Benevolence

 Praise the LORD!!!

    Today is a great day!!! Why? Because it is another one that the LORD has blessed us with, not just life itself, but HE's given us the ability to share HIS awesome love for us with all those around us!!!

   HIS awesome love for mankind goes so much deeper than we can even begin to imagine. We've the greatest shown through HIS death upon the cross for us. Yet, we tend to over look many of the other ones. "What other ones?" you may ask! Let us look at HIS ministry on earth then.

   In most places in the 'four GOSPELS', we see JESUS, walking among the masses or seated among a group of people. Seldom do we see HIM alone, except for those times, where HE snuck away for private time in prayer with the FATHER. Now, we don't have a full account of all the events that took place during HIS life, so that which I'm going to set forth, may be considered as conjecture. Let me say though, this is HOLY SPIRIT guided conjecture:)))

   When we hear of JESUS' ministry, we should be able to see a pattern developing, one of order, which for the most part was continually followed by HIM and even by the apostles after HIS departure. There were the healings and acts of benevolence always witnessed, before HE began HIS teachings. From the title, you should be able to see that it is not the healings that this article is about, but the benevolence. Those acts of charity(love) that are the topic.

   For the most part, we're only let in on two of the most miraculous ones, the feeding of the masses. The 4000+ and 5000+. Now if you reckon these numbers, as the Hebrews would, the numbers were far greater, for these were just the head count of the 'men,' those heads of households, not all the women and children which were in attendance, so these numbers could be greatly multiplied.

   These accounts were only the two 'greatest,' what about all the rest of the time? How many sat down with JESUS, besides HIS disciples, daily?  I have to wonder, if HIS procession didn't look more like the exodus, than that of a small group of wanderers? Just take into consideration what we see today, when some famous person comes into the area. The mass of followers that seek the person's attendance to them, in some way. These are just regular people, not the messiah or future king of the nation, so how much greater was HIS following, then we're allowed to witness!!!

   Yet it is not the numbers, that I seek your focus to be upon, but that which HE shared with them. Not just HIS WORDS, but that love, those provisions. How many sat  with HIM at meal time and went away satisfied? How many, walked along side of HIM and had their daily needs met? Not just their spiritual needs, but those physical needs that are a matter of life and death in such a land as that? We hear of those women that provided for HIS needs daily, that accompanied HIM along HIS way! We hear of HIS 'paying the temple tax' from the mouth of a fish! We do not hear though, of how HIS everyday needs were met! Yet, being very GOD, I'm sure there were many miracles, that even the disciples weren't aware of:)))

   It would be fair to say that the habits of those of the first century church, could impact our understanding better the great acts of benevolence that took place among JESUS' procession through the holy lands. For though they weren't told to do so, they gathered together, giving of all that they had. Giving at much of the time far beyond measure. So great was this desire to give and supply the needs of all, that they sold almost all that they owned!!!

   There is much here to be digested, so I'm going to leave it here and let these thoughts sink into your hearts. I'm also going to post many scripture here for you, as a follow up on our topic. I pray, you'll enjoy, as the LORD opens your eyes to a fuller understanding of HIS ways, while on earth!!!


Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!
 Deut. 15:7–15, 18. Lev. 25:35–43. Psa. 41:1; Psa. 112:9; Prov. 3:27, 28; Prov. 11:25; Prov. 22:9; Prov. 25:21, 22; Prov. 28:27; Isa. 58:6, 7, 10, 11; Ezek. 18:5, 7–9; Matt. 5:42; Matt. 19:21 Mark 10:21. Matt. 25:35–45; Mark 9:41; Luke 3:11; Luke 11:41; Acts 6:1–4; Acts 11:29, 30; Rom. 15:25–27; 1 Cor. 13:3; 1 Cor. 16:1–3; 2 Cor. 8:1–15, 24; 2 Cor. 9:1–15; Gal. 2:10; Phil. 4:10–18; 1 Tim. 5:8, 16; 1 Tim. 6:18; Heb. 6:10; Heb. 13:16; Jas. 2:15, 16; 1 John 3:17



Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org 

GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries

Learning from Nature

 Praise the LORD!!!

    I'm sitting here this morning looking out my window, watching an unusual act of nature. A woodpecker, eating from the ground! For the most part they're constantly scavenging up and down the trees. Seeking out all the insects they can gather. With this being a year of heavy cicada population, there's been a adaptation to this normal behavior.

   As some of you may know, cicadas lay their eggs in the tender tips of a trees branches. This makes it almost impossible for a woodpecker to obtain these treats. But, after they've matured a while, they'll emerge from the branches and fall to the ground, where they'll borrow into it, for the continuation of the next faze of their lifecycle. It is here that the woodpeckers are having a feast as of late, chowing down on the unmeasurable wealth provided for them.

   We, as Christians, should remember this, for it is not always in the usual way that GOD often will supply our means. Many a time it will done in ways that are out of the ordinary and we must be prepared to come down from our perches on high and dig thru the dirt, to find our abundant blessings!!!


Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org 

GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries

At the moment...

 Praise the LORD!!!

   I(the LORD through me) wants you to think about something!!! At the moment you personally accept JESUS as your LORD and SAVIOR, the HOLY SPIRIT takes up residence within your heart. This is not an anointing of the SPIRIT, but the seal of the bond between you and HE. Now think upon this well!!! Everything you say, think or do is now being done in the very presence of GOD!!!!!!!

   I could go on greatly from here, for my life(since CHRIST) has been and exciting one to say the least and I've realized this fact from the beginning. But, I'm led to leave you at this alone. To think upon all that you do within this life. All that you say within this life and all that you think. Every moment, from conversion onward, IS  in the very presence of GOD HIMself:)))))))


Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org 

GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries