POWER OF THE BLOOD

“The life of the body is in the blood.” You drain the blood from the body, either of men or of animals, and the body dies. This is an incontrovertible truth. Blood is an important ingredient of life in the flesh. What is the debate on the “power of the blood”? The debate is centered on the teachings of religionists, particularly on the doctrine of salvation, forgiveness of sins, regeneration, reconciliation, cleansing, healing. The protagonists calls those who disagree with their thinking as heretics and accursed. They find a rich source of authority in the animal sacrifices in which the blood is taken and used to atone for any imaginable sins, misconduct, signs of forgiveness, deliverance, seals of contract/covenants, and promises to authenticate an act or promise. What seems ridiculous to me is when the proponents of the “power of the blood” mix the power of the blood OF sacrificed animals and the blood of Jesus Christ” in their arguments on the power of the blood.

The proponent of the “power of the blood” seems to forget the property of the body from which the blood is shed or drawn. Blood by itself has no other power than to give and sustain life. When blood is shed from the body, the body dies. Period. I hope the religionists will see and understand this truth.

Theologically, the value of the blood is in reference to atonement of sins as when God clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins to hide their nakedness. The blood of the animals, perhaps of sheeps, had to be spelt to atone for the sIns of Adam and Eve as well as to cover their nakedness. Perhaps the sheep is chosen because it is meek. The Mosaic requirements were that the animals to be sacrificed were without defect and were healthy. The blood is sprinkled upon the altar and the congregation and the persons making the sacrifice. The priests apply upon the offerants and certain articles of furnitures in the tabernacle the blood of the sacrificed animals. The blood of sacrifice covers, cleanses, heals, seals the cause for which it is offered. The one thing often forgotten by the discussants of the “power of the blood” is the body from the blood is drawn. Can the blood taken from any animal be acceptable for use? NO! That is blasphemy and punishable by death. Therefore, the power is not in the blood per see but is in the property and appropriateness of the sacrifice. The blood is as a stamp to authenticate a legal document.

All these Old Testament blood sacrifices foreshadow the life and sacrifice that Jesus Christ shall make in the fullness of time. We read in Hebrews 9:11ff “So Christ has become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that great, perfect sanctuary in heaven, not made by human hands and not part of this created world. Once for all time he took blood into the Most Holy Place but not the blood of goats and calves. He took his own blood, and with it he secured our salvation forever.”

“Under the old system, the blood of goats, and bulls, and the ashes of a new young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ritual defilement. Just think how much more the blood if Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins That is why he is the one who mediates the new covenant between the God and people, so that all who are invited can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of sins they have committed under the that first covenant.”

Throughout the Holy Bible blood is always drawn from a ritually pure body offered in sacrifice. Never has it been used carelessly, thoughtlessly to support a doctrine. All those squabbling and irresponsible discussion on the “power of the blood” are not scriptural and building of “strange fires” on the altar of truth.

THE THREE CROSSES

There were three crosses on Calvary. Jesus’, Demas’, and Hestas’. The crossed on which Demas and Hestas hanged were judgments of justice on the crimes they had committed against society. The cross of Jesus was a gross injustice committed against the man on whom no sin was found. The cross on which Jesus hanged was penalty to redeem mankind from the curse of the law and death. It was a vicarious sacrifice paid by an innocent man for the sins of man against God. The three crosses were the same. They were instruments of torture - the most degrading violence done against any man. It is the symbol of gross cruelty, of inhumanity against man. The cross, however, is a deterrent to crimes of rebellion against the State So the crosses of Demas and Hestas were fit punishment for the crimes. But the crucifixion of Jesus was a symbol of man’s inhumanity against his fellowman. On the one hand its vicarious intent as a sacrifice was for the salvation of man from his sins. It has a purely spiritual dimension. On the other hand it was for the cleansing of souls of those who will believe that Jesus was the Son of God whose vicarious death wipes out all divine condemnations of sins. Thus the cross of Jesus becomes a shining symbol of God’s unfathomable love and forgiveness.

Yet the cross of Jesus possesses no supernatural power by itself. It is wrong to personify the cross and ascribed to it power and royalty and worship. Many have substituted the cross for Jesus. They draped a purple cloth around the cross to make it royal. It is more of a poetic license to personify the cross and equate it to Jesus Christ. The emblem of the cross though used in churches to identify it as Christian is never scriptural. The cross cannot save. It has no other virtue than to torture. Constantine vision of the cross was not scriptural. It was his vision. You do not have to experience the agony of Christ suffering at the cross to be save. You just believe in the LORD Jesus and you are save. The cross is not the entrance to the Holy of Holiest where God dwells. Jesus is the only Way to the Father. To ascribe power to the cross if to deny Jesus Christ and compassion of the invisible God. It is promoting strange fires which incurs the wrath of God. It is another Gospel and incurs a curse.

ETCETRA

The Cross. There were three crosses on Calvary. The two crosses bore the bodies of two criminals. One bore the body of the Son of God – Jesus Chris. The two criminals were crucified for their crimes. The one in the mijddle of one who “bore the iniquities of us.” There was no sin in him but the perverted justice of the sinful world represented by the political and religious authorities condemned him to die by crucifixion. If the “cross has the power to redeem”, of what crime was Jesus redeemed of? If the” cross led us to who Jesus Christ is”? If the cross can indeed lead us to “who Jesus Christ is”, What message is it telling the world who Jesus Christ was? Why was he crucified. Why is the cross draped in purple, Is that not saying that the cross was deified and honored for killing Jesus?

The cross is nothing more than an instrument of torture: whether it be the cross on which Jesus Christ was killed or be it the cross on which Demas and Hestas was condemned to death for their crimes. It is Satanic victory to personify and deify and ascribe to it royalty and power of God. To me the power is not on the cross but on the one crucified, died, buried, and rose again from the dead overcoming death and making a mockery of the grave. As Paul exultantly cried “O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?”

A CULT?

1. "A cult is a religious sect -- under the guidance of an authoritarian charismatic leader." on the other hand true faith in Jesus Christ is under the guidance if the Holy Spirit. The Gospel according to John gives us the tasks and functions of the Holy Spirit
1. He will reprove the world of sin, because they do not believe on Him;
2. Of righteousness because I go to the Father, and ye see me no more;
3. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
4. He will guide you into all truths
5. He shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:
6. H shall shew you things to come.
7. He shall glorify me: for he receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
8. All things that the Father hath are mine, and he shall and he shall shew it unto you.

11. Is there another gospel? In Galatians Chapter 1:6-9 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let be be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."The problem the young church in Galatia was that a group of Judaizers want them to become Jews first before they can be Christians, or they have to be circumcised first according to the Jewish Law. Clearly what they are teaching is the reversal of the Gospel that Paul preached to them.

What is the Gospel? Jesus Christ died at the cross for the redemption of the world - the remission of sin by the shedding of the blood of Christ. He died in obedience to the Will of the Father. He rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father. His redemption is full and complete. In Him there is no "Jew or Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3:28) John chapter 3 and verse 16 reveals the heart of God "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Any other gospel - the Gospel plus anything else - is another gospel and is cursed. It is cult. Its purpose is other than the salvation of man through faith in Jesus Christ finished work and sacrificial death at the cross. Is the Government of 12 of the International Charismatic Mission Church of Cesar Castellanos Y Dominguez a cult? I think it is. It changes the clear teachings of the Holy Bible. It spiritualizes the number 12, reminisces of the Roman Catholic Church teaching s of mysticism. Cesar Castellanos is not alone in this. Islam is expecting the completion of the 12
imams of their prophesied prophets who are to come. The arguments to support the number 12 is forced and false.

Changed biblical messages. Take its messages on the power of the blood. It teaches that just as the blood of sacrificed animals are applied by the priests in the Old Testament so the present day believers can apply the blood of Jesus Christ to cast out demons, heal the sick, cover human needs. Another distorted message. The believer has access to the Presence of the Father through the cross. The cross is the channel through which the Christian can enter the holy of holiest. The biblical message is that when the curtain which divided the holy place from the Holy of Holiest was burned from top to bottom during the crucifixion access to God is through Jesus Christ alone. There is no more need for any human intermediaries before man can call on God. Access to the Presence of the Father is through Jesus Christ alone.

Another addition to the Gospel is the teaching that unless man experiences the sufferings of Jesus on the cross his salvation is incomplete. Does that ring bells?

Cesar Castellanos and his pastors insist on complete obedience from the believers. You are to obey even if you do not comprehend the demands of the leadership. Deny your conscience. To disobey is to sin. Only God can demand complete obedience. God encourages "Come now and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."(Isaiah 1:18)

Is the Government of 12 Church a cult and accursed? I am afraid to think it is so as evidenced by their queer and willful changes in biblical messages. If so, then the pastors who promote this scheme in church membership multiplication are blind guides leading those wh follow them to
condemnation.

Greetings to Bro Fernandez and Cyril Buca!

Greetings to Bro Fernandez and Cyril Buca! How is the Week-end encounter
Retreat at the Dumaguete City YMCA? How many from the Dumaguete City First Evangelical Church Attnded? Perhaps you have fired them up and the Holy Spirit has tremendously fired them up and you leading them? You can get the first 200 before the Holy Week and 4,000 and 40,000 by Christmas 2009. Daniel 12:2 "And those who are wise
- the people of God - shall shine as brightly as the suns' brilliance, and those who turn many to righteousness will glitter like stars forever." Any picture to share and publish? Please post some of the pictures, Cy. - Bro Jun

December 2008

Christmas Light, Christmas Dark
Dr. Edith Tiempo
National Artist for Literature

One Christmas night a wise man and a fool
Stood by a noisy street ablaze with blinking lights.
Joyous people came and went,
Rejoicing in the happy event.
“Today,” the wise man said, “today the Christ is born.
What better gift for the manger bed
Than the ever-blazing lights
Of wisdom in my head?
Kings and princes who must wisely rule,
They read my words and truly learn,
And by my precepts they are led.
So, my wisdom I lay at the manger bed.”

The fool spoke up, “All this is good,
The lights in the street and the lights in your head,
It is good to rejoice and to loudly praise.
But let me take you to another place,
Where the darkened night
Is lighted only by stars overhead,
No noisy crowds, just the birds chirping in the wood;

The fish splash in the river; the fireless light
The dusky sky; the monkeys chatter softly,

The insects titter quietly,
The glow-worm in the grass
Wiggles to hear our footsteps pass.”

The wise man then said, “O God, forgive me,
For this fool is wiser far than I.

His words speak of the lowly birth
Of one born with the beasts and creatures of earth,
This birth is a time, yes, for festivity,
But even more, a time for humility,
A time for laying by
The feverish praise and loud celebration,
A time for quiet introspection.
A time to grasp in the darkness of our being
The wonder of this birth and the balm of its meaning.”

Time for darkness, time of the spark:
Christmas light, Christmas dark.

Another Gospel

Galatians 1:8-9 “But though we, or an angel from heaven , preach any other gospel unto you than that which we preached unto you, let him be accursed. – As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
1. The government of 12 is an addition, a different gospel to the Gospel
a. It is based on an imperfect logic
The conclusion on the example of Elisha plowing with 12 oxen not 11 or 13
“What would be, if what had been had not been.”
The altar built with 12 stones (MT Carmel duel); 12 stones on which the priest carrying the ark stood when the Hebrews crossed the flooded Jordan River. The coming of the Holy Spirit with the addition of Mathias taking the place of Judas.
(Truth. The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost)
b. Spiritualizing the number 12.
2. Unscriptural comparison of the blood of sacrificial animals to the blood of Jesus shed at the cross. – As in the Old Testament the priests applied the blood on the people , so in the New Testament the believer can apply the blood of Jesus Christ on their needs – healing, exorcism, fear, needs.
3. What the Holy Scriptures say Hebrews 9:11ff. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. … 24. For Christ is not entered into the holly place made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; Nor yet should he offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with the blood of others; For then he should have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now once in the end of the world he appeared to put away sin by the sacrificed of himself. … 10:9-11 “Then said he, Lo, I come to do they will , O God. He take away the first, that he may establish the second. By which will we are justified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
To teach that every believer as a member of the ‘royal priesthood’ can apply the blood of Jesus on every and any need, circumstance as the priest of the OT did would be guilty of using “Strange Fire.”
4. The way to the holy of holiest is through the cross. The cross is personified. When the veil that separates the holy place from the holy of holiest to God was destroyed during the crucifixion, access to the presence of God is through Christ Jesus alone. There is no need for any substitution for the veil; no need for any human intermediary or man-made devises to have access to God. Just faith in Jesus Christ alone.
5. There is a tendency to break apart the finished work of Christ at the cross: the seven times Jesus shed his blood, the crown of thorns on his head, his blood, and the cross. (back to Roman catholic mysticism, scholasticism, etc.)
6. Wrapping a purple cloth around the cross as Roman Catholics do.

IS THIS THE BIBLICAL TRUTH?

The Filipino Christian Church of the Assemblies of God is drifting towards a new and revolutionary ecclesiology or doctrine of the church grounded on the vision of Cesar Castellanos
of rapid multiplication and growth based on birthing and duplicating what he calls the Government of 12. The primary aim of the G-12 is to train leaders who can duplicate themselves ad-infinitum.

The G-12 trains its members to "win, consolidate, disciple, and send." The materials used in training are prepared by Cesar Castellanos in coordination with his wife, Claudia Fajardo, and daughter Joanna. The vision, experiences, and dreams of Cesar are to be instilled, adapted, and declared to be the vision of each and all believers. Members who cannot produce a cell are advised to either produce or leave. This is a hurting and humilating experience. The example of Jesus cursing the fruitless fig tree and the cutting down of fruitless fig tree are used to spur obedience and hard endeavor of a leader for fear of being removed.
A brief study of Cesar Castellanos is interesting and inspiring. It touches the heart and thinking of many pastors who dream and desire success in their ministry. Pastors who met heartbreaking experiences of dwindling membership in their churches see hope of revolutionary
revival and growth and conservation of members as they are trained in G-12 evolution evolving from the vision and dreams of Cesar Castellanos.
What are the teachings and claims of Cesar Castellanos which will benefit and revolutionize the twenty first century church? Perhaps you can share your thoughts with me as we journey together in our common desire to see the Church of Jesus Christ makes the journey of faith in this times. Email me your thoughts, reactions, responses to Bro Jun < apple_jun@yahoo.com.

THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST

THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
Romans chapter 3 verses 23-25a says “All have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory, and all need to be made right with ?God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ. God gave him as a way to forgive sin through faith in the blood of Jesus death.”
The Law defines the sin (offense) that was committed and its penalties. All have sinned against God and his fellows and is not good enough for the glory of God. The sinner is bound, strap to sin and needs to be set free. Not the law which binds him but something that has not been tainted with sin can set the sinner free. God provided the remedy by giving His only Son as a sacrifice by dying at the cross as a condemned and convicted sinner on behalf of all mankind. The blood of Jesus Christ was a propitiation of our sin.
Blood as propitiation for offenses committed against God or man in the Old Testament comes from animals given as sacrifices such as sheep, goats, bulls, birds. These sacrifices are done by the Aaronic priesthood as promulgated by Moses, the man chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The blood was caught in a bowl and sprinkled on the altar and upon the assembly of people. Aaron anointed the priest by dipping his fingers on the blood and anointing the ears, the thumb and the big toe . The priests/officiant must be very careful to observe every detail in the function of his office lest he dies.
However the Old Testament model of expatiation of sins, as a shadow of the real and true thing, is imperfect. So It is repeated from time to time, or was often there is a need for it. When that which is perfect is come the imperfect gives way to that which is perfect. Thus the Aaronic or Mosaic sacrificial systems have to give way to the “once for all sacrifice” made by Jesus Christ of Himself.
The sacrifice of animal blood is superseded by the sacrifice of the royal blood of Jesus Christ. The blood of animals sacrificed in worship was handled by human hands of duly initiated and appointed priests. These priest have to offer a sacrifice for the remission of their own sins before they can offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. “It shows that the gifts and sacrifices offered cannot make the conscience of the worshiper perfect. The gifts and sacrifices were only about food and drink and special washings. They were rules for the body, to be followed until the time of God’s new way.” (Hebrews 9:9-10).
“But when Christ came as the high priest of the good things we now have, he entered the greater and more perfect tent. It is not made by human hands and does not belong to this world. Christ entered the Most Holy Place only once –and for all time. He did not take with him the blood of goats and calves. His sacrifice was his own blood, and by it he set us free from sin forever ..He offered himself through the Spirit, as an perfect sacrifice to God……….. His blood will make our consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the ,living God”(HEBREWS 9:14).
The cultist misuse and doctrine of the blood of Christ, either knowingly or unknowingly, the preacher or teacher makes a blasphemous declaration as “I apply the blood of Christ” on this or that situation or circumstance. This downgrades the Holy, royal blood of Jesus to that of an animal. This makes the person applying the blood of Jesus superior to Jesus. This is preposterous presumption of authority. How can a sinful person handle and apply by his words the blood of Deity on mundane things? Jesus offered himself once and for all so that the believer should be free from sin forever.
Is this not the manner of the cultist, of the charlatans? To be able to manipulate God? To command God to do for him what God ordains him to do?
Paul warns in Galatians Chapter 1 verse 5 to 8. “We preached to you the GOOD NEWS of Christ. So I we ourselves, or even an angel from heaven, should preach to you something different, we should be judged guilty. I said this before, and now I say it again. … If anyone is preaching something different to you, he should be judged guilty.”

LEASE OF LIFE

LEASE OF LIFE

The God-given life is a gift. It is neither borrowed nor loaned much less a lease. We just received it as a free gift of God. Of course there are some who proudly talk of life as borrowed or loaned from God. Some poets and philosophers think of it as a loaned or borrowed item that has to be returned some time in life. Some moralist may think of making the best of it, enjoyed it while it last. Others are mindless or think nothing of how they live it recklessly boasting, “when it is done, it is done.”

But life is a special gift that God has given mankind for them to enjoy it the best they can to the honor and glory of the Creator. These are the men and women who are builders of civilizations and nations. They believe in the divine purpose in life. And that purpose is to honor and praise the LORD God at all time. As they honor and praise the LORD in their worship and service the LORD bless them with abundant life and prosperity.

On January 6, 2009 I celebrated my 80th birthday with praise and thanksgiving and worship. I wrote in my blogspot that life begins at 80. Jesus Christ has so blessed my life, my ministry, my family, my desires to serve Him till He comes for me and takes me home to our Father’s house. Then on February 18, 2009 the medical consultant I was referred to, on examining the files of x-ray (MRI) films on my internal organs to confirm the presence of possible aneurysms after thoughtfully reflecting on his answer to my question “How long shall I live with the threats of aneurysms in my body?” solemnly replied “about two to three years.”

Two – three years of life!. Am I now living on “borrowed” or lease time? Neither.
I still live on God’s time. Therefore I am not fearful. I have no time to fret, to fear, but a hopeful looking forward, upward, toward that day when Jesus comes for me. He has forgiven me my sins, cleansed by His blood he shed at calvary when He gave His life for me. I am full of hope that He not only saved me but He will completely renewed all that is within me. “I shall not die but live to declare the goodness of the LORD (Psalms 118:17). Hallelujah!

LIFE BEGINS AT 80

LIFE BEGINS AT 80. Moses began his ministry of deliverance when he was 80 years old. An experience at hearing God spoke to him from a burning bush which was not consumed by the fire completely changed his life. From a desert shepherd tending his father-in-laws sheeps he became a in liberator of more than four million Hebrew slaves in Egypt. He did it without employing any weapon of mass destruction. He did it by simply listening to God, obeying Him, and trusting only in Him.

He not only delivered them from the power and might of Pharaoh, king of Egypt,
but almost single-handedly forged and developed them to be a great nation and people of great destiny. He turned them from slaves to "chosen generation, a royal priesthood,an holy nation, a peculiar people." He turned them from idol worshipers to a dynamic believer and worshiper in only one God, the Creator of the world and all that are therein. He wrote laws, precepts, and instructions on almost any subject, concerns, scopes of human activity and relationship.

Moses did not make himself. God made him.

On January 6,2009 I turned 80 years old. There was no burning bush which was not consumed by its fire. There were no flashes of lightnings and roars of thunder. There was only the awesome silence of the dawn breaking forth, the sun seeking to break through the mist and showers.I can hear the gentle the gentle patter of the rain falling on the roof.

Some fifty-five years ago Jesus Christ in Person visited me in our small hut
in our hiding place during WW11, Jesus called me to follow Him and go where He wants me to go to tell people of His love for them. We were in danger then both from and marauding Japanese soldiers and roving bands of bandits disguising themselves as Guerrilas. Jesus was insistent for a commitment to follow him. I awaken my father
and told him of the Presence in the room. He cannot see Him, though to my eyes He appeared as a bright luminous blue light. My mother and kid brother were seriously ill and sick of malaria. Jesus assured me that they will get well and we shall all be protected by Him. He will always be with me and protect me and my love ones from all evil. Dawn was giving me to the light of the new day. I said "yes" to Jesus
and He just disappeared. That changed the course of my life these past 55 years. I considered my ministry as a pastor and missionary a godly success. Churches grew and multiplied; lives were changed, and people loved and honored me. He gave me a good and faithful wife and children who are godly and faithful to the LORD Jesus. Praise the LORD.