 Notes from Genesis 14 Also see Psalm 110 Why Melchizzadek came and blessed Abraham before there was the Aaronic tribe of Levi! http://www.communionfire.com/blog/first-mention-of-the-elements-in-communionfire-part-iii-then-melchizedek-brought-out-bread-wine First Mention of the Elements in CommunionFire Part III Then Melchizedek Brought Out Bread & Wine from post 11/27/2014 Melchizedek Brought Out Bread & Wine The Torah/Law was GIVEN to us by Moses but Grace & Truth CAME to us in person from Melchizedek/Yehoshua = Jesus Christ! John 1:17 (See Hebrews 5:6-10, 6:20, 7:1-17, Psalm 110:4) Preliminary Notes to Genesis 14 The Law of 1st Mention Then Melchizedek Brought Bread & Wine (A global and eternal message about the faith of Abraham counted to him as righteousness.) First Mention of High Priest and King Melchizedek (Chief Ruler of Righteousness) King of Salem (Chief Ruler of the City of Peace) Eventually known as Jeru-Salem! First Mention of bread and wine together (type and shadow of Communion) in the Meeting of the Kings First Mention of The Lord on High EL ELYON in the Blessing from Melchizedek confirming righteousness by faith of Abraham First Mention of Tithing Abram's Response to the Blessing of Communion: The Instant Tithing of All the Spoils of War “a tenth of all” Note: King Melchizzadek was different because He did not come bearing arms to fight or conquor Abram but to bless him with Holy Communion as The King and High Priest of The City of Peace! Note: Abram Did War No More! Locations involved: Syria and Israel (Middle East) The lands of Ham (Curse of Canaan) and Shem (Noah's sons); Note: Noah's son Japheth went west and populated Greece to Europe These are the kings in Abram's territory who battled. 4 Evil Allied Kings (Worldliness, Idol Worship, Merciless Deception & Fear) King 1) Unity king of worldliness King 2) False worshiper king of eastern heap King 3) Merciless king of deception King 4) Fearful king of nations (These 4 conquered the following 5 before Abram conquered them) 5 Rebel Allied Kings (Burning Sin, Violence, Adamic Nature, Shame & Gluttony) King 5) Burned up king of evil gift King 6) Perfumed king of violent tyranny King 7) Disloyal king of Adamic nature King 8) Conspicuous shame ruling beauty King 9) Gluttony ruling growing insignificance The number: 318 = The Cross and name of JESUS - for the 318 circumcised and trained in the ways of the Lord by Abram according to his faith 300 “T” = The (power of) The Cross + 10 “I” + 8 “E” = “IE” Initials for JESUS = I X0Y E "The Cross of Jesus" was the key to victory for the "318" of Abram! So God sent King and High Priest Melchizzadek with Bread and Wine to Bless Abram in the name of the most high "El Elyon" ABRAM: Exalted Father (whose faith counted him for righteousness) Abram's 318 Private Army including Allies: 318 = The Cross of JESUS (Guaranteed Victory!) Our Chief Allies: The Body of JESUS and The Blood of JESUS creates the awareness that in Him we see all enemies must lay down their weapons and surrender to Him. JESUS WINS every time. The names of Abram's Allies: MAMRE: Wing-Lifted (Angel) The Bread that lifts us into His Presence ESHKOL: Grape Cluster The Wine is poured into us that we might hear His Voice. ANER: Young Servant: Communion is served to us, given to us by JESUS - we don't "take" communion we "RECEIVE COMMUNION." (John 13) The 318 WON the final battle and the war of the kings and control of the nine kings and kingdoms because God was with them by "the Cross of Jesus" ("as often as we do this we do show the Lord's death until He comes again") When God gave Abram the power of The Cross it crushed the kings of this world Then Melchizzadek, King of Salem brought Abram bread and wine (Communion) and Blessed Him in the name of the "Most High" Deliverer, Savior. Redeemer God "EL ELYON"  (With the above notes in mind - now read the account) 1 At the time when: (these four kings) Amraphel (worldly “unifier”) was king of Shinar (Babylonian/worldliness), Arioch (looks to moon god for mercy) king of Ellasar (eastern heap), Kedorlaomer (servant of no mercy) king of Elam (hidden, conceal) and Tidal (fearful) king of Goyim (nations), 2 went to war against: (these five kings) Bera (son of the evil gift) king of Sodom (scorched, burned), Birsha (sweet odor) king of Gomorrah (tyrannically violent), Shinab (change chief, father) king of Admah (adamic), Shemeber (conspicuous, shame name) king of Zeboyim (beauty, gazelle), and the king of Bela (devour food/glutton) (that is, Zoar: to become insignificant)). 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (battleground) that is, the Dead Sea Valley: (noisy, roar, of the sea). 4 For twelve years (authority/governance) they had been subject to Kedorlaomer (merciless concealer – violent deceiver), but in the thirteenth year (judgment) they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth (4 sided, square representing 4 coners of the earth) year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the
Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (fountain, place of judgment) that is, Kadesh: sacred place in the desert), and they conquered the whole territory of: the Amalekites (severe work/works), as well as the Amorites (boast verbally) who were living in Hazezon-Tamar (pierced - tree). 8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim (wild soil, field) 9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot (covering as a veil) and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom. 13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre (wing-lifted) the Amorite (boast, tell), a brother of Eshkol (Cluster of grapes) and Aner (young servant), all of whom were allied with Abram (exalted father). 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 (literally means The Cross and Name of Jesus, click this link) trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan (judge). 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah (hiding place of guilt), north of Damascus (blood-filled, similitude of burning). 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. 17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek (king/ruler of righteousness) king of Salem (whole, complete, peaceful, safe, friendly - Salem became Jerusalem) brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High (El Elyone: Almighty One, Ascend, cause to rise up), 19 and he blessed Abram, saying: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High (El Elyone), Creator (tall, buyer, purchaser, procurer, redeemer) of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High (El Elyone), who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. [Then Abram instantly, without hesitation, spontaneously gave him a tenth (literally 'tithe') of everything (all the spoils of war). An Act of faith not law.] 21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.” He tithed to Melchizedek and gave reward to his allies and gave the rest back because he only wanted the reputation of wealth to be credited to God's increase, not on the backs of others. Communion reveals the CommunionFire. In this case “The face of Jesus Christ” was in the face of Melchizedek! This visit establishes Communion as The Meeting place with Jesus "His Table, His Flesh, His Blood" is established in the eyes of Abram before the Law, Prophets, Psalms and New Testament peoples. From here we should look for every rivulet of Communion with Jesus evidenced throughout all of Scripture. More important we should have Communion and encounter the risen Lord Jesus where He will feed us on the bread of Life of His actual presence and give us drink of the Wine of His love to refresh our body, soul and spirit. Without RevivalFire from CommunionFire everyday you make yourself the target of SinFire - revived by the Law of sin and death. Both are constant and you have the choice to live by the faith of the Son of God who died and gave Himself for you that you might live as the righteousness of God in Christ or you will be ignited by the fires of lust, sin and death. You will have revival one way or other - which you choose depends on whether or not you come to the Table of the Lord to feed upon His presence where: "The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead quickens your mortal body!" RevivalFire is the every day, eternal, durable, constant and fabulous when we feed on the power of the presence of Jesus - THE CommunionFire! (Only found at His Table prepared by Him). Visible in Scripture, Felt in Worship, Mission and Prayer but Truth means where you are in His reality - His presence - His glory - by His Body and Blood – to this do all the Apostle’s verify! Their primary doctrine preached, taught and lived is, “Christ in you the hope of glory! “ Link to CommunionFire Blog Notes for this Post http://www.communionfire.com/communionfire-blog-notes/the-meaning-of-318-key-chiasm-of-genesis-14  Background Notes on the 318 Abraham's 318 Men Genesis 14:14"Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit was far as Dan." (Psalm 16:9, KJV) A London based Pastor asked me the following question this week: In Genesis chapter 14 v 14 - we are told that Abram had 318 trained servants who were born in his house. Is there significance to the number 318? The answer is one of those easy Jewish ones, "yes and no". So I thought I would explain what I mean in this column. For someone to even ask the question makes one wonder if there is any significance, for why mention the exact numbers if not. Why not simply say "all his servants", or is there some vague reference to the profligacy of Abraham or his servants in the fact that 318 adult men were "born in his own house"? The word for "trained servants" is a hapax legomena, i.e., it only occurs once in Scripture and is thus difficult to render accurately. It is from the Hebrew חָנִיך chânîykh (Strong's #2593) "dedicated" from חָנַך chânakh (Strong's #2596) "to dedicate" and from which we get the word chanûkkâh, the December-time Jewish festival of dedication. It may also be derived from an Egyptian word employed in the Execration texts of the late 19th Century B.C. of the retainers of Palestinian chieftains. It would not have been uncommon in the second millennium B.C. for a man of Abraham's position to have had such a large retinue. Though not heavily occupied the land was nevertheless inhabited by various tribal groups, apart from Egypt, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, who were in the land. Abraham himself seems to have commanded a sizeable people group with his 318 fighting men from which it has been estimated that his whole following numbered around 2000 persons, men, women, children and the slaves he had (12:16; 15:2; 16:1). The treaty, rebellion and consequent battle in 14:1-9 pictures many goyiim (peoples, not necessarily modern nations) and typical tribal alliances. The particular form of the Hebrew verb רוּק rûwq (Strong's #7324) used for "armed/led forth/called out" depending on your translation actually means to "cause to pour out" and can even be used of unsheathing a weapons such as a sword which is effectively what Abraham was doing. Some of the modern translations, as does the ancient Samaritan Pentateuch, assume a Hebrew typo and replace ר "r" with ד "d" making it the verb "to muster". Curiously, the Greek Old Testament version, the Septuagint, actually has a verb meaning "to number", arithmeô (from which we get arithmetic), here which may support the idea of "mustering". This "numbering", in turn, may have given later commentators the hint that the number itself held significance. As the Hebrew alphabet has no numbers they are represented by full words or by the individual letters themselves standing for numbers; letters 1-9 represent the numerals, letters 10-18 the tens, and letters 19-22 cover the first four hundreds. It has gone unnoticed that Abraham's chief servant, Eliezer, and described as his sole heir in Genesis 15:2, has a Hebrew name that adds up to 318 = ע 1 + ל 30 + י 10 + א 70 + ז 7 + ר 200. Because of the use of the word "dedicated" above to indicate in-house training, though not necessarily military and more likely domestic, later Jewish commentators in the Talmud wrote: "R. Abbahu said in R. Eleazar's name: Why was our Father Abraham punished and his children doomed to Egyptian servitude for two hundred and ten years? Because he pressed scholars into his service, as it is written, 'he armed his dedicated servants born in his own house'. … Rab said, he equipped them by [teaching them] the Torah. … R. Ammi b. Abba said: Eliezer outweighed them all. Others say, It was Eliezer, for this is the numerical value of his name." (Talmud, Nedarim 32a) This indicates early knowledge of the numerical equivalent with Eliezer and the idea that "dedicated" could mean "discipled" in Jewish belief as even some Christian commentators such as Calvin and Gill thought. In the early church, in the late first and second centuries, some writers made use of 318 (made up of 300+10+8, rather than as in Eleazar’s name) to signify Jesus on the cross. In Greek, which can also use the numerical=alphabetical system as it too is without numerals, Tau=300 and is equivalent to the Hebrew letter, Tau, both of which represent a cross in the shape of a capital 'T', which is closer to the shape of a crucifixion cross than a modern crucifix. The 18 comes from Eta plus Iota, which stood in the Greek alphabet order where ח cheth and י yodh stand in the Hebrew, thus they stood for 8 and 10 respectively, making the 18. Now, IH, in Greek is Iota-Eta, the first two letters of Jesus' name ΙΣΟΥΣ, iêsous, just as God's name, YHVH, could be represented by its shorter version YH (Yah). So the Epistle of Barnabas, written between 70-135 A.D. says: For [the Scripture] saith, "And Abraham circumcised ten, and eight, and three hundred men of his household." What, then, was the knowledge given to him in this? Learn the eighteen first, and then the three hundred. The ten and the eight are thus denoted - Ten by I, and Eight by H. You have [the initials of the, name of] Jesus. And because the cross was to express the grace [of our redemption] by the letter T, he says also, "Three Hundred." He signifies, therefore, Jesus by two letters, and the cross by one. (Epistle of Barnabas 9.8) Writing later in the 3rd century, Clement of Alexandria in his Stromata, "Miscellanies", on 'The Mystical Meanings In The Proportions Of Numbers, Geometrical Ratios, And Music' says: As then in astronomy we have Abraham as an instance, so also in arithmetic we have the same Abraham. For, hearing that Lot was taken captive, and having numbered his own servants, born in his house, 318, he defeats a very great number of the enemy. They say, then, that the character representing 300 is, as to shape, the type of the Lord's sign, and that the Iota and the Eta indicate the Saviour's name; that it was indicated, accordingly, that Abraham's domestics were in salvation, who having fled to the Sign and the Name became lords of the captives, and of the very many unbelieving nations that followed them. (Clement, Stromata, Book 6, Chapter 11) So Christian numerological interpretation is just as fanciful as some Jewish numerical word plays. Certainly, we can give full marks for ingenuity and there is no harm done in the meaning given. Nonetheless, it is more probably in a book like Genesis of history not prophecy that historical accuracy rather than symbolism is intended and what is being portrayed is Abraham's wealth and status in being able to raise 318 fighting men.
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  “…And love is not a victory march, it’s a cold and it’s a very broken, ‘Hallelujah.’” Halleluiah by Leonard Cohen Live in London 2009 I've heard there was a secret chord That David played and it pleased the Lord But you don’t really care for music do you? It goes like this the 4th the 5th The minor fall a major lift The battled King composing Halleluiah Halleluiah Halleluiah Halleluiah Halleluiah Your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you She tied you to a kitchen chair She broke your throne and She cut your hair and And from your lips she drew the Halleluiah Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah Now maybe there’s a God above As for me all I ever learned from love Is how to shoot At someone who outdrew you But it’s not a cry that ya hear tonight It’s not some pilgrim who claims to have seen the light, no It’s a cold and its a very broken Halleluiah Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah (instrumental) Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah O people I’ve been here before I know this room and I’ve walked this floor You see I used to live alone before I knew you And I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch But this in love, love is not some kind of victory march; No, It’s a cold and its a very lonely Halleluiah Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah There was a time ya let me know Whats really going on below But Now, now you never even show it to me, do you I remember when I moved in you And the holy dove she was moving too And every single prayer that we drew was Hallelujah Halleluiah, Halleluiah,Halleluiah, Halleluiah I've done my best I know it wasnt much I couldn't feel so I learned to touch I've told the truth I didnt come here to London just to fool you and even though it all went wrong I'll stand right here before the Lord of song with nothing... Nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah
Halleluiah, Halleluiah,Halleluiah, Halleluiah You say I took the name in vain I don't even know the name but if I did well really whats it to ya there's a blaze of light in every word It doesn't matter what ya heard the holy or the broken hallelujah Halleluiah, Halleluiah,Halleluiah, Halleluiah  Song of Songs 1:2,3 From the Wedding of Cana to Communion in Jerusalem to The Wedding Feast of the Lamb... Then, He says I will drink with you, My Bride!
 During the Eucharist I heard the Lord whisper, “This is where you and I fell in love!” It was Sunday at St. Michaels Roman Catholic Church in Garden City, SC. I was visiting the church tradition I was raised in. I came from a large Roman Catholic Family. I had always loved Communion. In fact, after unfortunate abuse from a priest, who was also my uncle, I had lost touch with the Church. In my personal wilderness, the one thing that I missed most was receiving Communion. Over the years, I became friends with some non-Catholic people. We went to church together and had Bible Studies but something was missing. I spoke with them about my longing for Communion. One night a couple came to our life group and shared about how they had discovered something remarkable about having Communion; They said, “Jesus is there waiting for us at His Table every time we have Communion!” One of my friends invited us to her home so that we could hear more about this. So Bob and Camille, the couple who were sharing their experiences, came and we had Communion together. I was so happy to finally have Communion again. Since that meeting, we have seen countless miracles and had experiences that defied our unbelief. Week after week then became a daily devotion at home for me as well. I have learned to recognize Jesus and His voice in my day to day living. His presence is something that is stronger in my life than ever because Communion is personal, intimate and wonderful. On one particular Sunday, the CommunionFire Fellowship, I was now a part of, began its “House to House Fall Tour”. As a small group we visit churches in the area who have Communion at least once per week. The early Church broke bread from house to house. So we spend time visiting with others in the fall, as a way to encounter healing of any wrong or misguided perceptions we may have of other Christian cultures and as a way to interact with others to share about our experiences in Communion. So this Sunday I was not going to attend with the CommunionFire group. I had a fear that I would arrive and be lost in the crowd unable to find my Communion friends. I prayed about this and the Lord said, “Ask Bob.” He is the Communion Pastor. The Lord added, “You know, I am there!” (He was speaking of St. Michael’s.) So, I called Pastor Bob and told him my fear and asked if I could pick up Camille and him to go to St. Michael’s? He said, “That would be fine.” So I got in the car and picked them up and we met some other CommunionFire friends in the lobby of the Church. We were a bit early when we went in and took up a half of a long pew. Our first stop on the fall tour had begun. Pastor Bob offered to show me the Chapel of Eucharistic Adoration off to the side of the sanctuary because there was still some time before the Mass would begin. The Chapel is a place that is open 24 hours a day where the faithful prayer warriors would sign up and fill in for an hour around the clock to pray. Roman Catholics have the Eucharist (The bread of “thanksgiving”) in a beautiful display of The Cross called a monstrance. It is a beautifully made presentation for the Body of Jesus, blessed by the Lord as He prescribed in the Gospels and 1 Corinthians. As Catholics believe this is the real flesh of Jesus, then the adoration is not of bread, but of a manifestation of Jesus in another form. When Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” in John 6, He also said, “If you eat my flesh and drink my Blood you have eternal life and I will raise you up on the last day. If you don’t eat My flesh and drink My blood you have no life within you.” So, because they are the words Jesus uses, we have chosen to do the same. There might have been room for 12 people in the Chapel. It was beautiful and as I observed the Eucharistic wafer in the center of the monstrance, something happened. I saw Jesus as the good shepherd! He appeared as an image in the wafer and then I saw the face of Jesus. I can’t explain what I saw, but I did. Then I heard the Lord’s voice, “See I told you I was here!” It was not unlike encounters I had with the Lord in my daily Communion at home or with the home group during the week. We went back to take our seats in the large, simple but beautiful sanctuary. Although I had been to Roman Catholic churches for special occasions like weddings and funerals, it had been years since I had gone to Church for Mass. Something was different. I was aware I had forgiven the priest who abused me and others who left me feeling isolated but I had never forgiven the Church! God was doing something and I could sense it. As I heard the Word of God in the Mass and sung the selected Hymns I became aware of the walls of partition tumbling down. I could see the beauty of the Lord in the sanctuary through the stain glass, the statuary and in the faces of hundreds of parishioners. I could hear the Word of God again in the Church through the priests in the readings of the Old and New Testaments prescribed for this day in the liturgy. I thought, ‘These same scriptures were being echoed in Catholic Sanctuaries around the world at the same time.’ I felt like I had reconnected somehow. Reflecting on the evils seen in the lives of those in the church and even among the priesthood, I heard the Lord say, “It’s all about Me! It’s not about them! Worship is worship! I told you I’d be here!” His words swept clean through my heart. I knew that the Lord was beginning to heal me of those who had broken my heart and distorted my view of His Church. He was removing my shards and replacing them with a new heart made of His flesh. This heart would not fail or falter. The miracle began by seeing Jesus in the holy bread in the Chapel of the Adoration. It continued as I saw Him upon the Cross suspended above us in the sanctuary and then in hearing His voice. Jesus continued, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.” He was speaking to me from Jeremiah 29:11-14 Then it was singing Hymn, #302 that had a verse that seemed to hit home too. “Gather Us In” Here we will have the wine and the water Here we will have the bread of new birth Here you shall call to your sons and your daughters Call us anew to be salt of the earth Give us to drink of the wine of compassion Give us to eat of the bread that is you Nourish us well and teach us to fashion Lives that are holy and hearts that are true. Then during the time for Communion, the Lord said, “You remember? This is where you fell in love with me!” It was true. It was the Communion that was my touchstone to when I fell in love with Jesus. Although out of respect for the Roman Catholic doctrine, I didn’t receive Communion from the priest, I knew I was truly having invisible Communion with Jesus that morning. With the final stronghold which stood for years now broken down by forgiveness, the Lord restored the full joy we had the first time I had a seat at His Table. Transformation is the true evidence that we are in Communion with Jesus. He said to “Do this to remember Him”, now I know even better, why.   CommunionFire Gatherings are weekly gathering for people who encounter and experience clearer revelation of Christ and His domain in Communion. The Fire is what happens after eating the bread of the Flesh of Jesus and drinking the wine of His Blood. Since I started attending in May of 2014 I have been having Communion on my own at home on a daily basis and I journal my experiences each day. Through the fellowship and in my daily devotion I have come to a much clearer recognition of Jesus and understanding my relationship with Him. The idea is that Jesus said to “do this” and to “remember Him” when doing it. We know from experience that what He shares with us is not just personal but produces my personal witness to others about His reality in my life and He confirms its authenticity. Our relationship with Him is how He weaves us into His Story or Testimony and His daily activity. When we share the story of Jesus with others as a first-hand encounter in CommunionFire, it communicates what is first hand to us and not something that is 2nd or 3rd hand from others. He gives us ownership of our encounters with Him. It’s almost like the bread we receive from Him then multiplies when we share it and the water of our conversation turns into wine as we speak of His love. Being Communion-centric changes lives and that is my story along with others who are seeing God’s plan unfold in the light and glory of the CommunionFire.
Simple Communion For one, two or small group 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Believe & Receive – Be Still & Know Have a small piece of bread and pray: “Lord, I ask you to bless this bread to be your Body; I do this to remember you.” Partake & Eat saying “The Body of Christ Broken for you” Eyes closed, Pause for 10+ seconds, look for Him. Luke 24:31, 35 Have a small sip of wine and pray: “Lord, I ask you to bless this wine to be your Blood; I do this to remember you.” Partake & Drink saying “The Blood of Jesus Shed for me/you” Eyes closed, Pause for 10+ seconds, listen for Him. Hebrews 12:24  That He might become Bread of Life & Wine of Heaven's Fire
#BeBoldBelieve #BeBoldBelieveBIG #BeBoldBelieveNOW
What happened in Otterbein UMC of Spry, Pa.? Communion-Centric Worship Gives Birth to Purpose10/23/2016  The following article is a terrific story that confirms the ministry, message and mission of CommunionFire as we have come to experience it. John Wesley's Sermon 101 is "On Constant Communion". He says, "Believers should partake of Commuunion at least 4 times per week and if possible every day!" He also says that those who come for worship and neglect having Communion/The Eucharist shouuld be excommunicated from the Church for their actions preach the wrong reason for worship. Preacher Wesley would be pleased to see the direction of Otterbein in a day when Holy Communion has become less than holy and is sorely neglected or even forgotten in a time when musicians and pulpit have replaced "The Table of The Lord" by most non-catholic churches. See how weekly Communion ignited a fire that caught fire in Spry, Pa. Then consider what the 650 Million non-catholic churches, home groups and personal stories miight look like if we listened to the Weslyan message... oh yes and Jesus! Who both said, as often as you do this... Wesley said about this, "often means often not once in a while". If you were around with John aand Charles Wesley would you have been excommnicated for your neglect of the reason for true worshipers to gather? f your worship is not Communion-Centric, then what/who is at the center of your worship? Personally and house to house? on Sunday? On the mission field? Commnion is about fire! Our God is a consuming fire... He absorbs you in His embrace and loves you until you are totally free to receive His grace, hope and love. Jesus said, "If you eat my flesh and drink My blood you will: 5 Reasons Jesus says to dine at His Table on the real food: (The real bread of - His glorified and eternal flesh and the real drink of - the wine of His glorified and eternal blood!) See John 6 Have My life in you Have eternal life and I will raise you up on the last day You will abide in Me and I will abide in you! Jesus also said, "If you don't eat My flesh and drink My blood you have no life in you!" You may 'be saved, baptized, read the bible, pray and go to church' and have eternal life... but Jesus died for you so that He could create a way to start sharing His Love and Life with you in a very real and simple way, Right Now! Communion is that way, truth and life... Communion is Jesus and He wants you to dine upon Him and his real presence through His Body and Blood... its just that exciting... The Choice is up to you: #BeBoldBelieve and Partake of everything He has prepared for you - one morsal and one sip at a time or Doubt Him and walk away... Again imagine what the Lord might look like if we would just respond to his invitation to "Come to Him... and let Him lead us to His Table!" The whole earth would be filled with ALLELUIAS! Wesleyan Leadership Faith working through love "The Bread of Life" Posted on August 30, 2013 The Bread of Life Otterbein United Methodist Church of Spry is near York, Pennsylvania. Average worship attendance in 2010 was 95. Average worship attendance in 2013 is 165. How did this happen? A small group of members meet weekly for Bible Study on Wednesday night. Their current pastor, The Rev. Dr. Ken Loyer, arrived in 2010. They welcomed his suggestion of adding a brief (25 minutes) prayer service before the Bible study time. As Advent drew near Dr. Loyer suggested they add Holy Communion to the Wednesday evening prayer service. The regular Wednesday night attenders liked the weekly sacrament so much that they didn’t want to give it up. The weekly 25 minute mid-week prayer and Holy Communion service has become an important part of the congregation’s life. Dr. Loyer says, “The service has been key to God’s work of bringing new life to this church. While in some ways it’s difficult to quantify the precise effect, I know that it has been used by God and that God has answered our weekly prayers for renewal and more fruitful ministry for this church to the community.” Gathering at the Lord’s table every Wednesday night has led members to serve Christ among hungry people in the community (see Matthew 25:35). Dr. Loyer told me, “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that two of the people who regularly attend this service approached me after several months and shared their sense that, following Christ’s calling to serve, our church should increase our efforts in feeding the hungry of our community. Out of those conversations emerged a new food ministry that supplements our weekly food bank and monthly food program. This new ministry now has us sending out teams from the church, with food prepared at the church, to downtown York, once a quarter, to serve those in need.” A simple 25-minute prayer & Communion service is helping members of Otterbein United Methodist Church of Spry see... what God is up to in their neighborhood. The Holy Spirit is equipping them to participate in God’s mission where they live. The Bread of Life Posted in Discipleship, Means of grace, Wesleyan leadership Note: SERMON 101 by John Wesley The Duty of Constant CommunionBy John WesleySermon 101(Text from the 1872 Edition)  The first "Mass" Emmaus and what happened... Today: Where 2 or 3 gather in My name, I am in the midst of them... by "doing this" we encounter Chriist in us the hope of glory... as in His glory we are transfromed from glory to glory! The following article is a wonderful observation by Fr. Randolf who also brings in Justin Martyr from the Early Church who brought the Mass into the light of day after it had become a secret rite only known to those who had been prepared for and then had been baptized. CommmunionFire understands that, in deference to the 400 million Orthodox Eastern Catholics) and 1.2 billion Roman (or Western) Catholics there are still 650 Million of 800 Million non-Catholic Protetstants, Evangelicals, Charismatics and Independent Christians who have not yet discovered the Fire of Communion daily, multiple times each week, weekly or at best monthly celebrated as a 'memorial'. As a member of this third group there is every temptation to find the journey to "The Road Home" wether or not that is either Easter or Western Catholocism. However, after several years of deliberation something the Lord Jesus keeps bringing me back to, is that my wife and I experience the power of the "Mass, Eucharist, Communion, Divine Liturgy or Lord's Supper! At Home every morning together. though this does not fit the fuller description of Fr. Randolp - it does fit the wonderful example he gives of the priest who celebrates the Mass alone in the woods using a tree stump as an alter. My wife and I feel very much the way that priest felt. Though alone, he felt a part of the entire Roman Catholic Church and those who were celebrating the Mass around the world, As the numbers of the third group continue to increase and though there is some exodus from them to the Catholic reality of the Church and Apostolic Tradition, does that mean that those who are not "On A Journey Home" are not capable of experiencing what my wife and I experience at home with Jesus, according to the Word of God, by the Power of the Holy Spirit? Oh yes and did I mention that Jesus introduce me to His Holy Mother as my Holy Mother? Oh yes and did I mention that without being a formal member of either branch of the Catholic branches, that I do practice the Roman Catholic Rosary and Novenas? Oh yes... and did I mention that my call into the ministry happened under the preaching of Jack N. Sparks, founder of Right On (Jesus People newspaper out of Berkeley, California and God's Love Community household as part of his evolution from the ranks of Campus Crusade for Christ, only to become the founder of the St. Athanasius University of Orthodox Theology in Santa Barbara and part of the American Extension and awakening of the Antiochian Orthodox Church? We think this is significant and Fr. Randolph's article is a real eye opener on a number of levels for us. I hope you will enjoy his thoughts and consider them in light of a couple and a handful of others who ae experiencing the mystery spoken of by Justin martyr nd Saints throughout the history of the church. We believe that the Lord wants all of His people to find their way to His Table, to dine upon Him as the Bread of Life and the Wine of Love AND that when we do, we should experience Communion with Him in those moments anoitning our heds with oil and causing our cup to overflow with His love. The presence off Jesus ignites transformation and fuels us with His everlasting life and love. After 5 years, every day, we have found that Jesus Himself engages us in many of the otherwise "secrets" of Communion in CommunionFire. I now have a relationship with Mother Mary, the Saints in Heaven as the veil of the Kingdom of Heaven grows thinner and thinner... One day soon we shall see Him as He is and we shall be like Him! Eastern or Western Catholic or not... we encourage all Christians to find the fire in Communion with Jesus! FYI after 45 years of prayer, that the last year and a half of praying the Rosary has shown me more answered prayer thatn at any time in my Christian life. I believe in the Gospel of Psalm 22-24 Where the Table is the center to Psalm 22 and 24. Through the Light of Jesus' Glory in CommunionFire we believe that Jesus is more accessble than ever and that he wants to encounter each and every person who is bold enough to believe. He takes care of the rest. Bob Bonnell The Communion Pastor  Know Him in the Breaking of Bread by Fr. Francis Randolph From Know Him in the Breaking of Bread: A Guide To The Mass The First Mass (Communion, Eucharist, Divine Liturgy) In the evening of the first day of the week, two disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. And one came up beside them and began to explain the Scriptures that told of Jesus the Christ, how he was destined to suffer and rise again. And as he spoke, the hearts of the disciples burned within them; they were stirred and enlightened by the new explanation of scriptural words they had heard so many times before. But it was not until they sat together, and he took bread and broke it, that they recognized that the person actually present with them was the same Jesus about whom they had been speaking (Lk 24:13-35). From that day till this, Christians have met to hear the Scriptures explained and to know Jesus in the breaking of bread. These three elements are the essence of the Mass: Christians come together and discern the spirit of Jesus in each other. They listen to the Word of God, and their hearts burn within them as they hear it. And in the breaking of bread they recognize Jesus himself actually present, given for them. The coming together is vital; it is only in the Church that the Mass can take place. This does not mean necessarily in a special church building, though that helps. Nor does it mean that many people are necessarily gathered on any particular occasion, though that is desirable. It means that the Mass is celebrated within the unity of the One Church, that the celebration is not a private, exclusive affair but is in conscious union with the Church throughout the world. One of the most moving descriptions of the Mass I have read is by the American Jesuit Walter Ciszek, who was a prisoner in the old Soviet Union. He managed to slip away into the forest with only one companion and celebrated Mass quietly and secretly, using a tree stump as an altar. And in so doing he was far from alone; he was one with millions of Catholics all over the world. The whole Church came into the heart of that forest; Christ was made present among a people who were unaware of his existence. That lonely Mass was very much the expression of Christians coming together, uniting in the one sacrifice. [1] Listening to the Word of God is vital; unless we have heard about Jesus, how can we love him? There may be only a brief, whispered passage from the Gospel, or there may be a long, drawn-out sequence of readings, but in one way or other the message of Scripture must be proclaimed. The Church first expressed her faith in the words of the Bible, and the long centuries of developing tradition have deepened and enhanced those words. We do not hear them alone but within the Church that gave birth to them, and even now, even after they have been spoken so many, many times, they are still capable of awakening our hearts to burn within us. The breaking of bread is the apex of the Mass. In the Consecration of bread and wine and the sharing of that Blessed Sacrament among the faithful, we know Jesus himself, directly, without intermediary. Still it is within the Church alone that we find him, for the Church herself is actually constituted by the sharing of Holy Communion. It is in receiving the Body of Jesus Christ that we become his Body, the Universal Church. That is why St. Paul warns of the risks at stake if we try to partake of that Body without recognizing the Body, if we imagine that we can receive Communion without desiring to be part of that Body which is the Church (1 Cor 11:29). Jesus Christ is not a tame lion; we approach him at our peril if we defy him; but if we come in love, open to his Word, recognizing his Body, then we shall be loved and welcomed indeed. We cannot impose conditions on him; we come to him to learn, to listen, to follow his guidance. And his message is always the same, the message of his love for us, his love for all our fellow creatures. The Discipline of Secrecy For some centuries after Pentecost, the Church remained very silent about the Mass. It was above all the "secret", the "mystery", the one thing known to initiated Christians that was on no account to be divulged to those outside the Church. Those preparing for baptism knew that some great secret was to come, but it was not revealed to them until after they had been baptized. The union between God and his people was too personal, too intimate to display in public to a cynical and unsympathetic world. As a result, our knowledge about early Christian worship has to be gleaned from hints and allusions, tantalizing comments like "the initiated will know what I am talking about", and ambiguous references that even now can puzzle the commentator. Paintings and graffiti in the catacombs help to fill out the picture, but it remains true that we do not really know what Liturgy in "the early Church" was like. St. Justin Martyr This makes it rather a surprise to find one author who tears the veil of secrecy. The martyr St. Justin, in about A.D. 150, wrote a book called the Apologia, which is a simple explanation of what Christians believe and what they do, intended to persuade the emperor and other hostile powers to let Christians live in peace. In the course of this Apology, he describes the Mass and explains briefly what it means. It had not yet come to its modern form, of course, but the basic elements are recognizable. The faithful meet on Sunday, and the "memoirs of the apostles" or the writings of the prophets are read for as long as time permits. Then the priest explains the readings and exhorts the people. They rise then and pray in common for themselves and for all men everywhere, so that they may be recognized to be good, loyal citizens. At the end of the prayers, they salute each other with a kiss. Then bread and a cup of water mixed with wine are brought to the priest; he offers them, giving thanks. All present give their assent in the word "Amen". Then the deacons distribute the Eucharist and carry it away to those who are absent. The congregation does not disperse before a collection has been taken. As well as describing the actions of the Mass, St. Justin gives away the central secret of what it means: "We do not receive these things as if it were common bread and common drink, but just as Jesus Christ our Savior was made flesh through the Word of God, possessing flesh and blood to rescue us, in the same way the nourishment over which thanks have been given through the prayer of the Word who was with God, and which feeds our own body and blood as it is transformed, we have been taught to identify as the body and blood of that same Jesus who was made flesh." For this reason, he goes on to say, only those who are full members of the Church may receive the Eucharist. My own copy of Justin formerly belonged to a Protestant college, and someone has written in a neat eighteenth-century hand "Is not this a little like transubstantiation?" It is indeed: St. Justin in the second century is saying, in a slightly convoluted and undeveloped way, exactly what the Catholic Church has been teaching ever since. The basic structure of Justin's Mass is still recognizable: the coming together as members of one Church, the reading and explanation of Scripture, the prayer of the faithful, the sign of peace, and the offering and breaking of bread, which the faithful receive as the Body of Christ. The collection also is a familiar element! [2] After the conversion of the Empire, there was no further need for secrecy in a world where everyone knew what the Christian faith was about. But now arose the opposite problem: since everyone knew the truth, there was no reason to write it down! As a result, systematic writings about the Mass are not found until it first came to be doubted, many centuries later. It is the great medieval theologians, particularly St. Thomas, who first explored the meaning of the Mass in depth, not because the ideas were new in their time, but because it was only in their time that anyone had begun to question them. Now that we again live in a pagan society that is hostile to the Church, like that of the ancient Roman Empire, it might seem a good idea to practice the discipline of secrecy again, but since the secret has been so widely published for so long it would be absurd to try to conceal it. All the same I often feel uneasy about the way in which the Mass is televised, filming the actual Consecration and the moment of Communion, as if the cameras were intruding on something too intimate for the public gaze. I am hoping at least that readers of this book will be sympathetic, will be trying to come to love our Lord, if they are not yet fully communicating members of his Catholic Church. In explaining what we mean when we talk of the presence of Jesus Christ, of transubstantiation, of the mystical union of Holy Communion, I am aware that I am treading on very delicate ground. I hope and trust that I am keeping firmly within the mainline tradition of the Church, to whose judgment everything I say is submitted. ENDNOTES: [1] Walter Ciszek, He Leadeth Me (San Francisco: Ignatius Press; 1995), 37. [2] Justin, Apologia Prima, 97-98; most accessible in Henry Bettenson, Documents of the Christian Church (London: Oxford Univ. Press, 1963), section VII, iv.  Luke 24 He took their breaad, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them and their eyes were opened and they recognized Him and He disappeared! Fr. Francis Randolph studied Classics and Theology in Oxford and Rome. He has traveled widely, and worked as a parish priest, hospital and military chaplain, and six years as a university chaplain. He currently works in a busy parish in central England. He is also the author of Pardon and Peace: A Sinner's Guide to Confession.  The flames of revival continue to grow as the breath of the Holy Spirit intensifies the heat and the purity of the message. Good News: Jesus Love you just that much and maybe even a little bit more than what you can imagine. Okay, some feedback on 3 Communions since Sunday morning. At George's and two at our house this morning. (the context of the REST-'O'-Ration of David's Tabernacle in Amos 9/11 and Acts 15/13-19; Hebrews 12:22 (note: Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels)*; 1 Corinthians 10:11, etc.. This is a spiritual restoration based on last generation revelation as seen in types and shadows from the Kingdom of David and as heard when preached/prophesied about by James in the 1st Jerusalem Council! The prophecy is that this is that which you now see and hear - but it is for those "Upon whom the ends of the age of grace have come" It is now being accomplished among us upon whom the end of the age has come through acceptance and practice of doing all that Jesus asked! "Do this", He said "Break bread to remember Me and Drink wine to remember Me for this is My flesh and blood, and it is real food and by this you have eternal life and I will raise you up on the last day!" (See John 6 and ask the Lord to open your eyes and ears... Better yet, just do as Jesus says... "Eat and Drink"#BeBoldBelieve) Jesus said man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that 'you read in the Bible!' (excuse me but - nope.) not true! Jesus says, "It is by every (Rhema breath) that proceeds from the mouth of God into your eyes as spiritual vision and into your ears to hear His voice - the voice of the Good Shepherd as the Holy Spirit breathes the Logos (Testimony/story) of Jesus into you and makes you a part of His story and you become a 1st hand witness to a personal, one-on-one, love-filled, life giving relationship He ha with you and you enjoy with Him. (Okay - will see about sharing the witness of those in the CommunionFire later - as the Lord says 'think on these things - they are lovely, true, honest and filled with His virtue and the cause of our praise to Him. Praise the name of Jesus! What causes thousands of people to find faith in Costa Rica - a little miracle left by angels to a little girl 370 years ago. P.S. After two Communions this morning - I went out for my prayer walk and bumped into my neighborhood friend, Senor Roger from Costa Rica. He is here visiting his daughter and grandson. We became friends whenever he comes to town because I fixed his bicycle one night and we had coffee on my porch until about midnight. After meeting his grandson 3 year old Roberto, he asked me - "so amigo are you praying Rosario?" noticing he was wearing his hand made wooden rosary I responded, "Yes amigo! I am." he said, that is a good thing! i pray it too, every night." I said I remember! Good to see you my friend." Somehow we got to discussing Portugal and Garabendal, Medjugorje and The Perfect Holy Virgin Mary of Guadalupe. Then Senior Roger began to tell me about the Miracle of Mary of the Angels (Angeles) in Costa Rica. She is their Patron Saint, "Virgen de los Angeles" – Our Lady of the Angels.) As he did Robert kept picking up little sticks and branches and making a little pile of them... We talked about Juan Diego's encounter with Mother Mary in Mexico. (After research I found the little girl who found the Virgin Mary of the Angels miracle statue was named Juana and that she was out collecting sticks for firewood! (Can't make this stuff up! Alleluia!) Check out these three links for the full story. Jesus is so good to share His love in such a simple and wonderful way with the children, the poor and the marginalized and then gives the child the inspiration to have a church built that would be declared a Basilica 300 Years later. http://insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2004/august/02/nac1.htm http://catholicsaints.info/our-lady-of-the-angels/ http://www.dosafl.com/lady-angels-patroness-costa-rica/ I told him I would look it up and share this with my CommunionFire friends. The video is in Spanish and is well done.  Communion and CommunionFire Journal for 9/9/16 Bob shared first: with the Bread of Jesus’ Flesh while I was ingesting there was no veil but the Holy Spirit revealed a few stars and then more stars as though in the sky at night. After sharing the cup of the Wine of Jesus’ Blood, as I had my sip, the Lord revealed the sand of the beach and then the voice of the Lord spoke, “As with Abraham and Jacob and all my children, because of who I Am, I can make these promises!” (He was kind and full of grace and truth as He spoke, almost wistful) Within the compression of what He said and the seeing and hearing of the intentions of His heart it was almost like I could hear Him say “This is my promise, that this message, ministry and mission of dining at My Table that you and Camille encounter and experience with Me is how I am releasing a full awakening and renewal of all My people, of every generation, alive today, in all the world, of every Christian person who believes. Camille then shared: "As I ate on my small piece of the Life of Jesus – it was like I was trying to eat an entire loaf of bread! Then as I shared the Cup of Blessing and had my share of His Precious Blood, It was as though I was drinking not a sip, but a constant pouring of wine! The Lord Jesus let me see that the multiplication and sharing over the past 4 years had become like loaves of His Life that we fed upon and drinking in a supernatural wine cellar of Vintage Jesus! In the overflow Camille said she heard the word “largesse”. She looked it up and read the definition: “lar•gesse - lärˈjes, noun: Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others "Dispensing his money with such largesse" (CommunionFire has over the years given us a sense of the wealth Jesus provides in heaven. Here on earth, we are wealthy in comparison to mot parts of humanity - but out true wealth is from the Lord and what He pours into our lies to share with anyone and everyone everyday. What Jesus shares with us becomes more monumental every day.) Synonyms: generosity, liberality, munificence, bounty, bountifulness, beneficence, altruism, charity, philanthropy, magnanimity, benevolence, charitableness, openhandedness, kindness, big-hardheartedness; formal benefaction "Bob took advantage of his friend's largesse" (Bob? really - is part of the definition? For me the application is that Jesus feeds us on His life and then pours Himself into us through by His supernatural power through the auspices of His eternal Flesh and Blood every day. He died to provide through Communion upon Him bring us into CommunionFire with Him.) Money or gifts given generously, "The distribution of largesse to the local population" (Sharing and distribution for the needs of those around us is part of the generosity of Chris as well. It is through redistribution as the Lord leads and the sharing of His grace and kindnesses through acts of mercy that bears the fruit of His generosity - As St. Mother Teresa reflected, "In the face of the poor and marginalized I see the face of Jesus. It is Him who I am caring for. We become closest to Him by caring for Him in the lives of those who are nearly lifeless or without hope or care.) Synonyms: gifts, presents, handouts, grants, aid; patronage, sponsorship, backing, help; alms "distributing largesse to the locals" The Lord shares with each of us as we are, where we are, for who we are… and He prepares how He wants to share his life with each one of us in a way we will be moved in our spirit, mind and body to a quality of understanding that it will bring transformation from one degree of glory to another. The impact, when He shares His life and love with us reflect the ‘synonyms’ we see in the definition of largesse that describe the nature and characteristics of Jesus when we dine at His Table in our living room. This is very much a part of Him The rest of the day was spent in the heat and fire, the rest and refreshing of the generosity of Jesus. The promise of His words to us and the reinforcement of the activity of the Holy Spirit was on every level and is continuing now. This builds anticipation for what the next moment in Communion tomorrow will bring! The Lord wants all His children to take full advantage of His "largesse" so that we might become partakers of His divine nature that He shares with us in the Bread of His Flesh and the Wine of His Blood at His Table. Acts 17:16-24, Romans 1:20, 2 Peter 1:4, 1 Corinthians 2:10, Philippians 2:6-8; (Isaiah 42, Matthew 20:28, John 1:14, Romans 8:3, 2 Corinthians 8:9, 2 Corinthians 13:4, Galatians 4:3-5) What a mighty God we serve! Exhausted by the joy of the Lord that fed me this morning (if that's possible), I ended my evening saying the Rosary with Mother Angelica, praying in the Spirit and sharing this post with you tonight.Yes, I am a non-Catholic who prays in the Spirit and prays the Rosary! This is part and partial to our calling that the Lord confirmed today. We are in effect, by The Creed and CommmunionFire: Eastern Catholic as in Orthodox, we are Roman Catholic, Protestant and independent Evangelical Charismatics. The Lord is doing something new among all His people - to fill His table and His house in these last days so that the Father can commence with a Wedding Feast! You can almost hear the prelude to the Wedding March! Genesis 22:17, Jeremiah 33:22, Hebrews 11:11-13 By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the opportune age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised and so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on seashore. All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. John 6:12-13, 32-34, 41, 43, 48-58 Amos 9:11-15 “In that day I will restore David’s fallen shelter—I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins—and will rebuild it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the LORD, who will do these things. “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills, and I will bring my people Israel back from exile. “They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God. Acts 15:13-19 When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: “ ‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’ —things known from long ago. “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  The Ploughman Shall overtake those who reap and The Mountains Shall Drop Sweet Wine Amos 9:11-15 Guadalupe Lourdes Fatima Mexico 1531 France 1858 Portugal 1917 Know some of the moments Dear Mother Mary made appearances, when and perhaps why and discover the fire of Jesus burning in the hearts because of their encounters. There are many many more (billions?) but these will inspire your hearts. There are others throughout Church history in the Roman Catholic Journals as well as Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, and eastern Catholic histories. There are additional Apparitions or Visitations beyond 1981 Now with CommunionFire we boldly say that we Believe! - this is God's intention and will become the rule not the exception. "On Earth AS IT IS in Heaven!" How? "Give us this day our day to day bread" We encounter the Lord and His realm every day whenever we have Communion - there is CommunionFire! Always has been and ever more shall be!!! "Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost - As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be... amen." Additional links when you click on the Pictures From http://www.miraclehunter.com/ Vatican Recognition (after Investigation and approval by Local Bishop)* Guadalupe, Mexico (1531) Siluva, Lithuania (1608) Laus, France (1664) Rue du Bac, France (1830) Rome, Italy (1842) La Salette, France (1846) Lourdes, France (1858) Filippsdorf, Czech Republic (1866) Pontmain, France (1871) Gietrzwald, Poland (1877) Knock, Ireland (1879) Fatima, Portugal (1917) Beauraing, Belgium (1932) Banneux, Belgium (1933) Kibeho, Rwanda (1981) * Please note: As established in the Council of Trent (1545-63), the local bishop is the first and main authority in the judgement of the authenticity of apparition claims. Vatican approval is not required for an apparition to be considered authentic. After an episcopal approval, the Vatican may do nothing but it may release an official statement or after some time give non-written forms of approval such as a papal visit with the crowning of the associated icon or a gift such as a golden rose, the approval of the construction of (or elevation of an existing shrine to) a basilica, the establishment of a feast day, or the canonization of the associated visionary. Positive judgments by the local bishop (but not yet by the Vatican) theoretically are able to be reversed by a subsequent bishop - but this has never happened in the history of the Church. Negative judgments (Constat de non supernaturalitate) and rulings of no evidence of supernaturality (Non constat de supernaturalitate) have later been changed to positive judgments on a few rare occasions with the ruling of a subsequent bishop. If a Marian apparition is recognized by the bishop, it means that the message is not contrary to faith and morals, that Mary can be venerated in a special way at the site and that the faithful can believe with confidence in the supernaturality of the event. But, because belief in a private revelation is not required by the church, Catholics are at liberty to decide how much personal spiritual emphasis (if any) to place on apparitions and the messages they deliver. Click here for more on the discernment of apparition claims. Vatican Recognized Apparitions Title: Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day: December 12th Investigated: 1666, 1723 First Apparition: Dec 9, 1531 Approved: 1555 by Archbishop Alonso de Montúfar (1551-1572) Last Apparition: Dec 12, 1531 Visionaries: St. Juan Diego (57), Juan Bernardino Number of Apparitions: 5 Miracles & Signs: Tilma of Juan Diego with imprint of image of Virgin; conversion of millions of indians Summary: Mary proclaimed herself "the Mother of the true God who gives life" and left her image permanently upon the tilma of Juan Diego, a recent convert to Christianity. Lezajsk, Poland (1578) Investigated: Henryk Firlej, Bishop of Przemysl (1631-1635) First Apparition: 1578 Approved: Maciej Pstrokonski, bishop of Bishop of Przemysl (1601-1608) built a larger church on the site of the apparition in 1606; Henryk Firlej, Bishop of Przemysl (1631-1635) confirms the supernatural origin of the miracle; On September 8, 1752, Pope Benedict XIV himself crowned the image with Waclaw Hieronim Sierakowski, Bishop of Przemysl (1742-1760), who afterwards personally blessed the crown. Last Apparition: 1578 Visionaries: Thomas Michalek (woodcutter) Number of Apparitions: 2 Summary: A pious woodcutter saw a bright light in the forest. Tthe Virgin asked him to alert the authorities to build a church. Thomas, scared, did nothing. The Virgin, then, appeared again, asking him to take action and ending his silence. Thomas went to the authorities but was not believed. After the death of the curate who was against the vision, a chapel was finally built by the parish priest. luva, Lithuania (1608) Title: Our Lady of Siluva Feast Day: September 8th Investigated: 1612 First Apparition: 1608 Approved: Aug 17, 1775 by Pope Pius VI. Last Apparition: 1612 Visionaries: 4 children Number of Apparitions: Many over 4 years Miracles & Signs: Complete conversion of Calvinist town; blind man cured. Summary: One summer day, in 1608, a number of children were playing while tending their sheep in a field on the outskirts of the village of Siluva. They beheld a beautiful young woman standing on the rock holding a baby in her arms and weeping bitterly. The town which had lost its Catholic identity to the Calvinists over the course of 80 years was restored to the Faith. Title: Our Lady of Laus / Our Lady of Happy Meetings Feast Day: September 27th Investigated: 1665, 2007 First Apparition: 1664 Approved: May 4, 2008 Bishop Jean-Michel di Falco of the Diocese of Gap Last Apparition: 1718 Visionaries: Benoite (Benedicta) Rencurel (17) Number of Apparitions: Many (over 54 years) Summary: Benoite Rencurel, a poor shepherdess, was born in 1647. The Virgin Mary started appearing to her in 1664 and continued visiting her throughout the rest of her life. The Blessed Mother told her to “pray continuously for sinners.” Rue du Bac, Paris, France (830) Title: Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Feast Day : November 27th Investigated: 1836 First Apparition: July 18, 1830 Approved: July 13, 1836 - Archbishop Hyacinthe-Louis de Quélen of Pari Last Apparition: Nov 27, 1830 Visionaries: St. Catherine Laboure (24) Number of Apparitions: 2 Miracles & Signs: Miraculous Medal; Prediction of Paris Revolution (1871); incorruptible body of Catherine Laboure Summary: In the chapel of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Mary showed herself three times to novice Catherine Laboure. Laboure said she was commissioned by the Virgin to have the medal of the Immaculate Conception or "Miraculous Medal" made in order to spread devotion to Our Lady. Rome, Italy (1842) Title: Our Lady of Zion Feast Day : November 17th Investigated: Feb 1842 First Apparition: Jan 20, 1842 Approved: June 3, 1842 by the Vicar General of Pope Gregory XVI, Cardinal Patrizi Last Apparition: Jan 20, 1842 Visionaries: Marie Alphonse Ratisbonne (28) Number of Apparitions: 1 Summary: Marie Alphonse Ratisbonne, an anti-Catholic Jew, befriended a baron in Rome and began wearing the Miraculous Medal as a simple test. On Jan 20, 1842 while waiting for the baron in the church Saint Andrea delle Fratte, Ratisbonne encountered a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He converted to Catholicism, joined the priesthood, and began a ministry for the conversion of Jews. La Salette, France (1846) Title: Our Lady of La Salette Feast Day : September 19th Investigated: 1846 First Apparition: Sept 19, 1846 Approved: Nov 16th, 1851 by Mgr de Bruillard Last Apparition: Sept 19, 1846 Visionaries: Maximin Giraud (11), Melanie Mathieu (14) Number of Apparitions: 1 Summary: Six thousand feet up in the French Alps, Mary is believed to have come to Maximin and Melanie while they tended sheep. Her appearance in sorrow and tears called for conversion and penance for sins. More Information Lourdes, France (1858) Title: Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Day : February 11th Investigated: 1858 First Apparition: Feb 11, 1858 Approved: Jan 18, 1862 by Bertrand Severe Laurence, Bishop of Tarbes Last Apparition: July 16, 1858 Visionaries: St. Bernadette Soubirous (14) Number of Apparitions: 18 Miracles & Signs: Healings, Conversions, Incorruptible body of St. Bernadette. Summary: At the Grotto of Massabielle, the Virgin showed herself 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous. Under the title "the Immaculate Conception," she called for penance and prayer for the conversion of sinners. More Information Filippsdorf, Czech Republic (1866) Title: Help of Christians Feast Day: January 13th Investigated: 1866 First Apparition: January 13, 1866 Approved: Bishop's commission examined the miraculous event and recognized the healing and supernatural character. Church was elevated to minor basilica and consecrated by Pope Leo XIII in 1885. Last Apparition: January 13, 1866 Visionaries: Magdalene Kade (31) Number of Apparitions: 1 Miracles & Signs: Cure of Magdalene and many others at the shrine. Summary: Magdalene Kade, an orphaned 31 year woman bedridden due to many illnesses, received a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary who immediately cured her. A bishop's commission examined the miraculous event and recognized the healing and supernatural character. In the period between 1870 and 1885 a neo-Romanesque church was built and was elevated to minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII, who officially consecrated it and dedicated to Mary, "Help of Christians." More InformationPontmain, France (1871) Title: Our Lady of Hope Feast Day: January 17th Investigated: 1872 First Apparition: Jan 17, 1871 Approved: February 2, 1872 - Casimir-Alexis-Joseph Wicart, Bishop of Laval Last Apparition: Jan 17, 1871 Visionaries: Eugene Barbadette (12), Francoise Richer (11), Jeanne-Marie Lebosse (9), Eugene Friteau (6) Number of Apparitions: 1 Miracles & Signs: Prussian army halts advances after soldiers see Virgin in the sky. Summary: Mary appeared on a farm to students at the nearby convent school. Mary's message was written on a banner that unfurled from her feet: "But pray my children. God will hear you in a short time. My Son allows Himself to be moved by compassion. More Information Gietrzwald, Poland (1877) Title: Our Lady of Gietrzwald Investigated: 1877 First Apparition: June 27, 1877 Approved: Bishop Filip Krementz 1878; Warmian Bishop, Jozef Drzazga Sept 11, 1977 Last Apparition: Sept 16, 1877 Visionaries: Justyna Szafrynska (13), Barbara Samulowska (12) Number of Apparitions: 9 Miracles & Signs: Healing spring; return of piety and devotion to the villagers; Primate of Poland Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski is cured on 100th anniversary of apparitions. Summary: In 1877, the Virgin Mary appeared to two girls over the course of 3 months and encouraged a return to prayer. More Information Knock, Ireland (1879) Title: Our Lady of Knock Feast Day : August 21st Investigated: 1879, 1936 First Apparition: August 21, 1879 Approved: In 1936 Archbishop of Tuam, Dr. Gilmartin's investigative commission returns a positive verdict. Last Apparition: August 21, 1879 Visionaries: 18 Number of Apparitions: 1 Miracles & Signs: 300+ miraculous cures Summary: During a pouring rain, the figures of Mary, Joseph, John the Apostle and a lamb on a plain altar appeared over the gable of the village chapel, enveloped in a bright light. None of them spoke. At least 15 people, between the ages of 5 and 75, saw the apparition. More information Fatima, Portugal (1917) Title: Our Lady of Fatima / Our Lady of the Rosary Feast Day : May 13th Investigated: 1919 First Apparition: May 13, 1917 Approved: October 13, 1930 (Dom Jose Alves Correia da Silva, Bishop of the Diocese of Leiria-Fatima) Last Apparition: October 13, 1917 Visionaries: Lucia dos Santos (9), Jacinta Marto (8), Francisco Marto (7) Number of Apparitions: 6 Miracles & Signs: Dancing Sun, Healings, Conversion of Russia, Incorruptible body of Jacinta. Summary: While tending sheep, Lucia de Santos and her two cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, reported six apparitions of Mary, who identified herself as "Our Lady of the Rosary." Mary urged prayer of the rosary, penance for the conversion of sinners and consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart. More Information Beauraing, Belgium (1932) Title: The Virgin with the Golden Heart Feast Day : August 22nd Investigated: 1949 First Apparition: Nov 29, 1932 Approved: July 2, 1949 by André Marie Charue, Bishop of Namur Last Apparition: Jan 3, 1933 Visionaries: Fernande Voisin (15), Andree Degeimbre (14), Gilberte Voisin (11), Gilberte Degeimbre (9) Number of Apparitions: 33 Miracles & Signs: Miraculous cures, fireball Summary: Mary is believed to have come 33 times to the playground of a convent school to five children. Identifying herself as "the Immaculate Virgin" and "Mother of God, Queen of Heaven," she called for prayer for the conversion of sinners. More Information Banneux, Belgium (1933) Title: The Virgin of the Poor Feast Day : May 31st Investigated: 1935-37 First Apparition: January 15, 1933 Approved: March 19th, 1942 Bishop Kerkhofs of Liege; Aug 22, 1949 Last Apparition: March 2, 1933 Visionaries: Mariette Beco (11) Number of Apparitions: 8 Summary: In a garden behind the Beco family's cottage, the Blessed Mother is said to have appeared to Mariette Beco (age 11) eight times. Calling herself the "Virgin of the Poor," Mary promised to intercede for the poor, the sick and the suffering. More Information Kibeho, Rwanda (1981) Title: "Nyina wa Jambo" (Mother of the Word) Investigated: April 1982 First Apparition: Nov 28, 1981 Approved: June 29, 2001 (Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro) Last Apparition: Nov 28, 1989 Visionaries: Alphonsine Mumureke (17), Nathalie Mukamazimpaka (20), and Marie Claire Mukangango (21) Number of Apparitions: Many Summary: The apparitions began in November 1981 when six young girls and one boy claimed to see the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus. But only the visions of the first three -- 17-year-old Alphonsine, 20-year-old Nathalie, and 21-year-old Marie Claire -- have received Bishop Misago's solemn approval. Because there were reservations about the other four visionaries, and the supposed visions of Jesus, Bishop Misago didn't confirm the authenticity of either those visions or visionaries. Much more @ http://www.miraclehunter.com/ Mary in Scripture http://www.sdya.net/uploads/7/9/5/4/79543366/devotion_to_mary_booklet.pdf Old Testament: A future victory over the powers of evil is predicted to come about through a male descendent of Eve and His mother in Gen 3:15. The mother of the future Messiah is mentioned in Is 7:14 and Mic 5:3. Mary embodies the virtues of the women of faith in the Old Testament, such as Sarah (Gen 17-23), Rebecca (Gen 24-49), Rachel (Gen 29-48), Deborah (Jdg 4-5), Hannah (1 Sam 1-2), Esther (book), Judith (book), Susanna (Dan 14), the mother in the Maccabees (2 Macc 7). Mary is the New Eve through which her Son, the New Adam, would redeem the human race. She is also the new Ark of the Covenant, and the new Queen Mother of the New David. New Testament: Annunciation (Lk 1:26-38), Visitation (Lk 1:39-56), Nativity (Lk 2:1-20; Mt 1:18-25), Circumcision & Presentation (Lk 2:21-38), Visit of Magi (Mt 2:10-12), Flight to Egypt (Mt 2:13-18), Raising in Nazareth & Finding in the Temple (Lk 2:39-52; Mt 2:19-23), Wedding Feast of Cana (Jn 2:1-11), Home Visit of Jesus (Lk 8:19-21), Foot of the Cross (Jn 19:25-27), Pentecost (Acts 1:14), Mother of the Messiah (Gal 4:4), Woman Clothed with the Sun (Rev 12) International Marian Research Institute Chronological Table of Marian Events https://www.udayton.edu/imri/mary/c/chronological-table-of-marian-events.php#c1 www.udayton.edu/imri/mary/c/chronological-table-of-marian-events.
 Camille made an innocent comment, "Oh I'll bet Jesus comes in the middle of the night - while I am sleeping!" : ) A bit tongue in cheek but something I think all of us talk about or at least think about. Simultaneously for two mornings in a row Camille kept getting the story about the man who goes to his neighbor's house at midnight to get bread for a friend who has traveled quite distance! I started to do a little study because the Lord doesn't often repeat a message two mornings in a row. However the second morning (today) I woke up from a dream about seeing the Bride and "she had made herself ready!" What if "The Man" Jesus spoke about was an angel or even Jesus Himself? 
 Exodus 11:4 (1-7) 1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go from here: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out from here altogether. 2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man request of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. 3 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people. 4 And Moses said, Thus says the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: 5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sits upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. 6 And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. 7 But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that you may know that the LORD does put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.  Ruth 3:8, 7-9 7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.  Acts 16:25, 24-26
24 On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose |
heavenSometimes Love is the "Ink" Archives
March 2017
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