twomessageministers

Identification

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:37:00 +0000

"This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
~ St. John 6:29b

The following link is a response to the recent news article ran by WHAS11 in regards to the followers of Brother Branham's ministry.

http://branham.org/20120519_LocalNewsArticle

Two Message Ministers is proud to be identified with the ministry of Rev. William Marrion Branham, and Voice Of God Recordings.

Nathan Bryant
(co-founder, and contributing author of www.twomessageministers.com)

Trevor Emond
(co-founder, and contributing author of www.twomessageministers.com)

identify * (verb)
to associate in name, feeling, interest, action, etc
(dictionary.com)

"He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward."
~ St. Matthew 10:41

Thought Of The Day: Comparisons

noreply@blogger.com (Bro Trevor) — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:04:00 +0000

My turn!! My turn!! Bro Nathan has been posting all these “thought of the day” posts recently and I realized that if I didn’t get in on this action, everyone would think he has been more spiritual than I lately. I can’t let that happen!!

*cough*

com•pare
verb (used with object)
1) to examine (two or more objects, ideas, people, etc.) inorder to note similarities and differences: to compare twopieces of cloth; to compare the governments of two nations.

II CORINTHIANS 10:12
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

I started today’s thought out with a comparison. “People will begin to think Nathan is more spiritual than me lately, because he’s blogging more than me on spiritual matters.” What’s worse is if *I* begin to make the same comparison myself!

Paul was very cognizant of this very human nature, and quick to tell us we aren’t wise when we do this.

How about a few examples - just see if you can make a comparison in your own life! (I love ironies!)

“Well, I need grace just as much as the next guy of course, but at least I’m not legalistic like those stuffed-shirt-holier-than-thou’s over there. They think they know everything too”

Not wise.

“I wish I were more like Bro Edwardian. Wow, what a brother. One day I hope the Lord makes me as good of a Christian as he is.”

Not wise.

“I’m more passionate about God than anyone else in my church!”

Uh…that’s really nice. But…not wise.

We don’t compare ourselves to others. That’s not a mark of anything. Even our holiness standards sometimes are compared based off the world. As long as we’re “holier than the general worldly standard” we are obviously holiness people right? - Not wise.

We should always compare our lives by the Word of God (written and revealed) with the leadership of the Holy Ghost in our lives. That’s a real comparison.

55-1001 EXPECTATION_ SHAWANO.WI SATURDAY_
“So this woman, finally, she got--fell in love with a man, neighbor. And she left her husband, and run off, and married this man, and continued playing the piano in the church. And after while, she left him and married another one. And she thought she was doing all right.
And then finally, ended up as a common-law wife. What was it? Her soul told her in the beginning, "Don't do that." But she reasoned, "Now, if the rest of the woman can do this, why can't I do it?" But down in her soul was a Spirit that said, "Don't do that; keep away from that; that's not right." But yet, she fought against that, and cast that aside, and she went to reasoning. Don't you see? Don't reason, just believe. Believe God's Word; don't try to reason it out. Just what God said is the truth. And believe that to be the truth. And don't go to your reasonings; go to your experience, to Christ in the heart and compare it with God's Word.” ~ WMB 55-1001

So don’t compare yourself to others as a measuring stick - that's very dangerous. Check up by the Word of God.

Don’t let your spiritual walk come down to proving others wrong by the Word…that’s a comparison too.

“What is it that caused this misunderstanding? The answer is, "EXPERIENCE". We have gone by experience and not the Word. Away with experience as your measuring line. There is only one plumb line, only one rod, and that is the WORD.” WMB Church Age Book

Just walk reverently and daily seeking Him.

Thought Of The Day: Idleness

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:01:00 +0000

"Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." (Proverbs 19:15)

idle (adjective)
1. not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing: idle workers.
2. not spent or filled with activity: idle hours.
3. not in use or operation; not kept busy: idle machinery.
4. habitually doing nothing or avoiding work; lazy.
5. of no real worth, importance, or significance: idle talk.
(dictionary.com)

Has Satan set a trap of idleness for you?

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." (Proverbs 6:6-8)

Have you permitted a lazy, lukewarm, Laodicean spirit to take control of your life?

John Wesley wrote in his journal, “It was in pursuance of an advice given by Bishop Taylor, in his 'Rules for Holy Living and Dying', that, about fifteen years ago, I began to take a more exact account than I had done before, of the manner wherein I spent my time, writing down how I had employed every hour."

Whether in the natural, or especially the Spiritual; the Bible refers to idleness as a sin.

"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (I Timothy 5:8)

Have we found ourselves in a condition where we are no longer providing (naturally or spiritually) for ourselves, or our families?

Are we too lax to read our Bibles and pray like we should?

"You say, "Brother Branham, I'm no prostitute."
I don't altogether mean sexually. Prostitution's on a higher level. You can prostitute your time. How much time do you give to Him?"
'Pride' (55-0807A) ~ William Marrion Branham

Have we become so unconcerned that we no longer have a burden for lost souls?

Have we allowed ourselves to become so selfish that we only think of ourselves?

"Neither be ye idolaters...
Oh, you say, 'I thank God that I'm not an idolater'. Wait just a minute. Let's examine it by the Word. Say, 'I wouldn't worship an idol'. That doesn't altogether mean you worship an idol. You just have to be idle, doing nothing. Go to church. Yeah, that's all right, go back home, do nothing about it. Brother, a real borned again man or woman can't stand still. There's something in them. They've got to testify. They got to do something. They are bound to do something. They can't hold their peace."
'Corinthians Book Of Correction (57-0414) ~ William Marrion Branham

May these words sink deep into our understanding! May they shake us from our idleness!

My prayer is that God will help us to take account of every moment so that we stop wasting precious moments that could be used for His glory with idle words, or an idle condition, and redeem the time that He has given us.

"Let us then be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait. "
'A Psalm Of Life' ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:16)

Thought Of The Day: Addicted

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:39:00 +0000

"I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth." (1 Corinthians 16:15-16)

Those who lived in Stephanas' house were addicted to the ministry.

What are you addicted to?

addict (verb)
to cause to become physiologically or psychologically dependent on an addictive substance
to habituate or abandon (oneself) to something compulsively or obsessively
(dictionary.com)

addicted (adjective)
devoted or given up to a practice or habit or to something psychologically or physically habit-forming
(dictionary.com)

Thought Of The Day: Liberty

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:37:00 +0000

"... where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty." (II Corinthians 3:17b)

liberty (noun)
1. freedom; independence
2. impertinent freedom or familiarity
(dictionary.com)

Jesus (quoting Isaiah 61:1-2a) proclaimed that the very purpose of His ministry was to preach deliverance to the captive, liberty to the bruised, receiving of sight to the blind, healing to the brokenhearted, and the preaching of the gospel to the poor.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
(St. Luke 4:18-19)

If we really believe II Corinthians 3:17 then we must believe that when the Spirit of the LORD is present then liberty will be present as well. Whether we are in a church, in our home, in our vehicles, in prison, in another country, or wherever we are.

If His Spirit truly abides with us then liberty and freedom of Spirit will abide with us as well.

Freedom to worship Him in Spirit and truth.

Freedom to give Him all of our praise.

Freedom to do whatever He leads us to do.

Liberty!

"Give me liberty, or give me death." ~ Patrick Henry

Thought Of The Day: Conformed

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:51:00 +0000

Will you allow the world to conform you to it's standards?

Will you allow religious tradition to mold you to it's standards?

Or will you allow Christ to mold you into His Image by His Spirit and His Word?

conform: "to be or become similar in form, nature, or character" (dictionary.com)

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

"For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son..." (Romans 8:29a)

Easter Sunday 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:04:00 +0000

Easter 2012

We trust that each of you had as much of a blessed Easter weekend,

and Easter services as our LORD Jesus blessed us with this year.

We were privileged to spend the weekend with precious friends & family.

- Bro. Nathan Bryant & family

"And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout,

Behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth,

They said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen..."

(St. Luke 24:4-6a)

"Let's follow the Captain. Let's follow Him that went to Calvary. When He went to Calvary, He was wounded for our transgressions; with His stripes we were healed.
Take that what He gives you and fight sickness and sin. Fight unbelief away. Tell the devil he's a liar. Christ said He has overcome the world. "Greater is He that's in you than he that's in the world." Greater is the power of Christ in you than that sickness that you have in your body tonight. Greater is the power of Christ than that little besetting sin that you can't overcome. Let's take that Holy Spirit, and fight the devil down, and walk out victorious as the heroes of the cross." ~ William Marrion Branham (58-0128) 'The Oneness Of Unity'

PA Ministry Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Bro Trevor) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 13:29:00 +0000

Last week, my family and I headed up to the Rexmont, PA area for a wedding, services, and a short family vacation.

Saturday, we attended the wedding ceremony of a young brother from the Tabernacle and a young sister from Rexmont Christian Fellowship. We pray God's richest blessings on them as they start out. We're hoping after the honeymoon period we'll have a new piano teacher in our area now! My children are ready to start.

On Sunday, we attended services at Rexmont Christian Missions Fellowship in Rexmont, PA. Bro David Sanger pastors a very fine, precious group of saints. When Bro David found out we were headed to the wedding, he was sure to tell me I'd be speaking for the services that weekend. I took a title of "Millennium without Repentance" that morning. I did a teaching style for the evening and did an overview of the Seven Seals and how they apply to "normal life".

Bro David Sanger and I

After the services and fellowship on Sunday. We toured Philadelphia, Hershey, PA, and Gettysburg. We stayed on a dairy farm where the kids enjoyed playing in the barn.

We were so very graciously taken care of the whole time we were there. I can only pray that we were as much of a blessing to the saints in that area, as they were to us.

This preacher was trying to ride a unicycle at a fellowship after the wedding. Good thing he didn't break his neck, he had to preach the next morning!

My wife and I at the dairy farm. Picture taken by the Farmer's Wife.

God Bless you all!

-Bro Trevor

4 Reasons For Revival

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:42:00 +0000

"So the great thing that we're after for any revival, is [to bring lost souls to Christ] first; [revive the church back into a spiritual condition, to where it should be, close communion with God]; [bring fellowship among the churches], third; and fourth, [pray for the sick]. That's--that's our aim, our try, is sinners first, fellowship and--with the churches, and a close walk with the church to God, and then pray for the sick."

~ Rev. William Marrion Branham (59-1123)

Who Is My Neighbour?

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The commandment to "love they neighbour as thyself" is used seven different times throughout the Bible. (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8)

In St. Matthew 22:35-40 Jesus tells a lawyer that "all the law and the prophets" hang on two commandments. "Love they neighbour as thyself was second only to, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind)."

Quite possibly the same lawyer (wishing "to justify himself") asks Jesus in St.Luke chapter ten, "Who is my neighbour?" Jesus goes on to tell him the story of 'The Good Samaritan'. In this story we find that those who should have felt obligated to help a man of their own religion and nationality (who had been robbed, and badly injured) neglect to do so. Then someone he would have probably avoided even speaking to (because of racial and religious prejudice) had he not been in his current circumstances, goes out of their way to help him at the expense of their own time and finances.

Geographically, religiously, doctrinally, and racially 'The Good Samaritan' was not his neighbor (even though those who passed him by were), but Jesus asks this lawyer, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

The lawyer wisely answers, "He that shewed mercy on him". Then Jesus tells him to, "Go, and do thou likewise."

1 John 4:20 tells us that, "If a man say, 'I love God', and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"

Who is your neighbor? Is it the family member closest to you? The person on the pew beside you in church who sees things the same as you doctrinally? Those of the same color, religion, or nationality as you?

Who should we help? Those who we know can return the favor someday? Those who can do something in return to help our position in the church, or at work, or in society? Those who believe exactly the way we do?

"If ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." (St. Luke 6:32-36)

Blacksburg, VA - Trip Report (February 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:30:00 +0000

Saturday, February 11th, 2012

On Saturday I drove to Blacksburg, VA with my wife Rebekah, and our three children. It was snowing along the way, and there were a few inches of snow accumulated on the ground (especially in West Virginia where there was an inch or so across the main highway in some areas). This made for a beautiful drive, and the scenery along the way (especially the last hour of the drive) was magnificent.

When we arrived we checked into our hotel, and then met up with some of the believers from the church for some pizza and fellowship.

Sunday, February 12th

Sunday morning I preached on 'Be It Unto Me (According To Thy Word)'. This was our first time visiting the believers in Blacksburg, and we had a wonderful time of fellowship. The saints were very receptive of the sermon, and most importantly; the presence of the LORD was in our midst.

The little country church is small in size, but beautiful (matching the character of the people).

Sunday night I preached on 'Finding The Little Shoe', which is something heavy on my heart, and that we feel is timely for the current spiritual climate around the Message. This seemed to really strike home with the brothers and sisters there, and we certainly had a good time in the LORD.

After both services we were able to enjoy some time of fellowship with many of the brothers and sisters from the church, and met many new friends who are on our hearts, and in our prayers.

Monday, February 13th

Monday we had the opportunity to rest in for a little while (which the entire family was eager to do after the drive down & both services), and then it was time to get back on the road for the journey home.

The LORD blessed us with traveling mercies on the way there and back, and we enjoyed the time together as family trying to be about the Father's business.

Was Bro Branham "Sola Scriptura" (Part 3)

noreply@blogger.com (Bro Trevor) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:35:00 +0000

(Author's note. This is Part 3 of 3 on a thought on Sola Scriptura)
Part 1 can be found here.
Part 2 can be found here.

Are YOU Sola Scriptura?

Let’s follow all this up with a discussion of Malachi 4:5,6. We're looking for a prophet to come, as John the Baptist only fulfilled half of Malachi 4:6. (Luke 1:17) Biblically, Sola Scriptura, we're looking for a prophet to come.
We also see in Revelations 2 and 3 there are seven Church Ages; it's obvious to see by the condition of the church and by belief that we're in the last days that we are in the seventh Church Age. That seventh Church Age had an angel/messenger that was spoken to. We’re also looking to a fulfillment of Revelation 10:7. This is Sola Scriptura – just looking at prophecies in the Bible that are yet to be fulfilled.

If that Seventh Church Age messenger wasn't Bro William Branham then tell me who was? There HAS to be a seventh church age messenger. So who is it? There has to be a fulfillment of the last half of Malachi 4:5,6. There has to be a seventh angel to come so that “the mystery of God should be finished”. If you are Sola Scriptura, you believe ALL that the scripture, ALL that the prophets have spoken. IF you are Sola Scriptura you are LOOKING for that fulfillment.
If you aren’t looking for that to be fulfilled, or know how it was fulfilled, how can you claim to be Sola Scriptura?

Those who follow Bro Branham’s teaching as the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5,6 and Revelation 10:7 are waiting for the coming of Christ just like self proclaimed Sola Scriptura protestants. Unlike most Protestants we believe there is a prophet is supposed to come first, because the BIBLE declares it.

Sola Scriptura indeed.

Was Bro Branham "Sola Scriptura" (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Bro Trevor) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:35:00 +0000

(Author's note. This is Part 2 of 3 on a thought on Sola Scriptura) Part 1 can be found here.

Trinitarianism

Now, I’d like any protestant friend to understand something about Trinitarianism. Most Protestants that would claim they are “Sola Scriptura” will also claim they are Trinitarian. They’ll also note that Bro Branham was not. They then reason that if Bro Branham wasn’t Trinitarian he obviously isn’t Sola Scriptura.

I think it's important you see the similarities first. We believe that Jesus was God, that the Holy Spirit is God, and that the Father is God - just like you do. HOWEVER, we don't believe that GOD is 3 different people who can have a conversation with each other. We believe that God is ONE, just like he told the Hebrew Children in Deut 6:4. He changed his mask in how he dealt with men. He created a sinless body that he could dwell in. He was not 3 distinct individuals. See Matt 1:18 and tell me who was Jesus’ Father if you disagree.

Trinitarianism also speaks of how one baptizes. Paul said,” One Lord, one faith, one baptism”. Now, if you aren’t baptizing like Paul, then how can there be one baptism? The book of Acts shows us how Peter and Paul and their converts baptized. There is only one baptism.

I would also point out that the trinity is actually a CATHOLIC doctrine and cannot be found Sola Scriptura. If there is one baptism and Paul used Lord Jesus Christ, then how do you have a different baptism, and why aren't you baptizing like the original church did in the book of Acts? The Catholic Church is anything but Sola Scriptura, yet Trinitarians who have only reformed from the Catholic Church, still use their baptism and claim Sola Scriptura. It just doesn’t make sense.

Visions:

Now many will say that Bro Branham often spoke of visions that he had. Then they tell us that isn’t Sola Scriptura because it’s “Extra Biblical” as those visions aren’t found in the Bible. Let’s just look at that for a moment though.
Paul told the sailors of the ship he was on that an angel of the Lord stood by him, and that if anyone got off the ship they would all be killed. Was that sola scriptura of the day? No, it wasn't.

Isaiah had a vision that a virgin shall conceive. What Scripture did he base that on? Oh by the way, he died before that vision came to pass - did the people of the day disbelieve him because his vision didn't come to pass before he died? It's a good possibility.
You can't expect visions of current events to be Sola Scriptura. However, those current visions and such are typically not doctrinal teaching. You can have visions of current events that are not talked about in the Bible and still be Sola Scriptura.

Biblically, you have to look at what a prophet says, and test it. If it continues to pass the test over and over again, and you find that he's not taking you to some other god. (Deut 13:1-3) Then it would behoove you to listen, because it’s God speaking through that man.
Another point is the vindication of Moses to the Children of Israel. God gave him two signs to vindicate him to the people. If another prophet were to be vindicated on the same basis, would that then be Sola Scriptura? I believe it would.

Was Bro Branham “Sola Scriptura”? (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Bro Trevor) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:59:00 +0000

A question similar to this was asked of me the other day. I felt the answer might be beneficial to others.

First off, there are many of our readers who might not know what “Sola Scriptura” means. Stated as simply as possible, the theological concept “Sola Scriptura” means Scripture Alone. A snippet from Wikipedia:

“Consequently, sola scriptura demands only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid deductive reasoning from scripture. However, sola scriptura is not a denial of other authorities governing Christian life and devotion. Rather, it simply demands that all other authorities are subordinate to, and are to be corrected by, the written word of God. Sola scriptura was a foundational doctrinal principle of the Protestant Reformation held by the Reformers and is a formal principle of Protestantism today”

So, what it basically is saying is that Scripture is the foundation of faith. There are those who claim that Bro Branham was NOT Sola Scriptura. What they mean is, that they don’t believe Bro Branham relied on scripture alone, but on visions and other such things to form his doctrine.

Let’s analyze some of the things Bro Branham has said.

60-1113 CONDEMNATION.BY.REPRESENTATION_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_
230 I'm going to say this. Listen to it. Say, "Brother Branham, your ministry is not compared nowhere in the world of its supernatural." Great men (I could call their names, if it wasn't for this tape.) called me, come, go with them. "Your ministry's the only thing that'll save the world." Why is that not somewhere else? Come back to the Word. God can only build upon that foundation; then if I'm so firmly wrong in the way I baptize people, and the way I talk of the Holy Ghost, and the things that I do, then why does God honor it? Produce something like it? See? Why is it? I don't say that for myself, that would be wrong; but I'm trying to say because I stand on the Truth, the Word and the Word alone.

So Bro Branham attributed his success to his standing upon the WORD and the WORD alone. So, I'd say that's Sola Scriptura right there.

He often quoted

GALATIANS 1:8
» 8 † But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

And what he meant was exactly what it said. If he preached different than Saint Paul, he felt he would be accursed according to this scripture. Men, questioning him on his doctrine, would tell him they would believe him if he told them the Angel told him his doctrine was correct. His response was this scripture. If his doctrine wasn’t correct based on the Bible, he didn’t care if the angel agreed with him or not. It had to be Biblical. It had to be Sola Scriptura

He also often quoted:

MATTHEW 5:18
» 18 † For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

He was for EVERY WORD of the Bible. No more, no less. He exhorted people to believe the entire Word of God. That’s Sola Scriptura. If Bro Branham was, those that follow him should be as well.

People might be quick to point out that some of the followers of Bro Branham's teachings don't seem to be Sola Scriptura. They quote from his sermons a lot. This is akin to the people of the Apostle Paul's day reading his letters.

To be honest, most of Bro Branham's followers have never even heard of "Sola Scriptura", but I can tell you they believe the Word of God as it was written in the Bible, or they really don't believe what he said.

As Bro Branham said it "I have preached the same Word he [Paul] did, just exactly stayed with the same Gospel." and we all can truly say "We're resting on that!"

Florida Trip Report (Dec 2011 - January 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

Saturday, December 24th, 2011

Christmas Eve

(The journey of 2,800 miles begins with a single step)

Our journey began later than expected due to delays with packing, etc. We drove until the small hours of the morning & stopped in Johnson City, TN to spend the night.

Sunday, December 25th, 2011

Christmas Day

(Johnson City, TN)

Sunday morning we attended service at 'Happy Valley Church Of Jesus Christ' (Bro. Donny Reagan - Pastor), and heard Bro. Paul LaFontaine preach a timely Christmas message on how 'Wise Men Follow The Word Made Flesh'.

After service some friends graciously opened their home for us to join them for their Christmas luncheon. We were able to meet some new friends as well, and enjoyed our time of fellowship there.

After lunch we got back on the road, and learned a valuable lesson that Joseph & Mary learned two thousand years ago; don't travel on Christmas day! There were hardly any stores open, which made finding a place to eat supper was difficult, but thankfully (in our case) we did find a room in the inn.

Monday, December 26th - Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

(Orlando, FL)

On Monday we made it to Orlando, where we picked up my parents at the airport, and were able to enjoy a few days of family vacation.

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

(Okeechobee, FL)

On Thursday we drove to Okeechobee, and listened to part of 'The Oncoming Storm' (60-0229) where Bro. Branham mentions the hurricane that destroyed much of that area in 1928.

I preached at 'Bible Truth Tabernacle' (Bro. Willie Smiley - Pastor) on the thought of 'Be It Unto Me (According To Thy Word)'. The LORD blessed the service, and the fellowship afterwards. My wife (Sis. Rebekah) was excited to finally be able to meet Bro. Smiley's wife (Sis. Jeanna)

Lake Okeechobee

(60-0229) THE ONCOMING STORM (Phoenix, AZ)

"... they lived close to the great Okeechobee Lake, and the waters begin to rise as the typhoon lifted the waters all the way from the bottom of the lake. That's what makes them so dangerous; they're shallow; the boats rock, and that's how the waves come up and turn the boats beneath them. The storms comes and just whirls up the water and packs it for miles."

Friday, December 30th, 2011

(Okeechobee & West Palm Beach, FL)

On Friday we visited Lake Okeechobee (where we took some beautiful pictures), and then drove on to West Palm Beach.

After eating at a local fast food chain we had quite a few pieces of our chicken left untouched so my Dad offered it a little Hispanic family. After talking to them briefly we found out that they were Pentecostal, and had heard of Bro. Branham. Having previously packed some materials for such an occasion; I was able to share several sermon books & the 'Life Story' CD (59-0419) with them.

Once we were back in the vehicle I commented that he had given them some of our natural food, and I was able to offer them some 'Spiritual Food In Due Season' as well.

Upon leaving the restaurant we drove to Palm Beach Island where our boys were able to see the ocean for their first time, and even play in the water for a little bit.

Palm Beach Island

BEHOLD A GREATER THAN ALL OF THEM IS HERE

62-0715 (Spokane, WA)

"... the old salt said to the young poet, said, "Where goest thou, my good man?" He said, "Oh, sir." He said, "I am a poet." And said, "I've wrote of the sea, and--but I have never seen it yet, and I'm going down." Said, "Oh, I just can't wait till I see the sea, to hear the gulls, watch the bright blue skies reflecting itself in it's--in its big body of water, to smell the brine of the salt, and to see the whitecaps spraying up like that." The old salt took his pipe out, and spit, said, "Huh. I don't see nothing so thrilling about it. I been there for sixty years." See? That's right. He'd been on it so much, it was common to him. See? That's what's the matter with the church. We've seen the goodness of God so much till it's become common to us."

We checked into our hotel in West Palm Beach, and met Bro. Jack Duff (pastor of Spirit & Truth Tabernacle in West Palm Beach, FL), and part of his family for supper. They had just returned that day from services he had preached at in Zimbabwe, and they had some wonderful stories & pictures to share with us from their journey.

Saturday, December 31st, 2011

New Year's Eve (West Palm Beach, FL)

We met with Bro. Jack & his family for lunch, and then went back to the hotel for some rest before the evening service.

Saturday night I preached on 'The Message of Deliverance' at 'Spirit & Truth Tabernacle' (Bro. Jack Duff - Pastor) for their watch-night service. It was wonderful to see all of our dear friends at 'Spirit & Truth' again.

Bro. Smiley, and many of the saints from 'Bible Truth Tabernacle' in Okeechobee were able to attend the service as well, and we had a wonderful time bringing in the new year in the presence of the LORD.

Sunday, January 1st, 2012

New Year's Day (West Palm Beach & Sarasota, FL)

After a few hours of sleep we returned to 'Spirit & Truth Tabernacle', and I preached on 'Be It Unto Me (According To They Word)'. The LORD blessed both services at 'Spirit & Truth' tremendously.

Immediately after service we drove to Myakka / Sarasota where I preached on 'Finding The Little Shoe' for the afternoon service at the 'House Of Fellowship' (Bro. Danny Stemen - Pastor). The saints responded to the message, and we truly enjoyed our time of fellowship there.

The church in Myakka is beautiful, and the character of the people certainly match it's beauty.

GOD HIDING HIMSELF IN SIMPLICITY

(63-0317M) Jeffersonville, IN

"May it be a consecrated place to our Lord, a consecrated people, for no matter how beautiful the structure is (that we certainly do appreciate), the beauty of the church is the character of the people. I trust it'll always be a house of God of beauty."

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

(Sarasota & Tampa, FL)

We checked out of our hotel in Sarasota, drove to Tampa to drop my parents off at the airport, and began the long drive home. We stopped at a hotel a little earlier than planned because the wind was very severe, and the children were fussy & ready to stop.

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
(Atlanta, GA & Huntsville, AL)

On Tuesday we made a couple of slight detours to meet some precious friends for lunch near Atlanta, GA, and some more for supper in Huntsville, AL. It was very nice to spend some time with brothers and sisters of like precious faith, and it helped break up the trip home for our children (and their very tired parents).

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
(Jeffersonville, IN)

After running into some bad traffic in Nashville we made it home on Wednesday evening. When we pulled into the driveway we had driven almost exactly 2,800 miles since leaving home on Christmas Eve.

We appreciate the hospitality & Christian love that was shown to us at every stop along the way. It was a blessing to see our old friends, and to meet many new ones as well.

The LORD blessed the services, our time of fellowship with believers from many different churches, and our time vacationing as a family far beyond what we could have ever imagined.

"... unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (I Timothy 1:17)

- Bro. Nathan

NBM site update

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:52:00 +0000

We are starting off the new year with a newly updated web-site:

http://nathanbryantministries.com

Special thanks to Bro. Trevor for all the updated features!

Contradictions?

noreply@blogger.com (Bro Trevor) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:29:00 +0000

THE.REVELATION.OF.JESUS.CHRIST - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.1
"Now remember this. Christ in the True Church is a continuation of the Book of Acts. But the Book of Revelation shows how that the antichrist spirit would come into the church and defile it, making it lukewarm, formal and powerless. It exposes Satan, revealing his works (attempted destruction of God's people and the discrediting of God's word) right down to the time he is cast into the lake of fire. He fights that. He cannot stand it."

I’m not intending for this post to be controversial.

It probably will be for some. I’ve decided I can live with that. It’s been on my heart for quite some time.

I want to deal with this subject from the eyes of a parent.

You see, I’ve known some who have had children come across issues of “contradictions” that they see either in the Scripture or in the Message. I know one such who has totally left the faith. (although I pray the faith hasn’t left them!) They claimed that Bro Branham contradicted himself all the time.

So what do we do when our children notice an apparent contradiction? The easy answer for many of us is to say something very spiritual sounding: “I don’t understand it, I just believe it”.

Now, I understand that sentiment, and I agree with it. It’s often just not enough for a smart child. It becomes an easy excuse for the parent to remain ignorant and not search the Scriptures. The children see this as the “easy out” that it is. They see the uncertainty underlying our own understanding or they see that we’ve taken our doctrine out on a limb, and we don’t believe the FULL Word of God ourselves.

2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Let’s just deal with the toughest one out there. One I personally know has happened to some.

62-0531 THE.CONFLICT.BETWEEN.GOD.AND.SATAN_ CLARKSVILLE.IN THURSDAY_
« 180 † Noah went in. He followed the will of God. God shut the door behind him, but it never rained for seven more days. Wonder what Noah thought, all that time in there? Noah setting in the ark, the door shut. He thought, "Just any time, children, you'll hear it. We'll pull the door, the lid up here on top." They was up on the top floor, you know. The animals on the bottom, the birds in the next, and they was on top. That sun... "Oh, in the morning, there'll be--there'll be something over there, a darkening, the rain will come." But, the next morning, up come the sun.

181 Maybe some people, that kind of half way believed Noah, might have went up there and stood around the ark, said, "You know what? That old man might have been right. We better stand here." Well, then they "seen a mistake."

God's prophets make no mistake. God's Word can't fail.

182 You heard me preach on, about Jonah going to Nineveh. They said he was backslidden. He sure wasn't. He was right in the will of God. Exactly. He had the Word of the Lord, and he walked in It.

Surely we’ve all heard this one. How many times have we been told that “God’s prophets make no mistake!”

This is as true as any other part of the Word of God. I am in NO WAY denying this, downplaying this, or otherwise contesting this quote. I believe this fact wholeheartedly!

Yet, what happens when in church or in personal study, our children come across the following quote?

61-0611 REVELATION.CHAPTER.FIVE.1_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN ROJC 717-746 SUNDAY_
I don't know where our Lord will lead me to, and that I have no control of, or whatever He will have for me to do. But I am thinking at the end of the road where I must come. And down along life's journeys I have made so many mistakes that I am very sorry from my heart of, because of, I guess, being human and in weakness and so forth, causes a person to do things or say things that... and even act that they would not want to act otherwise. But being the weakness of a human being, why, we--we have those times.

Or like this one:

53-0403 THE.CRUELTY.OF.SIN.AND.THE.PENALTY.THAT.IT.COST.TO.RID.SIN.FROM.OUR.LIVES_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN V-25 N-4 FRIDAY_
Lord, while I'm here at this pulpit tonight, this little old concrete structure, I consecrate my life to You. I thank You for what You've done for me. And I consecrate myself anew, at this crucifixion night memorial to You. Take me, Lord. Forgive me, all my mistakes and troubles. Make me strong and powerful, Lord, in the Spirit of God, that I might win souls to You.

Or finally:

64-0617 THE.IDENTIFIED.CHRIST.OF.ALL.AGES_ TOPEKA.KS V-20 N-1 WEDNESDAY_
« 148 † Now just one moment for the prayer line. We've got exactly fifteen minutes, to get out on time. Now all I could say, I'm a man, my words can just fail just like any other man, all of us. I've proved to you tonight, that every prophet, everything else, they made their mistakes. But God makes no mistakes. His Word is the Truth. How many believes that He is the Word? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] God bless you. That's where my faith is built, on nothing less than Jesus' Blood; and, right, Jesus is the Word.

Of course the mind must then ask itself, "Was Bro Branham a prophet? Didn’t Bro Branham just say right here he has made mistakes. And did He not say God’s prophets make no mistake?" The child will then ask, "Daddy, I thought you said God’s prophets don’t make mistakes?"

So then, you have an apparent contradiction. What will you tell your child? Will you say "Amen" to all quotes with equal gusto? Or will you downplay some, not quite calling them inaccurate, but not really sure what else to do?

They are either ALL God’s Word, or none of them are. If they are ALL God’s Word, than we must say "Amen" and we have to be able to reconcile them together.

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

We have to then be able to somehow EXPLAIN to our searching children, where the truth lays in ALL the quotes and scriptures. Make no mistake, the devil would LOVE to drive a wedge in this area. Satan wants to “discredit God’s Word”.

I could tell you what I believe makes these quotes line up perfectly; merely the angle you look at them in, but that’s not really the point of this post. The point is: what do you do when you see 'apparent contradictions'? Do you look the other way? Do you try to downplay the part you don’t like or understand? Do you tell your children,"Don’t worry, just believe"?

For me, I’d rather tackle these things head on. My children have enough to worry about in this old world we live in. I want to arm them with as much as I can arm them with. If they see a contradiction, and I don’t understand, I want to go to the Word with them, and I want to be in prayer with them, for God to reveal it to all of us. “With true revelation in our lives, the gates of hell cannot prevail against us, but we will prevail over them.”

JAMES 1:5 - 8
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Diary Of A Message Dad (Is Santa Claus Real?)

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:10:00 +0000

"Lord, take away the fiction of Santa Claus

and bring to them the real Christmas gift."

'The Great Shining Light' (57-1222)

Millions of people around the world teach their children not to talk to strangers (or accept gifts from strangers), but the majority of them seem to make one exception; Santa Claus. They teach their children of a mysterious, chubby, jolly, old man dressed in red who will magically deliver toys around the world via his flying specie of 'Rangifer tarandus' (aka 'caribou', or 'reindeer').

In our society parents live in fear of pedophiles & child predators, yet somehow millions of them will stand in line this holiday season at malls around the world so their children can sit on the lap of a total stranger to get their picture taken.

One has to ask; could someone 'of that nature' think of a more convenient job to apply for?

A few lyrics to the old song go:

"He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake."

"O! You better watch out!"

"I'm telling you why;
Santa Claus is coming to town."

St Nicholas

from The Boyana Church in Bulgaria

Saint Nicholas was a fourth century bishop (known for giving to the poor) in what is now Turkey. He is known best as being the inspiration behind the fictitious character of Santa Claus.

So what should we tell our children about Santa Claus? As with any topic; we always want to point you to what the Message of the hour says about it:

(59-1219) Questions And Answers On The Holy Ghost (Jeffersonville, IN)
Q99. What about a Christmas play in a Holy Ghost church?
Well, if it's about Christ, it might be all right. But if it's about Santa Claus, I don't believe in him. I--I done growed--I done growed away from that. I don't believe in Santa Claus at all. See? And some of these little Christmas things they have, I think is ridiculous. And... But I think they've took all Christ out of Christmas and put Santa Claus in it.
And Santa Claus is a fiction story. (I'm not hurting any of your feelings, I hope, about the children.) But I'll tell you. Here not long ago, about twenty-five, thirty years ago, when a minister here in this city, the pastor of--of a certain big church here in the city, that I knowed real well, a bosom friend of mine, he walked to me. And Charlie Bohanon (Brother Mike, you remember Charlie Bohanon, a good friend of mine.)... Set there in his office and said, "I'll never tell my kids or have my grandchildren told that lie no more." He said, "My own little boy walked up to me after he got about twelve years old, and talking about Santa Claus..." And he said, "Why... Honey, I've got something to tell you," Said, "Mommy..." You know, and go ahead telling him what he did.
Then after he come back, said, "Then, daddy, is this Jesus the same thing?"
Tell the truth. Santa Claus is a Catholic getup about a fellow, a Kriss Kringle or Saint Nicholas, an old German Catholic saint of many years ago who went around doing good to children. And they've carried it down as a tradition. But Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He's real, and He lives.
Now, here's a question, the last one, which is a very...
Now look. You might disagree with me at that. But if you do disagree with me, remember, let it be friendly, will you? I love you, and I don't want to--don't want to hurt you. I'm just--I'm wanting to be honest. If I can't--if I tell my boy a lie, then I'm a liar. See? I want to tell him the truth.
Now, I tell him about Santa Claus; I say, "Yeah, sure, there's Santa Claus. Watch daddy on Christmas night." See? Yeah.
You know, the other day I was down there, and I tried that on a little girl just to see. I sure got paid back day before yesterday. I was in the building. And they was standing there, down here at the Quaker Maid. And I went down there to get the groceries. And so we, wife and I, was in there. And there was a little bitty girl, wasn't over about eighteen months old, and she was standing there going--singing, "Dingle Bells, Dingle Bells..."
And I said... In her little stand, you know, setting in the back of the little cart. I said, "Are you looking for Santa Claus?"
She said, "That's my daddy, mister."
I said, "Bless your little heart, honey. You got wisdom."

Known as 'Sinterklaas' in Dutch folklore

"What's any more of a myth than Santa Claus? Never was such a thing. Telling children lies, you'll be responsible for it at the day of the judgment. Yes.
No wonder people don't know what to do. They're... They--they just don't want the real thing. They'll take anything artificial, but they don't want the real thing. They don't want the gifts of God."

'God's Wrapped Gift' (60-1225)

"(Santa Claus) is a figure with legendary,

mythical, historical and folkloric aspects..."

(wikipedia.org)

Give your children the gift of Truth this Christmas,

Bro. Nathan

Sermon Index App

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:21:00 +0000

There is a new Sermon Index App available for free

through Voice of God Recordings on iPhone & iPad.

Note: "You must be running IOS 5 on
your mobile device for the app to work."

Happy Thanksgiving (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:58:00 +0000

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

I know that ('as for me and my house') we have been blessed far beyond what we deserve.

"He hath done all things well."

(Mark 7:37b)

I pray that you are surrounded by families who love you this Thanksgiving holiday. Take the time to consider all the wonderful things that God is doing in your life, and to thank Him for all the blessings He has given.

To God be all the praise, and honor, and glory forever. Amen.

Bro. Nathan

* The links in this article are to a short video on the
'Young Foundations' web-site that we wanted to share with you *

Let The Fire Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:35:00 +0000

'The Invisible Union Of The Bride Of Christ'

(65-1125)

"Now, before closing. One time I was up in Glacier National Park. We heard, all day long, that they had a--they had a fall, a glacier fire that was going to fall at night. So the people was busy, all day long, getting that thing ready, because they was going to pour that fire out, that night. They put a liquid fire falls, like a great glacier of water. But it's... Looked like a rainbow, almost, when it comes out, of that fire falling out of this glacier. All around through the park, wife and I, and children, walked around through the day. We want to stay to see that fire exhibition. So it--it--it was promised us that we would see it, and we'd witness it again. They said they have it ever through the summer seasons and so forth. I said, "Well, will we be able to see it?"
Said, "We promised it tonight. We're promised that." Said, "They're up there getting it ready now."
After all had been made ready for the event! That's what's taking place right now. All has been made ready for the event, a Church being pulled out for His Name's sake, taking His Bride out from amongst the world, these denominations and all the world, and the filth and things of the world.
Everybody; the event was made ready. Everybody was standing out. They said, "Now keep watching, right up on top the mountain there."
That's the way It's always come. That's the way It's to come this time. That's the way It always come. Not through a denomination! Never did God use a denomination, never!
The reformer goes forth, he gets the Word of the Lord. And then when he dies, they build a denomination out of it. That's what the Pentecostals and all did. When the new issues, everything, that's just the way. That's the way the thing come out. A new word added, then they build a church out of it, made a denomination, separated themself. It had to be that way.
Now, you can't beat--you can't beat nature. Nature falls in the same routine, all the time: stalk, leaf, tassel, so forth, shuck, then the wheat.
Now notice. All was ready. Everything had been kindled and made ready. And everybody was standing out. I had my head sticking up; my arm around my wife. We was looking. And children standing there, all of us looking up, like that. My! It was something, 'cause we was expecting it. It was promised to us.
Amen! The Word promises This. "It shall come to pass, before the great and terrible day of the Lord shall come, behold, I will send unto you Elijah the prophet. He shall turn the hearts of the children back to the fathers."...?... "It shall come to pass in the last days, I'll pour out My Spirit from on High." "The former and latter rain shall come together in the last day." All these promises, through the Scriptures, been given. We're looking upward. Watch at the true Bride across the nation this hour, looking up. Church, He is coming, one of these days. Just as sure as He come the first time, He is coming again. Get everything ready. Separate yourself from shuck. Lay before the Son. Keep looking up. Be under expectation.
All at once, we heard something from the top the hill, a voice come down through the loud speaker, said, "All things are ready."
Then this man, standing right there by the side of me, said, "Let the fire fall." Here it come, pouring down across that mountain, a glacier of fire and blazes a licking, a sight to behold.
Brother, let's get all things ready, for one of these days the Fire is going to fall. We're going up. Now let's get ready for the Fire-falling time."


'Fire Fall' (Glacier Point - Yosemite National Park)

A precious friend of ours (Bro. Jack Duff - Pastor of 'Spirit & Truth Tabernacle in West Palm Beach, FL) visited us recently for some special meetings. On Friday night (11/11/11) he used this quote for the basis of a sermon he titled 'Let The Fire Fall'.

Yesterday, Bro. Trevor sent Bro. Jack & myself the link to a video he had found of a park ranger telling a very similar story about the 'Fire Fall'. The video also included the details of how the 'Fire Fall' started in 1872, and why they stopped performing the event in 1968 (due to the overwhelming amount of visitors & traffic caused by the event, and because it was not a 'natural event').

My first thought was, 'It would be fun to re-create this event'. Spiritually speaking however; you cannot try to re-kindle, or re-create the fire from another generation. We mustn't try to make our experience match someone else's, but our experience MUST match the Word of God.

As nice as it would be to have a video of this event from back in the 1960's; 'you can't get warm by a painted fire'. While the historical record would be nice to have; by Itself the Letter killeth, but mixed with the Spirit It is quickened to give Life.

The tree bark the park workers used was dead in & of itself, but when they mixed it with fire it provided life-sustaining warmth. So must we become dead to ourselves & dead to the things of the world so that the Holy Ghost & Fire can be kindled in our lives until it is no longer us, but Christ that lives in us!

"For our God is a consuming Fire."

(Hebrews 12:29)

I also like that this was not just a monthly event (taking the communion), or an annual event (waiting for a revival), but preparations were made all day long, every single day so that the fire could fall daily!

May we live so close that a fresh anointing of Fire can fall on us daily!

- Bro. Nathan

'What Is The Holy Ghost?'

(59-1216)

"Not from revival to revival, but from eternity to eternity you are sealed by the Holy Spirit."

Up2Date VI (Veteran's Day)

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:53:00 +0000

In 1918 (93 years ago today) World War I mysteriously ended (as a fulfillment of Revelation 7:1-3), and what we now call 'Veterans Day' began as the 'Armistice Day' celebration.

 "All the world was going to war; and all of a sudden, it stopped. And I've read the decline of the World War One. No man knows today why it stopped; no man give any orders for it to stop. But it was stopped on November the eleventh (That right?), the eleventh month in the year, the eleventh hour in the day, the eleventh minute after eleven. What was it? That the eleventh hour people could come in." ~WMB (55-0312

"They was writing on the decline of the First World War. Nobody knows today whoever made a issue of peace. Kaiser Wilhelm said he didn't do it. No general said he didn't do it. But notice, how strange it was. It was on November the 11th at eleven o'clock in the day. The eleventh day of the month, the eleventh month in the year, the eleventh hour of the day, and eleven minutes till eleven. What was it? Hold, stop mysteriously... What did it? God's issue went forth to hold it. "Hold the four winds." "Winds" means "war and strife"; we know. Until we have got Israel back in Palestine again, "Hold the four winds," and it stopped right there on the eleventh hour because...
Remember Jesus speaking of the eleventh hour, people? And the one that come in on the eleventh hour, what did He say? Oh, don't be dumb; be spiritual. Look, how did He say? The eleventh hour people got the same wage the one did that come in the first hour. Then the baptism of the Holy Ghost has to go right back and seal the Jew, like the first one was sealed, that eleventh hour people. "Hold the four winds; don't let the world be destroyed until we seal the servants of our God in their forehead." ~WMB (61-0217)

REVELATION 7

1 ¶ And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Diary Of A Message Dad (The Golden Rule)

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:26:00 +0000

In St. Luke's gospel our LORD Jesus tells his disciples, "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Most of us are probably more familiar with the paraphrased version of this verse that is known as 'The Golden Rule' ("Do unto others as yo would have them do unto you").

Everyone wants to be treated fairly. Our country has gone to war time and time again, civil rights movements and human rights movements have been established, many have shed their blood and given their lives all so that people could be treated fairly.

We want to be treated fairly at church, at school, and at work. We want to be treated fairly by our friends, our family, our teachers, our employers, and our government. Most of us aren't looking for special treatment above and beyond what everyone else receives, but none of us enjoy being humiliated in front of others, or when we are treated less favorably than our peers.

Are we as willing to constantly check our own actions to ensure we give out equal treatment to others as we are to fight for our own equal rights? Do we limit this checking of actions to our interactions in public (school, work, church, etc), or do we strive to treat our family and friends with the same level of respect?

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (St. Matthew 7:12)

When it comes to marriage; do we treat our spouse the way that we want to be treated? Do we stop long enough to truly listen, and communicate back? Do we give them the attention and respect that we expect to receive?

When it comes to our children; do we remember how we felt at their age, and give them the time, and patience that we desired from our parents?

I see so many parents (and have admittedly caught myself being guilty of the same from time to time) who expect very young children to act like adults.

Personally I don't want to look back in twenty years to find that my memories of our children growing up are that my wife and I were able to train them to sit like little soldiers so that they never embarrassed us as parents, never did anything out of line, and grew up despising us.

My wife and I want our children to respect us as parents. We want them to understand their position as children and ours as parents, but we do not want our children to live in fear of us. We do not want them to feel that they can never make a mistake, or that they cannot come and talk to us when they find themselves in trouble.

I would like to look back in twenty years and be able to say that my children were not perfect little soldiers who never made mistakes, but that they were good children who were full of life, and love, and laughter. I want to remember that we allowed them to be children (even if it meant the occasional dirty clothes, or trips to the bathroom to apply band-aids as a result of their 'adventures', and maybe even a few random pieces of broken furniture).

I want them to be able to look back and see that their parents were not perfect, but that we tried to teach them all that we knew about Jesus, and how to live their lives to their fullest ability.

I hope that they will be able to look back and find that their fond memories heavily outweighing the bad.

I trust that they will realize their parents had their best interests in mind with every decision we made, and that we treated them equally, and loved them each the same for their own unique ways.

If you have children please recognize that you are their hero, and try to live up to those expectations before you prove them wrong.

Bro. Nathan

"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." (St. Matthew 18:10)

*** 'Diary Of A Message Dad' is a new blog label that we plan to use as a platform to share personal stories, insights, quotes, and scriptures related to parenting and marriage. ***

Up2Date V (Commercialization)

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 03:09:00 +0000

WILL THE CHURCH GO BEFORE THE TRIBULATION? (58-0309E)

Oh, there never was a day that's so much commercial as today. Just used car lots and everything, so much till you can buy a refrigerator this year and pay about four or five hundred dollars for it, and next year nobody wants it. It's out of style. Don't you see where the commercial world has your nose to the grind wheel.
You can buy a car this year, and next year it's probably as good as the one you could buy then, but it'll depreciate a thousand dollars, because they change the radiator cap, or they done some little silly something to it. It's only a sales talk to fulfill the Bible. "As it was the days of Noah... and in the days of Lot..."

INVESTMENTS (63-1116B)

This "get rich over night." I had a friend once that had his life savings in a bank, drawing a small interest, and someone come by with a shortcut. You know, we hear today of so many, shortcuts the thing. The world is full of it; advertisements, and television, radio, newspapers. And if the American people fall for such as that!
Here long ago, I was listening at an advertisement of a--a--a woman, or talking on the--on the radio. I was in my car, going somewhere, and they said, "Use these fine dishwashing powders," of some sort, "you don't even have to wash the dishes. You just put them in there, and pour a little bit in and shake it up-and-down; and it's no washing, no rinsing, no drying, no nothing." And it was one of the greatest things that science had ever given us.
And right back over, about the next commercial, was, "Don't use these new detergents. Look at mother's hands, how pretty they are. They burn your hands up. Be... have pretty hands like mother, and don't use the new detergent."
And I happened to live in Jeffersonville, at that time, where Colgate Palmolive Peet big factory is, and the same company made both products. See? See? It's a--it's a gimmick. And there is so much of it in the world today!
And I say this with reverence and respects, and I hope it doesn't sound sacrilegious, but that same thing has got into the church move. God has no shortcuts. You just pay the price. You come and take the way that God provided for us.

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

noreply@blogger.com (Bro. Nathan Bryant) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:45:00 +0000

*** Update: U.N. "silent no more about Pastor Youcef" (10/21/11) ***

On October 12th, 2009 Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani of Rasht, Iran was taken into custody for charges of apostasy ("renouncing Islam"). He has constantly been under the threat of execution since that time. He has repeatedly been offered freedom if he will but recant his faith in Jesus Christ, but he replies,"I cannot".

February 9th, 2010 - Voice Of God Recordings began covering the story of the imprisonment of ten believers in Iran on their blog (more reports with greater detail about Brother Youcef followed as they received further information).

Present Truth Ministries (founded by Brother Jason Demars of Minnesota) has covered Bro. Youcef's story in great detail on their blog.

In October of 2010 the USCIRF (U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom) "(urged) the Obama Administration to Demand Release of Pastor Facing Execution in Iran for Apostasy".

January 11th, 2011 - Voice Of God Recordings reported that Congresswoman Giffords (who had recently been shot in Tucson, AZ) had "embraced the efforts to help free Brother Youcef Nadarkhani and Brother Behrouz Sadegh-Khandjani in Iran. She brought the case before the United States Department of State, where they began efforts to halt the extreme persecution of these believers (when the situation with the believers in Iran came to her attention)."

Only recently has Bro. Youcef's story gained high-pofile, global coverage (with detailed reports being picked up by Fox News, CNN, etc).

On September 30th, 2011 Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton released a brief statement on the U.S. Department Of State's website condemning Iran for the continued violation of human rights (specifically mentioning Pastor Youcef in the following statement).

"We are particularly concerned by reports that Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is facing execution on charges of apostasy for refusing to recant his faith."

In thinking of Bro. Youcef I am reminded of the words Martin Luther spoke on April 18th, 1521, "Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can and will not retract, for it is neither safe nor wise to do anything against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen!"

Please continue to remember Bro. Youcef and his family in your prayers. I know that God is more than able to deliver him, and restore him to his family. I pray that the leadership in our nation will be instrumental in quickly restoring his freedom.

Bro. Nathan

"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)

"And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." (Daniel 6:20-22)