Jamie Pantastico - Free Bible Study Classes - Genesis through Revelation

King David’s Powerful Prayer Praising God for His Majesty

by Jamie Pantastico | Sep 16, 2020 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

David’s prayer of gratitude towards God for the incredible amount of wealth given willingly by his Kinsman to build the temple, as recounted in 1 Chronicles 28, is an incredible display of humility and acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty.

In this prayer, David gives all credit to God, acknowledging that everything belongs to Him and that all that we have is given to us by His grace alone. David’s powerful prayer of gratitude serves as a reminder for us today that we deserve nothing and everything we have is a gift from God.

David blesses the Lord before all the assembly, acknowledging the greatness, power, glory, victory, and majesty of God. David recognizes that all that is in heaven and on earth belongs to God and that God reigns over all. David ends his prayer acknowledging that man is nothing and that God is everything. As Christians, we too should be grateful for everything we have, recognizing that Christ is our everything.

…that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28; Colossians 3:11).

This incredibly powerful prayer of gratitude gives God all the credit and is a great reminder for us today. That no matter what we have or may not have it is all given to us by the grace of God, because “everything” is His and we deserve nothing.

David’s Prayer Praising God

‘Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said: “Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head overall. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign overall. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, And without hope.’

I Chronicles 29:10-15

Christ is our everything.

Christian Persecution in America: ‘This Activity Is Unlawful’: California Church Fined $10,000 for Singing, Meeting Indoors

by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 26, 2020 | News | 0 comments

We Must Obey God over Man

A pair of California churches has been fined several thousand dollars for violating health restrictions and conducting indoor worship services during the pandemic

North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara, Calif., was fined $10,000 by Santa Clara County for conducting two indoor worship services that included singing. It also received a cease-and-desist order. (The county fined the church $5,000 for a Sunday morning service and $5,000 for a Sunday evening service.)
Meanwhile, a California judge fined Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks, Calif., a total of $3,000 for meeting indoors and held the church and its pastor, Rob McCoy, in contempt of court. (The judge’s fine included $500 for each one of six services.)

Jack Trieber, the pastor of North Valley Baptist Church, decried the county’s fine. “I’m in charge of the spiritual health of the people who sit in this area,” he said in a video inside the church building. “… And although [physical] health is very important — of utmost importance – spiritual health is supreme. And because we’ve been locked out … of churches, suicide is up, domestic violence is up, drug addiction is up, homelessness is up, alcoholism is up. We need to get back to worshiping God. I am commanded to worship God.” Trieber said he is “willing to take a stand.” “If you arrest me this week – and I know that’s a possibility – that’s not my desire.

My desire is to preach God’s Word,” he said. Santa Clara County said the church was in violation of health restrictions that limit indoor worship and also restrict singing.

“North Valley Baptist is failing to prevent those attending, performing, and speaking at North Valley Baptist’s services from singing. This activity is unlawful,” the letter from the county read. “The county understands that singing is an intimate and meaningful component of religious worship. However, public health experts have also determined that singing together in close proximity and without face coverings transmits virus particles further in the air than breathing or speaking quietly.

The county demands that North Valley Baptist immediately cease the activities listed above and fully comply with the Risk Reduction Order, the Gatherings Directive, the State July 13 Order and the State guidance. Failure to do so will result in enforcement action by the county.” Godspeak Calvary Chapel was held in contempt of court Aug. 21 for violations in a total of six worship […]

Click here to view the original web page at www.christianheadlines.com

Please pray for these two Churches and their Pastors. Pray continually for the body of Christ.

We are all members of the same body individually and when one hurts we all hurt and when one member experiences joy we all experience joy!

We Must Obey God Over Man…

Using Romans 13 as an Excuse Not to Worship is the Pinnacle of Absurdity

Mayor in Miss. Outlaws In-Person Church Services, Christians Ticketed $500 Each for Meeting in Cars

by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 10, 2020 | News | 0 comments

Police in Mississippi ticketed more than 20 Christians on Wednesday evening who were sitting in their vehicles listening to a sermon from their pastor

The crackdown occurred as the mayor and city council of Greenville have issued an executive order banning in-person church services, including drive-in gatherings where attendees simply stay in their cars.
According to reports, members of Temple Baptist Church tuned in to a radio frequency to listen to their pastor, Arthur Scott, as he preached inside of the church.

A video recorded by member Chris Owens shows a police officer approaching his window and asking for identification, advising that he was giving him “an opportunity to move.” Citing the City order, he explains that the drive-in arrangement is “considered a gathering even though you’re in your vehicle.” The officer issues Owens a citation, who soon drives away. View the video below. Scott told radio show host and reporter Todd Starnes that everyone in attendance was fined $500 and that he was personally warned that he could be arrested. “The police officer said I might go to jail,” he stated. “If it means going to jail, and if it takes that for me to keep preaching, I’ll be glad to go to jail.” The City of Greenville announced via a press release on Tuesday that Mayor Errick Simmons and City Council had issued two new executive orders, one of which pertains to church services. It cited a statement from the Mississippi Department of Health (DOH) as its motivation. “Because of recent COVID-19 cases specifically linked to church gatherings, it is vital that Mississippians not attend in-person church services at any church or other type of facility. Services, weddings, and funerals are leading to greater COVID-19 transmission,” the DOH said. However, the City went even further in its executive order, including drive-in services in its prohibition and recommending that residents do church online or over the phone. “The City of Greenville put in place an executive order that orders all church buildings closed for in-person and drive-in church services until the State of Mississippi’s Shelter In Place Executive Order No. 1466 is lifted by Governor Tate Reeves,” the press release states. “Churches are strongly encouraged to hold services via Facebook Live, Zoom, Free Conference Call, and any and all other social media, streaming, and telephonic platforms.” An apparent email from the City also lists […]

Click here to view the original web page at christiannews.net

Why Are You So Fearful? How is that You have No Faith?

by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 30, 2020 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

Fear and anxiety are never-ending and in these uncertain times, both fear and anxiety are magnified tenfold.

Left unchecked fear can keep us down for such a time that it becomes unhealthy for both mind and body. Anxiety, on the other hand, manifests itself in how we interact with the people around us; angry outbursts, saying hurtful words, and having an all-around fiery unkind attitude. Or we withdraw from socializing altogether and just shut down.

In either case, the longer we struggle with fear the more likely we are to be overwhelmed by it, to the point that fear controls every decision we make. Yet we must come to the knowledge that God is faithful even when we’re not, God is there even when we think He isn’t, and God will never ever give us more than we can handle. Choosing not to deal with fear will leave us in constant despair robbing us of the true joy imparted to every believer the moment we believed the gospel.

That being said the only way believers fight fear and anxiety is with prayer and studying the Word of God. Reading and studying your Bible is the solution to the fear dilemma because only by studying the Word of God can we build our faith (Ephesians 6:16).

Rejoice and Have No Fear

Ultimately, believers are victorious over anything and everything this sin-cursed, Satan-dominated world can throw at us even in death we are victorious. Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection reconciled the world back to God. For those who believe by faith alone in that good news (“the gospel“), God imparts Christ’s righteousness to them and they are “saved”. In that, we identify with Christ and because He rose from the dead never to die again we too will rise one day to be with the Lord forever.

This portion of Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:51-57) is powerful and it is ours to hold on to because it’s God’s promise to those who are His. Read on and praise God.

I Corinthians 15:51-55

‘Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”’

And here it is the finality, Christ’s victory over sin, the law, Satan, and death itself. “The Resurrection” And because He is victorious, we are victorious.

I Corinthians 15:56-57

‘The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’

Here are a few Bible verses that will remind us that God loves us and He is in control of our lives through thick and thin.

Romans 8:28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Mark 4:39-40

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Psalms 23:4

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Psalms 94:19

‘In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.’

I John 4:18-19

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

Philippians 4:6

‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ‘

Romans 8:38-39

‘For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’

John 16:33

‘These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”’

II Timothy 2:13

‘If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.’

II Corinthians 12:9

‘And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ‘

The Book of Romans Chapter Four – Introduction

by Jamie Pantastico | Oct 15, 2019 | Bible Study, Romans | 0 comments

“Before we move into Romans chapter four lets do a quick review of the first three chapters in what is probably the greatest letter ever written in human history.

In Romans chapters one, two and three God makes His case as the Almighty Prosecutor against all mankind and the verdict is, GUILTY.

From the immoral man, who completely rejects everything that God has declared and are steeped in wickedness as found in chapter one (Romans 1:18-32).

To the moral man, who probably is a good person, but God finds them just as guilty as the immoral man.

Lastly, the religious man “those that are so self-righteous that they are no earthly good”. The religious person revel in their works base system because they have something to brag about (sound familiar?) The religious person always looks down on those who have no “outward” religious works to show for. All religious mankind have an outward profession of works but no real heart transformation and are guilty (Romans 2:17-29).

Jumping up to Romans 3:9-18, God lays down the verdict against all mankind, Guilty. Both Jew and Gentile are guilty no matter what they try to do to gain favor with a God

The Most Important Question in Human History

Then we come to a portion of Scripture that provides the answer to the number one question that comes up to anyone reading the first two and half chapters of the book of Romans.

Okay, God has found all mankind guilty and living under sin, there is nothing mankind can do to find favor with God and the Mosaic law, can’t help it only points out our lawlessness…

So what must mankind do to be saved?

What the apostle Paul writes in the last eleven verses of Romans 3 are new revelations, unheard of to a Jew and as for the Gentile, they never had any part in God’s dealings with Israel and were without Christ and hope (Ephesians 2:11,12) for 2000 years prior to this new message by Paul.

Paul begins verse 21 with “But Now”.

In other words, Paul is saying what was written in the previous two and a half chapters, that God declares all mankind guilty and it is the law itself that is condemning mankind. And that there is nothing mankind can do to save themselves from condemnation. But now…

‘But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; ‘

Romans 3:21-22

This was a huge change in how God would deal with mankind. For the past 2000 years God’s divine revelations were directed too and for Israel only.

Just Nine Gentiles Saved in 2000 years: Read more…

It must be repeated and repeated, Gentiles having anything to do with Israel’s God was unheard of, it was forbidden for Jews to have anything to do with Gentiles.

Jesus Christ was among His chosen people the Jews to fulfill the promises that He Himself made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David.

‘Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision (Jewish People_ for the truth of God, to confirm the promises (King and the kingdom) made unto the fathers (Abraham, Issac, Jacob, David, Joshua):’

Romans 15:8

It was the Jews that gave Paul the most trouble they were in complete opposition to this new message. Everywhere the apostle Paul went the Judaizers came in behind him to undermined his message of grace telling Paul’s congregations that they could not be saved without doing what they (Jews) have been commanded to do for the past 1500 years. These Judaizers were Commanding Paul’s congregations to keep the law, temple worship and be circumcised in order to be saved (Acts 15:1,5).

In the two thousand years from Abraham to the early chapters of Acts there were only nine Gentiles saved. There is no Biblical record of God revealing a message of salvation to the Gentile. NONE!

I think when most in Christendom watch Cecil B. DeMille’s 10 commandments they think God was talking to them (Gentiles). No, God drowned the Gentiles to save His chosen people the Jews.

There is no Biblical record of God dealing with Gentiles for the two thousand years between Abraham and the apostle Paul. Between the call of Abraham in Genesis 12 to the call Paul, almost 2000 years there was never any message of salvation for the Gentile world, no doctrine revealed to Gentiles from God on how to live their daily lives.

God made His covenants with the Jewish people not Gentiles. Since God had no message of salvation or doctrine for Gentiles for the 2000 years between Abraham and Paul, how do denominations force what was never for the Gentiles as doctrine for Gentiles today? The answer is they can’t but like the apostle Paul warned for three years to the point of tears in the book of Acts that savage wolves would come up among you not sparing the flock. These men would come from within the Church, not outsiders, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after or to themselves based on how they twisted Scripture (ever wonder why we have 1500 plus denominations?). (Acts 20:29-31)

Most in Christendom don’t get this! That until Paul there was no message of salvation to the Gentile world (Ephesians 2:11,12).

Important Fact

I have to make a point and address the “But Now”, of Romans 3:21.

Many in Christian Academia, Theologians, and Pastors teach that this But Now in Romans 3:21, is NOT a reference to time but a change in the general flow of Paul’s writing. This couldn’t be further from the truth and is not just poor interpretation but stupid. Anyone with half a brain should see that there is a significant shift in how God is dealing with mankind!

By following this erroneous interpretation of “But Now” it does violence to Scripture by building a false narrative that changes the context of not just chapter three but the entire book of Romans.

The content and grammatical context of the previous two and half chapters and lets not forget the entire Old Testament, four gospels and the book of Acts make it so clear that the “But Now” of Romans 3:21, is referring to TIME. In other words everything that came before what Paul is now revealing is in the past and no longer valid.

Keep all this in mind as we move into Romans chapter four. That God has declared all mankind guilty and there is nothing mankind can do to gain favor with God.

Also understand what has come before, the previous 2000 years, beginning with Abraham and that God’s plan of redemption is revealed progressively from Genesis right up to this point in Biblical history (37-40AD) with the apostle Paul coming on the scene with new revelations.

That now or “But Now”, (at this point in-time) God makes salvation available to all mankind both Jew and Gentile based on faith alone in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, apart from the law, temple worship and circumcision.

The apostle Paul establishes that Faith and Faith alone in the finished work of the cross is the only means of salvation moving forward. In chapter four Paul builds on this amazing grace that God has poured out on all mankind. By using Abraham “God’s Friend” a man of great faith as the example of salvation for Jews and Gentiles in this age of grace.

‘And he believed in the Lord ; and he counted it to him for righteousness.’

Genesis 15:6

Thanks for reading.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask.

Jamie Pantastico

Faith, Sine Quo Non

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