THERE IS NO NEED FOR YOM KIPPUR

Today is Yom Kippur, also known as the “Day of Atonement”, the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Jewish people traditionally observe this holy day with an approximate 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services, as they do this in accordance to what is written in the Old Testament book of the Bible that says; “On that day offerings of purification will be made for you, and you will be purified in the Lord’s presence from all your sins.” Leviticus 16:30 NLT

At that time, the high priest was to perform elaborate rituals, which included animal sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people. (See Leviticus 16:1-34)

But Jesus Christ, the Messiah, “Unlike those other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when He offered Himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins!” Hebrews 7:27 NLT

Yes! “For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.  He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations!” Ephesians 2:14-15 NLT

Therefore, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NLT

At that name is the Name Above All Names: JESUS CHRIST!!!

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING ATTACKED AND BEING JUDGED

Believers, who are being attacked because they faithfully obey Jesus Christ for will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon them! They suffer for being a Christian in a manner that pleases God, who never fails them!

But then you have these so-called Christians, who constantly complain that everything is going wrong in their lives because Satan and other people are attacking them. But they are actually suffering because they pry into other people’s affairs, steal, and make all sorts of trouble, intrigues and drama.

Therefore, it is God who is exposing and judging them for their evil ways! (See 1. Peter 4:12-19) and the trouble they have, is brought on by themselves!

THE REAL DEAL | Edwin Christiaan

The Bible says that when a great wave of persecution began sweeping over the first church, many of the believers were dragged out of their homes and thrown into prison and others were scattered throughout the regions. But despite the persecution, they continued to preach the Good News about Jesus Christ wherever they went! (See Acts 8:1-4)

That tells me, that these Christians were the real deal, and not those Jesus referred to as ‘those who hear the Gospel and immediately receive it with joy, but then fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word!’ (See Mark 4:16-17)

CHURCH OBSESSION WITH GETTING RICH | Edwin Christiaan

 

The church is full of people who long to be rich. The prosperity preachers tell them that Jesus was rich while here on earth, and that God wants nothing more than to lavish His children with an abundance of material blessings! These preachers falsely teach that in order for you to get rich, you must tithe and sow large money seeds to them.

But what you see happening, is that the people despite of giving all their money, are not getting rich! Instead, as the Bible says, they fall into the temptation of gambling their money away, getting into debt and because of it, they are now being trapped by this foolish and harmful desire of getting rich, that plunge them into financial ruin and destruction (see 1. Timothy 6:9-10).

Jesus Christ was not rich while He was living on this earth! During His public ministry, Jesus and His disciples depended entirely on the hospitality of others as they ministered from town to town. He told His disciples:

“Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.” Matthew 10:9-10 NLT

And Jesus said about Himself,

“Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” Luke 9:58 NLT

Jesus did not come to make you financially rich, but He will take care of your needs, as He said,

“For your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!” Matthew 6:8 NLT

Therefore,

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need!” Matthew 6:33 NLT

That’s why the apostle Paul, a disciple of Jesus Christ, taught that,

“True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.  After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.  So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” 1. Timothy 6:6-8 NLT

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus!” Philippians 4:19 NLT

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOUL AND SPIRIT | By Edwin Christiaan

Even though the soul and the spirit are connected, they are separable

The Bible says in Hebrew 4:12 NLT:

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.”

And in 1. Thessalonians 5:23 NLT, it says:

“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.”

These passages make it very clear, that there is a distinction between the soul and the spirit.

Humans are spirit beings, who live in a body and possess a soul. The real person inside of us is our spirit. Our soul consists of our mind, will, and emotions. Our bodies are what we live in, while we are here on earth.

When Jesus Christ chooses us to become His follower, our spirit is instantly reborn and made new, as stated in 2. Corinthians 5:17:

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

On the other hand, our soul is not born again, but instead needs to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, as it says in Romans 12:2 NLT:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

This is why so many believers can continue to struggle with sin even after accepting Jesus Christ. Their soul still needs be purified and washed clean!

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever!” 1. Peter 1:22-23 NKJV

Demonic spirits can also remain in our souls, and must be driven out, as Jesus commanded to do, when He said:

“These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in My name!” Mark 16:17 NLT

Many find it very hard to believe, that a born-again Christian can have a demonic spirit. It is because they simply don't understand the difference between the soul and the spirit of a person. They believe everything is made new the moment a person accepts Jesus.

But, it is through the soul, that demonic spirits torments and possesses people! Like the woman that Jesus delivered, whom an evil spirit had crippled for eighteen years, causing her to bend double so she was unable to stand up straight. (See Luke 13:11)

Or, like the boy, who suffered from terrible seizures that caused him to oftentimes fall into fire or water. Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. In that very moment, the boy was well! (See Matthew 17:15, 17)

I pray that the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again! God will make this happen, for He, who calls you, is faithful! (See 1. Thessalonians 5:23-24)

ONCE A JEZEBEL, ALWAYS A JEZEBEL! By Edwin Christiaan

Jesus said about the wicked woman named Jezebel from the Thyatira Church that He gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality! (See Revelation 2:21)

Why? How can He say that? Because women, who have the Jezebel Spirit, are narcissistic people, who are not able or willing to admit any wrongdoing! In their mind, they are never wrong and therefore they will never repent! You can pray for such people till the cows come home, it ain’t gonna happen! She will not! Just as Jesus said it, “She DOES NOT WANT to turn away from her immorality!” Revelation 2:21 NLT   

Instead, she will rebelliously continue in her immoral ways, pretending to be a so-called super spiritual Christian, all the while usurping the authority of men, disrespecting, controlling, and emasculating them. She is lying and causing division, and leading the believers away from a relationship with Christ into one that worships her, as she cleverly uses false teachings and prophecies to entice them!

In other words: Once a Jezebel, always a Jezebel!

We have to remember, that God always gives all people time to repent, and that includes people like Jezebel too, even though He already knows they will not turn from their evil ways! God, who is a righteous God, does it this way for the record, so when the books are opened on judgment day, no one will be able to say, “I never got a chance!” (See Revelation 20:12)

That is why it says, “Even though God has the right to show His anger and His power, He is very patient with those on whom His anger falls, who are destined for destruction!” (Romans 9:22 NLT)

JESUS HASN'T CHOSEN THOSE WHO KEEPS ON SINNING - By Edwin Christiaan

Jesus will never choose someone to be His follower, who KEEPS ON living in their sinful lifestyle!

Why? Because the Bible says: “For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, Jesus Christ!” Romans 8:29 NLT

Jesus only chooses those, who will become like Him! And, in order to become like Jesus Christ, you cannot live a lifestyle of someone who indulges in sexual sin, who worship idols, or commit adultery, or is a male prostitute, or a homosexual, or a thief, or greedy person, or a drunkard, or an abuser, or a cheater! (See 1. Corinthians 6:9-10) Jesus was none of these things!

On the contrary, those Jesus has chosen will testify, saying that once they were like that, but now they are cleansed and made holy and right with God! (See 1. Corinthians 6:11)

God’s chosen children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son, Jesus Christ holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them! (See 1. John 5:18) They will become like their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!!

HEY PASTOR! YOU ARE NOT A SHEPHERD! By Edwin Christiaan

A pastor is supposed to follow the example of Jesus Christ who is a good shepherd that sacrifices His life for the sheep! But instead, you are unfriendly and prideful, and you don’t really care for the people God has entrusted to you. It is all about what you can get out of them. You control every aspect of their lives, and you make sure that they all pay their tithes and much more to you. You love money, and you are well trained in greed! You use false doctrines and make up all sorts of clever lies to get hold of the people’s money.

To you, everybody that comes in your church represent dollar signs. You like to put up a show of godliness, but it is just a way for you to become wealthy. You commit adultery with your eyes, and your selfishness is never satisfied as you lure unstable people into sin!
You are not managing your own family well. Your wife, just like yourself, is manipulative and controlling. She loves gossip and slanders others. It is no wonder that you have rebellious children who don’t respect and obey you.
The Bible is clear about this: For if a pastor cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?
Pastors are supposed to be remembered as leaders who taught you the Word of God and the good that comes from their lives and the example of their faith in Christ!!!

John 10:11, 1. Peter 5:1-4, 2. Peter 2:3+14, 1. Timothy 6:5, 1. Timothy 3:2-5, 11, Hebrews 13:7