The King's River

Verse of the Day 020212

carrlanebaptist1988 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:00:30 +0000

“According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.” Exodus 39:42-43 (KJV)

Today’s Bible Reading -

Exodus 39 – 40

Wednesday Bible Study 020112

Tim A. — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:23:14 +0000

GRACE: NOT BY MAN

Born of the Free – Galations 4:21-31

Verse 21 - “Ye that desire to be under the law” is what Paul says to the Galation people who have fallen from the truth of the gospel, and to the legalizers/Judaizers.
“Do ye not hear the Law?” certainly a question worth consideration. Can one not understand that the law condemns and unless one is perfect cannot see God, nor even be in His presence.

Verses 22-23 - “That Abraham had two sons” of course speaks of Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was the son of Hagar the Egyptian maid, of the flesh. Isaac was of Abraham’s long time wife, and the son of their promise from God.
Hagar was a “bondmaid” a servant girl to Sarah, and Sarah was the “freewoman”.

Verses 24-25 - “Allegory” from the Greek, “ἀλληγορέω allēgoreo al-lay-gor-eh’-o From G243 andἀγορέω agoreō (to harangue (compare G58); to allegorize. (The Greek word itself.): – be an allegory [the Greek word itself].” “Allegory” according to Mirriam/Webster Dictionary is, “the expression through symbolic figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human conduct or experience”.
The Old Webster Dictionary has this comment about “Allegory” – “The distinction in scripture between a parable and an allegory, is said to be that a parable is a supposed history, and an allegory, a figurative description of real facts.”
In the case of these scriptures Paul is using the historical to illustrate a spiritual truth.
“Two covenants” the first from Mount Sinai and answers to Jerusalem which is in bondage to the law.

Verses 26-28 - The second covenant is “Jerusalem which is above” and “is free”. This Jerusalem would be the heavenly Jerusalem which is where God is and from which the articles of the law (the golden ark, mercy seat, the golden altar of incense, the menorah, the table of showbread, the brasen laver, and the altar of burnt offering, and all the other instruments and tools) came
“We, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” Those who have received Jesus Christ through the gospel which Paul preached are counted by God to be the children of promise.

Verses 29-31 - “He that was born after the flesh” so begins the story of the persecution of the people of God’s promise. There is an envy, even a hatred, by those of the flesh for anything of God.
“Cast out the bondwoman and her son” this indeed did happen to Hagar and Ishmael. Isaac was the true heir to Abraham’s wealth and fortune, and the blessings too. No one of the law will receive anything from God, but shall be cast out, because by the law they have rejected the person of the Law.
Those who are in Christ Jesus are not “children of the bondwoman, but of the free”.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Verse of the Day 020112

carrlanebaptist1988 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:04:32 +0000

“And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” Exodus 38:8 (KJV)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 37 – 38

Prayer of the Month 020112

Tim A. — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:00:57 +0000

“ZAIN
Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for Thy word hath quickened me. The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from Thy law. I remembered Thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself. Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake Thy law. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. I have remembered Thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept Thy law. This I had, because I kept Thy precepts.” Psalm 119:49-56 (KJV)

Verse of the Day 013112

carrlanebaptist1988 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:26:10 +0000

“And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all His service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.” Exodus 35:20-22 (KJV)

Today’s Bible Reading -

Exodus 34 – 36

Verse of the Day 013012

Tim A. — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:16:15 +0000

“And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.” Exodus 32:15-16 (KJV)

Today’s Bible Reading -

Exodus 31 – 33

Verse of the Day 012912

carrlanebaptist1988 — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:02:00 +0000

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, ‘Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: when they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: so they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.’” Exodus 30:17-21 (KJV)

Today’s Bible Reading -

Exodus 29 – 30

Verse of the Day 012812

carrlanebaptist1988 — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:38:05 +0000

“And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.” Exodus 28:36-38 (KJV)

Today’s Bible Reading -

Exodus 26 – 28

Sunday Evening 012912

Tim A. — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:55:33 +0000

Just a note: On Sunday evening we will be devoting the entire evening service to prayer. There may be one song of praise, but then we will be praying specifically for the needs of our church, each individual in the church; the needs of our Nation [USA], our sister churches – locally, State wide, nationally and world wide; and our Missions out reach.

If you cannot join us with your presence, then join us in the Spirit of Christ where ever you find yourself.

-Tim A. Blankenship

VOM Prayer for South Sudan, India, and Laos

Tim A. — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:31:30 +0000

These are posted so Christians who come here may join us in praying for our brethren around the world who are faithful to Christ and suffering for it.

VOM-USA Prayer Update for January 27, 2012

The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Hebrews 13:3

SOUTH SUDAN—Gunmen Attack Village
Source: VOM Contacts

Job 5:10–12

He gives rain on the earth,
And sends waters on the fields.
He sets on high those who are lowly,
those who mourn are lifted to safety.
He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.

Gunmen shot and killed a number of people in a South Sudan village last week, exposing VOM workers to potential danger. On Jan. 17, a VOM worker reported that gunmen had killed a man named Godana, who had gone to fetch water for his family. “Godana was the watchman at the compound for more than 20 years,” the worker said. “I knew him well.” The town is small, and residents walk between shops and the market, making them vulnerable to attack. “I’m very concerned about our staff and their families,” the worker said. Pray for the safety of our staff in the region and for other Christians during this dangerous period.

India—Hindu Nationalists Attack Prayer Meeting
Sources: Global Council of Indian Christians, Asia News

2 Corinthians 2:8–10

Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

Hindu radicals invaded a pastor’s home on Jan. 9, severely beating several of the 20 believers who had gathered at the home near Bangalore for a prayer service. At about 10:30 p.m., a group of Hindu nationalists rushed in with clubs and iron rods and began to beat the Christians. The attackers, who accused the Christians of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity, disappeared after the attack. Pastor Shanthakumar, 39, lost a finger on his left hand during the attack, a young man received a serious injury to his leg, and a woman received head injuries and suffered nerve damage in her right hand. All those admitted to the hospital were released two days later. Police are searching for the attackers, but no arrests have been made. Pray that the faith of these believers will remain strong and that they will be obedient to God. Pray also for Pastor Shanthakumar, who oversees two churches that he founded in the area.

Laos—Christian Leaders Released
Source: Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Seven Christian leaders who were arrested during a Christmas service nearly one month ago in Boukham village, Laos, were unconditionally released on Jan. 12. The village chief ordered authorities to raid the service on Dec. 16, 2011, and the seven leaders were held without charge until Dec. 30. Freedom of religion is guaranteed in the Lao constitution, so authorities were unable to charge the pastors with violating a religion law. Instead, the leaders were eventually charged with violating the village’s customs and beliefs known as hiit, and they were fined the equivalent of $1,425, about 35 times the average monthly wage. International organizations pressured authorities to release the Christians, and they received their unconditional release three days after their families filed complaints against Boukham village authorities. Praise God for the release of these Christian leaders, and pray for them as they return to their families and churches.

Thanks for your prayers.

-posted by Tim A. Blankenship