Here is an excerpt from the January 2011 Issue of "To The Saving Of The Soul".
A year has passed since this newsletter was first published. Much has happened over the course of the year 2010 and the glory belongs to God for his direction and divine inspiration which led me to write the previous twelve issues. I am humbled and grateful to have been the channel through which the Word of God could reach those in need of spiritual food. The newsletter allowed me to touch many lives but as I continued to meditate upon the Word of God, it became apparent that God required more of me. He gave me a vision for the publication of a book that would help people to know him even more intimately. As a result of this vision, the Holy Spirit instructed me to revisit the twelve issues in the newsletter. This mission expanded into a fifteen chapter book titled Epignosis: The Biblical Call To Knowledge.
EPIGNOSIS (pronounced e-pē'-gnō-sēs) is a Greek word meaning precise and correct knowledge. It is used in the New Testament twenty times: fifteen times by the Apostle Paul, one time in Hebrews and four times by the Apostle Peter. In its usages it refers to things ethical and divine.
The Victory Series originates from the fourteenth chapter of the book which, through the grace of God, will soon be published.
VICTORY
As believers we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. Paul said he was persuaded that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord and listed several things that he believed could not separate us.
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Romans 8:37-39)
It is important to note that there are persons who have accepted Christ and have fallen away; some have even blasphemed the Holy Spirit. The scripture makes it clear that there is no forgiveness for them (Hebrews 6:4-6 and Mark 3:28-29).
But being ‘more than conquerors’ (Greek—HYPERNIKAO, pronounced hü-per-nē-kä'-ō, to gain a surpassing victory) through Christ Jesus means that we are powerful beyond measure. A conqueror has already prevailed and we are more than one who has already prevailed. We are the ‘church’ (Greek—EKKLESIA, pronounced ek-klā-sē'-ä, an assembly of believers) and are to make the manifold wisdom of God known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places:
“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,” (Ephesians 3:10)
You may print the entire study from the link below or download it in PDF format:
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About Me
- S. Morgan
- Fukuoka, Japan
- Christian blogger, KJV Bible apologist, legal researcher, teacher, learner, family man, writer, entrepreneur, born Jamaican, son of the soil, traveler... it's complicated. "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence." 1 Corinthians 1:25-29 (KJV)
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
GOD’S RECIPE FOR ANSWERED PRAYER
Here is an excerpt from the December 2010 lesson.
PSALM 66 is the third Song of praise to the chief musician and is a threefold psalm. It contains nine admonitions to the world, reinforced by twelve acts of God and a gourmet recipe to answered prayer.
All ye lands (ERETS, pronounced eh'•rets, the entire earth, including earth’s inhabitants) are admonished to:
1. Make a joyful noise unto God (v.1). RUWA, pronounced rü•ah', to shout, raise a sound, cry out, to give a blast.
2. Sing forth the Honour of God’s name (v.2). ZAMAR, pronounced zä•mar', to sing, sing praise, to make music with instruments. KABOWD, pronounced kä•vōde', glory, honour, glorious, abundance, riches, splendour, reverence.
3. Make God’s praise glorious (v.2). TEHILLAH, pronounced teh•hil•lä', praise, song or hymn of praise, adoration, thanksgiving. KABOWD (same as above).
4. Tell God how terrible His works are (v.3). YARE, pronounced yä•rā', fearful, dreadful, reverential, honourable.
5. Come and see the works of God (v.5). RA’AH, pronounced rä•ä', to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out.
6. Let not the rebellious exalt themselves (v.7). CARAR, pronounced sä•rar', rebellious, stubborn, revolters, backsliders. RUWM, pronounced rüm, to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.
7. Bless God (v.8). BARAK, pronounced bä•rak', bless, kneel.
8. Make the voice of God’s praise be heard (v.8). QOWL, pronounced kōle, voice, sound, noise. TEHILLAH, (same as v. 2). SHAMA, pronounced shä•mah', to hear, listen to, understand, obey.
9. Come and hear (v.16). SHAMA (same as v. 8).
Romans 14:22-23 says that we must have faith to ourselves before God. The fact of each individual’s faith is between that individual and God. One must know of a surety that anything one allows is in perfect accord with the Word of God because where there is doubt, there is sin.
James 1:5-8 says that if any of us lack wisdom we can ask God for it and God will give it to us. We must ask in faith without wavering because if we waver we would be double minded and unstable in all our ways.
I John 3:20-22 says that we can be assured and confident if our heart does not condemn us. This would mean that we are obedient to His word and are doing things pleasing to Him. It is only then that we will have confidence toward God and receive whatsoever we ask of him.
I John 5:14-15 says that the evidence of the confidence we have in God is established when we know that He hears us. When we know that He hears us we also know that we will have whatsoever we ask for. Be confident!
You may print the entire study from the link below or download it in PDF format:
DOWNLOAD FILE
PSALM 66 is the third Song of praise to the chief musician and is a threefold psalm. It contains nine admonitions to the world, reinforced by twelve acts of God and a gourmet recipe to answered prayer.
All ye lands (ERETS, pronounced eh'•rets, the entire earth, including earth’s inhabitants) are admonished to:
1. Make a joyful noise unto God (v.1). RUWA, pronounced rü•ah', to shout, raise a sound, cry out, to give a blast.
2. Sing forth the Honour of God’s name (v.2). ZAMAR, pronounced zä•mar', to sing, sing praise, to make music with instruments. KABOWD, pronounced kä•vōde', glory, honour, glorious, abundance, riches, splendour, reverence.
3. Make God’s praise glorious (v.2). TEHILLAH, pronounced teh•hil•lä', praise, song or hymn of praise, adoration, thanksgiving. KABOWD (same as above).
4. Tell God how terrible His works are (v.3). YARE, pronounced yä•rā', fearful, dreadful, reverential, honourable.
5. Come and see the works of God (v.5). RA’AH, pronounced rä•ä', to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out.
6. Let not the rebellious exalt themselves (v.7). CARAR, pronounced sä•rar', rebellious, stubborn, revolters, backsliders. RUWM, pronounced rüm, to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.
7. Bless God (v.8). BARAK, pronounced bä•rak', bless, kneel.
8. Make the voice of God’s praise be heard (v.8). QOWL, pronounced kōle, voice, sound, noise. TEHILLAH, (same as v. 2). SHAMA, pronounced shä•mah', to hear, listen to, understand, obey.
9. Come and hear (v.16). SHAMA (same as v. 8).
Romans 14:22-23 says that we must have faith to ourselves before God. The fact of each individual’s faith is between that individual and God. One must know of a surety that anything one allows is in perfect accord with the Word of God because where there is doubt, there is sin.
James 1:5-8 says that if any of us lack wisdom we can ask God for it and God will give it to us. We must ask in faith without wavering because if we waver we would be double minded and unstable in all our ways.
I John 3:20-22 says that we can be assured and confident if our heart does not condemn us. This would mean that we are obedient to His word and are doing things pleasing to Him. It is only then that we will have confidence toward God and receive whatsoever we ask of him.
I John 5:14-15 says that the evidence of the confidence we have in God is established when we know that He hears us. When we know that He hears us we also know that we will have whatsoever we ask for. Be confident!
You may print the entire study from the link below or download it in PDF format:
DOWNLOAD FILE
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
WHERE SIN ABOUNDED (part 2)
Here is an excerpt from the November 2010 lesson.
Is there a formula for working out our own salvation after being born again? There is no formula, we simply need to have knowledge of the Word of God! God’s people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge of Him and His Word. As leaders a consequence of rejecting knowledge and forgetting God’s law is that God forgets your posterity.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6)
God rejects us if we reject knowledge. God forgets the children if we forget the law of God. The only way to forget God’s Law is to reject knowledge. If we have knowledge, God cannot reject us, we will not forget His law and He will not forget the children. The scripture says we are responsible for training our children. When we have knowledge the blessing is two-fold: God remembers the children and they will not depart from our teaching when they are old.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
We need to know that God instituted Law as a means to show up sin to his people. A man was doing 120 kilometres (km) per hour in a 50 km zone and was stopped by the police. The policeman was in the process of writing the citation when the man who had been observing the road remarked, “Officer, with all due respect there are no speed limit signs on this road!” The policeman looked at him and with a hiss of the teeth tore up the citation he was writing.
When signs are erected the speed limit will be clearly defined. The presence of the signs will establish that a law exists. Similarly, without the written Laws of God issued to Moses, man would not have become cognizant of sin.
You may print the entire study from the link below or download it in PDF format:
DOWNLOAD FILE
Is there a formula for working out our own salvation after being born again? There is no formula, we simply need to have knowledge of the Word of God! God’s people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge of Him and His Word. As leaders a consequence of rejecting knowledge and forgetting God’s law is that God forgets your posterity.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6)
God rejects us if we reject knowledge. God forgets the children if we forget the law of God. The only way to forget God’s Law is to reject knowledge. If we have knowledge, God cannot reject us, we will not forget His law and He will not forget the children. The scripture says we are responsible for training our children. When we have knowledge the blessing is two-fold: God remembers the children and they will not depart from our teaching when they are old.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
We need to know that God instituted Law as a means to show up sin to his people. A man was doing 120 kilometres (km) per hour in a 50 km zone and was stopped by the police. The policeman was in the process of writing the citation when the man who had been observing the road remarked, “Officer, with all due respect there are no speed limit signs on this road!” The policeman looked at him and with a hiss of the teeth tore up the citation he was writing.
When signs are erected the speed limit will be clearly defined. The presence of the signs will establish that a law exists. Similarly, without the written Laws of God issued to Moses, man would not have become cognizant of sin.
You may print the entire study from the link below or download it in PDF format:
DOWNLOAD FILE
Thursday, September 30, 2010
WHERE SIN ABOUNDED (part 1)
Here is an excerpt from the October 2010 lesson.
We need to know the categories of sin that consequently have held us in bondage and shake them not only from our lives but ancestrally as well. Shaking them entails repenting of each one and rebuking each one from the ancestry. A good place to start to identify some sins is (Galatians 5:19-21).
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, (Greek – MOICHEIA, sexual relations outside of marriage)
Fornication, (Greek – PORNEIA, includes homosexuality, lesbianism and bestiality)
Uncleanness, (Greek – AKATHARSIA, also refers to lustful and profligate living)
Lasciviousness, (Greek – ASELGEIA, also unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness)
Idolatry, (Greek – EIDOLOLATRIA, includes partaking in sacrificial feasts)
Witchcraft, (Greek – PHARMAKEIA, administering drugs, poisoning, sorcery, magic)
Hatred, (Greek – ECHTHRA, enmity and the cause of it)
Variance, (Greek – ERIS, contention, wrangling)
Emulations, (Greek – ZELOS, fierceness of indignation)
Wrath, (Greek – THYMOS, passion, anger)
Strife, (Greek – ERITHEIA, self seeking pursuit)
Seditions, (Greek – DICHOSTASIA, division)
Heresies, (Greek – HAIRESIS, dissention arising from diverse opinions or aims)
Envyings, (Greek – PHTHONOS, also anything prompted by envy)
Murders, (Greek – PHONOS, also slaughter)
Drunkenness, (Greek – METHE, intoxication)
Revellings, (Greek – KOMOS, nocturnal, riotous, half drunken street procession)
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
We need to know and acknowledge the evidence that establishes we are who God says we are and that people see before they even see us. These are the fruit of the Spirit which we demonstrate because we are spiritual and not necessarily to show that we are spiritual (Galatians 5:22-26).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is
Love, (Greek – AGAPE, affection, good will, benevolence)
Joy, (Greek – CHARA, gladness)
Peace, (Greek – EIRENE, a state of tranquility)
Longsuffering, (Greek – MAKROTHYMIA, patience, endurance, forbearance)
Gentleness, (Greek – CHRESTOTES, moral goodness, integrity)
Goodness, (Greek – AGATHOSYNE, uprightness of heart and life)
Faith, (Greek – PISTIS, conviction of truth combined with trust and holy fervour)
Meekness, (Greek – PRAOTES, also gentleness, mildness)
Temperance: (Greek – EGKRATEIA, the virtue of one who has mastery over sensual appetites)
against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
You may print the entire study from the link below or download it in PDF format:
DOWNLOAD FILE
We need to know the categories of sin that consequently have held us in bondage and shake them not only from our lives but ancestrally as well. Shaking them entails repenting of each one and rebuking each one from the ancestry. A good place to start to identify some sins is (Galatians 5:19-21).
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, (Greek – MOICHEIA, sexual relations outside of marriage)
Fornication, (Greek – PORNEIA, includes homosexuality, lesbianism and bestiality)
Uncleanness, (Greek – AKATHARSIA, also refers to lustful and profligate living)
Lasciviousness, (Greek – ASELGEIA, also unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness)
Idolatry, (Greek – EIDOLOLATRIA, includes partaking in sacrificial feasts)
Witchcraft, (Greek – PHARMAKEIA, administering drugs, poisoning, sorcery, magic)
Hatred, (Greek – ECHTHRA, enmity and the cause of it)
Variance, (Greek – ERIS, contention, wrangling)
Emulations, (Greek – ZELOS, fierceness of indignation)
Wrath, (Greek – THYMOS, passion, anger)
Strife, (Greek – ERITHEIA, self seeking pursuit)
Seditions, (Greek – DICHOSTASIA, division)
Heresies, (Greek – HAIRESIS, dissention arising from diverse opinions or aims)
Envyings, (Greek – PHTHONOS, also anything prompted by envy)
Murders, (Greek – PHONOS, also slaughter)
Drunkenness, (Greek – METHE, intoxication)
Revellings, (Greek – KOMOS, nocturnal, riotous, half drunken street procession)
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
We need to know and acknowledge the evidence that establishes we are who God says we are and that people see before they even see us. These are the fruit of the Spirit which we demonstrate because we are spiritual and not necessarily to show that we are spiritual (Galatians 5:22-26).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is
Love, (Greek – AGAPE, affection, good will, benevolence)
Joy, (Greek – CHARA, gladness)
Peace, (Greek – EIRENE, a state of tranquility)
Longsuffering, (Greek – MAKROTHYMIA, patience, endurance, forbearance)
Gentleness, (Greek – CHRESTOTES, moral goodness, integrity)
Goodness, (Greek – AGATHOSYNE, uprightness of heart and life)
Faith, (Greek – PISTIS, conviction of truth combined with trust and holy fervour)
Meekness, (Greek – PRAOTES, also gentleness, mildness)
Temperance: (Greek – EGKRATEIA, the virtue of one who has mastery over sensual appetites)
against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
You may print the entire study from the link below or download it in PDF format:
DOWNLOAD FILE
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Anatomy of God (part two)
Here is an excerpt from the September 2010 issue.
GOD: Spirit, Soul and Body
Numerous scriptures literally describe God. Each of the following words is taken from a scripture referring to a particular part of God’s anatomy.
God has a spirit [distinct from the Holy Spirit] (Psalm 143:10), mind (Romans 11:34), wisdom (I Timothy 1:17), intelligence and knowledge (Romans 11:33).
God experiences soul passions and emotions like grief (Genesis 6:6), anger (I Kings 11:9), jealousy (Exodus 20:5), hate (Proverbs 6:16), love (John 3:16), pity (Psalm 103:13) and pleasure (Psalm 147:11) to name a few.
God has body parts like loins (Ezekiel 8:2), arms (Psalm 44:3), hair (Daniel 7:9), head (Daniel 7:9), ears (Psalm 18:6), eyes (Psalm 11:4), feet (Exodus 24:10), tongue (Isaiah 30:27), lips (Isaiah 30:27), mouth (Isaiah 1:20), hands (Hebrews 1:10), fingers (Exodus 31:18) and heart (Genesis 8:21).
God also has voice (Revelation 10:8), breath (Genesis 2:7) and countenance (Psalm 11:7).
Ezekiel had a vision of God and described Him as having the likeness as the appearance of a man (Ezekiel 1:26). The author of Hebrews describes Jesus as being the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3).
You may print the entire study from the link below or download it in PDF format:
DOWNLOAD FILE
GOD: Spirit, Soul and Body
Numerous scriptures literally describe God. Each of the following words is taken from a scripture referring to a particular part of God’s anatomy.
God has a spirit [distinct from the Holy Spirit] (Psalm 143:10), mind (Romans 11:34), wisdom (I Timothy 1:17), intelligence and knowledge (Romans 11:33).
God experiences soul passions and emotions like grief (Genesis 6:6), anger (I Kings 11:9), jealousy (Exodus 20:5), hate (Proverbs 6:16), love (John 3:16), pity (Psalm 103:13) and pleasure (Psalm 147:11) to name a few.
God has body parts like loins (Ezekiel 8:2), arms (Psalm 44:3), hair (Daniel 7:9), head (Daniel 7:9), ears (Psalm 18:6), eyes (Psalm 11:4), feet (Exodus 24:10), tongue (Isaiah 30:27), lips (Isaiah 30:27), mouth (Isaiah 1:20), hands (Hebrews 1:10), fingers (Exodus 31:18) and heart (Genesis 8:21).
God also has voice (Revelation 10:8), breath (Genesis 2:7) and countenance (Psalm 11:7).
Ezekiel had a vision of God and described Him as having the likeness as the appearance of a man (Ezekiel 1:26). The author of Hebrews describes Jesus as being the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3).
You may print the entire study from the link below or download it in PDF format:
DOWNLOAD FILE
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The Anatomy of God (part one)
Here is an excerpt from the August 2010 issue. This is a two-part lesson.
Jesus did a few things in these verses. He told her that worshipping God would cease in those two places. This does not mean that we must not gather for fellowship or worship (Hebrews 10:25; Matthew 18:20). He also said that the Samaritans didn’t know what they were worshipping because salvation belonged to the Jews. He further stated that the true worshippers worshipped God inwardly (as opposed to outwardly as it happened in the physical temples) and those inward worshippers were whom God desired for worship.
The adjective ‘true’ (Greek – ALETHINOS, real, true, genuine) refers to a thing (in this case worshipper) that not only has the name and resemblance (worshipper), but the exact nature (of true worship) that corresponds with the name (true worshipper) and corresponds in every respect to the idea (worshipping God) signified by the name. The direct contrast is that some persons will say they are worshippers of God, have a form of Godliness, but deny the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5).
You may print the entire study from the link below or download it in PDF format:
DOWNLOAD FILE
Jesus did a few things in these verses. He told her that worshipping God would cease in those two places. This does not mean that we must not gather for fellowship or worship (Hebrews 10:25; Matthew 18:20). He also said that the Samaritans didn’t know what they were worshipping because salvation belonged to the Jews. He further stated that the true worshippers worshipped God inwardly (as opposed to outwardly as it happened in the physical temples) and those inward worshippers were whom God desired for worship.
The adjective ‘true’ (Greek – ALETHINOS, real, true, genuine) refers to a thing (in this case worshipper) that not only has the name and resemblance (worshipper), but the exact nature (of true worship) that corresponds with the name (true worshipper) and corresponds in every respect to the idea (worshipping God) signified by the name. The direct contrast is that some persons will say they are worshippers of God, have a form of Godliness, but deny the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5).
You may print the entire study from the link below or download it in PDF format:
DOWNLOAD FILE
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