Our Only Hope: He Heals the Brokenhearted… (Psalm 147:3-6)

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Mr. Melendez

The last 2 days, there has been an urgency in my spirit as I continue to pray for victims of sex trafficking, especially now as the New Jersey and New York areas are being saturated with people including sex traffickers and their victims for the festivities surrounding this year’s Super Bowl. The hotels, motels, and various places will have these sex trafficking victims seeking clients to meet their given quotas. I pray for massive numbers of people and authorities to be trying to find them and rescue them as I pray for a Mighty Move of God to deliver these victims from bondage. My heart breaks for these girls and young women who have become trapped in these situations.

Then, this morning as I read my Bible,

Psalm 147: 3-6 spoke to me as a message for all of these victims…

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A four legged Angel

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Mr. Melendez

I was lost and walking through a wintry wilderness. I had been walking about 5 miles. I was sure to die of frost bite. I dropped to my knees and prayed to God “send me your angel and take me now”. I could not take the frigid cold any more. Then suddenly I saw her coming. It was the most beautiful beast a man ever did lay his eyes on. It was pure power and speed. It ran out of the woods and straight at me. I was sure this four legged Angel from God, came to rescue me. But the power in her hooves scattered the snow such that I could hardly see the trees behind her. It was a furious running that put a mighty fear in me. I began to lose courage. Then she was upon me. My heart froze and then she stopped. Up went her legs and a mighty whinny could be heard. She stomped her feet right next to my hands but never did hurt me. Now she was still and I could look at this dark muscular beast. She had the largest most beautiful blue eyes. She was perfectly calm and still, just waiting for me. Indeed she was an Angel. I lifted myself onto her and she took off like the wind. I did not know where she was heading but I pretty much knew I would not have a say in the matter. Soon enough we were there, it was a small medical outpost. A few men helped me down and pulled me toward the door. I had to take another look at my Angel and I turned to see her. But alas she was gone! “Where did she go?” I screamed. The men looked back, and like me, were in awe. For this mighty Angel had just vanished.

One occasion where God presented a mighty beast to both save and teach one of his servants a lesson was in the case of Jonah. Many assume that Jonah just got swallowed up by your ordinary whale that just happened to be waiting for Jonah to be tossed into the ocean, in the midst of a terrible storm. However that is unlikely and not biblical. Scripture says that God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah. (Jonah 1:17) God most likely formed this beast with the purpose of holding Jonah someplace safe so that he would not perish, but instead have time to contemplate on his wrong doings. There is also the case of Abraham sacrificing his son. While under the directions of God Abraham reaches for his knife and is about to kill his son when God stops him and out of nowhere appears a ram trapped in a thicket. (Genesis 22:13) God can care for us under any circumstance, in any situation and can use any method that pleases Him, even if it means presenting a mighty four legged Angel!

Verses on Freedom

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Mr. Melendez

Verses by topic

Verses on Freedom

Galatians 5:1

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

1 Peter 2:16

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

Galatians 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

John 8:32

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Romans 8:1-4

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Romans 6:18

And, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Romans 6:22

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

John 8:36

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Isaiah 58:6-7

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

James 1:25

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Hebrews 2:14-15

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Romans 6:7

For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Romans 8:21

That the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Gone to heaven

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Mr. Melendez

Gone to heaven

I have been to the valley of endless pain

Upon me a cold breeze and rain
The heart hurts to the core
It grumbles and aches until it roars
Tears flow down my face
And hope is gone without a trace
It was then that You found me
Opened my eyes to see
“Come quickly out of here
This is no place for my dear
Rest here now in this place
Where there is peace and grace”
Oh this joy it chases away my tears
Gone is pain, sickness and fears
Could this be where Angels Fly?
Finally in the sweet by and by

© Samuel Melendez. All rights reserved

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Friends: I Am a Friend of God

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Mr. Melendez

Nigeria: Battered By Islamic Terror Group – Kill 52, Set 300 Houses Ablaze

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Mr. Melendez

VOICE OF THE PERSECUTED

Maiduguri, Nigeria—The upsurge of deadly attacks by Islamists continues in Nigeria. Latest reports reveal over the past couple of weeks, Boko Haram has stepped up it’s terror operations. Two weeks ago President GoodLuck Jonathon replaced the entire head of his military, without much surfacing as an explanation other than he was stepping up efforts against the Islamic Insurgency. Nigeria is equally divided among Muslims and Christians. The Boko Haram is attempting a take over to establish a fully Sharia (Islamic Law) governed State.

In separate attacks, suspected Islamic militants used explosives and gunfire to attack a market and Christian village during a church service in Nigeria’s northeast, killing and injuring people, demolished shops and hundreds of homes.

One report claims the attacks in Borno and Adamawa states resulted in one of the highest death tolls in recent attacks by militants defying an 8-month old military state of emergency in three states in northern Nigeria…

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A Mystery

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Mr. Melendez

Holy Spirit 33 (Photo credit: Waiting For The Word)

Horace the great stood before us in a darken hall. We could barely see his face, with his top hat casting a shadow. His assistant, the beautiful Solace, stood near him with a rather sinister smile. He was about to do the unthinkable. She was about to disappear from this world. First she was tied and chained, then blind folded. Into the chest she went. It was locked and chained as well. No one could escape. It hung from the ceiling and it was checked all around by volunteers from the audience. Surely Horace would fail this time.

With a bit of wave from his wand and a few words he only understood it was finished. The chest came down, the chains unlocked and opened. The volunteers still watching stood amazed. The chest was destroyed just to add another exclamation point on such an amazing feat. Finally, to truly take our breath away, apparently from the back of the hall, came the enchanting Solace. She glided across the hall with her hair flying and soon she was on the stage next to her beloved Horace. The Crowd was on its feet. It truly could not be explained. How could Horace have done it?

Everyone loves a good magic trick. A good magician can seemingly do the impossible. Most of us don’t believe they have magical powers! We are pretty sure they have simply mastered the art and science of allusion. They have trick doors, quick hands and use all kinds of distractions. They are good at what they do and are truly entertaining. Although we know there has to be an explanation, their feats remain a mystery to most of us.

However there are mysteries that are greater than any magician’s tricks. Mysteries that we know require more than sleight of hand and trick doors. They require nothing less than the power of God almighty. One such mystery is the works of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is God. He is the personal God that hears our prayers (Romans 8:26 ), councils, teaches and guides. It is to the Holy Spirit that we credit our understanding and wisdom (Isaiah 11:2, 1 Corinthians 2:13 ). All this is more than enough to leave us in awe. But there is more, truly one of the greatest mysteries. For the God that fills the entire Universe and exist beyond the heavens, the God that time and space cannot contain also dwells in such a tiny creature known as man(1 Corinthians 6:19, John 14:15-17, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ). He dwells in you and me. The same God that moves the pages of history, created the Universe, has mapped out all of eternity, is the same God that from within our very person can speak softly and comfort us in our weakness. He does not go and return to possess us temporarily. He does not take vacation from our presence. He is always in us (John 14:15-17 ). From within us the Holy Spirit Springs Rivers of living waters and what we feel is joy, peace and love like no other.( John 7:38-39,Galatians 5:22-23) , He is within us, outside us, in the world and outside the world, all at the same time(Ps.139:7-10). It is one of the most beautiful and perfect mysteries.

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Beyond the stars yet in me

Beyond the stars, yet in me

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Mr. Melendez

Beyond the stars, yet in me

So great He is beyond the stars and space
yet He dwells in me in this place
He is about His business sees all that is to see
yet watches a small one such as me
He’s planned the History of every nation
But still finds time to determine my station
Abraham, Moses and Elijah knew Him well
No doubt with Him they now dwell
And yet he speaks to me, no prophet am I
He hears my call, my plea, and my cry
Why love me? Why send your son?
No great deed have I done?
Yet you hold me through the night
Keep me always in your sight
My talents are but a few
Worship you is what I can do
Tell them He is great, Write of your fame
Stories of your great name
For all to know you love them so
The small, the great, the mighty and the low
What else can I do?
Remember forever You are true!

“Who can express the noble acts of the Lord or show forth all His praise?”

Why Most Christians are Against Drinking Alcohol

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Mr. Melendez

The Devil and his tricks

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Mr. Melendez

Paul discovered a demon possessed clairvoyant girl who had great value to her owner. (Acts 16:16-40) I asked my New Testament class. Did she really know the future? Could she have read the minds of her customers? Could she have had the power to look into your past and see things clearly? Perhaps demons are truly powerful creatures that can help us?”

The bible relates that Paul was able to cast the demon out and then she no longer had value. As Christians we believe in the power of God, and we have experienced it in our lives. But often we forget that the devil has a few tricks up his sleeve. There is much he can do.

One student in my N.T. class commented “Well the devil can influence other people in your life. (Mark 8:33) So if the girl would have told her client you are going to meet a tall dark handsome fellow, the demon could whisper into the ear of such a fellow and convince him to take certain actions that would lead to such a meeting.” In truth the devil does this all the time. He is constantly trying to influence people. Another student had this to offer “Well if the girl had told someone you are going to get a promotion, that person might believe it so strongly that he or she would work harder, and with more confidence make it happen. “In this manner a demon can influence your life.”

Demons also have another advantage. There are legions of them all over the world. (Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39) They can’t be seen and apparently they love to watch us. They know “what we did last summer,” and the summer before and this morning. They also know what catches our attention and what makes our heart race. When a clairvoyant tells you that what your father told you when you were eight years old is still haunting you, it is only because the demons using this person were actually there and saw it.

Therefore there is no doubt demons can impact our lives. However scripture makes it clear their intentions are only evil. The devil comes to destroy devour, deceive, murder (1Peter 5:8, Revelation 20:10, John 8:44). He shows up as the Angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), offering to give us advice or help, but his true intention is the total destruction of our lives.

The bible directs us to flee from demonic influence. (James 4:7) Instead let us learn to trust in God. He knows our future and has great plans for us. His intentions are to bless us and be with us until the end.