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JCSM's Weekly Devotions (click here to listen!)

"The Covenant Marriage"

Genesis 2:18-24  "And the LORD God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.'  Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them.  And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.  So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field.  But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.  Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.  And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.'  Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

Mark 10:5-9  "And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.  But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’  For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

John 3:29, 30  "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.  Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.  He must increase, but I must decrease."

Hebrews 13:4  "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge."

Revelation 19:9  "Then he said to me, 'Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ And he said to me, 'These are the true sayings of God.'"

Insight: Marriage between one man and one woman is a covenant with God.  It is a promise to Him to remain together.  Jesus told us that we should not separate what God has joined.  In the same way, honor your covenant with Jesus Christ and be fully devoted to your relationship with Him.

Prayer: "Dear Lord, help us to understand the marriage covenant.  Thank you for wanting us to be married to the opposite sex and remain that way.  Forgive those that are confused about marriage.  Help them to repent from their sins and see marriage as You do.  Help us all to take our covenant with You seriously.  Praise You for loving us so much and so much more than we deserve.  You are an awesome God.  Increase our love and increase our faith.  We want to be like You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

America's Foundation

The New York Supreme Court

Supreme Court of New York 1811, stated in the case of the People v. Ruggles, 8 Johns 545-547 Chief Justice Chancellor Kent:

"The defendant was indicted... in December, 1810, for that he did, on the 2nd day of September, 1810... wickedly, maliciously, and blasphemously, utter, and with a loud voice publish, in the presence and hearing of divers good and Christian people, of and concerning the Christian religion, and of and concerning Jesus Christ, the false, scandalous, malicious, wicked and blasphemous words following: 'Jesus Christ was a bastard, and his mother must be a whore,' in contempt of the Christian religion... the defendant was tried and found guilty, and was sentenced by the court to be imprisoned for three months, and to pay a fine of $500."  - 1811, The People v. Ruggles, 8 Johns 545 (1811).  David Barton, The Myth of Separation (Aledo, TX: WallBuilder Press, 1991), p. 55.

The argument which the prosecuting attorney had presented to the court, explained:

"While the constitution of the State has saved the rights of conscience, and allowed a free and fair discussion of all points of controversy among religious sects, it has left the principal engrafted on the body of our common law, that Christianity is part of the laws of the State, untouched and unimpaired."  - Ibid.

Chief Justice Kent delivered the courts decision in this case:

"Such words uttered with such a disposition were an offense at common law.  In Taylor's case the defendant was convicted upon information of speaking similar words, and the Court... said that Christianity was parcel of the law, and to cast contumelious reproaches upon it, tended to weaken the foundation of moral obligation, and the efficacy of oaths."

"And is the case of Rex v. Woolston, on a like conviction, the Court said... that whatever strikes at the root of Christianity tends manifestly to the dissolution of civil government... the authorities show that blasphemy against God and... profane ridicule of Christ or the Holy Scriptures (which are equally treated as blasphemy), are offenses punishable at common law, whether uttered by words or writings... because it tends to corrupt the morals of the people, and to destroy good order."

"Such offenses have always been considered independent of any religious establishment or the rights of the Church.  They are treated as affecting the essential interests of civil society...."

"We stand equally in need, now as formerly, of all the moral discipline, and of those principles of virtue, which help to bind society together."

The people of this State, in common with the people of this country, profess the general doctrines of Christianity, as the rule of their faith and practice; and to scandalize the author of these doctrines is not only, in a religious point of view, extremely impious, but, even in respect to the obligations due to society, is a gross violation of decency and good order."

"Nothing could be more injurious to the tender morals of the young, than to declare such profanity lawful...."

"The free, equal, and undisturbed enjoyment of religious opinion, whatever it may be, and free and decent discussions on any religious subject, is granted and secured; but to revile.... the religion professed by almost the whole community, is an abuse of that right...."

We are a Christian people, and the morality of the country is deeply engrafted upon Christianity, and not upon the doctrines or worship of those impostors [other religions]...."

"[We are] people whose manners are refined and whose morals have been elevated and inspired with a more enlarged benevolence, by means of the Christian religion.  Though the constitution has discarded religious establishments, it does not forbid judicial cognizance of those offenses against religions and morality which have no reference to any such establishment.... [offenses which] strike at the root of moral obligation, and weaken the security of the social ties...."

"This [constitutional] declaration (noble and magnanimous as it is, when duly understood) never meant to withdraw religion in general, and with it the best sanctions of moral and social obligation from all consideration and notice of the law...."

"To construe it as breaking down the common law barriers against licentious, wanton, and impious attacks upon Christianity itself, would be an enormous perversion of its meaning...."

"Christianity, in its enlarged sense, as a religion revealed and taught in the Bible, is not unknown to our law...."

"The Court are accordingly of opinion that the judgment.... must be affirmed."  - 1811, The People v. Ruggles, 8 Johns 545-547 (1811).  Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States, 143 US 457, 458, 465-471, 36 L ed 226, Justice Brewer.  David Barton, The Myth of Separation (Aledo, TX: WallBuilder Press, 1991), p. 47-51, 55-61.  "Our Christian Heritage," Letter from Plymouth Rock (Marlborough, NH: The Plymouth Rock Foundation), p. 6.  Gary DeMar, The Untold Story (Atlanta, GA: American Vision, Inc., 1993), p. 63.

A Moment of Introspection

Until you walk the death of self, you won't be fully alive to the will of God.

Ask God to show you something you need to do; something you haven't been doing.  After He shows you, make a strategy to do it.

God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

miz-bay-akh (Hebrew): altar (to slaughter an animal, usually in sacrifice)

The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible" claims:

Genesis 8:8-11 - Noah sends a dove out to see if there was any dry land. But the dove returns without finding any. Then, just seven days later, the dove goes out again and returns with an olive leaf. But how could an olive tree survive the flood? And if any seeds happened to survive, they certainly wouldn't germinate and grow leaves within a seven day period.

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained" responds:

The Bible doesn't say the bird plucked the olive leaf from a tree that had grown after the flood waters receded.  This was likely an olive leaf from a dead olive tree that was recently exposed.

(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Jason Gastrich.  This book is on CD and explains over 3,000 difficulties regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org.  There is also a 300 question workbook that accompanies the CD-ROM.)

If you have Christ in you, then you have a covenant with God.

There are some Christians eating week-old bread and year-old water when they could be having fresh food at the banquet feast of the King.

All of the power of Almighty God is available to you if you have a covenant with Jesus Christ.

Before you make a vow or pledge, know the other party's enemies.

God has given you the right weapons to fight our spiritual enemy.

These quotes came from God, me, and Kevin Mannoia.

Do you need more quotes?  We have thousands in our archives!  They are located here: http://quotes.jcsm.org.

These quotes can be used for sanctification and fun. Most of them are directly based on scripture and scriptural principles. Some of the quotes are humorous or rhetorical, others are written from sermons and Bible studies, and some are lyrics from songs. If you’d like me to go into more detail on any of them, please email me.

Like most verses in the Bible, they can be debated. To use what I’ve written in the most beneficial way, try and trace them back to the scriptures and apply the true principles to your life in a meaningful way! Please don’t sell my quotes or publish them for profit. If English is not your first language, you may not understand some of the quotes. I'm sorry, but some of them are English metaphors and deal with multiple word meanings. God bless you all!

Please make a commitment to pray for this ministry. As every believer is tempted and tried, this ministry faces trials also. God has blessed me, JCSM and the people who have been reached! Unfortunately, the enemy knows this and spiritual warfare is the result. Please at least pray that the devotions continue to be written religiously, the web pages stay on the www and the readers are blessed, sanctified and protected from evil. Thank you very much in advance!

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You can join our vision and help this ministry! Your donations will keep these ministries running and further our visions for evangelism. Hundreds of web pages have been created to lead people to the Lord. Frequently, we make new ones and they are used to bring more and more people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. We’re certain there will be more ways to reach people in the future.

JCSM is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization.  If you wish to contact us in the mail or send support, please make checks payable to Jesus Christ Saves Ministries.  Here is our mailing address:

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

3219 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. #212

San Diego, CA 92117

Along with getting support, we also give support! JCSM regularly gives to churches, Christian ministries and needy people. Another function of this ministry is to do counseling. We are always answering questions about life, the Lord and everything in between. Lastly, we do a lot of research on religious topics on the internet and library. You will definitely see the results of our hard work and your loving support, in the web pages, and in the weekly devotions!

If you have never repented from your sins and believed, trusted, and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please email me! I would love to share the gospel with you. The Bible is very straightforward when it speaks about Heaven, Hell and eternal life. If there is any doubt that you are going to Heaven when you die, please let me know today! If you’d like to discover the biblical doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ, please go here: Audio Gospel Message - http://www.jcsm.org/godsplan/TheGospel.mp3. or the Textual Gospel Message - http://gospel.jcsm.org.

Fishes and Loaves (FALO) is a great, missions organization.  They have helped many people embark on missions trips to the uttermost parts of the world.  If you are interested in missions, please visit http://www.gofalo.net.

Do you need to find a solid, Christian church?  I've attended numerous, Calvary Chapel churches and I've been very blessed by their Bible-based sermons, inspiring worship, and kind members.  If you don't have a home church, if you're traveling, or if you need to find a new church, I recommend visiting the following site and locating a Calvary Chapel near you: http://www.calvarychapel.org.

OCCM (Online Christ-Centered Ministries) has certified JCSM as a ministry that preaches the true, biblical gospel of Jesus Christ.  OCCM is a professional membership association for Christian ministries and people that reside on and off the internet.  Are you OCCM certified?  For more information, go here: http://www.occm.org.

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Jesus loves you!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."