The Full Armor of God consists of six pieces: 1. The Belt of Truth 2. The Breastplate of Righteousness 3. Feet Prepared with the Gospel of Peace 4. The Shield of Faith 5. The Helmet of Salvation 6. The Sword of the Spirit

Jesus says, "I AM the True Vine!" In this seventh and last "I AM" statement that Jesus makes in the Gospel of John, He is comparing Himself to a grapevine. Read John 15:1-4 15 “I am the true vine. My Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch joined to me that does not bear fruit. He trims every branch that does bear fruit. Then it will bear even more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain joined to me, just as I also remain joined to you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain joined to the vine. In the same way, you can’t bear fruit unless you remain joined to me. Remain in Jesus!

"I AM the Light of the World!" Genesis 1:1-5 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth didn’t have any shape. And it was empty. There was darkness over the surface of the waves. At that time, the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good. He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day.” He called the darkness “night.” There was evening, and there was morning. It was day one. Jesus is the Light of the World. The world cannot exist in darkness where it is lost and hopeless. No one can see or lead others in the darkness, light is necessary to guide us and lead us forward. We need the Light of Jesus. His light represents purity and holiness. Hope, love, peace and joy come from the Light of the World - Jesus. Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God died an agonizing death on the cross carrying your sins and my sins with Him to the grave. Let the light of Christ come into your lives. He loves you so very much and wants you to follow His Light – so He can lead you out of the darkness. Those who follow Jesus, never have to walk in darkness again. Praise His Holy Name!

Jesus is the Bread of Life! Do you have any bread in your kitchen? And by bread, I mean a bagel, brioche, ciabatta, focaccia, pretzel, biscuit, (rye, white, multigrain or whole wheat bread), croissant, English muffin, breadstick, cracker, or pizza? Bread, like milk and eggs, is a staple in most people’s kitchens today. Many of us eat some type of bread at least once a day. We are talking about the first “I AM” Statement that Jesus said in John 6:35 . . . 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”   Jesus tells us that God provides not only our daily, physical nourishment, He also provided us, through His death and resurrection, with the eternal bread that God would later provide. That's why it was so significant when Jesus called himself "The Bread of Life." He presented himself as the people's fundamental source of spiritual nourishment, every bit as important as their primary -- and sometimes only -- source of physical nourishment: that being bread.

God reveals to Moses who He is. God is speaking with Moses in a burning bush that does not get consumed by the fire. God wants Moses to ask Pharaoh to let God's people go. When Moses asks God who He is, God replied, "I AM WHO I AM!" Exodus 3:9-15

The Gospel of John is the fourth book of the New Testament. John was one of Jesus' Twelve Disciples and he was the one 'whom Jesus loved.' John presents Jesus as "The Son of God!" In the beginning of the Book of John (John 1:1), John tells us that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." John then writes in John 1:14 . . . "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Verily, Jesus is the only begotten son of God!

The Gospel According to Luke is the third book of the New Testament and is the only one of the four gospels that is presented to us in chronological order. Luke was a physician and an accurate historian who saw the Resurrected Jesus and presents Him as the Son of Man, a person who is 100% God and 100% man. In Luke 19:10, Luke tells us about the Son of Man who came to seek and save the lost. Read the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.

"How the Four Gospels Present Jesus!" Elder Kathy Barto - Avondale Presbyterian Church in Avondale, PA. 1. Matthew Presents Jesus as a King/Deity 2. Mark Presents Jesus as a Suffering Servant/Healer/Human 3. Luke Presents Jesus as The Son of Man/Human 4. John Presents Jesus as The Son of God/Deity

The Gospel According to Mark is the second book in the New Testament and the oldest of the four Gospels. Jesus is presented by Mark as a suffering servant and a healer. Jesus came to earth not to be served - but to serve. Mark showed us that Jesus was 100% God and 100% man who came to serve us as a means of showing us how to live our lives: in servitude to one another and in service to God.

How Does Matthew Present Jesus? This is the first of a Four-Part Series on "How the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John present Jesus. In the Gospel According to Matthew, Matthew (a former tax collector, disciple of Jesus' and a true follower), presents Jesus as King! The Beatitudes, The Lord's Prayer, The Golden Rule and the Great Commission are all included in the Book of Matthew.

"Persistence Pays!" There are two parables that Jesus taught to His Disciples: 1. The Parable of the Persistent Widow and The Crooked Judge and 2. The Parable of the Persistent Neighbor These parables taught the disciples that they are to pray often, never ceasing. When we pray, we need to . . . 1. Pray according to God's Will 2. Never cease praying - regardless of our situations in life 3. Thank God for answered prayers 4. Be certain that you are praying with a clean heart God bless you!

Many Christians, through prayer, ask God to provide a Hedge of Protection around a loved one, around a particular life situation, or around a particular structure - such as a home. As believers, we know that God has promised to always protect us as Jesus so clearly tells us in John 10:28-30 . . . "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are One!"

"Love One Another As I Have Loved You!" Perhaps the most well-known piece of scripture that contains 'one another' is John 13:34-35 . . . 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. Before Jesus was able to give His Disciples this New Commandment, He had to call out Judas Iscariot as His Betrayer. (See John 13:21-27). After Jesus gave Judas the bread, Satan went into him and he left the room.

"The Great Chasm" In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Jesus talks about a great chasm that exists between Heaven and Hades. No one can leave either place and go to the other - ever. Jesus is "The way, the truth and the life." No one goes to the Father except through Him. By accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, repenting of your sins, asking for God's forgiveness, and receiving the Holy Spirit, you are saved. This means that after your physical death, you will be with Jesus in Heaven for all eternity. Praise God!

In the Book of Matthew, Chapter 23, Jesus tells of the Seven Woes. He is referring to the Woes of Judgement against the Teachers of the Law of Moses and the Pharisees, who were experts in theological matters that the Scriptures raised. The word Jesus uses, which is woven through all seven of these woes, is “hypocrite.”

"In God We Trust!" In 1776, “E Pluribus Unum” Latin for “one from many,” was the motto proposed for the first Great Seal of the United States by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Let’s FAST-FORWARD 180 years to July 30, 1956. On this day, the 84th Congress of the United States passed a joint resolution declaring IN GOD WE TRUST to be the new national motto. It was to appear on all American Currency. The resolution passed both the House and the Senate unanimously, without debate, and President Eisenhower signed the bill into law. Psalm 91:2 says . . . I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 2 Corinthians 1:10 says . . . "Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us." Trust in Jesus FIRST - ALWAYS!

Biblical Hope is Confident Expectation! The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 15:13 . . . "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." As Christians, instead of wishing for something to happen, we know that our hope is solid and concrete because it is grounded in the Bible - the Word of God, and it's against God's nature to lie. Anything against God's nature is sin! This is confirmed in Numbers 23:19 . . . God is not a man. He will not lie. God is not a human being. He does not change His mind. What He says He will do, He does. What He promises, He keeps. Praise be to God!

"Keep Your Fork" is a wonderful story, attributed to Roger William Thomas, about meeting Jesus after we die and living with Him forever. As Christians, we are comforted in the knowledge that death has no power over us because of what Christ did for us on the cross. To read John The Elder's account of Heaven when he was shown it, read Revelation 21:1-27.

We can see an example of God’s fine-tuning in Exodus 31:1-11. This is where God provides Bezalel with everything he needs to be the artisan of the tabernacle and to build The Arc of the Covenant. Listen to what the Lord said to Moses: 31 . . . 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahizamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— 8 the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand— 10 and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”

Being pretty sure is not the same as being certain. As Christians, we are certain that we are going to Heaven to be with Jesus when we die. It is through Christ Jesus that we find love, hope, peace, and joy in this lifetime, knowing that we shall be with Him forever after we pass away. Praise be to God!

Intercessory Prayer is vital in our walk with the Lord. Stand in the Gap!

What is Original Sin?

Jesus said to the disciple Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” After His Resurrection, Jesus stayed on the earth for forty days and was seen by Mary Magdalene, His Disciples, the two travelers and to over 500 brothers at one time. Jesus knew that we had to see the physical proof of His Resurrection. We had to see that He is Risen and that He is alive! Praise God!

Let's revisit Easter – the day that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. A lot happened on that Sunday, so let’s walk through it.

This Sunday is Easter! It is THE most celebrated day of the year for Christians throughout the world! It is the day that we are reminded that "Christ, our Lord, is Risen!" As Christians, we trust in what Jesus did for us on the cross and in His Resurrection! Praise, glory and honor be to God! In Jesus' Holy, Precious Name!

Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week: - On Holy Monday and Tuesday, Jesus cleansed the Temple of merchants, etc. - On Holy Wednesday, aka Spy Wednesday, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. - On Holy Thursday, aka Maundy Thursday, Jesus held His Last Supper. During this meal, Jesus commanded that His disciples “love one another as I have loved you.” We celebrate Communion to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross in order to give us everlasting life. Jesus also washed his disciples’ feet and pointed out Judas as his betrayer. Later that evening, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas handed Jesus over to the Temple Guards. - On Good Friday, Jesus was crucified and died. - On Easter Sunday, Jesus, our Risen Lord and Savior, cheated death and rose with a resurrected body and now sits at the right hand of God in Heaven.

The Parable of the Sower is found in Matthew 13:3-9. Jesus talks about a farmer who scatters seed. The Seed is God's Message. Read Jesus' explanation of this parable in Matthew 13:18-23. Here is the first verse . . . "Listen! Here is the meaning of the story of the farmer."

Christians know that true happiness and joy come from believing that Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, died and rose three days later with a resurrected body so that we (believers) can have eternal life. Jesus brought our sins (past, present and future) to the cross with him when He was crucified. Our sins died with Jesus who now sits at the right hand of God in Heaven. Believers are righteous in God's eyes. Praise be to God!

The Parable of the Mustard Seed - Matthew 13:31-32 31 . . . “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” The Parable of the Leaven - Matthew 13:33 “. . . The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

"The Parable of the Cloth and The Parable of the Wine Skins!" Jesus told parables (stories) using items that were typical of that time. He was talking about the New Covenant. The people of Israel had been living under the Mosaic Covenant which would disappear upon Jesus' Resurrection. The reason that it would disappear is because you can't mix the new with the old. We are living with the New Covenant. Those who believe that Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross as a final sacrifice to God for the sins of man, who repent of their sins and ask God's forgiveness are assured their place in Heaven. Praise be to God!