Jesus came to a loose-living, man-loving woman in Samaria and poured Living Water into her. When she met the man Jesus, and “perceived” that He was that prophesied “Christ,” the Spirit-anointed Messiah, she immediately left what she was doing. She went back into the city to the men of that city, and told them she met the Christ. Many heard and believed. Jesus stayed in Samaria a couple of days and many more believed on Christ because of His own word to them. One woman got the revelation of Jesus Christ and rocked a whole city—and Jesus never forbade her to speak. In fact, He went and backed her up on what she was saying (John 4:1-42). The Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost on men and women. All were filled and began to speak out about the “wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:1-13). Peter explained this was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophesy, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and daughters shall prophesy…my servants…my handmaidens…shall prophesy…and whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:16-21). Paul wrote to the legally influenced Galatians and said, “For ye are all children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28). Yes, Paul, using scriptural authority corrected two situations with talkative, pushy, domineering women who were eager to learn (1 Corinthians 14:34-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-15). But he continually had to correct talkative, pushy, domineering men who were preaching another gospel and another Jesus and another spirit to the church (1 Timothy 1:3). Paul’s correction to the women was in no way a mandate across the board to muzzle the maidens! In no way was Paul negating the prophecies of old and the work of Jesus Christ to set all men and women free and on fire for Him! Yes, men and women have their place and their position in the home. Their place is to be mutually supportive team members to work together to have a godly home. This is to continue in the church and in society. Men and women are to work together as mutually supportive team members to get the work of the Lord done in the power of His anointing under His direction. Adam and Eve (before sin), Jesus and the Samarian woman, Paul and Phobe (and other women), Aquila and Priscilla, Philip and his four daughters—all these and more are a fulfillment of sons and daughters working together. The fields are ready to harvest. The time is short. The need is great. Men! Women! Boys! Girls! Rise up in the power of His anointing and pay no attention to the nay-sayers. Joyfully reap the harvest! Rock the city for Jesus!
Category: Jackie Calhoun
Ladies on Purpose
Ladies on Purpose (Ladies OP), is the women’s group my wife, Barbara, has recently started. They’ve had two sessions. The ladies meet each Tuesday evening from 6 to 7 pm in the kitchen/dining area of the Lighthouse Church at 2800 Military in Benton, AR. All ladies are welcome. They meet together and fellowship and have a drawing and door prizes. I think it is sort of a party atmosphere. They have goodies that my wife and some of the ladies bring to share for refreshments. It is not a churchy atmosphere, but Barbara does teach healing from the inside out. Her goal in starting the meetings is to impart to women how valuable they are and understanding God’s view of women. For centuries women have been relegated to a lesser place in society, particularly in the church. This lesser place in the church is largely due to an interpretation of the Bible that says women across the board are to be silent in the church. As with any scripture, none should be taken of a “private” interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). That word “private,” in the Greek language means “pertaining to self that is one’s own…or separate” (Strong’s Concordance G2398). So those two passages referring to women keeping silent in the church needs to be interpreted in view of all the other scriptures referring to women speaking in the church. Joel prophesied that God would pour His Spirit out on all flesh (all people) and your sons and daughters would prophesy. This happened on the day of Pentecost. Later, Philip had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:8-9). I doubt if they went outside and prophesied to a fence post. Aquila and Priscilla had a church in their home. They ministered together and corrected Apollos’ teaching showing him the “way more perfectly” (Acts 18:26). Phebe was a “servant” of the church (Romans 16:1). “Servant” in the Greek language means “an attendant…a waiter; specifically, a Christian teacher and pastor…deacon or deaconess (Strong’s Concordance G1249).” The women of Corinth were to ask their questions to their husbands at home instead of asking out loud across the room of the church. Husbands and wives sat across the room from each other then, as they do today in that part of the world. Paul told Timothy that he did not allow pushy, contentious women to act independently of the husband. Paul also did not allow pushy, contentious legalizer men to operate in a meeting. The husband and wife are to be subject to God for ministry. A single woman ministry, just like a single man ministry, is to be subject to the Lord and the elders of the Body of Christ. But it is plain as day that in general women, just like men, are to pray, prophesy and minister the Word. Some preachers are telling fifty percent of the church to be quiet. No! We need laborers for the harvest! Women! Rise up in the power of the Spirit and share Jesus everywhere you go!
Don’t Be Defrauded
When the Israelites came out of Egypt, there was not one feeble person among them. About five million people, and not one feeble person among them! (Psalms 105:37) Wow! It was God’s will to heal them! You say, “Yeah, but what I am experiencing, I brought it on myself.” The Israelites sinned and brought destruction on themselves, and the Bible says, “He sent His word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psalms 107:20). One time they murmured against Moses so that serpents were biting and killing them by the thousands. They brought it on themselves. But God told Moses to make a brass serpent and lift it up on top of a pole and tell the people to look at it—just look at it! When they looked at it, they were healed! It was God’s will to heal them! That’s the scripture Jesus used when He explained to religious, law-keeping Nicodemus how to be born again. He told him that the Son of man, referring to Himself, would be lifted up and whoever believes in Him, whoever looks to Him, would have eternal life. Do you realize that Jesus was lifted up, hung on a cross, and became sin for us so that we can be healed spiritually, mentally, physically, and in every way? Even if we brought it all on ourselves, His love and His sacrifice stand for eternity, so that whoever looks to Him in persistent faith and obedience will be delivered. Jesus came to give abundant life. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. The devil will defraud us of our inheritance in Christ, if we let him. A Google definition of defraud is “to take something illegally from a person, company, etc., or to prevent someone from having something that is legally theirs, by making statements that are not true.” It means to take advantage of. The devil is a liar. The word and the work of Jesus is truth. Which are we going to believe and embrace—God’s will to heal in Christ Jesus or the devil’s design to defraud? I know of a sister in the Lord who opened her home to help another lady, and the lady is slowly destroying the sister’s home, and making the sister miserable. Do you think that is God’s will? No! That is defrauding. “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because the Lord is the avenger of all such”—pay attention! (1 Thessalonians 4:6) People and the devil will take advantage of you and rob you of your legal inheritance if you let them! Jesus paid for abundant life for you! Go for it! Just like you work out and exercise for your body, work out and exercise each day with the truth of the word of God. Believe in Jesus and apply His truth to your life each day. Remember the Israelites. Refuse to be defrauded. Take what is rightfully yours in Jesus Christ your Lord!
Something of Eternal Value
Sometime in the next twenty or thirty years or so, I will be checking out of this hotel called earth, and I will be staying in my permanent home in Heaven. One day it dropped in my heart that I wanted to leave something behind for my kids and others that would be of eternal value. I’m not a rich man in money and goods; besides, that stuff is not in itself eternal. I observed how the Apostle Paul wrote letters that were preserved and passed down to others. That guy is still winning souls by the millions and blessing millions more. So, I figured if I took sixty years of what I have learned in walking with the Lord, and got it down to the basic Bible message that will benefit all, that might be of eternal value. I’ve been through a lot in those sixty years. I can say one thing about it all: God is faithful. He is true to His Word. He is true to His Spirit-anointed Son, Jesus. He is true to me and to all people. We can truly trust God. I am very thankful that by His mercy and grace, we can all have an abundant-life relationship with Him. Abundant life starts by having peace and assurance that because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross, we are made right with God. Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ brings us into eternal life with Him, and releases the blessings of God upon us. For sixty years I have loved to share Jesus, and it gets sweeter as the days go by. But, back to what I started to say. I want to leave something behind of eternal value, so I wrote a book. It is entitled, “What is God’s Answer for Me, and the Rest of the World.” If we will take the Word of God at face value and get the over-all picture of the revelation of Jesus Christ (Christ means “Spirit-anointed Messiah”), we will find God’s answer for our life. You can catch a fish and serve it to a person for a meal, or, you can share with that person how to get the equipment and how to fish, and you can feed that person for a lifetime. And, they can teach others how to get the equipment and how to fish. So that is what I have attempted to do. I have taken sixty years of Bible study and walking with the Lord (and times of not walking with the Lord), and I have put it into words that will give you the understanding of how to get that equipment and how to use it to your and others benefit. I, of course, would like for every person to read the book. It’s not a money-making scheme. It is a message, replete with life experiences, that is burning in my heart to share with all. Amazon and Barnes and Noble carry it.
Rescued and Rendering Gratitude
I marveled as I heard the story of one of my daughter’s dogs she rescued. To look at the dog with his scarred head, you would think he had been in many fights. But the fact is that due to gross neglect, the dog was covered in deep bacterial infections and fungi with running sores all over his head and body. These deep sores left scars. His internal digestive condition was such that his body was not digesting food, so he was malnourished to the point of starvation. Those infections were in his paws so he could hardly walk, and certainly, each step was with pain. These sores and his skin condition made him extremely sensitive to touch. Just to touch him would cause him to react. His lowered immune system caused him to be resistant to cure and healing, and it made him subject to any infection, fungus or any other debilitating condition that might come his way. With much hair missing and being covered with oozing sores, he was a sight to behold. Most would think he was worthy of a bullet to put him out of his misery. But not the heart of an animal rescuer. The heart of the animal rescuer sees beyond the present condition and rolls up the sleeves and proceeds to administer the cure. The daily routine was overlooking the reactions from frequent, painful medicated baths. Internal medications had to be administered daily. Slowly, his digestive system had to acclimate to nutritious food. In that period of time there is much regurgitative and diarrhea reaction. Slowly, patiently, daily, the rescuer administers the cure. In time, the conditions are conquered. The dog goes from torment to tranquility. Knowing the story, one can understand the loving look of gratitude that emanates from the dog’s gaze to his owner and master. What a picture of how the Lord Jesus works to rescue those who are out of the path of abundant life! Many people are carrying many spiritual bacterial and fungal sores. Outwardly, we can look really good and pretty, but inwardly we can be filled with fear, skepticism, hatred, bitterness and evil thoughts of all kinds. We can adapt to our misery, but we are sore to the touch, so easily offended and angered. Our walk is affected by sore feet. We can’t handle good, spiritual food so we spew out negative opinions wherever we go. The Good Shepherd, Christ Jesus, draws us to Himself and takes us in. His daily, loving, tender, patient care administers the Word of truth and the Spirit of life and power to us. Slowly, our torment is transformed into tranquility. The very image of Christ is formed within us. In Him there is life, peace, purpose and power. Living in the life and nourishment that only Jesus can provide through His Word and Spirit, is the way to abundant life and contentment. With Jesus as Lord and Master, we can gaze upon Him and render praises for all eternity.
Good Muscadine Juice
I like that red muscadine juice that Post puts out. We keep a bottle in the refrigerator and a back up in the pantry. I don’t care for the wine. Dad used to make muscadine wine. The juice was good starting out, but by the time it went through the fermentation process, it lost all its sweet goodness. Besides, I messed with alcohol, and now I don’t indulge in the bottled (or canned) spirits. But the muscadine juice, I like. I like to use it every morning to take communion. It’s not a religious ritual with me. It is just a reminder. The Word says as often as you choose to do it, do it as a reminder of what the Lord has done for us. There are a couple of pills and a vitamin that I take first thing in the day. I just call them my communion “elements,” and with a big swig of the muscadine juice from the refrigerator door, I serve a reminder to myself. I say, “Thank you, Lord, for taking a beating so I can be healed and strengthened and my youth renewed; and thank you, Lord, for dying on the cross and shedding your blood so that my sins are all taken away and I have the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to my account. Thank you, Lord, that I stand righteous in your sight because of what Jesus has done for me.” This starts every day off with a fresh realization of what I have in Christ Jesus, the Spirit-anointed Son of God. God wants us to keep in mind what Jesus has done for us. That’s why He gave us the ordinance of communion. He wants us to “discern” or realize the worth of what Jesus did for us and apply it to our life by faith. If we partake of communion (the Lord’s supper) “unworthily” or “irreverently,” not understanding and applying His work to our life, then we live under condemnation and in weakness and sickness, and sometimes even premature death. If we partake of communion as just a religious ritual, not stopping to thank Him for what He has done, and apply it to our life by faith, then we continue in bondage. Communion is designed to help set us free in every way so we won’t fall under the same condemnation as the world of spiritual darkness, defeat and sickness in body. Whether we do it corporately at church or privately at home, or both ways, it is to serve to liberate us in spirit, soul, and body. It is God’s ordained reminder— “This Do in Remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). We are to examine ourselves to see what we are dwelling on and believing. Do we have sin in our life? Then by faith, run to the blood for cleansing. Do we have sickness in our life? Then by faith, run to the broken body of Jesus for healing. Remember what Jesus has done for us.
Successful Business
Over the years I have engaged in different businesses. When the rage of the age was waterbeds, I put in a waterbed store. It lasted about a year and a half. I had a vision and desire, but I did not have sufficient capitalization and a solid business plan along with some of the other proper preparations for a successful business. How does the saying go? “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” That’s basically what happened. Through a financial settlement, I later in life put in a combination art gallery, book store, gourmet coffee shop and worship center. I had the money, but I did not have the research and plan. I took some ideas from another part of the country and tried to apply those ideas to the local area. People in this area hardly new about latte, cappuccino and coffees such as that, at that time. People were accustomed to craft items, but were strangers to bronze art. The type books I carried were not the books that fit into the mainstream demand of the general public at that time. Now these items are well known and widely distributed. Timing was a factor. Successful business needs proper provisions in operation, proper planning and operating by that plan and doing things in proper timing. These are just a few of the factors involved for a successful business. The same things can apply to the operation of the kingdom of God. Along with vision and desire, we need to have the proper spiritual equipment and provisions in operation. Being born again and baptized in the Spirit of God are the basic provisions of spiritual life and power. Our “business plan” for the kingdom of God is given to us in the Book, the Bible. In God’s business though, even understanding and “going by the Book,” needs to be done through the revelation of Jesus Christ given by the Spirit of God. It takes living in and by the Spirit of God to properly discern God’s business plan. It does not operate by a carnal understanding. This only brings division. Also by the Spirit, we are able to discern and operate in God’s timing of things. Just because something is revealed to us does not mean it is time to implement that action or activity. Just because something might be good does not mean it is God, and in God’s timing. Just as successful business is dependent on careful adherence to the factors involved, so does operating successfully in the kingdom of God depend on our careful adherence to the guidance and leadership of the Lord. When we are operating out of God’s daily Word (Gk. “rhema”) given to us by the Spirit, and not just head knowledge of the Word (Gk. “logos”), then we can operate in God’s purpose with God’s power. “Lord, help us all to wait upon you and shut up long enough to hear you, and do what you want us to do.”
Frozen Creek
I am hearing of little prayer meetings popping up around the area (Benton, Saline County area). I am a part of a couple of those meetings. We meet together at five in the morning before the work day begins and share what is on our hearts and pray about things before us. There is no set order. Mixed in with this is that we freely worship and give God praise and thanksgiving. We encourage each other with the Word of God to stand on the promises of God for those things set before us. These are excellent sessions. I would encourage any of you to get together with one or two others and do the same. This morning, we had seven people present. Last Wednesday morning we had four present at a different location. It starts the day and the week off together with the awareness that God is on our side, and that is the winning side. One morning one person shared a short video on his phone of a frozen creek during the past winter freeze that we have had. It was shared that even though that creek was frozen over so that it appeared that nothing was moving, once you broke the ice, you can see that it is still moving just as much as ever. Jesus likened His life in us and His power upon us as a river (John 4:14; John 7:38-39). When we are drawn to God by His Spirit and enlightened and convicted and converted to believe in Him, we receive His life within us. Being drawn to Him and enlightened and convicted of our need of Him is God working in our life to show us Jesus. It is when we really see and understand that what Jesus did for us is what makes us right with God, and we really commit our life to Him through repentance and faith, that we are changed. We are converted. We receive that life of God within us. After we receive that life, different factors of everyday life can cause our creek to “freeze over.” Especially in the realm of religious ways of doing things, we can get frozen over. It appears that nothing is moving. It’s the same old thing over and over. The hammer of the Word of God can break the ice. The fire of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God, can melt the ice. Then, we can see the move of God. The move becomes manifest. This is what we see in the life and ministry of Jesus. This is what we see in the early church. It all starts with prayer. We are called the house of prayer. When we start praying, really praying on the basis of the promises of the Word, and start yielding our lives to Him, the frozen creek gets “busted.” The thaw begins. The life of God within becomes the demonstration of God for all to see. But it all starts with believing prayer.
Use the Provisions
Since doing physical work most of my adult life since a very early age, retirement has been a change for me. Now, I sit a lot. I’ve been writing a book that should be available in the early part of this year. The title of it is “What Is God’s Answer for ME (and the rest of the World)?” I have been learning to play the keyboard since the beginning of 2020. My care giving job has minimal physical activity. In the same proportion that I was physically active most all my life, now I am sitting. Because of a change of insurance, we visited our new doctor today. The clinic we will be going to gives routine tests and screenings in the two or three initial introductory visits. Well today, one of those tests indicated that I am prediabetes. They provided a print out giving all the details of the exam and diagnosis. Bottom line is that my activity level is not burning all the energy I am feeding into my body. My metabolism is not matching my meals and my activity. This is a common problem for many of my age and activity level. So, it is time to increase physical activity and watch what, how much, and when I eat. I was walking two miles a day. Somehow that has been cut back over time to maybe a mile on some days. You know how it is. And right now, I am reminded of a little quip I heard many years ago: “An excuse is poor at its best.” Okay. So, in the midst of inactivity, I will increase activity. There are leaves to rake (which I did some of that this afternoon), and Silver Sneakers to take with an indoor track to walk. Plus, we have an almost one-and-three-quarter acre lot on which we live. Five times around the yard is a mile. I have a bow flex gym set in my shop that I obtained from my son David, years ago. I have only used it sporadically. The provisions are in place. There is no excuse good enough to justify the negligence of using the provisions. My outcome will be determined by my input, by how much effort I put into using the provisions. It is the same in the kingdom of God. Conditions exist in our lives that are detrimental to us and to others. Jesus Christ has suffered and paid the price so that we are provided for everything we need to overcome things that are working against us. Sin, lust, bondage, sickness, negative thinking and attitudes and the devil himself—all these things can be working against us directly or through other people. But God! God has not left us without resources—His Word, the fullness and leadership of His Spirit, fellowship with others of faith, and ministries set in the church to help. It is up to us to use the resources or not. Our outcome is determined by our input.
Scammed!
I went to a new specialist that my primary doctor referred me to. After a few days I received an email from that clinic regarding payment. The window gave a link offering to view the balance. My thought was, “This is a new year. I’m going to get this little bill paid right up front and not let it ride.” I had gone through the same procedure many times before to pay other doctor bills in the past. So, I clicked on the link, and instead of a balance, it gave me the steps to fill out my personal information. My thought was, “Oh this is a new doctor, so I’ve got to give this information out to get set up with him.” I also had this thought, “I don’t like to put my social and all this personal information in here, but people do it all the time, I’ve got to just trust it is okay.” So, with a grind in my gut, I proceeded to fill it out. Then I got to the “balance”—two dollars. Whoa! That’s not right. I called the phone number given. Disconnected. I had just step-by-step fallen victim to a scam. It all looked the same as the real thing. I called the doctor’s office. Then, I went to my bank (I had to wait fifteen minutes for them to open up). The bank had already put a “hot card” flag on my account. I went in as soon as they opened and I got a new card and a new number. I then spend the rest of the day calling the attorney general’s office getting advice on what to do, and social security (on hold for hours) and the three major credit bureaus to freeze my credit accounts. I was gun shy to clicking on any link. I told that to the man at the attorney general’s office, that I don’t trust any web site or link. I asked him, “If I pull up Experian or TransUnion, or Equifax, how do I know it is a real site?” He gave me the exact address of each and assured me I could navigate these sites safely. Well, lesson learned. Personally, I like to look at someone in the eye and hand them the money and get a receipt handed to me showing the transaction. Those days are just about gone. We have to adapt. We have to work smart. It is the same in the realm of the things of God. There is a lot of fake stuff in the name of the Lord that will rob you of blessings and leave you empty. It looks real, sounds real, but it is less that what Jesus paid for and provided. An encounter with Jesus will transform your life with cleansing by the blood and God’s life coming in you. What Jesus provided for will empower you with the Spirit of God coming upon you in supernatural power. Don’t be scammed. Follow Jesus Christ.