Ed Christian's World

Adelphos…

In the New Covenant writings, Jesus is called “our brother.” But the actual word used in the Greek for brother is “Adelphos.” Adelphos comes from the Greek root word “Delphos” which means “womb.” Why?

A brother is someone who is born of the same womb as you. So if Jesus is our brother, what does it mean? Two mysteries.

The first is that Jesus is born of the same womb as we – thus the incarnation. Jesus was born into this world, in flesh and blood, as from the same womb as we are born.

The second mystery is this – We now have the chance to be born of the womb from which Jesus is born. Born of heaven’s womb. Born of the Spirit of the second birth.

In fact, the two mysteries are joined. He was born of earth’s womb, that we might be born of heaven’s. In other words, Jesus is your adelphos, in that He so intimately joined every part of His life to your life, that you now would make it your aim to so intimately join every part of your life to Him. Your adelphos.

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Today, seek to join every part of your life, the good, the bad, the ugly, the godly and the ungodly to God in Jesus.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Message To The Fig Tree…

2000 years ago, on the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit fell on a gathering of Jewish believers. In the Bible, Israel is spoken of as a fig tree.

The fig tree puts forth early figs and late figs. The early figs are called the bikureem – or the first fruits. When do the bikureem, the first or early fruit come into their blossoming? They come into their blossoming in June – the time of the Feast of Pentecost!

So it was during the actual time of the blossoming of the early figs, the first fruits of the fig tree, that the first fruits of Israel, or Israel’s early figs, came into their blossoming on the Day of Pentecost!

What does that tell us? The fig tree not only puts forth its early figs – but also its late figs. And what does that reveal? It means that the children of Israel are due for another revival, another blossoming, another outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

It’s still to come. So pray for the Jewish people and for that day. For when they blossom a second time, it will mean the redemption of the world.

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Matthew 24:32-33

Pray today for the peace of Jerusalem, pray for the salvation of the Jewish people, and the redemption of Israel, and for those who don’t yet know God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Flag Of Jesus’s Tallit

The flag of Israel consists of the Star of David and two stripes, all in blue on a white cloth. Why is that? It’s because the flag of Israel is modeled after the Jewish prayer cloth – the tallit.

The tallit is white with stripes on each side in blue – because God commanded the children of Israel to wear garments with blue fringes.

Jesus also wore blue fringes on His garment or tallit. In fact, it was these fringes which were the “hem” of His garment – the sacred fringe that the sick and disabled would touch and be healed.

For 2000 years the dye that produced that blue on Jesus’s garment was missing from the tallits of Israel. Only in modern times has it been restored – and now even the flag of Israel bears it.

So the flag of Israel is the color of Jesus’s garment, with the blue that marked the hem by which the sick were healed.

Take it as a sign and a reminder to pray for the day when Israel will again reach out and touch the hem of Jesus’s garment – and find their healing.

And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. Matthew 14:35-36

Close your eyes and imagine touching the hem of Jesus’s garment as you lift up your prayers to Him today – believe God for His power to touch your life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Our Wonderous God…

How many times in life have we started out looking for help or to help another when we stumble over something completely unsuspected that contains the answer we were looking for in the first place?

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Psalm 31:1-2

Sometimes life is about finding something you didn’t even know you were looking for. To say God works in mysterious ways would be an understatement, for He is always at least one step ahead of you and always there to shine a light on His little surprise at the end of the path.

Whether it be finding away to help someone in their grief, or to shelter us from fear, share our joy and blessings, guide us through our anger and worry and even lift us up when we are blue – God is always there to calm us, guide us and lead us along our path.

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Psalm 31:3-4

I’ve been writing since late 1971 and sending copies of my stuff to just about anyone who asked for it, mostly missionaries around the world. I get emails almost daily about how I touched someone because of something I wrote. God gave me the words to put down on that paper and guided me as to what to write and how.

Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place. Psalm 31:5-8

Over the years I’ve started writing this blog, now in its eighth year, to reach out and touch people in their time of need. Little did I know when He started me doing this blog, that I would start hearing from people I’ve not seen in years to hear how my words have helped them in so many ways.

I’ve mentioned before that sometimes I am woken up in the middle of the night with urgent thoughts that He wants me to write about. Many times as I write, I feel Him watching over my shoulder, patiently making sure I word it exactly as He wishes. It is times like this that it becomes very clear we serve a very Wonderous God.

Nothing says it better than the 23rd Psalm: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

I have broken it down here for a bit of a clearer understanding:

The Lord is my shepherd and makes sure I have everything I need. Without Him I would be lost.

He gives a me green pasture for which to graze and sleep. He provides still water for me to drink. In case you didn’t know lambs won’t drink from moving water.

He restores my soul: He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. He provides guidance in all circumstances, if we ask.

He offers me comfort and protection so that I have nothing to fear. He is always there to watch over me.

He stands with me in the presence of my enemies. He covers me with His love and blessings and my cup overflows. Goodness and mercy follows me everywhere and He has prepared a place for me in His house for me to live forever.

My blog posts are written to touch people when they hurt, have questions they need answers to and to help them understand what a wonderful God we serve. I encourage my readers to ask questions of me and to comment to me their feelings about what I write. I will answer everyone of them.

Like I said before: Sometimes life is about finding something you didn’t even know you were looking for.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The City On The Hill…

They had come across the Atlantic Ocean through rough seas and storms, 66 days, locked up in small quarters and the storm tossed. Finally they came to solid ground.

It was Saturday afternoon. Despite their eagerness, hunger, sea-sickness, they didn’t set foot on land until Monday. Why?

They knew before they embarked on this new life, they had to begin in prayer and worship. It was from these weary but faithful travelers that came the civilization known as the United States of America.

America isn’t perfect, but think of how different the world would be without it. Without America, there would likely be no Israel in the world, millions of the poor and persecuted would have perished, and the world would be ruled by the followers of Hitler or Stalin.

And it all began with prayer and worship. Before you do anything, before you set foot into your new day, before you set foot into that new job, that new relationship, that new ministry…

Be a wise pilgrim, and do as they did on the Mayflower, first spend time with God, dedicate it all to the Lord and seek first His will… and all these things will be added to you.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

Before your day starts, dedicate all you’ll do for the Lord’s purposes and seek His direction in all things.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Carrot And Stick…

How do you get a mule to move? One way is to use a carrot and a stick. The carrot represents the pleasure principle. The stick represents the principle of pain.

It’s the same principle scientists use in behavior changing experimentations – whether by giving a cookie to a dog or an electric shock to a rat.

The enemy also uses behavior modification methods in order to influence your life. He seeks to get you to associate the things of God – His people, His house, His will for your life, His ministry, His ways – with pain – the stick.

And on the other hand, he’ll try to get you to associate evil and sin with pleasure, whether it be lust, gossip, an addiction, materialism, bad relationships, the world – the carrot.

How do you overcome his schemes? Stop living to seek pleasure or to avoid pain – Rather seek the will of God, and to do what is right, no matter what, and your life won’t be stuck between the carrot and the stick.

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:18

Seek today to reject the pleasure principle. Don’t follow after pleasure, but follow what is right. Don’t seek to avoid pain, but avoid what is wrong.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Seeking What You Have…

Did you ever buy something and afterwards you realize you already had it? I’ve done that a few times. I’ve actually ordered something out of a magazine, only to discover later that I already had it.

I must have forgotten. Or it must have looked so good in that magazine that I just didn’t realize. It’s one thing to do that with an order form. It’s another to do that in life.

Too many believers spend their lives trying to obtain what they already have seeking approval and love when, in God, they have more love than they could ever handle.

Striving after more money and wealth while missing the true riches and wealth they have in God or seeking for joy and happiness in what the world has to offer, when in God they have the potential for more joy than their hearts could contain.

Is that you? Are you seeking for love, acceptance, recognition, riches, status, comfort, happiness… from people or from this world? A secret… you already have it! Start discovering the joy of the priceless blessings you already have, and you won’t be out seeking imitations.

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaish 58:11

Instead of dwelling on what you don’t have today and what you want to get, dwell on what you do have, and give thanks to God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Tabernacle Of His Peace…

In the ancient Hebrew prayer and chant called the “Hashkiveinu.” These words are spoken: “Spread over us the Tabernacle of your peace” – or, in Hebrew, the “Sukkah” of your shalom.

It’s a strange prayer and a strange picture. Those praying ask God to spread over them His Tabernacle. It’s a bit mystical.

But if you look in the last book of the Bible; Revelation, you find a vision of a great multitude of people standing before the throne, clothed in white robes, holding palm branches in their hands, which is what the Jewish people held in their hands on the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot.

Then it says this: “And He who sits on the throne shall spread over them His Tabernacle. It’s a strange picture – but it’s the same exact words of the ancient Hebrew prayer. God wants His people to dwell under His Sukkah, the Tabernacle of His Shalom.

A Sukkah can be set up anywhere. So no matter where you are today, no matter the situation, or the problem, ask God to spread over you the Tabernacle of His peace, and, for your part, start dwelling in it!

“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ Revelation 7:9-17

Pray and ask God to spread the tabernacle of His shalom over every problem, challenge, and situation you go through today.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Jesus Garden Of Death…

When sin entered the world on the day of man’s fall, God took man out of the garden, a garden of life. On the day when sin was put to death, the opposite happened – man brought God down from the cross and into a garden, a garden of death – the garden tomb.

In the Song of Solomon, the bride says of the Bridegroom, “Awake oh north wind and come oh south wind, and blow upon my garden that the spices may flow out.” So man brought God into a garden of death, the garden tomb, and there laid upon him spices, spices which came from a garden.

Also in the Song of Solomon, the bride says, “Let my Beloved come into His garden. The tomb of God is a garden tomb – meaning, it’s merely a tomb, the place of endings – it’s a garden, the place of beginnings and life.

For all life in God now comes out of that tomb. So don’t be afraid of entering Jesus’s tomb, and dying to self. For it’s not just a tomb – it’s a garden tomb, and those who enter it will find true life.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Enter into the Garden Tomb. Lay down your old life, your old identity, your ego and bury it – Then walk in the newness of life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Becoming Not Impossible…

The angel said to Mary, “Nothing shall be impossible with God.’ Be didn’t say “Nothing is impossible with God” but “Nothing shall be impossible with God.”

In other words, it may be impossible now, but with God, it will cease to be impossible. But if something is impossible, it can never become possible. That is what impossible means.

But here it is implying what is impossible will become possible. It was impossible for our sins to disappear as if they never happened, but He makes it possible.

Maybe it feels impossible for your guilt to be taken away, but God will do it. He makes guilty people innocent. Without God, it would be impossible to be born again, but what was impossible, now become possible.

So the promise is even better than just saying nothing is impossible with God. For even if something in your life is impossible, what was impossible shall become possible with God.

So don’t give up and don’t ever lose hope. No matter how impossible it may seem, or actually be, be strong and believe because, with God, nothing shall be impossible.

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail. I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:34-38

Today, don’t be bound by the possible, live by the impossible of God. For with God all things are possible!!!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed