The Rose of Sharon is Jesus

What Do You Mean, Repent? August 29, 2013 Some believers are confused when it comes to the word repent and therefore have doubts about salvation. The confusion stems from our misunderstanding of the meaning of repentance as it’s used in the Bible. The Greek word “ metanoeo ” is translated into English as repent and it literally means to change one’s mind about something. When this word is used in the New Testament, it means to change our mind about sin and the need for a Saviour. “ In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ”  Matthew 3:1-2 . When John told his listeners to repent it was a warning. He was trying to get them to change their minds about their need for a Savior. John knew that Messiah was soon to begin His ministry, and he knew that he was the one chosen to alert the Jews that Messiah was near. “ As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet,

PROGRAMMED TO RECEIVE August 22, 2013 By Ron Graham August 22, 2013 “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”  Mark7:13 . Jesus spoke these words to the Pharisees who had once again confronted him for not obeying their traditions. Jesus, of course, rebuked them for holding to the tradition of man instead of holding God’s word in higher esteem. Today we also see that man’s traditions have crept into the preaching and teaching of God’s word placing non-biblical parameters on the body of Christ. God never intended this to happen. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all Ekklesia’s of the saints.”   1 Corinthians 14:33 . Many manmade traditions have been instituted as scriptural doctrine over the years and it can be confusing to both Christians and non-Christians. There is only one author of the Bible and He will teach us His word if we allow Him to. The confusi

The Foolishness of Idol Worship April 18, 2013   “He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.” Isaiah 44:14 . Imagine if you will a party of men and women at a campout. They’re sitting around a blazing campfire stoking the coals with what’s left of some very nice pieces of cedar, cypress, and oak wood. They are busy in their conversations and preparations of the evening’s meal.   “Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread…” Isaiah 44:15 . As the fire gets hotter they comment to one another on how the evening has turned damp and cool, but how nice it is to be able to warm themselves by the fire simply by utilizing a few pieces of old dry wood. They continue to prepare bread and meat, perhaps roasting hot dogs and toasting buns. They use the burning woo

NEGLECTING SALVATION August 15, 2013 By Ron Graham Neglecting  Salvation August 15, 2013 “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” Hebrews 2:3.  The Greek word “ amelesantes”  is translated neglect and it means to be careless of, to neglect. It’s the same word used in Matthew’s Gospel to show indifference.  “ But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise”.    Matthew 22:5.  The “they” in this verse refers to those who were invited by a king to the marriage of his son. They were offered a wonderful opportunity but ignored it disregarding what was freely offered to them. They made light of this invitation. Parables always teach a deep truth, and in this one a king (representing God the Father) sent out (through prophets) an invitation for His subjects (Israel) to attend the weddi

BELIEVING IS SEEING August 8, 2013 By Ron Graham August 8, 2013 “ Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. ”  John 20:29.  Eight days before this the disciples had been gathered together behind closed doors. They had seen Jesus crucified, found the empty tomb, and were worried that they, too, would be arrested.  While they were discussing these events Jesus appeared in the room. They were very understandably confused, but Jesus showed them His hands and His side as proof that it really was Him. Thomas had not been there and when he heard about it he wouldn’t believe them until he saw for himself the nail prints in His hands and the hole in His side. After all, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus had indeed died. Eight days later, the disciples had once again been gathered together, but this time Thomas was with them. Once again the

Fear Factor   August 1, 2013 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”   1 John 4:4 . The Apostle John wrote this to fellow Christians, calling us by the endearing term of “little children”. He warns against spiritual dangers because the spirit of Antichrist had already started deceiving people when John wrote this letter. We who hold fast to the faith have victory in Christ against that same foe, because Christ overcomes evil. That doesn’t mean Satan is through attacking believers. On the contrary, he is fully intent on crippling us in regards to our walk with Christ. How does he do this? His tactics are legendary. Fear is the key to Satan’s dark and sinister practices which minimizes the effectiveness of many believers on this lost world. Satan’s ways are dark, but Jesus is the Light of the World. Many people dismiss demons and the powers of darkness as pure myth and they designa