I write this I can feel the essence of the Spirit close to me.
Yes my brothers and sisters are we going to listen to Jesus all the way through the bible and not listen to the last few decrees and after all John has been through we all know, John and Jesus were best of friends. They truly loved each other and knew each other just by the way John wrote the book of John just the way he stated it to let the world know Jesus Christ exists before any man using the word had a real significance to both Greeks and Jews. We also know many famous Greek philosophers used the term logos, you see they proposed two meanings not just the spoken word but the unspoken, in essence the word and how it remains in the mind they were following a principle that the word is applied to all of the universe also governing ALL THINGS. As the Jews referred the word as to God and His involvement with the world, so when John explained the word Christ, the term was for Jews and Gentiles As we go back to the creation. God spoke the word to create the world into existence, but in the beginning the word refers to our Jesus, using the word was three times, he is using this word to describe Jesus that he was past tense with The Father, and also puts a clarification of the two, The Father is distinct and to the fullest and Jesus was the word with the Father. So my Brothers and Sisters the word has a meaning and any word throughout the bible has righteous meaning.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5 NASB
We know there are so many translations and the number of men grouped together to come up with each translation, some translations are done by one man but each may have been influenced by the Holy Spirit, so we keep gentle care of the bible. We have to remember that interpretation by man of Gods word cannot be elevated to the same authority as the text itself. I feel we should be praying for all the other denominations that have been changed the bible to suit there own denominations. Woe to them remember what Jesus said:
A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak. The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned." Matt. 12:35-37
He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened." Matt.13:33 NASB
"Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved. So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matt. 5:17-19 NIV
Jesus replied, "And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? For instance, God says, `Honor your father and mother,' and `Anyone who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.' But you say, `You don't need to honor your parents by caring for their needs if you give the money to God instead.' And so, by your own tradition, you nullify the direct commandment of God. You hypocrites! Isaiah was prophesying about you when he said, These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce,
for they replace God's commands with their own man-made teachings.' " Matt.15:3-9 NIV
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the Scriptures. So practice and obey whatever they say to you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach. They crush you with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to help ease the burden. Matt. 23:1-4 NIV
So we ask ourselves what does all this mean? Adding and subtracting to the word? We wonder how can a simple human being with limited knowledge, plus the fact we do not know what there inner selves are like, we also do not know what and if they are being led by the Spirit of the Living God. Why would anyone try to mess with anything that is so perfect as Luther was transposing the bible into German, he said the bible should be read and understood as if a mother was reading it to her child. There is a big difference between translation and adding or subtracting words.
Remember the game called telephone where you would all line up and whisper into the ear the next person standing by you a message, then that person would whisper into the next, so after you have gotten through a whole row of children, the last person would read out what was said and of course everyone would laugh because it would be completely different, then the words spoken to the first person. As we look at this childhood game which shows it is our importance,
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Which of us is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" Jesus called a small child over to him and put the child among them. Then he said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to lose faith, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck. Matt. 18:1-6 NIV
Sometimes a child hood innocent game can teach because we to are children remember little children have the kind of faith and trust needed to enter Gods Kingdom.
See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don't know God, so they don't understand that we are his children. Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure. Those who sin are opposed to the law of God, for all sin opposes the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, for there is no sin in him. So if we continue to live in him, we won't sin either. But those who keep on sinning have never known him or understood who he is. Dear children, don't let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it is because they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows they belong to the Devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil. 9Those who have been born into God's family do not sin, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they have been born of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the Devil. Anyone who does not obey God's commands and does not love other Christians does not belong to God. 1John 3:1-10 NIV
It is a blessing to be part of Gods children we are His children now not latter or in heaven. If we know we are his children this should give us encouragement to live as Jesus did. Remember when a person becomes a Christian he or she gains all the privileges and responsibilities of a child and our major privileges is being led by the Spirit of the living God and The Holy Spirit is our witness that we are children of innocence, able to obtain anything from the Lord.
And they said to Him, Do You hear what these are saying? And Jesus replied to them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouths of babes and unweaned infants You have made (provided) perfect praise? Matt. 21:16 AMP
So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family calling him "Father, dear Father." For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we will share his treasures--for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Rom 8:15-17 NIV
As we went through the story of the Childs game at the end we realize that the communication through each person through different times as we can pose this as an analogy for years of altering words laws, and tradition at the end things are so different then what was written in the beginning.
I care about our Sunday greeting, near the end of the book of John as Jesus asked Peter do you love me, three times, and Peter would say yes Lord he said first tend my lambs. Shepherd my sheep, third time tend my sheep.
Let us relate back to Psalm 23 where he leads me beside the quite waters.
He lets merest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. Psalm 23:2NIV
If we as pastors we have to tend to our sheep our people or our congregation.
We have to understand about sheep they are very timid creatures and these same sheep are afraid of moving waters now you have to imagine you are wearing a heavy winter coat long past your knees, so if you have this permanent long winter coat on and you are going to go by a rushing stream or water way the sheep know it would be awful hard to swim if the water soaks into the heavy wood and will pull the sheep down because of the weight. So as a Shepard I must lead you by quiet waters to drink. A regular sheep will not drink from a moving stream they will only drink from still waters I should say Christ is our Shepard. I am just another brother.
The sheep know they cannot swim in a quick running water, so as the Shepard leads the flock up and down the valleys and to the mountain tops of each of their lives the Shepard does not laugh at the fear of the sheep, the Shepard does not get upset because they will not drink from moving waters or even make or tries to force them, the Shepard even goes further he is constantly looking for a place for the sheep to drink. If he does not find a suitable area he will gather stones and place them in a way alongside the stream to slow down the current and to form a pool where even the smallest lamb can drink. Our sheep need water to drink to survive any type of journey. You see we have an awesome God he knows what we can do and what we cannot do. He does not condemn us for our weaknesses; he does not force us out of our realm of safety and happiness. Our God understands each and every one of His sheep and lambs He will never demand us to do anything which we are incapable of doing. He understands our strengths and our abilities, remember God has given us everything to whom we are, and we through the word and communication are becoming more like Him daily. So our Shepard is constantly ministering to all our needs, He knows everything we are carrying how heavy and how unbalanced the load we are walking with, God knows all the places of refreshment and nourishment and leads us to them and one more thing while we are sleeping through the night our Shepard is gathering all things and preparing, planning all our needs for tomorrow.
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt. 6:34 NASB
I have written things in this way to celebrate the Resurrection Day of Jesus Christ, I will leave the following scriptures in the Old Testament about the comparisons of Easter.
1Then on September 17, during the sixth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, while the leaders of Judah were in my home, the Sovereign LORD took hold of me. I saw a figure that appeared to be a man. From the waist down he looked like a burning flame. From the waist up he looked like gleaming amber. 3He put out what seemed to be a hand and took me by the hair. Then the Spirit lifted me up into the sky and transported me in a vision of God to Jerusalem. I was taken to the north gate of the inner courtyard of the Temple, where there is a large idol that has made the LORD very angry. 4Suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel was there, just as I had seen it before in the valley.
5Then the LORD said to me, "Son of man, look toward the north." So I looked, and there to the north, beside the entrance to the gate of the altar, stood the idol that had made the LORD so angry.
6"Son of man," he said, "do you see what they are doing? Do you see the great sins the people of Israel are doing to drive me from my Temple? But come, and you will see even greater sins than these!" 7Then he brought me to the door of the Temple courtyard, where I could see an opening in the wall. 8He said to me, "Now, son of man, dig into the wall." So I dug into the wall and uncovered a door to a hidden room.
9"Go in," he said, "and see the unspeakable wickedness going on in there!" 10So I went in and saw the walls engraved with all kinds of snakes, lizards, and hideous creatures. I also saw the various idols worshiped by the people of Israel. 11Seventy leaders of Israel were standing there with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan in the middle. Each of them held an incense burner, so there was a thick cloud of incense above their heads.
12Then the LORD said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the leaders of Israel are doing with their idols in dark rooms? They are saying, `The LORD doesn't see us; he has deserted our land!' " 13Then he added, "Come, and I will show you greater sins than these!"
14He brought me to the north gate of the LORD's Temple, and some women were sitting there, weeping for the god Tammuz. 15"Have you seen this?" he asked. "But I will show you even greater sins than these!"
16Then he brought me into the inner courtyard of the LORD's Temple. At the entrance, between the foyer and the bronze altar, about twenty-five men were standing with their backs to the LORD's Temple. They were facing eastward, worshiping the sun!
17"Have you seen this, son of man?" he asked. "Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these terrible sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at me, and rousing my fury against them? 18Therefore, I will deal with them in fury. I will neither pity nor spare them. And though they scream for mercy, I will not listen." Eze. 8:1-18 NLT
16"Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, and don't beg me to help them, for I will not listen to you. 17Do you not see what they are doing throughout the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18No wonder I am so angry! Watch how the children gather wood and the fathers build sacrificial fires. See how the women knead dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. And they give drink offerings to their other idol gods! 19Am I the one they are hurting?" asks the LORD. "Most of all, they hurt themselves, to their own shame."
20So the Sovereign LORD says: "I will pour out my terrible fury on this place. Its people, animals, trees, and crops will be consumed by the unquenchable fire of my anger."
21This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Away with your burnt offerings and sacrifices! Eat them yourselves! 22When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. 23This is what I told them: `Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Only do as I say, and all will be well!'
24"But my people would not listen to me. They kept on doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward. 25From the day your ancestors left Egypt until now, I have continued to send my prophets--day in and day out. 26But my people have not listened to me or even tried to hear. They have been stubborn and sinful--even worse than their ancestors.
27"Tell them all this, but do not expect them to listen. Shout out your warnings, but do not expect them to respond. 28Say to them, `This is the nation whose people will not obey the LORD their God and who refuse to be taught. Truth has vanished from among them; it is no longer heard on their lips. 29O Jerusalem, shave your head in mourning, and weep alone on the mountains. For the LORD has rejected and forsaken this generation that has provoked his fury.' Jer. 7:16-29 NLT
The name of the goddess of Easter can be all these names or maybe most of them, or they may be other names for idols of worship. I know God does not want us to worship other idols and does not want us to worship this female goddess. We can get much more into this with the male name of Tammuz which is another story, and also sunrise service can also be another subject. For now I am going to list all these names, like I said they all could be the same goddess or different names per given country or area, or relative or another family member or idol. Easter, Eostre, Asherah, Ashtartu, Astarte, Semiramis, Queen of Heaven, Ashtaroth, Astarot, Ishtar and there are more, but this is just to make a point for the scriptures above.
