Hosea 4:6 (new century version)

6 My people will be destroyed,
because they have no knowledge.
You have refused to learn,
so I will refuse to let you be priests to me.
You have forgotten the teachings of your God,
so I will forget your children.

A second part of the book of Hosea begins here (4:1-9:9). There are three important *sins that Hosea writes about:

· There is no truth.

· People are not loyal to God.

· There is no knowledge of God.

The main idea from Hosea tells the people this. Everything that he says comes from God. The message is for everyone who lives ‘in this country’. God is taking his people to a ‘court’. The people will have to give an answer for their *sins. The first of these *sins is that the people are not ‘true’. The people do not know God. This is something that is important to Hosea. It was part of the *covenant between Israel and God. There are six *sins that break the *commandments (Exodus 20:7-15 and Deuteronomy 5:5-19).

In verse 2, to ‘swear’ can also mean a *covenant between two people where they use God’s name. ‘Lying’ means people who are not being true with each other. This could be about business. Life will slowly come to an end (verses 3 and 4). God will not let anything live. The second word for ‘die’ can also mean a woman who cannot have any children. God (verse 4) does not have one *priest that he is thinking of. He is thinking of all the *priests and *prophets in Israel. The word ‘falling’ perhaps means that they cannot see. They are weak. They ‘fall’ against each other (see Deuteronomy 28:28-29). The *priests can only blame themselves for this. Israel used to know God in a way that was part of the *covenant. But the *priests did not want to know God. They forgot him. So God will not accept them as *priests. God will forget the *priest’s children too. In the book of Hosea, the word ‘forget’ is the opposite of ‘know’. It can also mean ‘not obey’.

The *priests became rich when Jeroboam 2^nd was king (verse 7). They gave help to the rich people and leaders. The *priests did not try to correct them. The *priests, too, were earning money at the *sacrifices (verse 8). The *priest could have a part of the animal *sacrifice (Leviticus 7:28-38). But it is probable that the *priests forgave people too easily. The *priests did this if the people gave them money. So the *priests lived from the people’s *sins This is what the word ‘eating’ means. But the food will not be enough.

In conclusion, the reading is very important toward us who are expecting from G-d. He is delivering a word of knowledge to the body of Christ. In those that have been faithful or for those who will humble themselves before Him. In Jesus Name+++

By Jeff Church Hill Elder BFC

THE LORD'S APPOINTMENT -- Exodus 3:1-10 NIV

Exodus 3:1-10 NIV  1 "Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his
father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far
side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the
angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.
Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So
Moses thought, I will go over and see this strange sight-why the bush
does not burn up.

4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him
from within the bush, Moses! Moses!
      And Moses said, Here I am.

5 Do not come any closer, God said. Take off your sandals, for the
place where you are standing is holy ground. 6 Then he said, I am the
God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of
Jacob. At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at
God.

7 The LORD said, I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I
have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am
concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them
from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land
into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey-the
home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and
Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I
have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am
sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

Imagine how Moses felt at this point.  There he was, having just been
spoken to by God Almighty, right there in person.  And God had just told
him that He had heard the cries of His people and would deliver them
from their bondage.  Moses was probably about ready to leap to the sky!
After all, Moses, too, had been upset about what had happened to the
Hebrew people.  Remember?  He even killed one of the Egyptians in a
blundering attempt to help. That's how he ended up where he was.  I can
just see him, about ready to burst with joy that the Hebrews would
finally be brought out of slavery!  Then God dropped the other shoe.  He
was going to use Moses to get them out.  Even though God had said, "I
have come down to deliver", He was going to use Moses to do it.

As we said before, God didn't need Moses to accomplish His purpose for
the Hebrew people.  He doesn't need you or me to accomplish His purpose
today.  But He is a God of love.  And by allowing us to participate in
His redemptive work, He allows us to share in His joy.

Look around you.  Slavery still exists... In fact, slavery is a
prominent part of life most everywhere... slavery to money, to drugs, to
alcohol, to co-dependency, to work, to sex, to food, to status, and
possibly worst of all, to works-oriented religion.  It's all around us.
As a Christian, you have a wonderful opportunity to be an instrument for
God in delivering people from their particular form of bondage and into
freedom through Jesus Christ.  And by being His instrument, you have the
opportunity to share in His joy.  Pray that God will show you where He
wants you to serve.  And remember, God doesn't ask about our ability or
inability, just our availability.

"...shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under
compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for
sordid gain, but with eagerness."  1 Peter 5:22 NIV

God's armorbearer #10

In 2 Samuel 22:36 David said of the Lord,... thy gentleness hath made me great. David was a great warrior, but he declared that it wasn't his boldness,assurance or strength that made him great;rather,it was God's gentleness. This is the character trait that will gain victories for the leader and the one who serves him as armorbearer.

Armed with this attitude, you will represent your leader well and gain much favor. Always remember that as an associate or assistant,wherever you go and whatever you do, you represent your pastor. You do not want to do anything to bring a reproach to him or the church you both serve.

I have seen times when the pastor has asked an associate to make some changes throughout his department. The associate then calls his staff together and tells them:" Pastor has said that you had better straighten up or out you go." That makes a pastor look as if he is some kind of unholy,ruthless king sitting on his throne barking out orders.

This kind of thing happens all the time in churches, and the result is always strife. The only reason any associate would say such a thing is to make it look as if he really cares for the people under him,but the pastor doesn't. It is just an attempt to save his own reputation at the expense of the pastor's. A true armorbearer will always strive to represent his pastor well before all men.

When we work with people, we face many delicate situations every day. Even though you are not the shepherd of the flock, as an associate you must take into your spirit the heart of a shepherd. You must learn to deal with people in love and find some common ground of agreement with the ones with whom you work and deal. No one is unreachable as long as he is teachable.

I encourage you to trust God every day for a spirit of humility,purity and a clear conscience. These virtues will keep a guard around you,and then what an asset you will be to the ministry.

Reading #11 Must have the ability to minister strength and courage to his leader(last reading on functions of an armorbearer)+++


Kickboxing will resume this friday @ 7:30 pm,"we took last friday off."" Also bring your own jump rope, thanks +++

God's Armorbearer #9

Must be an excellent communicator

I do have to admit this one,"I am still trying to grow in",because communication is more important than anything I know of in establishing a relationship with a leader.

It is the only way to build trust between the pastor and his associates. This does not mean that you are to bother your pastor with every issue or decision that comes up; just that you should let him be aware of what is going on in the church and among the people.

Never hide anything from your pastor . Always let him know if someone is having (or causing) a problem in the church,and what steps you are taking to resolve that situation.

Many times I have to deal with things which I know are clearly in my area of responsibility, but I always make my pastor aware of what I am doing.
Situation's will sometimes arise which I know should be dealt with by the pastor himself. When that happens, I go and share with him. Either he will deal with the situation,or he will give me advice as to how to handle it.

The "bottom line" is communication.

If anyone ever says to you,"I want to tell you something in private,but you must promise not to let the pastor know I told you about it,"you should stop that conversation immediately and say to the person,"You may as well hold your breath,because I will not make any such promise."

You owe it to your leader to reveal anything that is going to cause problems in the church. Jesus said that there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. (Mark 4:22.) If you withhold something from your pastor ,then I can safely prophesy that it will come back to you;it will blow up and you will be caught in the middle of the explosion.

Secrecy is a trap which satan lays for the unsuspecting.Don't fall into it.

Cont. #10 Must have a disposition that will eagerly gain victories for his leader+++

God's Armorbearer (reading #8)

Must be a support to his leader.

Every pastor needs a group of faithful supporters,especially among his associates and staff. The word supporter means "that which supports or upholds; a sustainer;a comforter; a maintainer;a defender."

Contrary to popular belief,pastors are human just like anyone else. They hurt;they make mistakes;they get frustrated and bothered; many times they face discouragement and disappointment. As armorbearers, our job is to uphold,sustain,maintain, and defend are leader,being there for him to lean on in times of need.

I can just hear the voice of some staff member or associate crying out: "What about me ? What about my problems,hurts and wounds?" We have to many babies in the Body of Christ. It's time we laid down are lives for someone else ,putting are trust in God to take care of our hurts and frustrations.

There are many associates whose only desire and goal is to stand up in front of the pastor - until war breaks out; then suddenly jump behind him! God has called you and me to go out in front of our pastor for only one reason, and that is to raise our shield of faith and protect him from the harmful words of people and the fiery darts of the devil.

You will never make any real progress toward leadership until you have first mastered the art of supporting your spiritual leader.

Jesus is Lord+++