We said last month that we were posting our last WRAP AROUNDs, but because of WRAPs like following, we are reconsidering.

Question-Comment: WHEN YOU TAKE THE STUDY OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION OFF THE SITE, WILL YOU HAVE ANY OTHER BIBLE STUDY'S LIKE THESE ON YOUR WEB SITE? OR WILL IT ONLY BE MUSIC ETC. I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THIS STUDY & I PRAY THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE YOUR ONLY ONE ON YOUR SITE.

IN HIS NAME

WANDA

Don Wrote:

We feel that the Lord is leading us to change the content and direction of our web site. Up to now, our efforts have been concentrated on setting forth what we consider to be an end-time word to the Church concerning the things that the Bible has prophesied to come to pass. Our goal has been to enlighten and to encourage the Church and to disarm the horde of alarmist that we anticipated would be crying "the sky is falling" with the advent of the year 2,000. We feel that with the Lord's help, and with the help of those He has sent our way, we have accomplished our first goal. Now, we feel that our emphasis should be to help the Lord's babes (ourselves included) to comprehend what is ours in the Lord and to do our part in the great harvest of our day--for truly the field is large and the harvest should be great!

B'Ann Wrote:

The purpose of the WRAPS was/is to get feedback, opinions, rebukes, refinement, etc., of our web site. Some people praised it, others hated it... however, that is what we wanted. We were not looking for a consensus from which we could find a middle of the road approach to please all, but rather to see how people react to the Scriptures. We felt led to share/publish the ones that God put upon our hearts. How people responded to them was between them and God.

The most often asked questions that came across the site were along the line of: What is a Christian? What does one look like? How can one be recognized? Let me sum up by saying I can only share what a Christian is from my viewpoint and understanding. To me, being a Christian is not following restrictive rules, regulations, rituals or reclusion that "breaks" one into a habit of behavior. When a person's will is "broken" then they are just that, broken and downcast. Jesus doesn't break people, he mends and makes them whole. Here are the Words of the Bible:

John 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Acts 9:34
And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
I Th. 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

When a person is being forced to conform as a "groupie" there is no spontaneous outpouring of love. Witnessing in most churches is planned, scripted, orchestrated, and often irritating. Worship is often dogmatically planned and no spontaneous outcry or presentation of dire needs are allowed to interrupt the "proceedings." Members of a group are often told to chant, to pray at certain times, to count prayer beads, to have Icons around their homes, to listen to religious programs or to music all day, etc., but these can only bring the flesh under subjection/the thoughts under subjection--somewhat--but it leaves out the Spirit. All of these things require great effort, concentration, and physical manifestations. The Holy Spirit does not have to follow our physical absolutions of the flesh nor our thoughts. Chanting, self-castigation, self-reform, ritualistic behavior, and the like-- all brought about by great self effort-- can produce a semblance of self control. But they can also produce a tormenting burden of guilt if one forgets to pray at a certain time, if one slips and says a profanity, if one gets angry, if one looks upon another with sexual thoughts, or if one does any such thing that might be considered falling "short of the high calling / mark." In short, such methods are built upon "fear"; and as the following Scriptures show, this is not the way the Lord would have us serve Him.

I John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.|

I John 4:10
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.

Php. 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2Ti 1:8-10
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Let's pause and consider how in the world a person could possibly achieve such a task as required by the Scriptures. I am going to give you basic ingredient of achieving this awesome task--the truth that we have been trying to get across with these writings. When I write it, you will say, "Oh! That's too easy." Yes, that is exactly right! Christ made it easy! We have a substitute and the impossible part was accomplished / finished on the Cross when Jesus suffered and died for our sins. We do not comprehend to this day what He really did. So, how in the world can we be what these following Scriptures advocate?

Rom. 12:9 [Let] love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

1Th 5:5-22
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

2Cr 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Eph 6:13
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand

How can little ole puny man do all the things written for our "admonition"? It is simple. It works something like this. How can a baby be a baby? Very simple, it is one. How can a worm be a worm and act like a worm? Because it is one. How can an apple be an apple? It is an apple. How can a tree be a tree? It is one. HOW CAN A CHRISTIAN BE A CHRISTIAN? IT IS ONE! It would take no big effort for something to be a tree, or a worm, or the wind, or the stars if that's what they are. God created them to fill a particular place and purpose. It is the same with a Christian! Now I will end with this. Being a Christian should not carry any effort of thought, rituals, rules, dogmas, cult practices, etc., because it is / must be a lifestyle that is as natural as the tree and its apple… It won't manifest just on Sunday at church but will be ever present in our lives whether we are awake or asleep.

Note:

II Cor. 5:17
Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Mt. 11:29-30
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

In the colloquial language of some of our U.S. citizens, I can sum it up all very precisely. WE IS BECAUSE WE IS!

Here is the mystery of being a Christian. It is so simple, we miss it by all of our striving and trying to attain it by human methods.

John 3:5-21
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Matthew 2:1
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found [him], bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

How was this message brought to the world? It came through the prophets, through angels, through dreams, through reading the scrolls…In other words, it came through the Scriptures/Word of God, both written and spoken.. What we need for our day, our generation, will come the same way. That is why the Scriptures say:

Matthew 24:42
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Luke 21:36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

2Ti 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth

Joel 2:28
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young shall men see visions:

Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Don Wrote:
Thanks for the good word!

If your question about tithing has to do with your not being able to tithe, then check out our January 2001 WRAP with Marc. If your question has to do with not knowing where to put your tithe, well, it's a rare preacher who will not tell you that the LORD wants you to put your tithe in his (or her) work. But it is confusing to me that all of these who want your tithe are in disagreement as to just what the LORD wants. When I wrestled with this question, I gave it to the Lord; and I feel that He put into my heart that tithing was only one aspect of the Christian walk and that with tithing, as with all other aspects of my walk with Him, He wants me to be led by His Holy Spirit. Consequently, I do not give out of duty, guilt, or just because a "work" looks good--but I give as the Spirit leads. Each of us has to walk our own walk and I would not dare to tell you how to walk yours less I rob you of the joy of walking in the Spirit. I will say, however, that to be on safe ground on this and on any other matter in your Christian walk, stay in the WORD and pray in the SPIRIT and expect Him to lead you day to day.

As to the Sabbath and the Grace-Age Christian, I think that you will find that the Holy Spirit was careful not to lay down a list of do's and don't's in the New Testament for the very reason that I set forth above. Jesus compared the New Testament Christian to a tree, saying that we would know one another by our fruit. If we are in the Spirit and if we walk in the Spirit, then the fruit of the Spirit will be produced in our lives. The New Testament gives us generalities about what is good and what is evil and these will all agree with the law that is written in our hearts, but we of the New Testament, Grace-Age Church are not to be under the beggarly elements of the law. As Jesus said, the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. Most main line denominations teach that Paul set forth Sunday, the first day of the week, as the day that the Church is to gather together for fellowship and worship.

I Corinthians 16:

1

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

2

Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

3

And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

I know that some our brothers and sisters-in-Christ choose to meet on the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, as they choose not to eat meat, etc., I disagree with them for I find no Scripture to support their stance, but I still love them in the LORD and I want only the best for them.

I hope this answers your question.

By the way, for any Believer who is wrestling with just how to please the LORD, let me leave you with the Words of Jesus.

Mark 12:30
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Matthew 5:42-44
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Romans 13:9
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Galatians 5 :14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

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