COMING SOON!
....The "MAN TOUR"
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Thursday,
March 6th
Registration:
6:30pm $10
Presented by the Western Ontario District of the PAOC
Held at: Peel Pentecostal Tabernacle
2005 Countryside Dr., Brampton, Ontario
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Feb 24, 2014
The MAN TOUR ...addressing the elephant in the room.
Feb 19, 2014
Who Is Jesus? -Billy Graham
What thoughts come to your mind when you hear the word evangelism? Pushy people trying to get you to see things their way? Guilt for not saying enough about your Saviour? People swarming down the aisles at a gigantic rally? Or friends sharing the excitement of the good news with each other?
Last night, at our ANVIL 1 Thessalonians 2 -"Gentle Evangelism" study, we looked at Paul discussing his ministry and "evangelism" while he visited Thessalonica. It prompted me to look at an amazing example of a modern-day Apostle Paul; "Billy Graham" and I want to share it in case you missed it. Born in 1918, he is nearing the end of his earthly life now at age 95, but what an examle of a life well lived! It has been calculated that he has preached to 2.2 billion people and through his preaching has won 3.2 million people to Christ! This is in addition to all the books, magazines and organizations he led or founded.
Wow! ...and to think I sometimes pat myself on the back when I witness to a neighbour or co-worker for a few minutes. Take the time to listen to this most amazing evangelist since the early church was evangelized by Paul. In fact, his sermon on "Who Is Jesus?" is the central theme in Paul's ministry back in 50AD. Each one Paul ministered to, had to answer the question "Who Is Jesus?".
Have you answered that question in your life?
Feb 12, 2014
The Jewish Wedding
The
traditions of a Christian wedding grow out of God's *covenant relationship with
Israel and Christ's relationship with the believer. God uses the (ancient) Jewish
wedding to illustrate redemption and Christ's relationship with the Church.
Here are a few interesting parallels between the Jewish wedding in the day of
Christ, to the relationship we have to Christ through Salvation!
THE JEWISH WEDDING
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RELATIONSHIP TO SALVATION
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1. The prospective
bridegroom took the initiative and traveled from his father's house to the
home of the prospective bride.
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Christ left His Father's
house and came to earth to gain a bride for Himself. (Ephesians 5:25-28)
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2. The father of the
woman then negotiated with the prospective bridegroom the price that must be
paid to secure his bride.
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Christ had to pay the
price with His own blood. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
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3. When the bridegroom
paid the purchase price, the marriage covenant was thereby established. At that point, the man and woman were
regarded to be husband and wife, even though no physical union had taken
place.
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The believer has been
declared to be sanctified or set apart exclusively for Christ. (Ephesians 5:25-27)
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4. The moment the
covenant was established, the bride was declared to be set apart exclusively
for the bridegroom. The groom and the
bride then drank from a cup over which the betrothal (marriage) benediction
had been pronounced. This symbolized
that the covenant relationship had been established.
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Christ symbolized this
marriage covenant through communion at the Last Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:25)
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5. After the marriage
covenant was in effect, the groom left the home of the bride and returned to
his father's house. He remained there
for a period of 12 months separated from his bride.
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Christ returned to His
Father's house following the payment of His purchase price. (John 6:62)
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6. During this
separation, the bride prepared her wardrobe and prepared for married
life. The groom prepared living
accommodations in his father's house for his bride.
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Christ is preparing a
place for His bride and is also sending pastors and teachers to perfect the
bride for the coming wedding known as "the Marriage Supper of the
Lamb". (John 14:2)
(Ephesians 4:11-13) |
7. After this period of separation, the groom,
best man, and other male escorts left the house of the groom's father,
usually at night, and conducted a torch-light procession to the house of the
bride.
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Christ will soon come
from His Father's house in heaven accompanied by an angelic host. (John 14:3)
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8. The bride was
expecting her groom to come for her; however, she didn't know the exact
time. Thus, the groom's arrival was
preceded by a shout!
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Christ's return will be
preceded by a shout. (1 Thessalonians 4:16). We expect His return, but we do
not know the day or the hour.
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9. The groom received the
bride with her female attendants and returned to his father's house.
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The bride will be caught
up with the Lord to be with Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)
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10. The bride and
bridegroom then entered the bridal chamber and, in the privacy of that place,
entered into physical union for the first time, thereby consummating the
marriage!
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Christ's union with the
Church will take place in heaven for all eternity. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
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How does a COVENANT Differ From a CONTRACT?
· A
covenant is based on trust between parties.
A contract is based on distrust.
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A
covenant is based on unlimited responsibility
A contract is based on limited
liability.
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A
covenant cannot be broken if new circumstances occur.
A contract can be voided by
mutual consent.
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from IBLP
Feb 5, 2014
Company's Coming!
As the day grew closer, I actually really looked forward to having someone "special" visiting in my home again. It had been awhile since we'd been free to extend an invitation, and I could see we had some work to do in preparation. Once gleaming floors and countertops suddenly shouted out their need of attention to some spring cleaning. The carpet's high-traffic areas looked way darker than over there in the corner. Speaking of the corners...where had all that dust come from anyway? Our home entrance area was sort of sprawling with heaps of coats, boots, shoes, mitts and who knows what all, along with all the "outside" that the footwear had brought "inside". Raising four teenagers, caring for mom and dad's many senior's needs, and keeping careers on-track introduced many housekeeping time constraints. There never seemed to be quite enough time in the week to keep up with the housework, at least not like we used to ...but now - company's coming!
Realizing the work ahead, I guess we must have experienced at least mild amounts of apprehension in anticipation of the special visit. I'm not sure why, but I noticed myself conscious of wanting to be found at my very best, not just my everyday "regular". Our company was indeed special and meaningful to us and how could they deserve less? I continued to look around at the state our home was in. Bits and pieces of homework and school projects flowed off of coffee tables. White hair from Lizzie our Shih Tzu's recent trim poked out here and there around the fireplace. What impression would our special company get? Perhaps I didn't so much want to impress, as to save myself some embarrassment from a lack of preparation. A quick family conference found agreement; -we had to put a Team-Howson action plan into place and get this place turned around. After all ...company was coming!
We delegated various duties and began to "encourage" our family team, with promises of various rewards. Out of nowhere the vacuum cleaner appeared. The clean aroma of Pine Sol filled the kitchen as hot water followed and splashed into the bucket. Furniture was maneuvered back into place and cleaning cloths fought back. Our coat racks and hall table got pushed aside to get at and scrub tiles from a thousand footsteps that had tracked it up. It was surprising what change a few squirts of Windex will do! The lawnmower did a number on the grass while pruning shears trimmed the dead branches on the shrubs. I drove down to Superstore and lay down the near $80 to rent the Rug Doctor and his chemical cleaning agents...hoping he was still "steamin' mad at dirt" and could once again work his carpet magic. I headed over to the meat section and chose the tastiest steaks I could find for my barbeque .....all because I wanted to have everything as ready as I could. The more ready we became, the more we looked forward to "the day"! We got ourselves into motion because ....company was coming!
As I look ahead in preparation at our study in 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Paul is clear in communicating that one day we are going to experience a day like no other! He explains that Christ will one day return for His Church....for those who have prepared for His coming! ....those who are watching and waiting and praying. If this was true in 50AD when he wrote this to teach and warn the new but "model" believers in Thessalonica, it is a thousand times "more-true" for us today as we are much, much closer to "the day"... Jesus is coming. He told us He will return like a "thief in the night". No...He didn't say what day it would be, but he's told us to be sure to be "ready" and watch for the signs....He gave us so many clues in signs all around us...if we've paid attention. ANVIL Men....hear me....the signs are now EVERYWHERE !! We've been invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb, and it won't be long! Jesus is Coming!.....Have you got any house-cleaning to do?
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