May God Bless You!

January 2010

Purity Club cancelled due to 10-Day Fast Revival and 3rd Friday Night Bible Study (reading of The Minutes of Elder/Deacons meetings)

February 2010

Genesis 37 - Joseph was given a coat of many colours by his father, Jacob (a.k.a. Israel), because Jacob loved Joseph more than all his other children. Joseph's brothers hated him when they saw that Jacob loved Joseph more than Joseph's brothers. Joseph had dreams about him having rule over his brothers, family, and many other people, even the sun, moon, and eleven stars. Joseph's brother hated him for these dreams, plotted to slay him, and to tell Jacob that Joseph was slayed by a beast, but Reuben told the other brothers to just cast Joseph into the pit. So, they cast Joseph into the pit. Judah talked his brothers into selling Joseph to the Ishmeelites instead of slaying him. While Joseph was in the pit, the Midianites came along, took Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmeelites. When Joseph's brothers recognized that Joseph was not in the pit, they killed a goat, dipped Joseph's coat of many colours in the blood of the goat, took the coat of many colours to Jacob, and Jacob assumed that an evil beast devoured Joseph. The Ishmeelites took Joseph and sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard. - King James Version of the Holy Bible.

March 2010

Genesis 39:1-23: Joseph became overseer of his master’s house. He did everything that was asked of him, which led the Lord to bless the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. He was a goodly person, which was recognized by the master’s wife. She cast her eyes upon Joseph and she asked him to lie with her. He realized how much his master appreciated and trusted him, and asked her “How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Day by day she consistently asked him to lie by her, but he was obedient and did not hearken to her. One day, Joseph happened to be in the house and no other men (witnesses) were present. The master’s wife caught him by his garment, saying “lie with me”. Joseph fled, leaving his garment behind. She called upon the men of the house and dishonestly led them to believe that she had been pursued by Joseph. The master’s wife was conniving, and laid Joseph’s garment beside her, awaiting her husband’s return. She fed him the same story so he had no choice but to imprison Joseph. Fortunately, the Lord was with Joseph and he was merciful, and gave him favor. Joseph held on to what he was taught, for which he was rewarded.

April 2010

Genesis 40: The baker and the butler of Egypt were thrown in prison due to offending their Lord. One morning Joseph, whom also was in prison, falsely accused of having an affair with his master's wife, noticed that the butler and baker appeared saddened. Joseph asked the butler and the baker why they were sad and both revealed that they had dreams that were not interpreted. Joseph asked both of them the question, "Do not interpretations belong to God?"

The Chief butler told Joseph of his dream, which was regarding three vines growing and bringing forth grapes. In this dream the chief butler took some grapes and placed them into Pharaoh's cup. Joseph's interpretation of this was that the three branches meant three days. "Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler." The chief butler's dream was interpreted that he was going to be freed from prison. Joseph asked the Butler to remember him when he was freed by making mention to Pharaoh of his innocence.

When the chief baker heard the the chief butler's interpretation was good, he went to Joseph and explained his dream. The chief baker's dream involved three white baskets on his head (the chief baker's head), the uppermost basket had different bakemeats. In the dream, the bakemeats were for Pharaoh, which were eaten by the birds. Joseph's interpretation of this dream was that the three white baskets meant that within three days, Pharaoh was going to "lift up thy head from off thee."

On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, Pharaoh had a feast for all of his servants. During this feast Pharaoh lifted up both heads of the Butler and the Baker amongst all of his servants and "restored the chief butler unto his butlership again", but he hung the chief baker. Both of these events were interpreted by Joseph.

However, the chief butler, once freed, forgot about Joseph.

May 2010

Genesis 42:1-38: There was a famine in the land of Canaan and Jacob sent his sons into Egypt to buy corn. They went, and were met by their brother Joseph who was the governor of the land. Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. Joseph recalled a dream and accused them of being spies. They were imprisoned for three days and denied being spies. One was sent away to fetch their youngest brother so their words would be verified. While there, they discussed how they had wronged their brother. Joseph spoke to them in an Egyptian language through an interpreter and had mercy on them. He wanted them to be true to one another and didn't want to cause any anguish. Therefore he filled their sacks with corn and restored their money. The brothers returned home with full sacks and shared their story with their father, who at this time is still grieving the loss of his beloved son Joseph.

June 2010

Genesis 45: 1-28: Pharaoh was pleased with the reunion between Joseph and his brothers. He offered them the good of the land of Egypt and asked them to return with their families and father. Joseph spoke with all of his brothers, but he was closest to Benjamin. They were given plenty of gifts, including changes of clothes, but to his beloved brother Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of clothes.

His brothers left and returned to the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father. They shared that Joseph was alive, even though they had always told him he wasn’t, and that he was governor over all the land of Egypt. Jacob’s heart fainted because he could not believe his son could be alive after all of this time. The brothers told their father of Joseph’s words, and Jacob’s sprit was revived when he saw the wagons his son Joseph had sent to carry him away.

July 2010

Title: Those Who Fasted (People In The Bible)

Here are a few: Ahab 1 Kings 21:27, Moses Deut. 9:9,18 (40 Days and 40 Nights), Paul Acts 9:9, Anna St Luke 2:37 (Recognized he was the redeemer), and Jesus St. Matthew 4:2 (40 Days and 40 Nights)

The question was asked, "Why do we fast and pray"? Different ones answered and we learned

that some in the congregation fast because they want to be filled with God's word and his

Spirit, to build endurance, and because we want self to suffer and the inner man to

be strengthened.

August 2010

Exodus Chapter One: The twelve patriarchs and their households, of the tribes of Israel, came to reside in Egypt. As time passed, the patriarchs died yet the Hebrew people greatly multiplied. A new Pharaoh reigned which did not know Joseph and became wary that the Hebrews would exceed them and even form an alliance with their enemies. They made the Hebrews slaves to build their great cities, increasing rigorous labor and enforcing hard bondage. Yet the Hebrews continued to thrive and multiply.

In another ploy to destroy the Hebrews, the midwives were told to kill the newborns as they were delivered. However, for fear of God they did not. In a last attempt to destroy God's seed, the Egyptian people were to drown the newborn males in the river.

September 2010

II Kings 2: 1-25

During this time in the bible, Elijah was the prophet of God and Elisha was just coming on to the scene. After reading this 2nd Chapter of 2nd Kings you get the feeling that Elijah was something similar to a father in the Gospel to Elisha as you might say. Elijah was Elisha's master, and Elisha looked up to him… So much in fact that Elisha wanted a double portion of Elijah's spirit to come on him, as it states in the 9th Verse. Elijah had done his work here on earth and it was time for him to pass off the scene. Elijah knew that this request was no small feat but he let Elisha know how to accomplish this. Elisha was to witness God taking Elijah away in a whirlwind. Elisha did as he was told and watched the power of God as he took Elijah away in the whirlwind. Elijah's servants came and bowed to Elisha because they knew his Spirit rested in Elisha, but they didn't believe Elijah was gone. They begged and urged Elisha to allow them to go look for Elijah but Elisha told them not to go. However they didn't listen, and looked for 3 days and couldn't find Elijah's body. The people of the city told Elisha about the condition of the city and how the land wouldn't bare forth fruit, due to a drought. So Elisha blessed the land and healed the waters so that the land wouldn't be barren any longer! Afterwards he went up to Bethel to be mocked and talked about by little children, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord and two she bears came out and tare forty and two of them, because you do NOT DISRESPECT a prophet of God.

October 2010

I Samuel 28:1-25

The Philistines gathered their armies together for war. They were told to kill everyone and everything. Achish invited David to join him and his armies for battle and then made David the "keeper of mine head", which is a powerful prophet. Now Samuel was dead, and all of Israel mourned him and were saddened by this loss. Saul put away all of the spirits and wizards that had previously occupied the land. When Saul saw the host of the Philistines and was afraid. He called on the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or by his prophets. So Saul asked his servants to find him a woman that had a familiar spirit. . Saul and two of his men disguised themselves and visited the woman of Endor during the night. She asked if he knew what Saul hath done and why were they trying to endanger her life. Saul reassured her that there would be no punishment towards her for this thing. She asked-whom shall I bring up unto thee? He then proceeded to ask for Samuel, who we know is now dead. When she saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice and asked Saul why hast thou deceived me? He told her not to fear what she saw and she confirmed that she saw gods ascending out of the earth. . Samuel then asks Saul why he is bothering him, and he responds that he is distressed because the Philistines made war against him and because God WILL NOT ANSWER HIM. SAMUEL TELLS SAUL THAT ON TOMORROW HE AND HIS SONS WILL BE AS HE IS---DEAD!!!!. We know that God would not answer him because he disobeyed.