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The devil employed every means possible to destroy the man of Galilee! Here are some of the cruelest means and people that he used:

1.When king Herode attempted but miserably failed to kill baby Jesus,he went a head and killed all the boys in Jerusalem and its vicinity that were 2 years and under-Mathew 2:16-18. God have mercy!

2. Under the influence of the devil,the religious leaders made Christ’s life on earth so miserable. They not only called Him names, but also followed Him daily trying to find something to accuse Him of.

3.His so called brothers became the agents of the devil by accusing Him of making Himself to be equal to God! They saw Him as an impostor!

HOW DID JESUS DEAL WITH ALL THESE!

1.A ware of His hostile environment,He spent more time communing with His Father.

2.Since He knew all men and read every evil mischief in their wicked hearts, He more often than not stayed away from cities and people that were after His life.

3.With the knowledge that He was here but for a short period of time, He used every opportunity to accomplish the mission that brought Him to this world-to save the lost!

DID JESUS PREPARE HIS DISCIPLES FOR HIS DEPARTURE?

Yes, and here is how:

Mathew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the ends of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

John 14:1-3 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am

John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you.

John 15:18 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart ! I have overcome the world.

Those who resisted His departure did so not because they were going to miss His teachings but because of the daily protection and meeting their daily needs!

All said,at the fullness of time, He left as He had always taught. The good news though, is that He left with a promise that He will come again!

When that time comes, will I be ready? Will you?

Just a thought!

C.Absalom N.Birai, Pastor
Maranatha SDA Church
P.O.BOX 1296
Maple Grove, MN 55311
612-386-4608
www.themaranathasdachurch.org

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Date:  Fri, 4 Jul 2008 17:36:25 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Absalom Birai
Subject:  Re:Farewell-Part 4

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It’s 3 Am Saturday morning, July 5,2008. In this wee hours of the night, it’s very quiet inside my house and outside. My dear wife and children are soundly a sleep and have no idea whatsoever that I am up and at the computer putting down some thoughts! The only noise I can hear is of the air condition, the tickling of a clock and the one that emanates from the  computer keys.

Before I went to bed last night @ 10:00 pm, I received very sad news of
a dear sister in Christ. The last time I saw her, she and her husband were celebrating their milestone graduation as nurses. Then,I remember remarking how fortunate they were as a young family to have attained that success so soon. Now they would relax, enjoy life and take care of their young family. That was just a month ago!

So the news of her battling with a chronic disease hit me so hard! In this situation, I went to bed crying and praying for this God fearing and very beautiful young family. Oh!, my heart, thoughts, and prayers are with this lovely family!

And so this morning, I woke up and found myself thinking about the apostle Paul. His life experience can be summed up in four points:

1.The apostle Paul was a very learned and eloquent person with a lot of friends and enemies!
2.The apostle Paul is one person who gave all his energy to whatever he was convinced was right.
3.Time came when the apostle Paul found himself lonely having been rejected and forsaken by those he once considered brothers and sister in Christ. The enemies not only turned against him and his work, but did everything possible to make his life on earth bitter to the very end.
4.Having lost basically everything,the apostle Paul held to his faith to the very end, thus writing a very classic fare well note.

Here it’s!

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time for my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course,I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord,the righteous judge,shall give me at that day: and not to me only,but unto all them also that love his appearing-2 Timothy 4:6-7.

Yes, Paul, I absolutely agree with you. Blessed are they who will remain faithful unto their death beds for heaven will be theirs. There is no question that in this world, daily struggles, sickness, and death will continue to torment us, but then the good news is that there is life beyond the grave for God’s faithful ones.

And with this classic farewell,I not only bring this farewell series to the end, but also dedicate it to the young family that find themselves in the way of the valley and to all God’s children who might be called to drink from this bitter cup, so suddenly.

I am sick and tired of hearing all these evil reports! I so badly want to go home where all these struggles will be the things of the past! Do you want to go home! If not, what’s holding you up! Have you too been deceived by the enemy to think that you are still young and therefore have plenty of time! Oh! How I wish and pray that we can wake up from our slumber! 
I am willing to. How about you dear friend!

Just a thought!

C.Absalom N Birai,Pastor
Maranatha SDA church
P.O. Box 1296
Maple Grove,MN 55311
612-386-4608
www.themaranathasdachurch.org

– – –
Date:  Sat, 5 Jul 2008 02:07:15 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Absalom Birai
Subject:   Re:Farewell-Part 5