NOVEMBER Pastoral Letter

Seeking First the Kingdom, and His Righteousness

Matt 6:33

IN THIS ISSUE:

* The Trumpet in the midst of storms
* Kenya – Bro Isaac Open Air Preach
* Uganda - Bro Wachana / Muslims converted
* East India – Bro Prasanna, revival continues...
* MT Elgon – Bro Davidson updates
* South Africa – Bro Renier campus preach
* Exhortation – Bro Wachana
* Matthew 12 – Exposition continues

My Beloved Brethren... be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the LORD.

1 Cor. 15:58

THE TRUMPET CALL OF THE GOSPEL continues to go out among the nations!  We would like to encourage and remind all who are Proclaiming the Ever-Lasting Gospel in these last days... it is a GREAT WORK that YOU are DOING!       Ps 149:3-7      PRESS ON!

You can realize greater Power in your delivery as you continue in the very presence of our Great Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... for as you do this, you will continue in the necessary refinements amendments and mortifications that will be prompted by His Most Holy Spirit... Who continues to lead us all into HOLINESS AS UNTO THE LORD; and the Truth about Who our King is... but also who we are... and the station He has called us to in and amongst the Church Bride of Christ!  HIS BODY (the Church) is very busy in the UPHOLDING OF THE GOSPEL TRUMPET... leading many to turn from their idols >> to the Living God!

Dearly Beloved, never lose sight of your so GREAT Salvation! This is the day to be DECLARING it to such a lost and needy time such as we live in today! They will listen to you as they behold your continual growth and processing of the grace and mercy that Jesus grants you every morning! ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDST OF THE STORMS OF LIFE TODAY, they will desire your love and PASSION for Christ and His Kingdom! They will take note of your BURDEN FOR THE LOST AND POOR! Never hold back Dearly Beloved! Show them your heart now full of “HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!”

PRESS ON CHRISTIAN SOLDIER!     2 Tim 2:1-5       Bro Robert

We at FBF would like to Thank you again for your prayers and encouragements as the Teams in East, Central, South and Western Africa are experiencing many advances and serious revival that continues in the East and Central sections... all Glory to God! East India continues to open up new territories with the Gospel, and the Open Air preach continues in the US. All teams are training new recruits at this time. We thank the LORD for the good work of participating with His Kingdom advance... and with all His Church Bride who is eagerly awaiting His soon return. This is the hour for all of God’s children to ‘rise up’ for the gospel of Jesus Christ! It’s TIME to do all we can in Christ. His return is more certain than ever before!    Amen.

The focus of the Pastoral Letter (PL) is along the lines of generally edifying and encouraging Preachers to establish more of Christ in our lives, promoting the Kingdom of God where ever we go, Establishing God fearing Churches, mission updates (Africa, India, US), missions reports, focus points, teaching, exposition, a short list of mail-ins (with some excerpts). We are committed to the Great Co-Mission for all, as being salt and light are not an option in the church of Jesus Christ. Matt 5:13-16 ... We continue to bless all those who are at work in the advancement of the Kingdom of God... for Jesus sake. We continue to call all men to Jesus, and to the simplicity of Christ that we find in the Book of Acts Church... to His Glory and Praise!

Acts 2:42, 46-47, Mark 16:15-16

May the LORD leave His richest blessings upon each one of you as you Press On with Jesus!

"'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face — whose mercy you have professed to obey — and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world.

~William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

SOUTH BUNGOMA, KENYA

Bro Issac - STIRRING IT UP

Open Air Preach

Bro Isaac and Team are a real Blessing to FBF... solid prayer warriors always... planting 3 churches recently... and baptisms confirming the fruit!

Glory to God Most High!

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom. 10; 8-17 BROTHER ISAAC

MUSLIMS GET SAVED WITH OTHERS

Bro Wachana Reports

Waiting for pix

Grace to you my dear brother Robert and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

May the God of peace……….equip you richly with everything good that you work for Him, Thank you, Thank you (Pretty good) for loving us, and God has been good to us through you.

Through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever (Heb.13:20-21). My beloved brother we do salute you for the faithful, professional and instructions manner in which you always keep us informed, in the process of sanctification, infact Jesus is our example, for we are to run to race of life “Looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecta of our faith (Heb. 12:2) and we should follow his steps 1Peter 2:21. Concerning the teachings and the believes of our brother Odong, since we have just known one another we sent one of our executive member who is also from Northern Uganda to help us and get his faith statement so that we can be able to know what he believes and what he teaches.

My dear brother, God bless you!

By now Busia Border work need much prayer and support, because even the house in which we have been fellowshipping from, we were chased out because of rent fee and as I talk now we just fellowship from one of our saints courtyard, if it rains we get shelter in his house. So for that case we do request you to stand with us in prayer my dear brother things to get better. Furthermore, there is an outbreak of cold war in Sofia Estate in Busia Town where we are operating from between us and moslems reason being some of four (4) moslems got saved, as we were teaching at the seminar we have contacted in Sofia Estate Busia Town the teachings was about: At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father (Phil: 2:5-11) NOT THE NAME OF MUHAMMED.

JESUS is the way, the truth, and the life no one come to His Father except through Jesus Christ our Lord. Above mentioned sisters and one brother made their decision to receive Christ as savior, and confessed with their mouth, that Jesus is Lord and savior, that God has raised him from the dead. They declared before the multitude that they are no longer moslems. Therefore Busia work need us to stay within or near it, because we only be there on Sunday and Wednesdays and sometimes we face transportation problems from Muwayo to Busia regularly, we don’t have even instruments which costs us to preach the gospel in conferences, open air, and in churches. And as you know we are tent makers. Besides all these moslems also started their crusades on every Thursday to confuse and convince people to join them in that very Estate Sofia. For sure this work needs us to stay near and keep encouraging our new converts and still reach others in various part of Uganda regional, I ever receive invitation calls to move and teach or solve some problems, but transportation is still a big problem needs prayer God to open the way.

Please pray for the 4 muslims that came to Jesus... their spouses are threatening to divorce them. Thank you for your prayers for this cause.

Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

His Grace

Wachana Bonventy

East India Revival Continues....

Bro Prasanna reports

Dearest beloved man of God PASTOR. ROBERT EPHRATA and beloved church family.

Greetings to you in the holy name of our lord Jesus Christ.Thank you very much for your prayers And love and kind fellowship with us. And we do daily praying for you, your family and ministry around the world. Today in Sunday service we spend much time in praying for your good health, and for family.

And your prayer.We give glory and honer to Jesus.for His mighty presence With us in The 2 days crusades meeting .
Holy spirit moving mighty in The lives of Hindus, idol worshipers, and believers and pastors through your massages, prayers and importation.
We see the great change in their lives, families and their ministry after the meetings.
Not only that Had in the 2dayes revival Crusades meetings the Power of god touched each and Every one of them mighty.
And people were free from the bondage of Sickness, bondage of demons and evil spirit. Believers were strength. In the faith. And in the walk with god through your prayer.

1.Around the 2 crusades remote area 1800 people came to The 2 days Revival Crusades Meetings form 32 different village to the remote area.

2.Almost Countless unsaved people came for forward to take Jesus as their personal savior and Lord. We praise god for that.

1. .Sister Ruth had epilepsy (Fits) she came forward for your prayers, As you Were Prayed for whole, God healed her Completely. Now she is free From her disease.

2. One of the sister Esther She have brain tumor in his Head she have much pain in head and as you Were prayed for Whole, God had healed her.
And there is no pain after that we whet to the hospital,

3. One man came with pain.in his stomach to the meeting.ha had ulcer in his stomach, god healed him.

4. One of the sister marry. She have back pain. While you have praying time she had receiver immediately. Now she have free no pain.

5. A sister brought her daughter to the meeting,the boy was attacked by Evil spirit every night.as you prayed for them. Now she is free from bondage of evil spirit.

6. One of the sister came to the crusades Meetings.with grate pain in her Chest(breath properly)unable to And heart weakness, Jesus haled her.

7. One of the Hindu woman came her name is durgga. she have thrombosis.in her hands and neck god healed her sickness. Glory to god.

8. 10 One of the young man free from bondage of alcoholism,and womanizing and from smoking.

9. One of the man came to meeting with leg bone pain he have pain two years but he have much pain. And your praying time . he came near stage while your praying while he had totally healed by your prayer. Glory to god

10. God blessed one man coming to 2 crusades meetings such way from his that he recover debts, family problems and God healed him from respiratory disease.

11. God had done great miracle young woman 8 years old she unable to talk . while your praying time she received straighten form god.now
speaking properly.glory to God.

12. One young boy received healing.form back pain and shoulder pain,he had fell down while playing in his childhood,
so he had back pain and shoulder pain and as servant of God prayed for him and god healed completely form his pain.

13. One of the woman suffered with urinary tract in faction, she was healed by your prayer spot in the crusades meetings. Thank god.

14. Our orphan girl her name is mammy. She don't have memory power. While your praying time. She received knowledge form God.
Now she have reading books. Thank God.

15. Ch. rajini was a chronic diabetes patient. She spent a lot of money for her medical treatment but it was all in vain.
As a last resort she came to our meeting blessing God, JESUS healed,Our God proved His Ability and healed her through your prayers.

16. One ot the woman her name is Krupp she fell down your feet. She received strength your feet.god healed her fever.

17. One woman came meeting she received holy spirit. At the time demon spirit gone out.

18. My father he have BP and shouger my father healed by your prayer

19. One of the church believer he have family problems he came meetings .now his wife and children they have peace free.thank God.

20. Many pastors, leaders and servant of God came to the meeting all of the pastors praying you ,the Brethren there and loving ministry .

Glory to God and your prayer.

Your brother in His Vineyard.
Pastor.Prasanna

CHURCH PLANTING FROM REVIVAL

NYEHUNGE - TANZANIA

BRO MICHAEL

HERE IS THE REPORT OF NYAHUNGE:

Pastor Michael Elkana went to nyehunge to visit them with five Pastors we were talking

about the prograce of the church then we preached and God him self show up to his people

FBF in Nyahunge, there were only twenty people but after revival within a short time we got another twenty so in Nyihung we have forty people God is walking with us.

Pastor Elisha in Nyihunge he is doing good he is preaching the word of God

with the microphone which you give him in Geita so God is helping us really we thank him

the subject was in Joshua 1:6. Amen.

Also Pastor Elisha need more prayers because he doesn't have the place for the Ministry

so we need prayers for Hunger.We do believe in God so much that we will plant a fine work here.

MT Elgon work advances..

Bro Davidson - W Kenya

Choice brotherly greetings in the name of the Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Much work has gone into addressing public gathering of parents and teachers on ethnic integration and cohesion during September 2012. Our organization has established peace clubs in 14 schools around Mt. Elgon. Through this, we have designed activities in those schools which bring together children from different ethnic communities in effort to bridge the tribal divide between them and harness co-existence. We also run seminars for teachers and parents to inculcate in them skills for transformational education and parenting which encourage a broader world-view.

In time, we will be glad for you to consider some practical ways you can compliment what we are doing for God and His people.

The boys you send funds for are doing well. I put them in school and they feel blessed!! I am also currently involved in peace and conflict transformation in the Mt. Elgon region of Kenya -- in which we have initiated Peace Clubs in Primary and Secondary Schools in Mt. Elgon in effort to address the problem of socialization and negative parental influence over children.

I would like to know if you plan to come soon and if I can put together some meetings for you in Chwele and around Mt. Elgon. The Lord gave me a motorcycle which easens my mobility. The tyres, however, are now worn-out. I also have to renew the insurance cover. I need your prayer support. I believe God hears and answers PRAYER!!

Shalom!

Davidson Akhonya

Bro Renier campus preach

South Africa

On Wednesday, the 24^th of October I took a day off from work to preach at Stellenbosch University. I’ve preached from 8:00 am until 3:30 pm on the campus. The preach went very well. I had students around me all throughout the day! Right from the start of the preach there was action. A car stopped next to me and a person jumped out who attempted to pull down and destroy my banner. I was busy to talk to a few students when it happened. They just froze from shock, but one guy helped me to hold on to my banner. When the attacker saw that his effort to destroy my banner failed he jumped back into the car and sped off. Another guy was so offended at my sign that he told me that he is going to phone the Police within 10 minutes to have me removed. The Police drove past me 3 times, but they did not approach me. As always, there was plenty of response, both positive and negative. A number of Christians stopped by me to say that they are really encouraged and inspired to see my boldness and courage … as it, in turn, helps them also to be more bolder in their own witness and stand for Christ. There was also a journalist who interviewed me and hanged around me for almost the whole day …filming me on her video as I’m preaching and interacting with the students. Many students stopped by to ask me what I’m doing and why I’m there. Some of them even told me that “You are causing quite a stir here on campus! We hear inside the classes that the other students are talking about you!” I’ve also had my share of mockers, atheists and pagans to contend with.

I was asked about my opinion on evolution. I responded: “Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth. God spoke and BANG! It happened.” Many students thought my sign and message to be offensive. They’ve told me: “Why don’t you rather preach that ‘God loves you’?” I responded: “That kind of message will never work as the average sinner will walk by and think ‘Hey, God loves me so much … I can continue on with my sinning, drinking, sleeping around … and still get into Heaven!’. I don’t want to give people a false impression. Besides, the book of Acts is our manual on how the first Christians evangelised to world. The word ‘love’ does not even appear ONCE in the book of Acts. Instead, the topics of judgment day, repentance, salvation in Christ alone, heaven and hell were the themes of the apostles’ preaching. And these are the themes we should include in our preaching today.” They would respond: “Yes, but times have changed!” I would reply: “But the heart of the average sinner never changed during the past 2,000 years. The heart is still deceitful and desperately wicked as always! The diagnosis and the cure stays the same!” The students would then ask about John 3:16 … I would respond: “John 3:16 was spoken to ONE person in the middle of the NIGHT. Yet, throughout the Gospels you will never find Him saying to a crowd of people that ‘God loves you’. No, He would always preach and say ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand’ (Mat 4:17) and ‘Repent or Perish’ (Luke 13:3,5).” Another lady objected: “Are you saying that all those sincere muslims, jews and buddhists are LOST???” I replied: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Sincerity never saved anybody. Only Jesus Christ can save you!” Again, I was told: “The bible is written by man”. I replied: “Yes, man was the pen and God was the One who used the pen to write the Bible.” Another guy objected: “Can’t you just for a change begin a sentence without saying ‘the bible says’?” I replied: “What do you want me to do? Preach things out of my own heart or do you want me to preach the Word of God?”

The preach lasted 7 ½ hours, but it was really worth it! I don’t mind to spend and to be spent for the sake of Christ (2 Cor 12:15)! The preach really got the students talking about Jesus and thinking about eternity so yes it was all well worth it… all I can say to this is “Praise the LORD” for what He has done today! Amen.

Bro Wachana – A Exhortation

Greetings my dear FBF Brethren and Brother Robert!

May God bless you with His grace and peace Hallelujah!

We will continually offer ourselves and all that we do or have as sacrifices to our most worthy king. Yet we shall also, in subjection to God, share in ruling over the universe, for with him we shall ‘reign forever and ever’ (Rev.22:5)

Jesus says, ‘He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my father on his throne’(Rev.3:21).

Mukana Yebazibwe / Praise the Lord

Finally : we as FBF Christians ought not to neglect to meet together.(Hebrews 10:25), but ought to look forward eagerly to any assembly of believers in which any of these means would occur, expecting that God will bring blessings from each of these means!.

On the other hand, we must realize that all of these means of grace occur within fellowship of the church.

Those who neglect the fellowship of the church willing fully cut themselves off from all of these means of grace and thereby cut themselves off from most of the ordinary means that the Holy Spirit uses to bring blessings to His people.

These means of grace ought to give us great appreciation for the amazing privilege of being members of the body of Christ, the church.

I remain yours in Christ’s Love,

WACHANA BONVENTRY

MATTHEW Exposition continues

Chapter 12

(Matthew 12:1) At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

This chapter records the rising catastrophe of rejection. The rising hatred and hostility of the Pharisees are now ready to spill over. The issue that opens the floodgates is the Sabbath question.

On this particular Sabbath, Jesus and His disciples were passing through the grain fields. His disciples began to pluck heads of grain and to eat them. The law permitted them to help themselves to grain from their neighbour’s field as long as they did not use a sickle (Deut 23:25). Thus, the disciples’ crime was not that they were stealing the grain, but rather the seeming crime was that they were doing this on the Sabbath day.

(Matthew 12:2) But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

But the Pharisees, legal nit-pickers, charged that the Sabbath had been broken. Though their specific charges are not stated it is likely that they accused the disciples of: (1) harvesting (picking the grain); (2) threshing (rubbing it in their hands); (3) winnowing (separating the grain from the chaff).

(Matthew 12:3-4) But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

Jesus answered their ridiculous complaint by reminding them of an incident in the life of David. Once, when in exile, he and his men went into the wilderness and ate the showbread, twelve memorial loaves forbidden as food to any but the priests (1 Sam 21:5). Neither David nor his men were priests, yet God never found fault with them for doing this. Why not?

The reason is that God's law was never intended to inflict hardship on His faithful people. It was not David's fault that he was in exile. A sinful nation had rejected him. If he had been given his rightful place, he and his followers would not have had to eat the showbread. Because there was sin in Israel, God permitted an otherwise forbidden act.

The similarity is clear. The Lord Jesus was the rightful King of Israel, but the nation would not acknowledge Him as Sovereign. If He had been given His proper place, His followers would not have been reduced to eating in this way on the Sabbath or on any other day of the week. History was repeating itself. The Lord did not reprove His disciples, because they had done no wrong.

(Matthew 12:5) Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Jesus reminded the Pharisees that the priests profane the Sabbath by killing and sacrificing animals and by performing many other servile duties (Num 28:9-10), yet are blameless because they are engaged in the service of God.

(Matthew 12:6) But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

The Pharisees knew that the priests worked every Sabbath in the temple without violating it. Why then should they criticize the disciples for acting as they did in the presence of One who is greater than the temple? The italicized word One can perhaps better read: “something greater than the temple is here.” The “something” is the kingdom of God, present in the Person of the King.

(Matthew 12:7) But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

The Pharisees had never understood the heart of God. In Hos 6:6 He had said, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” God puts compassion before ritual. He would rather see His people picking grain on the Sabbath to satisfy their hunger than observing the day so strictly as to cause physical suffering. If the Pharisees had only realized this, they would not have condemned the disciples. But they valued outward correctness above human health.

(Matthew 12:8) For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

It was He who had established the law in the first place, and therefore He was the One most qualified to interpret its true meaning. As a faithful Jew living under the law, Jesus kept the Sabbath (in spite of the accusations of the Pharisees to the contrary). As the Lord of the Sabbath, He freed it from the false rules and regulations with which it had become coated.

(Matthew 12:9) And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

From the grain fields Jesus went into the synagogue. Luke tells us that the scribes and Pharisees were there to watch Him so that they might find some charge against Him (Luk 6:6-7).

(Matthew 12:10) And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

Inside the synagogue was a man who had a withered hand—silent testimony to the powerlessness of the Pharisees to help him. Up to now they had treated him with cool indifference. But suddenly he became valuable to them as a means to trap Jesus. They knew that the Savior was always inclined to lessen human misery. If He would heal on the Sabbath, then they would catch Him in a punishable offense, they thought. So they began by raising a legal nit-picking: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

(Matthew 12:11) And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

The Savior answered by asking if they would pull one of their sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath. Of course they would! But why? Perhaps their excuse was that it was a work of mercy—but another consideration might be that the sheep was worth money and they would not want to suffer financial loss, even on the Sabbath.

(Matthew 12:12) How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Our Lord reminded them that a man is of greater value than a sheep. If it is right to show mercy to an animal, how much more right is it to do good to a man on the Sabbath!

(Matthew 12:13-14) Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Having caught the Jewish leaders in the pit of their own greed, Jesus healed the withered hand. In telling the man to stretch out his hand, faith and human will were called into action. Obedience was then rewarded with healing. The hand was restored as whole as the other by the wonderful Creator. You would think that the Pharisees would have been happy that the man, whom they had neither the power nor inclination to help, was healed. Instead they went into a white rage against Jesus and plotted to kill Him. If they had had a withered hand, they would have been glad to be healed on any day of the week.

(Matthew 12:15) But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

He healed ALL of them!

(Matthew 12:16) And charged them that they should not make him known:

When Jesus knew the thoughts of His enemies, He withdrew. Yet wherever He went, the crowds gathered; and wherever the sick gathered, He healed them all. But He charged them not to broadcast His miraculous cures, not to shield Himself from danger, but to avoid any fickle movement to make Him a popular revolutionary Hero. The divine schedule must be kept. His revolution would come, not by the shedding of Roman blood, but by the shedding of His own blood.

(Matthew 12:17-18) That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

His gracious ministry was in fulfilment of the prophecy of Isa 41:9; Isa 42:1-4. The prophet foresaw the Messiah as a gentle Conqueror. He pictures Jesus as the Servant whom YHWH had chosen, the Beloved One in whom God's soul was well pleased. God would put His Spirit upon Him—a prophecy fulfilled at the baptism of Jesus. And His ministry would reach beyond the borders of Israel; He would declare justice to the Gentiles. This latter note becomes more dominant as Israel's “NO” grows louder.

(Matthew 12:19) He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

Isaiah further predicted that the Messiah would not quarrel or cry out and His voice would not be heard in the streets. This does NOT mean that he was not a street-preacher! Jesus was most definitely a street-preacher as Luke 13:26 would confirm. This verse in Matthew 12:19 only mean that He would not be a political rabble-rouser, stirring up the population in order to gain a following.

(Matthew 12:20) A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

He would not break a bruised reed or quench a smoking flax. He would not trample on the homeless or underprivileged in order to reach His goals. He would encourage and strengthen the broken-hearted, oppressed person. He would fan even a spark of faith into a flame. His ministry would continue till He would bring justice to victory. His humble, loving care for others would not be snuffed by the hate and ingratitude of men.

(Matthew 12:21) And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

In Isaiah this expression is worded “And the coastlands shall wait for His law,” but the meaning is the same. The coastlands refer to the Gentile nations. They are pictured as waiting for His reign so that they might be His loyal subjects.

(Matthew 12:22) Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

In Judaism, there were procedures for exorcism, but in the procedures they required the demon to identify himself. Thus, if it was the type of demon that had struck this guy dumb, there was no way to exorcize him (as one could not get him to identify himself). In this case, this exorcism was recognized as unusual.

(Matthew 12:23-24) And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

When Jesus healed a blind and mute demoniac, the common people began to think seriously that He might be the Son of David, the Messiah of Israel. This enraged the Pharisees. Unable to tolerate any suggestion of sympathy with Jesus, they exploded with the charge that the miracle had been performed by the power of Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. This threatening accusation was the first open accusation that the Lord Jesus was demon- empowered.

(Matthew 12:25) And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Jesus knew their thoughts. Only God can know one’s thoughts. So Jesus must be God!

(Matthew 12:26) And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

When He had read their thoughts, Jesus proceeded to expose their foolishness. He pointed out that no kingdom, city, or house divided against itself can continue successfully. If He was casting out Satan's demons by the power of Satan, then Satan was working against himself. This would be ridiculous.

(Matthew 12:27) And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

Our Lord had a second devastating answer for the Pharisees. Some of their Jewish comrades, known as exorcists, claimed to have the power to cast out demons (Acts 19:13). Jesus neither acknowledged nor denied their claim, but used it to point out that if He cast out demons by Beelzebub, then the Pharisees' sons (i.e. these exorcists) did also. The Pharisees would never admit this, but could not escape the logic of the argument. They were not being logical in ascribing similar effects to different causes. Their own comrades would condemn them for implying that they exorcised as agents of Satan.

(Matthew 12:28) But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

The truth, of course, was that Jesus cast out demons by the Spirit of God. His entire life as a Man on earth was lived by the power of the Holy Spirit. He was the Spirit-filled Messiah whom Isaiah had foretold (Isa 11:2; Isa 42:1; Isa 61:1-3). Therefore He said to the Pharisees, “ ... if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” This announcement must have been a crushing blow. They prided themselves on their theological knowledge, yet the kingdom of God had come upon them because the King was among them and they hadn't even realized that He was there!

(Matthew 12:29) Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

Far from being in alliance with Satan, the Lord Jesus was Satan's Conqueror. This He illustrates by the story of the strong man. The strong man is Satan. His house is the sphere in which he holds influence. His goods are his demons. Jesus is the One who binds the strong man, enters his house, and plunders his goods. Actually the binding of Satan takes place in stages. It began during Jesus' public ministry. It was decisively guaranteed by the death and resurrection of Christ. It will be true to a more marked degree during the King's thousand-year reign (Rev 20:2). Finally, it will be eternally true when he is cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:10). At the present time the devil does not seem to be bound; he still exercises considerable power. But his doom is determined and his time is short.

(Matthew 12:30) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Their blasphemous attitude showed that the Pharisees were not with the Lord; therefore, they were against Him. By refusing to harvest with Him, they were scattering the grain. They had accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan while actually they themselves were the servants of Satan, seeking to frustrate the work of God. The rule is that if a man is not against the Lord, he is for Him and should be respected accordingly. This holds true for us as well. Either you are for Him or against Him. You can’t be neutral.

(Matthew 12:31-32) Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

These verses mark a crisis in Christ's dealings with the leaders of Israel. He accuses them of committing the unpardonable sin by blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, that is, by charging that Jesus performed His miracles by the power of Satan rather than by the power of the Holy Spirit. In effect, this was calling the Holy Spirit Beelzebub, the ruler of demons.

There is forgiveness for other forms of sin and blasphemy. A man may even speak against the Son of Man and be forgiven. But to blaspheme the Holy Spirit is a sin for which there is no forgiveness in this age or in the millennial age to come.

The unpardonable sin is not the same as rejecting the gospel; a man may reject the Savior for years, then repent, believe, and be saved. (Of course, if he dies in unbelief, he remains unforgiven.) Nor is the unforgivable sin the same as backsliding; a believer may wander far from the Lord, yet be restored to fellowship in God's family.

Many people worry that they have committed the unpardonable sin. If you are worried about having committed the unpardonable sin, you haven’t done it! The fact that a person is concerned is evidence that he is not guilty of it. Those who committed it were hard and remorseless in their opposition to Christ. They had no fears about insulting the Spirit and no hesitancy in plotting the death of the Son. They showed neither guilt nor repentance.

(Matthew 12:33) Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Even the Pharisees should have admitted that the Lord had done good by casting out demons. Yet they accused Him of being evil. Here He exposes their inconsistency and says, in effect, “Make up your minds. If a tree is good, its fruit is good and vice versa.” Fruit reflects the quality of the tree that produced it. The fruit of His ministry had been good. He had healed the sick, the blind, the deaf, and the dumb, had cast out demons and raised the dead. Could a corrupt tree have produced such good fruit? Utterly impossible! Why then did they so stubbornly refuse to acknowledge Him?

(Matthew 12:34-35) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Their hatred against the Son of Man, evidenced by their poisonous words, was the outflow of their evil hearts. A heart filled with goodness will be evidenced by words of grace and righteousness. A wicked heart expresses itself in blasphemy, bitterness, and abuse.

(Matthew 12:36) But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Jesus seriously warned them (and us) that people will give account for every idle word they utter. Because the words people have spoken are an accurate measure of their lives, they will form a suitable basis for condemnation or clearing. How great will be the condemnation of the Pharisees for the hateful and disrespectful words which they spoke against God's Holy Son!

(Matthew 12:37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

In the case of believers, the penalty for careless speech has been paid through the death of Christ; however, our careless speech, unconfessed and unforgiven, will result in loss of reward at Christ's Judgment Seat.

(Matthew 12:38) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Despite all the miracles Jesus had performed, the scribes and Pharisees had the cheek to ask Him for a sign, implying that they would believe if He would prove Himself to be the Messiah! But their hypocrisy was clear. If they had not believed as a result of so many wonders, why would they be convinced by one more? The attitude that demands miraculous signs as a condition for belief does not please God. As Jesus said to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). In God's family, seeing follows believing.

(Matthew 12:39) But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

The Lord addressed them as an evil and adulterous generation; evil because they were wilfully blind to their own Messiah, adulterous because they were spiritually unfaithful to their God. Their Creator-God, a unique Person combining absolute deity and perfect humanity, stood in their midst speaking to them, yet they dared to ask Him for a sign.

The unsaved often want a “sign” from God. This is in spite of the testimony of creation, their conscience, the Bible, and the Christian. The cross is the only thing that can truly convince a sinner of the reality of who Jesus is. Once they understand that the holes in His hands and His feet are there because of their own sin, they will fall at His feet and cry, “My Lord and my God!”

(Matthew 12:40) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jesus told them that no sign would be given to them except the sign of the prophet Jonah, referring to His own death, burial, and resurrection. Jonah's experience of being swallowed by the fish and then spewed out (Jon 1:17; Jon 2:10) foreshadowed the Lord's passion and resurrection. His rising from among the dead would be the final, climactic sign of His ministry to the nation of Israel.

Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so our Lord predicted that He would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. This raises a problem. If, as generally believed, Jesus was buried on Friday afternoon and rose again on Sunday morning, how can it be said that He was three days and nights in the tomb? We believe Jesus was in the grave for three full days and nights (72 hours), being crucified on Wednesday. Firstly, this is the literal meaning of the phrase “three days and nights.” Secondly, on the view that Jesus was crucified on Friday, there is no explanation for what He did on Wednesday. All other days are accounted for. Thirdly, the passover was not on a fixed day (Friday), but floated.

Many liberals regard the book of Jonah as a myth and not a real story. However, here Jesus Christ Himself endorses the book of Jonah as a real story and not just a myth!

(Matthew 12:41) The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Jesus illustrated the guilt of the Jewish leaders by two contrasts. First, the Gentiles of Nineveh were far less privileged, yet when they heard the preaching of the misbehaving prophet Jonah, they repented with deep grief. They will rise up in the judgment to condemn the men of Jesus' day for failing to receive Someone greater than Jonah—the incarnate Son of God.

(Matthew 12:42) The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Second, the queen of Sheba, a Gentile outside the sphere of Jewish privilege, travelled from the South, at great effort and expense, for an interview with Solomon. The Jews of Jesus' day did not have to travel at all to see Him; He had travelled from heaven to their little neighbourhood to be their Messiah-King. Yet they had no room in their lives for Him—One infinitely greater than Solomon. A Gentile queen will condemn them in the judgment for such excessive carelessness.

In this chapter our Lord has been presented as greater than the temple (v. 6); greater than Jonah (v. 41); and greater than Solomon (v. 42). He is “greater than the greatest and far better than the best.”

(Matthew 12:43-44) When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

Now Jesus gives, in parabolic form, a summary of the past, present, and future of unbelieving Israel. The man represents the Jewish nation, the unclean spirit the idolatry which characterized the nation from the time of its servitude in Egypt to the Babylonian captivity (which temporarily cured Israel of its idolatry). It was as if the unclean spirit had gone out of the man. From the end of the captivity to the present day, the Jewish people have not been idol-worshipers. They are like a house that is empty, swept, and put in order.

Over nineteen hundred years ago, the Savior sought entry to that empty house. He was the rightful Occupant, the Master of the house, but the people steadfastly refused to let Him in. Though they no longer worshiped idols, they would not worship the true God either.

The empty house speaks of spiritual vacuum—a dangerous condition, as the sequel shows. Reformation is not enough. There must be the positive acceptance of the Savior.

(Matthew 12:45) Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

In a coming day, the spirit of idolatry will decide to return to the house, accompanied by seven spirits more wicked than himself. Since seven is the number of perfection or completeness, this probably refers to idolatry in its fully developed form. This looks forward to the Tribulation when the apostate nation will worship the Antichrist. To bow down to the man of sin and to worship him as God is a more terrible form of idolatry than the nation has ever been guilty of in the past. And so the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Unbelieving Israel will suffer the awful judgments of the Great Tribulation, and their suffering will far exceed that of the Babylonian Captivity. The idolatrous portion of the nation will be utterly destroyed at Christ's Second Coming.

“So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” The same apostate, Christ-rejecting race that rejected the Son of God at His First Coming will suffer severe judgment at His Second Coming.

(Matthew 12:46-50) While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

These verses describe a seemingly ordinary incident in which Jesus' family comes to speak to Him. Why had they come? Mark may give us a clue. Some of Jesus' friends decided He was out of His mind (Mar 3:21, Mar 3:31-35), and perhaps His family came to take Him away quietly (see also John 7:5). When told that His mother and brothers were waiting outside to speak with Him, the Lord responded by asking, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” Then, pointing to His disciples, He said “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

This startling announcement is pregnant with spiritual meaning; it marks a distinct turning point in Jesus' dealing with Israel. Mary and her sons represented the nation of Israel, Jesus' blood relations. Up to now He had limited His ministry largely to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But it was becoming clear that His own people would not have Him. Instead of bowing to their Messiah, the Pharisees had accused Him of being controlled by Satan.

So now Jesus announces a new order of things. Henceforth, His ties with Israel would not be the controlling factor in His outreach. Though His compassionate heart would continue to plead with His countrymen according to the flesh, chapter 12 signals an unmistakable break with Israel. From here on Jesus speaks only in parables to the public. The outcome is now clear. Israel will not have Him, so He will turn to those who will. Blood relationships will be superseded by spiritual considerations. Obedience to God will bring men and women, whether Jews or Gentiles, into vital relationship with Him. Jesus was saying that His circle, His loyalty, was to His family of faith.

Before leaving this incident, we should mention two points concerning the mother of Jesus. First, it is obvious that Mary did not occupy any place of special privilege as far as access into His presence was concerned.

Second, the mention of Jesus' brothers strikes a blow at the teaching that Mary was a perpetual virgin (The teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that Mary remained a virgin for life after the birth of Jesus). The implication is strong that these brothers of Jesus were actual sons of Mary and therefore half-brothers of our Lord. This view is strengthened by such other Scriptures as Ps 69:8; Mat 13:55; Mar 3:31-32; Mar 6:3; John 7:3, John 7:5; Acts 1:14; 1 Cor 9:5; Gal 1:19.

FBF Staff - Renier {Ref sources: W McDonalds, Walvrood & Zuck, Evidence Bible}

Much emphasis is given by our LORD and the Apostles in their teaching on the importance of the PREACHING or DECLARING the Gospel of Jesus Christ! It is the POWER of God on earth as given to men (Rom 1.16)... as it provides the most coverage in every area.

The words used for PREACH, PREACHING carry with it the Open Air Proclamation just as a TOWN CRIER! It is never a 2 way conversation... but a DECLARATION TO ALL! The Church Bride of Christ is to be the VOICE of the Bride and the Bridegroom in this untoward generation.

It has been, and remains the privilege of this ministry to expose men to this dimension of the Gospel as prescribed by our LORD JESUS CHRIST! May we present the Truth in Love... as Jesus did. Amen.

Mark 16:15-16, 1:14, Matt 9:35, 24:12-14, Luke 4:18, 4:43, 24:47,

Acts 5:42, 10:42, 1 Cor 1:18