domingo, 28 de abril de 2013

Sou o Jardim do Senhor...



“... e serás como um jardim regado, e como um manancial, cujas águas nunca faltam.” (Isaías 58:11)
Você gosta de jardins? Todos nós achamos lindo um jardim bem cuidado, não é verdade? Gostamos do cheiro das flores, do colorido que elas têm, da delicadeza das suas pétalas, do barulho dos pássaros, alvoroçados, batendo asas ao redor dos canteiros. Que lindo!
Um jardim é um espaço planejado, normalmente ao ar livre, para a exibição, cultivação e apreciação de plantas, flores e animais. E vamos ver uma curiosidade: A palavra JARDIM vem do hebreu e refere-se a proteger, defender.
Você sabe quando surgiu primeiro jardim na Terra?
O primeiro jardineiro na terra foi Deus. Em Gênesis 1, vamos encontrar todo o processo de plantio do primeiro jardim que foi criado no mundo: o Jardim do Éden. Vamos ver que o Senhor criou todas as condições para que esse Jardim fosse lindo. Quanto cuidado Ele teve! Criou a luz, pois nenhuma planta sobrevive sem o calor do sol; trouxe a chuva, porque elas precisam de água. E depois de tudo pronto, Ele criou o homem e o colocou nesse Jardim tão cuidadosamente criado.
Esse Jardim era o ponto de encontro de Deus com a Sua criação. Na viração do dia, o Senhor vinha para ter um momento de comunhão com Seus filhos.
Porém, um dia, esse Jardim tão lindo recebeu uma visita má. Ninguém a viu entrar, mas a serpente estava ali. E, com muita conversa, levou Eva a comer do fruto da árvore do bem e do mal, que Deus havia dito que não deveriam comer, e convenceu também Adão de fazer o mesmo. Por causa disso, o homem foi expulso do Jardim que havia sido criado só para ele.
O que nós podemos aprender com isso? Que se não vigiarmos, mesmo o lugar mais bem guardado pode ser visitado pelo mal.
Nós também somos um jardim. No livro de Isaías, capítulo 58:11, o Senhor diz que nós seremos para Ele como um jardim fechado, regado e cuidado por Ele mesmo.
Que tipo de jardim nós somos? Como estamos cuidando desse jardim? Esses dias, vamos estudar um pouco sobre como devemos cuidar desse jardim que nós somos, para que as serpentes não entrem e que não destruam todas as flores da nossa vida, amém?


Buscar pela madrugada...


"Eu amo aos que me amam, e os que de madrugada me buscarem, me acharão. Provérbios 8:17" ARC

Paz amados, passemos a análise deste versículo: 
Esta passagem de Provérbios está completamente fora de contexto, como é comum para o livro de Provérbios, e se entende exatamente como está escrito aí. É uma passagem conhecida de todo o povo de Deus, seja pentecostal ou tradicional, e influenciou um antigo costume cristão: o de orar pela madrugada. Porém, vejamos o que parece um equívoco na tradução de João Ferreira de Almeida, pois o termo "...de madrugada me buscam..." só é encontrado na versão Almeida Revista e Corrigida (ARC). Vejamos as principais versões atuais:

"Eu amo os que me amam; os que me procuram me acham." ARA

"Eu amo aquele que me ama; e quem me procura acha." NTLH

"Amo os que me amam, e quem me procura me encontra." NVI

"Amo os que me amam. Quem me procura, encontra-me." Versão Católica

Neste grupo das traduções e versões mais utilizadas em português, não se encontram o termo "de madrugada", como essas versões são novas e são fruto de intenso trabalho de pesquisa, nos leva a pensar que são as mais corretas. Aqui porém fica uma pergunta: Por que João Ferreira teria acrescentado em sua tradução o termo de madrugada, se em nenhuma tradução moderna é colocado esse termo e nenhum outro? Vamos então as pesquisas. 

Outra Tradução de grande prestígio é a King James (inglesa) onde aparece a palavra cedo em vez de madrugada:

"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." King James
early = cedo

Provavelmente na época de João Ferreira e da equipe que traduziu para o rei Tiago o livro de provérbio, encontraram alguma palavra que dava a ideia de "prioridade" ou então eles seguiram o consenso geral da Bíblia, que nos mostra que para buscar ao Senhor diariamente deve ser bem cedo ou em primeiro lugar. 
Devo acrescentar que nas versões espanholas aparece a palavra "diligentemente" no lugar de "madrugada" e na conhecida Reina Valera está colocado o termo "madrugada".
De qualquer forma os termos cedo, madrugada ou diligentemente devem ser interpretados como zelo, cuidado e/ou prioridade, por isso o melhor entendimento do texto de Pv 8:17 é buscar a Deus em primeiro lugar! A qualquer hora, acima da comida, da bebida e do sono!

domingo, 21 de abril de 2013

You are full of the Holy Spirit? (Ephesians 5:18)



And be not drunk with wine, wherein is, but be filled with the Spirit;
Ephesians 5:18

You are full of the Holy Spirit? A serious question that must be asked by all the servants of God, we must seek every day more the presence of God and not let the cold take care of our spiritual lives.

The Holy Spirit's presence is very strong throughout the Word of God, we see the Holy Spirit working from the beginning:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:1-2

We learned that from the beginning the Holy Spirit is moving, acting since the creation, after anointing and empowering many servants of God, using them with great power in his work.

We arrived in the New Testament and see the same Holy Spirit preparing the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 1:18
And she shall bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

All this took place to fulfill what was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying;

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and will call him by the name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 1:21-23

We see the Holy Spirit working strongly in the life Jesus throughout his ministry:

And Jesus being baptized, went up straightway out of the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on ele.E lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:16-17

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Matthew 4:1

And we can also see in the very words of Jesus, a promise that is fulfilled up to now:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

The Spirit of truth, whom the world can not receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him: but ye know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Will not leave you orphans come to you.
John 14:16-18


Only with this few verses we can glorify God, because we know that the Holy Spirit is acting in our favor.

Learned by the Biblical teachings that we must be filled with the Holy Spirit, and we learn that Jesus and the Holy Spirit worked together, and comforter want to be intimate with us, for His presence has to be real in our lives.

We also learn in Ephesians 5:18, that the Word gives us a direction, an ordinance to be filled with the Holy Spirit, as we will only have a full life with God through the anointing of God.

We know that every child of God has the Holy Spirit, because only through the comforter is that we are able to worship God in spirit and in truth. But
Bible teaches us:

For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Acts 1:5

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit to come upon you: and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 1:8

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit should be sought by all who follow Jesus, as it was with the disciples in Acts chapter 2, where it says:

And, fulfilling the day of Pentecost, they were all together in the same place;

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:1-4

We must seek this blessing, this promise to be coated the Power of God, this power that takes us beyond that catches the fearful, and transforms into a mighty man, who takes the little and makes defeating giants, we see the transformation in the lives of the disciples after the Pentecost, men and women who carried the message of the Gospel to the ends of the earth, the same people who were once locked in a house with fear, now through the power of God were speaking of Jesus, and declaring that Jesus is the Savior.

But it has a detail that often goes by unnoticed, even after the baptism with the Holy Spirit can not let this flame goes out as the Word says:

Quench not the Spirit
1 Thessalonians 5:19

A little verse, but with a very great truth, we can not let the flame of the Holy Spirit within us is clear, and remembering that the Holy Spirit is far more than a source of power, He is a person, He is God and dwells Inside of us.
To fully understand what the Apostle Paul had in mind who asked the church "does not get drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit", we need to read this message very carefully and dedication, beginning in Ephesians chapter 4:17 and ending at Ephesians chapter 5:21, only then can we comprehensively understand the purpose of this text.

Let us study a bit the first part of the verse Ephesians 5:18 says "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is"

Getting drunk with wine for us today means defile himself with the things of the world to be filled with the Holy Spirit we must separate from the world.

Now let's meditate a bit from Ephesians 4:17-19 which says:

And this I say and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.

Darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

Who, being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to eagerly commit all uncleanness.
Ephesians 4:17-19

First Paul warns the church to live in holiness, Paul was warning the church that the world was trying to infiltrate among them, and that only holiness could keep the church away from the world, today is no different, the world tries all ways to seduce the people of God, but only if we are filled with the Spirit, and this flame is lit can we beat him.

And summarizing this text, we see many evils that try to infiltrate the church, let's see the list:

* Vanity senses, thoughts worthless (4:17)
* Minds in the dark (4:18)
* Addictions (4:19)
* Lie (4:25)
* Ira prolonged (4:26)
* Give place to the devil (4:27)
* Theft (4:28)
* Clumsy words, expletive (4:29)
* Grieving the Holy Spirit (4:30)
* Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, blasphemy, malice (4:31)
* Prostitution, impurity, greed (excessive attachment to wealth) (5:3)
* Words indecent, filthy and foolish things (5:4)
* Fornicator, unclean, greedy (5:5)

See dear readers that the list is large, and very serious, when Jesus comes for his church, he turns to seek a Holy, who lives separated from the world.

The servants of God have to watch.

What aconterá when Jesus returns and find his servants with addictions such as drinking, prostitution, drugs etc. ....

What will happen when Jesus returns and find his servants the lie, living in error.

What will happen when Jesus returns and find his servants in the robbery, making a living with the wrong things, talking dirty word, living in prostitution.

What will happen when Jesus returns to find young people having sex before marriage, etc., etc., etc..

 The Word of God is very serious about sin, and we must understand that what was sin 2000 years ago is still sin today.

On the other hand this same text in contrast to sin, teaches us about transformation in the lives of believers:

* If you put on the new man (4:24)
* Speak the truth (4:25)
* Work honestly and help the needy (4:28)
* Good words to promote building (4:29)
* Believer should not grieve the Holy Spirit (4:30)
* Be gracious, merciful, forgiving (4:32)
* Impersonator of Christ (5:1)
* Walking in love (5:2)
* Shares of grace (5:4)
* Heirs of the Kingdom of God (5:5)
* We are light (5:8)
* We have the fruit of the Holy Spirit (5:9)
* Tread lightly on the floor (5:15)
* Enjoy your time well (5:16)
* To be filled with the Spirit (5:18)
* Praising God through psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (5:19)
* Always giving thanks to God (5:20)
* Subjecting each other (5:21)

We need to let the Holy Spirit work in our lives, because we see that he has always worked since the beginning of time (Genesis 1:2), we see that Jesus performed his ministry in the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4, Luke 5:17).

The 120 at Pentecost were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:14).

Deacons were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:8).

The Apostle Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17).

The Lord's work must be performed by men and women filled with the Holy Spirit.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit is an order, there is no alternative.

If you are not filled with the Spirit, there will be joy fulfilled in your life, no glare.

We have to learn that every time we are in the presence of God, is to search it, to feed ourselves, to be filled with the Holy Spirit as the Word says:

And having prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and boldly preached the word of God.
Acts 4:31

Every time we worship the Lord, we must be like the church of Acts where it says that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, we must enter into the presence of God, by a new and living way, purchased by the blood of Jesus, as the Word:

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,

By a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

And having an high priest over the house of God,

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water,

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope, for he is faithful that promised.
Hebrews 10:19-23

We believe in the Word of God, the Lord wants to fill us with the Holy Spirit, but we must do our part, which is sanctify us and seek increasing their presence that is alive, and we can not forget what it says Word:

And it shall be, then pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.
Joel 2:28-29

Believe me dear, God wants to fill us with his presence, so that we may bear fruit for His Kingdom

The fire upon the altar shall be burning in it, do not delete
Leviticus 6:12

's Word is in the Old Testament, but remains alive for those who are filled with the Holy Spirit, the fire has to burn continually on the altar, this altar today we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, where the fire has to burn continually.

Do not let this fire go out of your life, do not let sin grieves the Holy Spirit, have fellowship with Him, the Holy Spirit is the kindest person in the world and wants to have lots of experience with you, believe.

Jesus loves you

The twelve gates of Jerusalem (Nehemiah Chapter 3)



Nehemiah was facing a challenge rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, the walls represent protection, security, something that Jerusalem no longer have much time, and it required a lot of work and effort of an entire nation to rebuild the city.
 The Nehemiah Chapter 3 is very special because it shows the necessary organization for this great task. The text teaches about unity, commitment, such that we can apply in our lives. Studying the Word we learn that in Jerusalem at that time had 12 gates to enter the city, large doors that were also destroyed, and along with the walls also needed restoration.

Each door had a function in the city, but also a spiritual meaning for us, so we can draw some valuable lessons.

1. The Door of the Sheep and Cattle (Ne 3:1) "And he arose Eliashib the high priest, with his brothers the priests and built the Gate of Livestock, which the consecrated ..."

Learn the Word of God that the first group in the reconstruction of the walls that was led by Eliashib was high priest, the example started by leadership, this group began building the Port of cattle, also known as Gate of the sheep, took this name because for this gate passed the sheep that were destined to the altar (sacrifice).

The interesting thing is that this door was the only one to be consecrated, was the starting point in rebuilding the walls.

Says the Word of the Lord:

I am the door, if anyone enters through me will be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:9
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
John 10:14

This gate reminds us of who we are and whom we serve, we are sheep and our Pastor is called Jesus Christ, and we need this with our lives on the altar of the Lord, that our lives need to be restored and consecrated to the service of the Kingdom.

If for some reason you no longer have heard the voice of their Shepherd, restore their communion with Him, listen to His voice, He died for you, He gave His life for you, and rose again to give you the victory.

2. The Fish Gate - (Ne 3:3, 12:39) "And they built the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah which emadeiraram, and raised its doors with its locks and its bars" (Nehemiah 3:3 .)

This door was used as a meeting place for selling fish there after restoring attract many merchant several regions.

This port is working, reminds me of the call of Peter:

And Jesus, walking by the sea of ​​Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers;
And he said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-20

All chosen were called to be a witness, the Lord has called us to make disciples, to preach the gospel.

If you have stopped working for the Lord, have buried their gifts and talents is a sign that this area needs to be restored in your life, stand as the text says, be established with its locks and bolts close this area to the enemy and opens it to God.

 3. Old Port - (Ne 3:6) "And the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah

Old door and ancient has two meanings:

First we have to leave our past behind, the old man has to die to the world, today we are new creatures in Christ Jesus, washed and redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb.

According to the Word of God is unchanging, despite its age it never gets old, it is always current, our God is not interested in innovations to attract more people, but that his Word is preached in essence, no fad unadorned, but the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

 Jeremiah 6:16 says: "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

The Word of God is our spiritual food, because not only the man lived by bread, but by every word of God. Every revival has to be centered on the Word of God.

4. Valley Gate (Nehemiah 3:13) - "The Valley Gate, repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah ...".

This door when restored and open front gave a voucher, and when we talk of the valley, we speak of struggles and difficulties we all face in our lives.

We all go through struggles, but in the life of a servant of God is a place where we spend to be approved by God.

And when this area this restored in our lives we know the Lord is with us, and that even in the valley we can glorify and exalt the name of the Lord because the victory guaranteed.

You who are going through struggles, that you are suffering, do an analysis of how this his trust in God, we know that Christians go through many struggles during his walk, the gate is narrow, and many are the afflictions, but must be of good cheer, Jesus has overcome the world.

If your confidence shaken this restore this area, trust the Lord to rise, restore your life, seek the Lord, strengthen it, the Lord has called you to die in the valley, but pass through this valley with the Lord, and the other side sing the song of victory.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalms 23:4

So many times we need to analyze our lives, see where the gaps are, and restores them, so we can live in safety.

Jesus is with you and will not abandon you.

5. The Dung Gate (Nehemiah 3:14) "And the Dung Gate, repaired Malkijah son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth Haccherem ...."

This gate was restored when used for cleaning the city, where garbage was taken out and thrown in the valley called Hinnom.

For us today is the cleaning that we do in our lives, many have accumulated trash within the hearts, we need to keep our hearts pure, clean, without macula so that the power of God work in our lives.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and, ye double minded, purify your hearts.
James 4:8

we see that we need to take the garbage of our lives:

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envy, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you, as I have told you before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21

We must keep in our lives only that which glorifies God, we need to restore this area and let it go again of God is:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.
Galatians 5:22

To have a victorious life we ​​need the fruit of the Spirit, we must learn that the Bible does not speak fruit but fruit, and all this achieved when we let God into our hearts through the glorious presence of the Holy Spirit, who every day make us want more like the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our greatest example.

6. Source Port (Ne 3:15) "And the gate of the fountain repaired Shallum the son of Col-hoze, the ruler of the district Mizpa ..."

This was next door to the pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed a man born blind (John 9:10-11). As its name says next to this door was a fountain, a spring of waters, pristine waters, pure.

We know that Jesus is our source:

And on the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood upright and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to Me and drink.
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.
John 7:37-38
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst, but the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 4:14

Many have suffered because they have changed the source of life that is Jesus, and has sought tanks that do not retain water:

For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:13

Once you drank from the Fountain that Jesus is no point you to other sources, since the water will not have the same flavor. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever will be, the source is still alive and in the same way, if your case is again running for Jesus, He did not give up on you.

Jesus is an inexhaustible source.

7. The Port Mifcade (Guard) (Ne 3:31) "After him repaired Malkijah son of a goldsmith, to the house of Nethinim and merchants, over against the door Mifcade ..."

This was the gate of the guard, and it was very important for the safety of the city, this great door was a sentry tower, and there was always monitoring soldiers ready for any attack of the enemy.

This destroyed the door when leaving the city vulnerable to an imminent attack, the enemy easily enter the city and could make a very big mess.

This port is in our lives where we must watch and pray:

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, indeed, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 26:41
Be sober, be vigilant because the devil, your adversary prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour;
1 Peter 5:8
Praying at all times with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:18

Only positioning ourselves through prayer and vigilance will be prepared to defeat the enemy in the name of Jesus.

We need to position ourselves at the feet of Jesus and restore this area in our lives, for the battle is great.

We can learn a lot from Nehemiah in this area as well:

And they called each other all to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to deviate from his purpose.
But we prayed to our God and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
Nehemiah 4:8-9

Nehemiah when he learned that the enemy was getting up to destroy the work of God, he prayed and placed guard against them.

We know that our weapons are not carnal, but mighty through God to destroy the strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). Believe is the older brother who is with us, God is on our side.

If you have given gap in this area, position yourself, restore your life to God, do not look at the man, look to Jesus.

8. The patio door of the prison (Ne 3:25; 12:39)

The prison was an underground prison that were in Jerusalem, and this patio that bore his name, the inmates get out walking and sunbathing. In this court the prophet Jeremiah was imprisoned (Jer. 32:2).

This door symbolizes jails and prisons to try to ravage the lives of the servants of God, so we have to be restored to this area, as this is the port where we must maintain vigilance:

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32

Jesus is the truth that frees, we must be with our lives before God, ever vigilant as we have an opponent who does not mess around, but if we are strong in the Lord and without breach the evil does not touch us.

9. The Water Gate (Nehemiah 3:26).

Water Gate was the place where he had a stream of waters, crystal clear waters. In our lives is our encounter with the Lord Jesus, where we drank the water that Christ gives, is a place of encounter with God and His Word, was the place chosen by the priest Ezra to read the Word of God:

And come the seventh month, and being the children of Israel in their cities, all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate, and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and women, and those that could understand, and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
Nehemiah 8:1-3

And this text shows one of the greatest revivals in history where a people after living a great miracle, seeing the restored town with its ramparts raised, a safe city, full of Peace, now live a great revival, a thirst for the Word of God.

The Porta das Aguas is the symbol of the filling of the Holy Spirit, where we worship and bow down at the feet of the Lord.

10. The Horse Gate (Nehemiah 3:28).

The door of the horses were the horses which were used in the wars. Symbolizes the battles, the struggles we face in our lives.

 The fight against our enemy:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but rather against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

As well as our struggle against our own flesh:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but rather against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We learned that we must always be prepared for war, in constant vigilance.

11. The Eastern Gate (Nehemiah 3:29).

It is believed that this is the gate through which Jesus entered Jerusalem, and which is now sealed. It is expected that the Messiah would enter through her at his second coming.

Represents for us the return of Jesus:

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, so you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring upon Jesus and with him those who have fallen asleep.
We say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who are asleep.
For a given order, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
After that, who are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

The servant of God must always be waiting for the second coming of Jesus, and be prepared because it can be at any time:

As for the day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father Matthew 24:36

This will be the most glorious day in the life of the Christian, to meet face to face with Jesus.

Maranatha.

12. The Gate of Ephraim (Ne 12:39).

This name was given to the second son of Joseph, which means double portion, or doubly fruitful:

The second son called Ephraim, saying, "God made me to prosper in the land where I have been."
Genesis 41:52

It was also chosen by the son Jacob as a son would receive the blessing of the firstborn:

And Joseph took them both, Ephraim on his right, near Israel's left hand, and Manasseh on his left, near the right hand of Israel, and approached him.
But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim's head, though it was the younger, and crossing his arms, put his left hand on Manasseh's head, even though Manasseh was the eldest son.
Genesis 48:13-14
When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head, did not like, so took his father's hand, to change it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh,
and said, "No, my father, this one is the oldest, put his right hand on his head."
But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, will also be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants will become many people . "
Genesis 48:17-19

We are part of a blessed church:

The general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect;
And to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Hebrews 12:23-24

And we were chosen by God to be fruitful and blessed, and with Christ all things we can, because we've been blessed, we can trust, we can rejoice because we have hope in God.

Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of outrage rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be.
Isaiah 61:7

Believe, edify your life in Christ Jesus, if there is any breach restore, learn from the Gates of Jerusalem, God has great things to accomplish in your life.

Jesus loves you.

Jesus and the Samaritan woman (John 4)




Said to him, the Samaritan: How dost thou, being a Jew, ask a drink of me, a Samaritan woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered and said unto him, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given thee living water.
John 4:9-10

We see in this passage Biblical God's love, we see how Jesus cared for people regardless of their situation, regardless of their nationality, we see this love breaking barriers and bridging traditions.

We see in the historical context of this passage, which in most cases when a Galilean Jew needed to go to the maximum they avoided taking the shortest path that was to pass through the regions of Samaria, he preferred to cross the Jordan and ride more miles and Samaria by coasting Desert to enter this region.

But we see in John 4:4:

And he must needs go through Samaria.
John 4:4

Because it was necessary for Jesus to go through Samaria? It was necessary because our Lord knew that city was a person who needed to have a real encounter with God, and Jesus was so, he often let a crowd to go against a life, a life precious in God's eyes.

Jesus coming in a town called Sychar he was next to a very well known locally for having been dug by the patriarch Jacob, and while the disciples were the city to buy food. Tired of the way Jesus waited at the well.

We see in this passage God's love:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,
But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness;
And being found in human form, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6-8

Jesus being God did not need to get tired, need not get hungry or thirsty, there needed to be whipped, not needed to be beaten and did not need to be killed on a cross.

So because he did all this? For love!! For love of you, because He knew that only through this sacrifice of love, only through his blood could be saved, and if it were not for this love we'd be doomed.

Returning to study:

And there was the fountain of Jacob Jesus therefore, being wearied from the journey, sat thus on the source. It was about the sixth hour.
There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
John 4:6-7

What strikes me in this passage is that this woman came to draw water in an inconvenient time around noon, and the best time to take water was morning or late afternoon hours when the sun was weaker, but this woman came to draw water at noon, at which time the sun was stronger.

Another detail that strikes me is that this woman was alone, women usually went together, gathered her neighbors and friends in the early hours of the day or late in the day, and together they went to take water, but the Samaritan woman was alone because?

Because this woman was not well regarded in the city, she was not a good witness, had no friends, women avoided the city, behold, there surely said the thief husbands!! imagine the void that was that woman scorned, alone certainly was a woman who needed an encounter with God. But what this woman did not know was that that day would change his life forever, it seemed another ordinary day, another day of distress, a day of distress, she saw that all the women of the town had already returned to their pitchers filled water, and now he could go draw water for their domestic services.

And it's the woman of Samaria to draw water, and when he arrives at the well, she sees a Jewish man around, and when approaching the well, says this gives me to drink.

The indignant woman remembers the fight between Jews and Samaritans:

Said to him, the Samaritan: How dost thou, being a Jew, ask a drink of me, a Samaritan woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
John 4:9

Perhaps she thought, just me missing it, I no longer just the problems I face now a Jew asks me water ... But what she did not know that Jew was different, that Jew wanted to transform his life, and throughout the biblical text Jesus reveals itself to her in a beautiful way, showing her that God loved her, and that man was the own messiah who came to meet her.

We also see in this text that the initiative for a dialogue came from Jesus, as God works with us, when the initiative comes from God, to bless us the initiative, the initiative to transform our lives.

At that moment she happened to have a face to face encounter with the Lord Jesus, you know brother often need to have this meeting with Jesus, time to be alone with God, talking to Him of our sorrows, our fears, our doubts , and let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts, where we need to be transformed by God.

Jesus says:

Jesus answered and said unto him, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given thee living water.
John 4:10

Jesus presents himself to the woman as the gift of God, a gift sent to bless her life. Jesus for us, is our greatest gift given by God. God knew that woman and even when all the rejected God was there in front of her stretch hands. Jesus revealed himself as living water to the woman, and for us it is the same way, only Jesus can transform our inner void in wellspring of living water.

But the woman still could not see the size of the miracle that was in front of her, and began to see physical difficulties, saying that the well was deep and Jesus had nothing to draw water, her vision was still in the things of the earth, but the vision of Jesus was in the things of heaven. God wants to give us salvation, earthly things are superficial, but the sky is eternal.

Jesus says:

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again;
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst, but the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 4:13-14

Look what tremendous revelation that Jesus was giving this woman, he was giving her the opportunity to never thirst for the things of the world, the spiritual thirst she had because of religion empty and lifeless, she now had the opportunity to meet a path leading directly to God, and it was through Jesus that would meet its thirst for God, a fountain springing up to eternal life.

Believe dear brothers, since we drink this font called Jesus, we will never thirst, for we have within us there is a fountain that springs up to eternal life, and this source is never without water and the amount is unlimited.

We also see in this text the patience of Jesus because the woman was not even understand the size of revelation, until Jesus says:

Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said to him: Thou hast well said, I have no husband;
For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband, it was truly said.
The woman told him: Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
John 4:16-19

At this point the story reveals that Jesus knows that woman's life, and also shows us why she was alone in that source, she has been married five times, and was now with a sixth man, and Judeo-Samaritan divorce always stemmed from the husband, then that woman out publicly humiliated five times, no one gave value for that woman, but Jesus wanted to change her story.

Stop and think with me for just a moment in the love of God, as Jesus is wonderful, as everyone looked at this woman with contempt, Jesus looked at her with love, we see even elsewhere, as the Jewish society despised lepers, but Jesus reached out and touched saying "I want to be clean."

Today is no different, there are lives out there in the world that the human eye is hopeless, now being despised, that are at rock bottom, but through the eyes of Jesus, who is the greatest love the world, this saying!! I WANT TO TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE, EVEN IF ALL YOU reject, I LOVE YOU!!

After this the woman wants to get into a religious discussion about the most appropriate place to worship God and Jesus says:

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
John 4:21-24

God is looking for true worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

In spirit, because worship is not something merely external, but first comes from within, from the heart, not worship God for what He can give, but for what He is, and He is worthy of all worship, He is worthy of all praise, He is all Digino Glory.

In fact, because worship has to be true, it is not something mechanical, rehearsed and superficial. And it is in fact because it has to be according to God's Word, the Bible is our standard, our rule of faith, if Word is not out of true.

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah (called Christ) comes, when he comes, he will tell us everything.
Jesus said unto him, I am, I who speak to you.
John 4:25-26

Something terrible happens when Jesus reveals himself as Messiah to the woman, the Word says that she drops the pitcher, recognizing Jesus as Savior, and runs to the city that he despised, and calls everyone to go meet Jesus.

Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Is not this the Christ?
They left the city, and came unto him.
John 4:29-30

The transformation in the life of this woman was full, as Jesus spoke to her, her life was being transformed, and now we see an evangelist preaching Jesus, a woman who accepted Jesus and exits provided for the whole world what Jesus did in his life.

This woman made no evangelism course, but even so she left long for Jesus to everyone, you know why? Because when we are transformed by God, we have to declare the wonderful deeds of Jesus, and are a living testimony of God's power.

God wants to use you in this very land, as well as this woman had an encounter with Christ, you also had the transformation was complete.

And if you have not had this meeting, do not waste time Jesus loves you, He wants to reveal to you too, He wants to give you living water, water welling up to eternal life, open your heart, accept him as your Lord and Salvador, look for a church that preaches the truth (God's Word), and have a real and personal encounter with the Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus loves you