freedom

FEARLESS FAITH

(November 10, 2018) Jeff Benson shares from the heart…

Like most people, I have many weaknesses. My greatest weakness by far has been my ‘fear of man.’
Such an inbuilt thing for me… a bit like when it comes to a fear of heights, when you walk up to the edge of a cliff or lean over a guard rail from up on top of a tall building and instantly feel that fear …

The fear of man can be the same. There’s often no conscious thought associated with it, we just feel that fear…it just happens … you just automatically and instantaneously feel that fear.

My journey…
For me this feeling fear has been a huge issue… (more…)

WHICH JESUS DO YOU WANT?

(April 8, 2017) Chris Pick, Special to ASSIST News Service shares an Easter reflection…

Let’s go back in our hearts to that Black Friday nearly two thousand years ago. The Roman Governor Pontius Pilate presented before the crowd two men: One man named Barabbas and the other Jesus. Pilate declared: ‘It is your custom that I free one prisoner to you at Passover! Which do you choose?’

‘Give us Barabbas!’ the angry mob cried.

Why did the crowd choose this man over the Messiah? What did they expect?

One was a sinner – one was sinless but chose to become sin
It is quite possible that Pilate presented before the crowd two men named Jesus. Some scholars believed Barabbas’ real name was ‘Jesus Barabbas.’ The Greek scholar and early Christian theologian Origen found many early manuscripts of Matthew 27:16-17 which referred to Barabbas as ‘Jesus Barabbas.’ And the name ‘Jesus’ was a common name in first-century Galilee.

So, if Barabbas’ first name was Jesus, then the question could be rephrased, ‘Which Jesus do you choose?’ It’s a question that can still be asked today as we are presented with so many different ‘Jesus’ figures globally. To some, he is a great teacher. To some, a prophet. To some, he is God’s son. To some, a mere man. And sadly to some, just a myth. (more…)

WORDS OF LIFE (#6) JUBILEE – (YOBEL)

Jim McClure(January 9, 2017) Dr Jim McClure, respected theologian, continues his series on selected scripture words…

As we have just entered a New Year, it is appropriate to mention a very important year in the history of the people of Israel.

In Leviticus 25:8-10 we read God’s instructions to Moses Mount Sinai, ‘Count off seven sabbaths of years – seven times seven years – so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to a period of forty-nine years.  Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land.  Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you.’ 

Trumpets played a significant role in the Hebrew religion and different trumpets were employed for specific functions.  The Old Testament refers to two types of trumpet, the chatsotseroth and the shophar. (more…)

THEBUZZ

Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to, do not necessarily reflect the opinion of ConnectingwithYou! Our thanks mainly to Dan Wooding and ASSIST News Service link: www.assistnews.net (and other news sources such as Crosswalk for timely gleanings)

__________________________________________________________________________________________
GERMANY / USA
Saeed Abedini now safe after prisoner-swap
Dan Wooding 2015

Dan Wooding reports good news on long-awaited answered prayer…

Pastor Saeed Abedini, and two other Americans freed by Iran, safely arrived in Switzerland January 17, and then flew on to Germany for medical checkups, after leaving Iran as part of a prisoner swap. Naghmeh Abedini said in an initial Tweet, ‘Saeed just landed in Geneva. He is getting ready to leave to Germany. I should talk with Saeed in just a few hours! Thank you for your prayers!’
(more…)

CONFUSION IN THE CHURCH – PART 2

Jim McClureDr Jim McClure, noted theologian, writes more on this current danger …

‘The days are coming when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord’ (Amos 8:11).

In Part 1 I mentioned that the Hebrew word translated as ‘hearing’ in the above verse means ‘hearing with understanding.’ Despite the ready availability of the Bible today in many languages, there is much confusion in the minds of many Christians concerning many aspects of the Christian faith. (more…)

UNVEILED FACES

Ken Legg

 Conference speaker and author Ken Legg shares good advice:

‘We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord’ (2 Cor.3:18).

At one of my Radical Grace seminars I was teaching on what it means to live in the glory of the new covenant and someone asked me, ‘What about the Old Testament? Should we not read the Old Testament anymore?’ (more…)

BOXES, COMFORT ZONES AND OTHER FREEDOM BLOCKAGES

Dr-Robert-&-Maureen-McQuillan_Photo

Robert and Maureen McQuillan write:

Okay, okay…it’s not new, those urgings to ‘Get out of your comfort zone; Think outside the box; Get a life; Remember Jeremiah 29:11…’ and similar challenges to move ahead into new spheres with God’s help.

Yet we keep coming across Christians who still haven’t made the positive move and got on with living life to the full in God-given freedom! (more…)