A CRUMB FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE plus My Song of Testimony and Praise

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). ~ Matthew 27:46

If you have ever felt as if God wasn’t near or as if God abandoned you, you are not alone. And it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have moved far away from God. If you are saved, it could mean that you are in the perfect will of God and your present circumstances are just temporary.

God may be using your suffering to help others.

In spite of our pains, troubles, disappointments and many sufferings, we must still trust God and never doubt him for in the end we are going to win.

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My Song of Testimony and Praise

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Today’s Sabbath Message / Cut Down Without Ever Given A Chance

The Bible teaches us that we can judge a tree by the fruit it bears. The Bible was not talking about trees. It is speaking of people.

Be careful not to judge a person by what they ingest. Whether what they are ingesting is socially accepted or frowned upon by the law, their substance intake is not proof of the condition of their hearts. But our prejudicial and demeaning statements regarding them are sure evidence of the fruit of our souls.

“It is not the thing that enters the mouth that defiles a man, but the thing that proceeds from the mouth that defiles a man. Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.” (Matt.15:11, 17-19)

Although the above scripture is about eating with unwashed hands, its principle truth cannot be denied nor changed regardless of the context.

It is dangerous and risky to judge the outward appearance or habits of a person without knowing the inner workings of that person, for in their heart the true worth and knowledge about that person may be found.

Would a physician make a diagnose (judgment) of liver disease without first thoroughly examining the liver via X-rays, MRIs and/or Ultra Sounds and other procedures that look inside the body and at the liver itself? The answer is “no.”

We as children of God need to learn to look deep into the root of a tree before determining that the tree is rotten and is of no worth and is therefore eligible for chopping down. We should not rush to judgment before we try to show nurturing love and caring compassion toward that tree; giving it every opportunity to thrive and produce. (Ref. 1 Samuel 16:7)

And Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9)

Jesus was not speaking about fig trees.

Ask yourself these questions:

If God had judged me by what I was not producing before I was converted, would I still be here? Would I be doing as well as I am doing? Would I have the things that I now have? Would I have the success that I now enjoy? Would I be the person that I am today?

God looked beyond your inadequacies and saw your potential and gave you a chance. Who have you done that for lately or have you rushed to judgment and simply kicked them to the curve – chopping them down and ending their fruit bearing potential?

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P.R.A.Y.E.R. CHANGES THINGS – A SABBATH DAY MESSAGE

Hello everyone,

The Bible tells us of times when God allowed tragedy and even death to fall upon his chosen people. Yes! Christians suffer difficulties and defeat sometimes. Everything is not always a victory. And every prayer prayed doesn’t always receive a “Yes” answer. But when God allows our enemies to triumph over us or when God says “No” it is almost always an invitation for us to repent and to receive His mercy.

The Lord says in Revelations 3:19, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”

Our response to God’s rebuke or His refusal to favorably answer our prayers should never be to sulk, pout and get angry or crotchety. Those things do not move God. What I have discovered is that the prayer of contrition and tears of sincerity from the heart is what God responds to.

In the Story of Hezekiah found in 2 Kings 20, Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’”

Upon hearing this news, Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying, “Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Hezekiah prayer was openly honest and reminded The Lord of his faithfulness and loyalty to Him. He cried out to God as a child would cry out to a parent who was about to punish them although they did what was asked of them by the parent – reminding the parent of their good and obedient behavior that brought pleasure to the parent.

[I wonder how many of us could pray such a prayer—having our prayer rest upon our loyal obedience to God.]

Hezekiah’s prayer was earnest, private and not toward man or prophet but toward God with bitter tears.

And before the prophet could exit the yard of the King’s premises, the Lord heard Hezekiah’s prayer and saw his tears and sent word by Isaiah that He would heal Hezekiah and grant him 15 more years of life and in addition to that He would deliver him and his city from their enemy – the Assyrian King.

God may say “no” today and the news may be terribly troubling, but through the sincere, contrite, earnest, private and heartfelt prayer from an obedient and faithful child of God, The Father is bound to hear our prayers and to see our bitter tears and to come to our rescue in a hurry.

Psalms 34:15 says, “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.”

James 5:16 confirms that, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective and accomplishes much.”

P– Praise God for Who He Is.

R– Repent and Remember God’s Faithfulness.

A– Ask for what you want – grace and mercy.

Y– Yield to God’s will. Surrender.

E– Expect and trust God’s Favor and Faithfulness

R– Rejoice in God through Christ Jesus.

Prayer Changes Things!

(Bishop O.W. Prince)

[Many Preachers, Pastors and Evangelists borrow from my writings.  Some quote verbatim without giving me any credit.  If you are going to use my any of my materials or articles, I ask only that you give proper recognition to the author.  Please see  the “Copyright Page” under Site Pages to the right of this post.]

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I Know That God’s Word Is Right But Somebody’s Wrong

Over the course of 30 plus years, I have noticed that for many, the office and title of Pastor has become a means to an end. It has become a career and a vocation. It has become a way to become famous and wealthy.  In some instances it is a vehicle to achieve self-importance, boost self-esteem or hide prior bad acts.

I have noticed that the field of ministry has been inundated and flooded with folks with questionable morals, fornicating backgrounds and hidden agendas. They want others to think that they have been called, sent, anointed and appointed when it fact they are liars, deceivers, vindictive pretenders, injured and damages souls who have not yet owned up to their immoral behaviors before seeking to hide their true nature under the camouflage of the titles or positions of pastor, evangelist, elder, bishop, prophetess, preacher or apostle. They deceive themselves and others into thinking that they are something that they are not. They depend heavily upon image, public perception, religious ceremonies, academic credentials and certificates of ordination for their sense of authority and self-worth. But they are not converted (Born of the water and of the Spirit) or commissioned by God to do anything for Him or in His name. (Ezekiel 13)

What is even more astonishing is the fact that they are apparently unaware of their condition.

Let us hear what the Word of God says about such individuals.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’…For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” (Matthew 7:21-23 and 2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

The Word of God identifies the servants of Satan as those who enter the ministry under false pretense and those who have not been born again according to the commands of God.

Be careful who you listen to and follow. Don’t let every entertaining spirit and emotionally charged rhetoric deceive you. Test the spirit to see if it is from God. God has an order and a way that doesn’t change because He doesn’t change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

If you are listening to someone who hasn’t surrendered to the commands and order of God and who doesn’t line up with God’s Word, leave them alone. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Obey the Word!

I know that God is Right but somebody’s wrong.

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A Crumb From The Master’s Table

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” (Acts 19:2 GW)

This is a very important question that every believer must answer.

Has the evidence of God’s acceptance been manifested in you?

For help with discovering the Truth about Salvation, please visit the following link. Click on the link or picture to open the page.

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ANOINTED?

These days they are passing everything off as “the anointing.” Everything that can sing, perform, act or speak well is being loosely accredited as being anointed of God. Every entertaining talent and or gift is now being called “anointed.” Charisma, discipline, intelligence and the ability to inspire or emotionally move others is now being called the “anointing.”

Christ and His Apostles didn’t recognize these things as being an “anointing” and neither should we. There are just too many talented folks who are sex addicts, drug abusers, adulterers, fornicators, liars, cheats, homosexuals and profane folks to call them all “anointed.” These talented folks may be found in various vocations such as Pastor, teacher, singer, musician, choir director, bishop, elder, evangelist, deacon, etc. They may perform their assigned tasks well and with flare and charisma. However, if they are not born again – saved according to God’s divine plan of salvation and filled with the blessed Holy Spirit of God, they cannot possibly be considered “anointed.” They may be talented or gifted but they surely aren’t anointed. (John 3:3-7, Acts 2:38, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 15:8)

The “Anointing” that the Holy Scriptures speaks about may best be understood as a divine influence, a holy emanation, the power of the Holy Spirit or the power of God. Unction is another term for the anointing. The Holy Anointing (Unction) that the Bible speaks of in Christ is significant in the consecration and acceptance of a person to holy or sacred use by Father YHVH.

Let’s keep it real.

Anointed People are Born Again Saints and Live a Holy Life!

[This post was inspired by a post of Prophetr Godstar II in the FaceBook Group named “FAITH IN ACTION.”]

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BIBLE SCHOLAR AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013

O.W. Prince Ministries Thanks Everyone Who Participated Today.

Congratulations Sister Carolyn White of Carrollton, Virginia. You are The Bible Scholar Champion for Tuesday, May 28, 2013.

Thank you Sister White for helping to make the Bible Scholars Group a fun, loving and caring place of learning and sharing. You have allowed your Light to Shine Brightly Today. Your answer is correct. You have demonstrated superb biblical scholarship.

Thank You!

Bishop

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Today’s Question:

A lot of evangelists and preachers, especially the crusade type evangelists, teach that Jesus has done it all and that there is nothing for us to do in order to be saved other than to “receive” what Jesus has already done. They often describe themselves as leading a sinner to Christ. They tell the sinner that all they have to do is “receive” the finished work of Christ. 

Is this sound doctrine? Is this what the Apostles of Christ taught? Where is this illustrated (Shown to have happened) in Holy Scripture?

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The answer for today’s Bible Challenge Question is: No!

This is neither sound doctrine nor was it taught by Christ or His Apostles. No one was ever saved just by [Receiving] accepting the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. The Apostles taught belief [trust, obedience, submissiveness, surrender] to God through Christ Jesus and that Jesus is the Son of God. They taught how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him…They taught about their witness of His death, burial and resurrection and of how the prophets foretold of Him…They taught that to receive Christ one had to Repent, be Baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ For the Forgiveness of Sin and that God would give them the promised gift and sign of their acceptance by giving them the Holy Spirit that would empower them to speak with other tongues. All of this is well documented and illustrated throughout Holy Scripture.

No one was considered saved simply because they “received Christ” or “gave their lives to Christ” or “professed Christ.” They must act upon what God has commanded and God has commanded that everyone be born of the Water and of the Spirit in order to be born again and enter into the Kingdom of God. God has commanded that in order to be born again and added to His Church, one must:

1. Repent (Die to sin),
2. Be baptized in water (Buried with Christ) in the name of Jesus Christ
3. And receive the gift of the Holy Spirit that will make Himself known by empowering one to speak in other tongues.

Without these three witnesses, there is no salvation. (ref. 1 John 5:6-8)

The early Christian Church understood faith, the gift of the Spirit, and water baptism in Jesus’ name as One continuous Unified Salvation Experience. (1 John 5:8)  if any one of these components were absent then salvation was also absent. 

Therefore, it is wrong to tell someone that they are saved simply by “receiving Christ” or believing in Christ.  The demons believe and tremble. 

Please see THE WAY OF SALVATION for more information.  You may also want to read YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN PART 2 – PASTORAL COMMENTARY.

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Please Visit The O.W. Prince Ministries weekdays for the next Bible Scholar Question. Questions are usually posted around 5:00 A.M. (EST/USA) https://owprince.wordpress.com/bible-scholars-group/

“Keep Looking Up!”

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A CALL TO SEXUAL PURITY

1 Corinthians 6:18

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

1 Corinthians 7:2

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

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Only The Redeemed Can Say So

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