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“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”   Hebrews 10:22

3 - EDITOR's CORNER  

Dear Friends,

First, my apologies for missing an issue last month.  I have been striving to complete and publish a new issue for each month, and July seemed to sneak by too quickly for me.

Second, this is more than likely the final issue for this year.  As some of you are aware already, I will be going on a business trip… in some ways; one might even call this a missionary journey.  After all, we have read the instructions to be witnesses unto all parts of the world!  And while I serve in my present employment, I do seek to be a positive example with those around me; however, in my human weakness, I often find myself falling short of my own expectations, which brings additional stress and frustrations on my own shoulders.  Now, I have the grand opportunity to do a bit of traveling, see a different part of the world, and continue doing what I have been trained to do.  This trip will take me into the beginning of next year, so, unless I am able to accomplish and send any thing between now and next Jan/Feb, the next issue will more than likely not be published for about 5 months.  But who knows?  Maybe there might be a way to send a note or two from time to time?

Third, please keep me (and those I work with) in prayers as we serve God, family/friends, & Country. And please keep my family in prayer, as they will not be able to join me on this adventure.  My eldest daughter, Carolyn, seems to be taking this hardest so far.  My wife and I have been preparing as much as possible for this (emotionally & physically)… but until the time comes, one will not be fully ready for the emotional pressures this will cause.  The time will be most challenging on all of us, but I am confident with the support of our church, community, and prayers of loved ones, we will make it through this time just fine.

So, until next issue, whenever that may be, please enjoy this publication, and seek out ways you might be a Barnabas in your location.

In “Service” for HIM,

Daniel
Philippians 1:6

4 - PICTURE of the DAY!!!

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REST
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Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Matthew 11:29 - 30    

Photo by Daniel & Julee
McChord AFB, WA, July 2004
Barnabas Ministries (E.C.H.O.)

Your comments, suggestions, ideas, and thoughts are welcomed.
Should you have a picture you have taken (not copyrighted) you would like to share in PICTURE of the WEEK!!!,
please e-mail a copy in .jpg or .gif format.  Feel free to suggest a verse/verses you think might go well with the image.
(Photo's & images submitted become the property of E.C.H.O. and may be altered.
Images, suggested verses, and topics are subject to display per discretion of E.C.H.O.)

5 - DEVOTIONAL

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(1 John 2:1-2)

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

1- THERE IS ONLY ONE WHO IS WORTHY TO PLEAD OUR CASE BEFORE GOD.

John writes to his disciples and followers on a kind and intimate basis.  “My little children....”

“My little children” = in the New Testament, this term is used as a expression of kindness address by teachers to their disciples.  What a comforting expression, a dear, personal, compassionate, and intimate phrase.  “My little children.”

My wife & I have 4 children.  We love each and everyone dearly.  Each one acts and responds in their own unique way, but we still do our best to treat them equally the same.  No favorites, no special treatments, etc.; however, some will have more privileges than others due to their age, understanding, and the ability to accomplish various tasks and projects.  But all in all, we love each one dearly.

John has a deep fondness’ for these brothers and sisters in Christ. Almost so strongly that it appears he sees them as spiritual children, or disciples.  Not so much as a put down saying he is better than them, but more so as a nurturing experience, as a parent instructs and love their own.

John goes on to say that these things, which he has written, have been written so that we will not sin.  Sin… how can we who are not yet perfected live as though we are?  While we do sin countless times, daily, many by choice and will, and some by unconscious effort, we sin nonetheless.  But we have the power within us to say no to sin, and yes to God’s will.  The Holy Spirit, WHO indwells every believer, has been sent to us as a “comforter” who guides us through the word of God, and directs us when we are sensitive to HIS voice and calling.  And when we are in tune with HIM, and cast aside the old/dead nature, we can say no to the selfish desires that sin brings, and accomplish the will HE wants in our life.

Yet, until the day of perfection (Phil 1:6), we will continue to sin, nonetheless.  This in no ways gives us the freedom to willfully commit these disgraceful and disgusting acts.  Remember the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 6:

1 ¶ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!

But, when we do sin, whether willfully, or even without realizing what we are doing, we have been given an advocate.  We have someone worthy to plead our case before God the Father... and that one is Jesus Christ - Jesus Christ the “righteous.” 

Advocate = also known as a comforter, and is one who has been summoned/called to one's side, especially called to one's aid.  The “advocate” pleads another's cause before a judge, and is a counsel for defense or legal assistant.  The advocate acts as an intercessor.  In our case, the advocate will plead with God the Father for the pardon of our sins.

 
Our advocate is Jesus Christ, the Lord.  Christ has died for our sins.  HE paid the cost and penalty, for the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23).  And the wonderful thing is, Christ did not remain dead, but God raised HIM up on the third day, according to the scripture (1 Cor. 15:3-4), and now we serve a risen and living Lord and Savior!  And Christ can now stand before the Heavenly Father and state on the behalf of all who are under HIS protection (by HIS blood) that their sins are forgiven and paid for in full.

Jesus is faultless and blameless of every law and command given.  He is without sin, He is perfect... and He has been born of flesh and blood (yet HIS blood is not tainted and spoiled with sin) so that He could be our “kinsman redeemer.”

Jesus Christ is the only one who can rightly stand before God the Father and plead our case.  When the prosecutor (Lucifer/Satan) comes up and says to God:

“See, Daniel has sinned again!...  He has broken YOUR laws given in your scriptures.... He is not worthy to belong to YOU..... Give him to me so that I may deal with him.....”

Christ Jesus stands before God, the Almighty, and say, “Father, Daniel has claimed me as his Lord.  He has accepted my sacrifice on the cross as his own.  He has confessed his sins and professed me as Lord.  He is mine, and is in my hands.  YOU have given him to me.  He belongs to me, and no one may pluck him away.”

Jesus Christ the righteous stands as an advocate for me.  He stands in my defense.  How can Jesus do this?  What gives Him the right and ability to do this?



2- JESUS IS THE ONE WHO APPEASES THE FATHER FOR OUR SINS.

Christ is “righteous” that is to say; HE is virtuous, keeping the commands of God.  HE is innocent, faultless, and guiltless, having never sinned.  HE is wholly conformed to the will of God.  “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 

    Propitiation = the means of appeasing

Through Christ, the wrath and anger of God has been appeased.  HE no longer sees us in sin and filth, but righteous through the blood of HIS only begotten son, Jesus Christ, our advocate.

Jesus Christ shed His blood.  He gave all He had to pay for the penalty of sin.  The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).  When Adam & Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, the curse was given that they would surly die.  And they did.  Their spiritual life was separated from God, and could only be reunited through the promised redeemer, Jesus Christ.  As their earthly bodies began to decay, a physical death was unavoidable.  The wages (penalty, cost) of sin (one sin and all sins) is death ...  but the gift of God  “IS” eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus gave everything He had, every ounce He could give; He gave His blood, His life, Himself... and gave it in place of our sins to pay the penalty, the cost, and the wages of sin.  He died, was buried, and rose three days later (1 Cor. 15:3-4), and through His resurrection we know that His offering was accepted by God and that we have eternal life through the Son of God, Jesus Christ!

Because of His sacrifice, He can stand before the Father and claim us as His (after we have received His gift of salvation), and plead our case for us, in our place.... and the Father will listen to Him!

Life only gets better when we are “IN” the Lord, and are trying to walk with Him in His Word!  We have already won the battle(s)!  We ( I ) have victory through Christ!  We ( I ) need to live as a victorious Christian!

Oh, that I might not live in sin, but in the will and peace of God the Father and Jesus Christ my ever living Lord and Savior.

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“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands… and purify your hearts…”  James 4:8

6 - NEXT ISSUE

Again, not sure when the next issue will be… but plans are to pick up where we have left off in the book of 1 John!

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The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,
Sincerely yours,

-=Daniel
Philippians 1:6

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