END TIMES WITNESSING: TESTIMONY OF THE BLOOD of JESUS

BACKGROUND
Exodus 12:13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Leviticus 1:5 He shall kill the bull before the LORD; and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
JESUS SHED HIS BLOOD FOR MANY TO ENTER THE NEW COVENANT
Jesus who had no sin, became sin for us. He shed His precious blood so that we can be redeemed and set free. (Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” )
By shedding His blood, He qualified those who believe in Him to enter the New Covenant. ( John 19:34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.)
Jesus’ blood for the New Covenant
Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 27:25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Mark 14:24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Luke 22:20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
John 6:53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. John 6:54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. John 6:56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
Blood is life
Acts 21:25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.” (Genesis 9:4 “But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.”) Acts 17:26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
God has purchased the church (all believers) with His Son’s blood
Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Romans 3:25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Jesus’ blood cleansed us from all sins.
1 Peter 1:2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 1 Peter 1:19 [you were redeemed] but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
The Holy Communion’s true meaning: The Covenant
1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:27 [ Examine Yourself ] Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
Hebrews 13:20 [ Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell ] Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant
Only the Blood of Jesus could take away sins
Jesus’ blood fulfilled God’s complete holy requirement and replaced the blood of sacrificial animals used in the Old Testament.
Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, Hebrews 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, Hebrews 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. Hebrews 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, Hebrews 9:20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” Hebrews 9:21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Hebrews 9:25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Hebrews 10:19 [ Hold Fast Your Confession ] Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, Hebrews 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. Hebrews 12:24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 13:11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Hebrews 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
Jesus’ blood is God’s witness
1 John 5:6 [ The Certainty of God’s Witness ] This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 1 John 5:8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
End Times witnessing: the blood of the Lamb
Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “ You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
Revelation 7:14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Revelation 19:13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
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There is no other witnessing more powerful than the witness of the blood of Jesus, our Savior, our Lord. Those who believe will be covered under His blood. They will be able to enter the Most Holy, into the Presence of God. We all need this assurance for end times survival. The protection in Psalm 91 is ours only on this condition!

End Time Assignment to all Christians: Witnessing

The Holy Spirit gives power to witness Jesus to all nations
Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Jesus gave importance to witnessing: John 8:14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. John 8:18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” John 10:25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. John 12:17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. John 15:27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Jesus is the true witness: Revelation 1:5 from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, Revelation 3:14 [ To The Lukewarm Church ] “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness,’
God (Holy Spirit) also witness: Heb. 10:15 “But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,” Hebrews 2:4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? Hebrews 10:15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

1 John 5:6 [ The Certainty of God’s Witness ] This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 1 John 5:8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. 1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 1 John 5:10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.

Disciples accepted the importance of witnessing: Acts 1:22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” Acts 2:32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Acts 3:15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Acts 5:32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 10:43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” Acts 14:3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. Revelation 1:2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

Paul’s witnessing: Acts 22:15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. Acts 23:11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” Acts 26:16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. Acts 26:22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—

Many witnesses: 1 Tim.6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 2 Tim.2:2 “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Heb. 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Peter and John: 1 Peter 5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 1 John 1:2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—

Old Testament witnesses (the prophets):
Hosea 12:10 I have also spoken by the prophets, And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.”
Isaiah 43:10 “ You are My witnesses,” says the LORD, “ And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. Isaiah 43:12 I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses,” Says the LORD, “that I am God. Isaiah 44:8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.” Isaiah 55:4 Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people.

Origin of witnessing: Genesis 31:44 “Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness  between you and me.”
God’s words witness: Numbers 17:7 And Moses placed the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. Acts 7:44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen,” (the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments referred to as the witness/testimony contained within the ark of covenant). Deuteronomy 31:26 “Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you; Deuteronomy 31:28 Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them.

Management for Christians (3): how are you managing?

How are you managing? We always ask others this way. Often, the reply is, “Just/barely managing.” A Christian will reply, “Praise the Lord, we are managing.” (Often the reply does not reveal the real situation. Managing has become a cliche.)

1. The word ‘managing’ refers to ‘living’. Managing is synonymous with living.

2. There is no other word which so boldly claims its importance in daily living. We therefore need to learn effective management in all aspects of life.

3. Management is all about living your life. How you want to live your life will affect how effective your management will be.

4. Your values impact your management of life. Do you know your values? Why do you live?

5. Management is based on the ‘why’ and then works on the ‘how’. When you know why you live, you can then work on how to live an effective life.

6. How to manage effectively? You need a management road map.

7. A Christian management road map includes the following navigation tools:  a Bible, a heart that is willing to listen to the Holy Spirit, an attitude that is open to learning.

A. Bible: you need a New Spirit Filled Life Bible -Kingdom equipping through the power of the Word (Thomas Nelson Bibles)

B. Holy Spirit: you need to pray to be filled by the Holy Spirit.

C. Open attitude: An attitude that submit totally to God and resist the devil daily.

8. Be prepared to receive revelations daily from the spiritual realm. Your road map is a living reality. A dynamic force.

9. Be adventurous as you will be required to sail into uncharted waters and break into new territories.

10. Be hopeful for a life that will not be the same once you are on course on this new management journey!

Management for Christians (2)

What are some essential requirements for effective management? Here are some tips.
1. Effective management works on the assumption that resources are scarce and limited and valuable.
2. Effective management’s success does not depend on the dead know how (systems, records, files, figures, practices). Effective management’s success comes from the availability of and effective use of dynamic living things: e.g. people who manage and are being managed, and other essential resources (tangible and non-tangible: opportunities, time, money, premises, equipment, technology, creativity, relationship, distribution channels etc.) that can produce, create values and contribute to desired growth.
3. Effective management means using available and limited resources in optimum combinations to produce maximized results/targets as expected.
4. A primitive man with the basic essential resources can still produce something even when he has to start from zero with no figures, no files, no records, no established system etc.
5. In a modern organization, management system is created or adopted to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of management, often with the objective of maximizing and optimizing the use of limited resources for improvement and expansion of desired results (in quantity and quality).
6. Management system changes overtime like a live creature, adapting to various forces (internal and external environment) working for survival. It therefore requires to renew and often transform, to keep up if not move ahead of its competition for scarce resources.
7. Effective management system aims to be ahead of the pack, based on the assumption that desirable resources are scarce.
8. Christian management system is different from others. The main distinction is the management manual (the words of God).
9. When Christian managers follow God’s management manual, he can only succeed. This is guaranteed by the ultimate Authority Himself.
10. Effective Christian management practice requires: faith in the unseen God, supernatural belief in all His promises, knowledge of and adherence to the words of God, submission to His will and being led by the Holy Spirit in all aspects of decision making and operational execution.

Management pearls for Christians (1)

To some, management is like a part of life and indeed encompasses many daily living aspects whether one knows it or not. We put down some thoughts (in bullet form) on the management of life in view of such a lot of management messes out there even for Christians.

1. Management is part of daily living. You can live on comfortably by managing effectively.
2. You manage effectively by identifying values, setting goals and priorities, and act on them accordingly.
3. The most important thing is to identify your values. If tomorrow is end day what would be the one thing you do today? Give top priority to do that one thing.
4. Focus your resources on doing the one thing that guarantees to bring you to your goals.
5.  Do not manage by documentation or theory. Manage by practice (e.g. act on your faith, be doers of the Word, walk by the Spirit.)
6. Manage lives (people) and not dead things (system).
7. Admit that there is no perfect plan or program or man (woman). There is only one perfect Savior (God).
8.  Build on solid foundation. Who is your foundation (your real Rock)?(Don’t be like the foolish man who built on sand).
9. Use one management manual that lasts, the Word of God.
10. Be accountable (to yourself, family, human authorities, and the ultimate Authority in heaven).