Ed Christian's World

The Jubilee Minister…

In ancient Israel, every seventh day was a Sabbath day, every seventh year, a Sabbath year, and every seventh Sabbath year led into the Jubilee.

The Jubilee was the year of freedom, release, restoration, forgiveness, the canceling of debts, and liberation. Jesus said that He was the Adon ha Shabbat, the Lord of Sabbath.

What that means is that you’ll find all the blessings of the Sabbath day, the Sabbath year, and the Sabbath of Sabbaths, the Jubilee, in Him. The Jubilee could only begin once Yom Kippur was finished when the atonement was offered up. Jesus is the Atonement.

Therefore He is the one who brings the Jubilee and all its blessings. So in Him is the power of true freedom, release, real restoration, reconciliation, liberation, the nullifying of your debts, and the bringing in of joy. Jesus is your Jubilee. Therefore, if you’re in Him, you must celebrate your freedom.

So rejoice in Him. celebrate Him, shake off your chains, be free, be released, and be glad because Jesus is not only the Lord of your Sabbath… He’s the Lord of your Jubilee.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. Acts 3:19-21

If you have burdens or debts weighing on you today, let go of them and claim the freedom that Jesus has bought for you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always

Ed

How To Camp…

I once went on a camping trip with a few people. There was one sister that brought a bed, cabinets, dressers, and a large mirror. She was living better in her tent than most of us did at home.

Some people are really into camping. They’re prepared for anything – with solar powered radios, generators, televisions, everything. By the time they’re done, it’s almost as if they never left home.

We are all camping in this world. So if you live seeking comfort in this life, you’ll end up miserable. This life isn’t home. It’s a camping trip. Home is heaven. And that’s where we’ll be, where we’ll close up our tents.

You don’t have to like everything about your life. Don’t live complaining about what you don’t have. Make the most of the time you do have. Live your life on earth in light of eternity.

Do God’s will. Glorify His name, expand His kingdom, and store up your treasures in heaven. For you are not yet home. Your home is a heavenly mansion – and this life on earth is just a camping trip.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3

Today, see everything in this world and your life as part of a camping trip – with nothing permanent. Use it all for that which is eternal.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

A Case Of Cultural Leprosy…

We have a culture and value system that increasingly seeks to avoid pain at any cost. It even affects Christian culture. We may not realize it, but this is a form of leprosy.

The greatest danger of leprosy is that it destroys the nervous system so that the person feels no pain. If their hand is in the fire, they don’t feel it, and the hand is destroyed.

So too, when a culture tries to avoid all pain – it becomes leprous. If you seek to avoid all pain, you will never live a life of righteousness, godliness, and greatness. Righteousness involves sacrifice and even pain.

There is redemption in pain. God created it to alert you of a danger to life. If you have pain in your body, it’s alerting you that something is wrong – so you can address it. If you have pain in your soul, it’s to tell you something is wrong. You can fix it and it can help you.

Don’t go through your life seeking to avoid pain, or have only pleasure. Live your life seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all these other things will be added to you.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:12-14

Today, seek not to avoid pain and pursue pleasure. But seek to pursue righteousness and the will of God, no matter pain or pleasure.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Church Of Moses…

If Moses lived today and ran his ministry as many are run, this would happen: The elders would say, “Moses! We did a focus group and found your public approval ratings are terrible. You’ve got to do something.

People want you to be more tolerant. Some of this stuff – the Ten Commandments and those signs and wonders, like the earth opening up and swallowing people? You’re gonna have to tone that down.”

The point? God is not politically correct and His ways aren’t matters of polling, serving, ratings, popular opinion, or voting. It doesn’t matter what people say. And it doesn’t matter what’s popular. If you go with the crowd, you’ll go off a cliff.

Forget what’s politically correct and follow what’s eternally correct If everyone follows the majority, you be strong and follow God. You only live once. Declare God at His word full strength; no compromise, no watering down.

Take God’s word for yourself the same way – not watered down, palatable, easier, or compromised; but as it is full strength. For Jesus said, “The Truth shall set you free – and not the latest polling data.”

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you”. John 15:19

Today, determine to not do anything to because of the acceptance, rejection, or opinions of man or the majority. But stand strong on the truth of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Living Inside The Triunity…

God contains everything. God is one, and yet triune, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. That means that God can even pray to God – and God can answer those prayers. God can call to God. God can seek God, thank God, and praise God.

So because God is triune, He can even know what it is to know God. And what that means is that when you worship God, God is worshiping God with you. When you pray, God is praying to God with you. When you feel far from God, God is with you feeling far from God as well.

That’s why He’s called Immanuel – God is with us – in everything. When you’re feeling down or weak, He’s feeling down with you – So you’re never alone.

There’s nothing in your life that’s outside of Him. So share everything with Him just as He shares everything with you. Move in His moving, love in His loving, worship in His worshiping, pray in His praying, rejoice in His joy, love in His loving. God is even more than you think He is. He’s so awesome – He’s All in All.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there, your hand will guide me, and your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:7-12

Today, not only spend time worshiping God, but worship from God, in the midst of the love of the Father and the Son.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always

Ed

The Lightness Of The Priesthood…

1 Peter 2:9 calls you a royal priesthood. Priests in Hebrew is kohanim. In Jesus, you’re one of God’s kohanim – the spiritual version of the priests of Israel. All the tribes of Israel had an inheritance in the land, except for Levi and particularly the kohanim – the priests.

They alone had no inheritance, no real estate. The reason is God wanted them to be unattached and free to serve Him, worship Him, and have their hearts on Him. Numbers 18:20 says, “For I shall be their inheritance.” God was their inheritance.

That’s true for you, if you’re His priest. You have no inheritance in this world – your possessions and riches aren’t here. As a priest of God, you can’t get so attached and weighed down by things; God wants you free, so you can serve and glorify Him.

God called you higher and above this world to serve Him, do His will, enter His presence, and know His glory. Live your true calling as a priest of God because He has called you for something much greater than this world. God Himself is your inheritance.

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

Let go of that attachment that is weighing you down. Then, serve the Lord today in the freedom and lightness of your priesthood.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

To Be A Saint…

I was blessed to know Richard Wurmbrand, a leader of the Romanian underground church who was imprisoned for his faith under the communists. He was a leader of the world ministry to persecuted believers, a brilliant and amazing man. He’s listed as one of the greatest believers of this age.

He told me an angel appeared to him with a question: “Why did you never plan to become a saint?” Richard said to me, “It’s true – I planned to become a preacher, pastor, and author, but I never set my heart on becoming a saint. I have known saints, and even though I’m not one, there’s still hope; I’m only 88.”

If a man such as that could say that even he didn’t set out to become holy in the Lord, but he now knows it’s more important than any other goal, let it be your goal to become a saint as well.

You plan many things in your life and put all that effort and energy into it. Instead, put your energy and effort into His plan, more than anything else, this greatest thing – that you become a saint.

Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he hath done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24

Set your heart on becoming a saint today to live holy for the Lord.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Today If You Hear…

Hebrews says, “Today if you hear.” Today is the present. The word present refers to time and space. In space, the present is that which is here. In time, the present is that which is now. Time and space come together in the presence of the present.

People often live their lives dwelling on the past, what was or what was done to them, or on the future, what they’re striving for- working two jobs, neglecting God, family, and the rest of their lives.

Never stopping or taking the blessings of God now, never relating to God now in the present. If you don’t live in the present, you’re going to be living in the ab-sent, with your mind always on other things.

You’ll be absent from your loved ones – wife or husband, children, parents, and God. If you don’t live in the present, neither will you live in His presence. So stop living in the absence and start living a present life.

God is a very present God, a very present help in time of trouble. His presents are only found in His presence in the present now.

For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice, ‘Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness.’ Psalm 95:7-8

Spend time in the present and in the presence of God and your loved ones.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always

Ed

The Power Of The Fallow…

Believers talk about going back to the Book of Acts – God’s Spirit pouring out miracles and power. Why was it so powerful? The Book of Acts was to 100% fallow ground-ground that hadn’t been touched, to people and a world that had never before heard the gospel.

The gospel was going to people and places it had never gone before. It was virtually 100% evangelism and discipleship, new territory, and new soil. That’s why there was conflict, fighting, beating, persecutions, and slander – the light was coming into the darkness for the first time.

The seed of the gospel was being cast as never before to those living in darkness and paganism. But that’s also why it was so powerful. Fallow ground produces the greatest harvest.

So start going out to the world, the unsaved, bringing God’s love to the lost, getting out of your house of worship and bringing the gospel to those who need it – to those who don’t agree, don’t follow, and don’t know.

When you start doing that, there’ll be rejection, struggles, and battles, but there will also be miracles, salvation, and the Book of Acts.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

Today, go out to fallow ground. Apply the Gospel to the unreached and unsaved people around you and to the untouched places of your life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Chosen Love…

Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” In the tale, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Tevia echoes this to his wife after 25 years of an arranged marriage, “Do you love me?” She eventually says, “Yes, I suppose I do.”

Marriages back then were not like today. They were arranged by the parents. There was no romance, infatuation, or head-over-heels emotion. They were just told this is the one. For most of human history, those marriages survived more than marriages of modern times because they were based on commitment.

When you base love on feeling, love becomes fleeting because feelings come and go. You don’t always feel like loving, you choose to. If you are married, it doesn’t matter whether you feel love or not- you have a commitment, a covenant. Love them because you choose to love.

God doesn’t just love you when He feels like it, He made a covenant with you, and it’s an arranged marriage. We’re never commanded to ‘feel’ like loving God. We’re commanded to love Him regardless, with our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Why? Because that’s just what love is.

For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. Isaiah 54:5

Today, practice voluntary love, conscious chosen love. Make the choice to choose to love those you are to love, especially your loved ones.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed