I want to start this second part on our two part message on "The BLood of Jesus" by asking a few questions.

• How do we know the Blood of Jesus is upon our Heart? 
• How do we know the blood has been applied and the covenant sealed?

Last message (Part One) covered the blood of Jesus sprinkled on us by the Spirit, who dwells in us, sealing the Covenant for our forgiveness and our protection through His sacrifice.

Jesus sprinkles His own blood on us when, by faith, we receive His finished work at Calvary. This isn't a physical sprinkling; rather, it is a legal, spiritual transaction. He sprinkled or washes the blood onto our hearts in response to our faith. And until we truly believe in the power of His sacrifice at Calvary, the blood of Jesus cannot produce any effect upon our souls!

It is unfortunate how so many believers do not enjoy the power and benefit of the blood of Jesus. Scripture makes it clear. It is important for us to know how the blood has been washed over our hearts and how the covenant has been sealed by His blood shed for us. This is done in a couple ways:
Romans 3:25 "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [a reconciliation] through faith in his blood..."

Churches around the world participate in communion regularly. Yet, Paul warns us not to "drink [the cup] unworthily." This doesn't mean merely partaking of a communion service after we've failed in some way. We know that if we repent of our sin, Jesus will forgive us and cleanse us of all sin.

No, I believe Paul is saying we are to discern Christ's body properly. He's talking about coming to the Lord's table, drinking of the cup and yet not believing in the power of that blood! It has to do with sitting in condemnation and fear, not believing that Christ's blood has justified and sanctified us in God's sight.
Many believers are condemned out of the wonderful experience of the Lord's table, because they don't come to the blood in faith. Paul is saying, "No wonder so many are sickly among you. You are left weak because you do not believe in the total victory of Christ's blood!"

These people are basically saying, I know it's wonderful to be justified through the blood of Jesus Christ. But I still have trouble believing the Lord considers me righteous. After all, I still haven't arrived. I still struggle. I still fall short.

The truest evidence of faith is rest! If you believe with all your heart, it brings your conscience and soul into rest. And when you come to the Lord's supper and partake of the cup, you can say, "I believe I am saved, forgiven, healed, justified, worthy because I believe in the blood. I trust in it!"
? The blood of Jesus is on our soul through the Holy Spirit.
When you hear Christ and His blood being exalted by the Word, you can know the blood is being washed over you!

When Philip preached the gospel to the eunuch, that man's heart was ravished by the Word. Immediately, he begged to be baptized. In Acts 8:37 Philip said to him, "If you believe with all your heart, you may."..."

At this point, you may be wondering, How can I know whether the blood has been applied to my heart?

1. If you are now willing to walk in the light and allow the Holy Spirit to expose all darkness in you, you can know you've been covered.

1 John 1:7 says "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son cleans us from all sin"

John is clearly talking about someone who is in love with the Word, unafraid of criticism, who says, Lord, shine Your Holy light into every crevice of my heart. I want to walk in the light. If you love the light, it's a sure sign you've been covered!

2. If you call on the power and authority of Christ's blood when you're under enemy attack, you know you've been covered by the blood.

When those who have not been covered by the blood are in trouble, they call their best friend or a counselor, or they wallow in fear and condemnation. But those covered by the blood immediately stands on the blood of Jesus!

We are warriors, blood-bought, blood-saved, more than conquerors through Jesus Christ! We are not in a courtroom with the devil, pleading a case. No, we are victors! Jesus has won the victory for us; His blood has prevailed. And I believe our battle cry should be, "I proclaim the victory by the blood of Jesus! I am blood-washed, blood-bought, blood-justified, blood- safe, blood-ransomed. And I proclaim the victory by the blood of Jesus!"

3. You will know the Blood has been applied to your heart when you are so secure in the cleansing, justifying power of the blood that your conscience no longer condemns you, you know you've been washed by the blood.

Your conscience does evil work when it does not stir you to obedience of Gods Word. It does evil when it condemns you, accuses you, constantly reminds you of how you failed God, causing depression and fear.

But when you fully rest in the cleansing, justifying power of the blood of Jesus, you take command of your conscience through the Spirit, your conscience is no longer an accuser, but rather, it follows what it is told through the Spirit. When the devil rises up with an evil accusation, your conscience proclaims the victory by the blood!

Hebrews 10:22 says "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience..."

A peaceful, clean conscience is a sign of being covered with His blood!

• Are you covered by the blood? 
•  Are you a warrior, blood-bought, blood-saved, more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ!?

We never end a service without asking these important questions. 

• Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
• Do you want to today?
• Do you want to recommit your life to Christ?

If you do, say this prayer aloud after me
Jesus, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sins so I might live. I want to turn from sin filled life and I commit my life to serving Christ but I need your strength. I invite You into my heart as my personal Savior. Thank you for covering me with your blood for the forgiveness of my sins and for my protection. Amen. and Amen!

If you have said this prayer for the first time or if you have recommitted your life to Christ by saying this prayer, we welcome you as a new person in Christ today. God has been long-awaiting for you. And He says welcome home my child. welcome home. We encourage you to find a Faith based Church, spend time in prayer, listen to what God places in your heart, join a Bible study or life Group, pick up that Bible and read it daily, openly discuss your struggles, your questions and concerns with a Pastor or someone you trust and believe. If you don't have a Pastor, drop me a line, I will gladly help.

I believe we serve a loving God, a Healing God, and a God of compassion, a forgiving God and a God of restoration. God who wants us Free! God says whenever two or more come together in agreement He will be among us and He shall answer our prayers. Well, your one, I am the second and He is third, present and is with us. Father as we go our own way we pray for your guidance and direction. We Pray for healing our bodies and we thank you for restoring our soul. In Jesus Name we pray Amen and Amen.

Old Mill Ministries depends upon the generous contributors of people like you. We want to thank our Covenant Partners and those who sponsor children and families in our area. We would love to hear from you, so drop us a line, share with us, give us your prayer requests so we can stand in agreement with you, bind the enemy and be free as God intended. We would also like to send you some information so write to us.

Christians say it but do they really understand The Blood of Jesus?

Without a doubt, the blood of Jesus Christ is the most precious gift our heavenly Father has given to us. Yet, few Christians understand its true value, the worth and the importance.
Christians often sing about the power of the blood. You know that song, "There is power, power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb." But most seldom walk in the power of that blood. But what an awesome Power there is in the blood.

We simply do not realize the import meaning of the blood. For example: We constantly "plead the blood" as some kind of mystical formula.

It means that our sins are remitted or paid for. that we're free from the bondage of Satan, that all our sins are covered." Yet, beyond forgiveness, what does the blood of Jesus Christ mean?

I want to share the significance of the preciousness blood of Jesus, sacrificed for everyone and how it can transform our lives!

Most Christians know about the blood Jesus shed for us. When Christ lifted the cup at the last Passover, He said in Luke 22:20.
"...This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you".

We are reminded of His sacrifice every time we have communion. But that is about all of what most Christians' understand of Jesus' blood. We know only about the blood being shed and not about the covenant and the sealing of the covenant through the sacrifice!

To understand the significance and the importance of why Jesus shed His blood for us, we have to understand the Old Testament, how God operated then so we can better understand the New Covenant today.

Let's go to Exodus 12:22. The Israelites were commanded to take a bunch of hyssop (which is a hairy tipped plant), dip it in the blood of a slain lamb, and sprinkle it onto the lintel (or the top) and two side-posts of their front door. That night, when the death angel came and saw the blood on the door posts, he would pass over the house.

As long as the blood was left in the basin, it was useless; it was merely blood that had been shed. The blood had power to save through faith, obedience and following instructions, when it was lifted out of the basin and placed on the door. protection was given to that home, just as God instructed!

Why couldn't the Israelites have simply laid the basin of blood at the threshold and said, "It doesn't matter what we do with it. After all, blood is blood, sacrifice is sacrifice. right"?

I'll tell you what would have happened: The death angel would have struck that home! The blood had to be lifted out of the basin and put on the door posts to fulfill its purpose of protection.

This blood in Exodus 12 is the blood of a sacrifice, just like the blood of Jesus. The blood that flowed at Calvary was not wasted. it did not fall to the ground and disappear. It didn't set in a basin. That precious blood was collected in a heavenly fountain.

If Christ is Lord of your life, then your door post (or your heart), has been covered by His blood. This is not only for forgiveness, but also for protection!

When you are covered by the blood of Jesus, you are totally under the protection of His blood, His covenant, sealed against all the destroying powers of Satan. When they see's Christ's blood on your door posts, they must pass over you. These demons and imps cannot touch you because they cannot touch anyone in God's New Covenant sealed with the blood of Jesus!

So, you see, the blood has to do with much more than forgiveness. Jesus' blood has not been left in the basin but has been lifted out and sprinkled on our heart, we are covered by the blood and by the new covenant. And it is waiting to be sprinkled on the door posts of hearts around the world!

Also, blood was also mentioned in Exodus 24:1-11. In this passage, God made a covenant agreement with Israel. He promised, "If you will obey My words, I will be God to you, and you will be My people."

After Moses read the law to the people, they answered saying, "We understand -- and we will obey."
They agreed to the covenant with the Lord.

Now, this covenant had to be sealed. to be confirmed and made valid and that could happen only through a blood sacrifice. Kind of like, sealing the deal! Hebrews 9:19 tells us Moses "...took the blood ...and sprinkled both the book, and all the people..."

The shed blood of the burnt offerings was contained in a basin. Moses took some of this blood and poured part of it by the altar. Then he took a hyssop, dipped it in the basin and sprinkled some of the blood on the twelve pillars (representing the twelve tribes of Israel). Finally, Moses dipped the hyssop into the basin and sprinkled the blood on the people. This blood covering the people and sealed the covenant!

It is clear from this passage that the blood gave the Israelites full access to God, with joy. On this occasion it had nothing to do with forgiveness and remission of sin, but rather, with communion. They were now sanctified, cleansed. worthy to be in the presence of God.

Then Moses and the seventy elders went up to the mountain to meet God. And the Lord appeared to them, coming down a sapphire-stone walk. These men saw a table spread before them and Scripture infers that with ease, comfort and no fear of judgment, they sat in God's presence and ate and drank with Him:

This is simply amazing! These men could eat and drink in the very presence of God - Now, earlier that same day, they had feared for their lives. It was because the blood that had been sprinkled, they understood the covenant, the safety, the power and the security. They didn't fear!

Today we are in a new covenant with Jesus Christ -- a covenant sealed by His own blood. When His precious blood is sprinkled on your soul, it is also for purposes of communion. It is so we can go boldly, without fear of judgment into God's presence for communion. We are given access to Him, with no sin condemning us. We are worthy, were righteous before God through the blood and we are free to talk to God and enjoy His company!

In the Old Testament, one of the most important things that happened with the blood was done by the high priest. Once each year on the Day of Atonement, in the tabernacle, he went into the Holy of Holies for "reconciliation." This act was meant to wipe away the people's sins, so they could be submissive and have communion again with the heavenly Father until next year on the Day of Atonement.

The priest would carry into the Holy of Holies a handful of incense, a censer of burning coals of fire from the altar, and a container of blood from a slain ox. Within the Holy of Holies was an ark, on top of which sat a flat, golden top with a lip around it. This was the mercy seat, where God "sat"; it was His very presence. The mercy seat had two golden cherubim on either side, with wings spread over the seat. After cleansing himself in an elaborate ceremony, the priest went inside the Holy of holies with great reverence and fear. He dropped the incense into the fire, causing an aroma and smoke to ascend. (This represented the prayers of forgiveness to the Father) Then the priest dipped his finger into the blood and sprinkled it seven times on the mercy seat: Refer to Leviticus 16:14 When the blood was sprinkled on God's seat, forgiveness of all sins was accomplished and all past sins were covered. When the high priest came out, the people knew God had accepted the sacrifice and their sins were pardoned. Israel never doubted it! They never questioned if there sins were forgiven because this is how God told them to receive forgiveness. They just followed the process.

We too, as Christians have a high priest. its Jesus, our Lord. And He is our High Priest not just once a year, but for all time to the end of the world! Jesus took His own blood to the true mercy seat. into God's presence, the Holy of Holies and presented it for the remission of all sins, of all believers, of all time. Past - Present and forever. He is a final sacrifice!

Hebrews 9:12 "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us".
Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ... purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

Jesus took His own blood into heaven for us! And it isn't reserved there simply as a memorial. It is to be sprinkled on all who come to Him by faith! See, it is "Nothing but the Blood" of Jesus that seals the covenant.

• Are you covered by the blood?
• Have you come into the covenant with God through His Son, Jesus Christ?

I always ask these very important questions.

• Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
• Do you want to receive the free gift of salvation today?
• Or maybe you had before - but for some reason, you want to recommit your life to Him?

If you do, say this Prayer aloud after me
Jesus, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that You shed your precious blood and died for my sins so I might live. I want to turn from my sin filled life and I commit my life to serving Christ but I need your strength. I invite You into my heart as my personal Savior. Thank you for sealing the covenant with your blood for the forgiveness of my sins and for my protection. Amen. and Amen!

If you have said this prayer for the first time of if you have recommitted your life to Christ by saying this prayer, we welcome you as a new person in Christ today. God has been long-awaiting for you. And He says welcome home my child. welcome home. We encourage you to find a Faith based Church, spend time in prayer, listen to what God places in your heart, join a Bible study or life Group, pick up that Bible and read it daily, openly discuss your struggles, your questions and concerns with a Pastor or someone you trust and believe. If you don't have a Pastor, drop me a line, I will gladly help.

I believe we serve a loving God, a Healing God, and a God of compassion, forgiveness, restoration and a God who wants us Free! God says whenever two come together in agreement He will be among us and He shall answer our prayers. Well, your one, I am the second and he is present and hears us. Father as we go our own way we pray for your guidance and direction. We Pray for healing our bodies and we thank you for restoring our soul. In Jesus Name we pray Amen and Amen.

Old Mill Ministries depends upon the generous contributors of people like you. We want to thank our Covenant Partners and those who sponsor children and families in our area. We would love to hear from you, so drop us a line, share with us, give us your prayer requests so we can stand in agreement with you, bind the enemy and be free as God intended. We would also like to send you some information so write to us.

Hello all,

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 was a sad day on the GOP fronts but even more poignant for Christians. As Lisa and I watched the results of the election unfold that evening, my stomach knotted up and a great pain fell upon my heart. Not because Senator John McCain would have made a better President, not because Governor Sarah Palin would have made a better Vice President. It was because I finally realized and had to accept that we live in a nation that does not place God first. Call me naive, an optimist or whatever but I have pulled my head out of the sand. We, as a nation, have allowed the important issues of how we are personally affected through our business success, our wise investments and personal wealth overshadows what is most important to God and His people. We have lost our faith and forgot what God does for our protection. We have lost focus that we as a nation are successful because of Him. We have become so self absorbed, so self centered, so self gratifying and prideful of what we accomplished, how we have made this nation successful, how we are so great and in reality all of these things are because of God and how we have been blessed through Him. There is a difference between the kind of pride that God hates (Proverbs 8:13) and the kind of pride we feel about a job well done. The kind of pride that stems from self-righteousness is sin and God hates it because it is a hindrance to seeking Him. (Psalm 10:4) explains that the proud are so consumed with themselves that their thoughts are far from God: "In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. This kind of haughty pride is the opposite of the spirit of humility that God seeks:" "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). The "poor in spirit" are those who recognize their utter spiritual ruin and their inability to come to God aside from His divine grace. The proud, on the other hand, are so blinded by their pride that think they have no need of God or worse, that God should accept them as they are because they deserve His acceptance.

Throughout Scripture we are told about the consequences of pride. (Proverbs 16:18-19) tells us that, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud." Satan was cast out of heaven because of pride (Isaiah 14:12-15). He had the selfish audacity to attempt to replace God Himself as the rightful ruler of the universe. But Satan will be cast down to hell in the final judgment of God. For those who rise up in defiance against God, there is nothing ahead for them but disaster, because "I will rise up against them' is the promise of the Lord. He will cut them off" (Isaiah 14:22). Pride has also kept many people from accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior. Refusing to acknowledge that in our own strength we cannot do anything to inherit eternal life has been a stumbling block for prideful people. We are not to boast about ourselves, but if we want to boast, then we are to proclaim the glories of God. What we say about ourselves means nothing in God's work. It's what God says about us that makes the difference (2 Corinthians 10:13).

Why is pride so sinful? Pride is giving ourselves the credit for something that God has accomplished. Pride is taking the glory that belongs to God alone and giving it to ourselves. Pride is essentially self-worship. Anything we accomplish in this world would not have been possible were it not for God enabling and sustaining us. That is why we give God the glory?for He alone deserves it. At the fall of the Roman Empire , the people were facing a very similar level of pride and self destruction. We talk of Sodom and Gomorrah . Sure God was not pleased of how they had become so immoral and wicked but He was mostly hurt by their pride, arrogance, self satisfaction and forgot they were successful because of Him. Every nation falls when they get to that point because they take credit for the success and in reality it was all along because they were under the covering and protection of God.

We must give credit where credit is due. Give God the credit, give Him all the Glory. We are nothing without Him!

The future of our nation is in the hands of our new President Elect, Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, scheduled to take office January 20, 2009 as well as all the elected offices November 4, 2008. We are facing turbulent times at what I believe to be epic proportions and we will have better days ahead of us before an even greater fall. Our new leaders have some good points, they may very well turn around our economic situation, they may be able to pull troops from the Middle East and they may resolve some of the conflicts in that part of the world. They may even do some of the greatest things in American history. we just do not know what our (not so distant) future holds. We have a new man at the helm, steering the future of our nation and we as a nation must support him but most importantly believe in us as a Christian nation and we must remain in prayer for the men and women that have been elected.

Our nation has voted. the results are in and the decision has been made. The time is NOW that we must band together as One Nation Under God. We need to be more prayerful than ever before for the actions and decisions of our leaders and the future of our country.

• Let's commit to prayerfully go to our Lord and Savior in regards to this great nation.
• Let's commit to pray for our people who have lost focus on the issues that are important to us and God like abortion, partial birth abortion, same sex marriage, our environment and so on.
• Let's commit to pray for lost souls, those living without hope and in darkness, including our elected officials.
• Let's commit to pray for encouragement of more and more people every day "in love and not in condemnation or judgment".
• Let's commit to showing the love of Christ in all we do. That we are a witness through our daily walk through our actions and what non-believers see and not necessarily hear.
• Let's commit to pray for our nation. our government at the federal, state and local levels.
• Let's commit to pray for our military, that they know they are fighting for the greater good, for our nation, our freedom and for our future generations.
• Let's commit to pray for those who wish to inflict harm to us and our enemy's.
• Let's pray for our allies. especially Israel and the Jewish people. They are God's chosen people and we are made one (or grafted in) through the blood of Jesus Christ. My best friend is a Jew. and His name is Jesus!
• Let's commit to pray as one Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.

In Closing I leave this scripture with you.

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."
1 Timothy 2:1-2

Now, I am not going to say anything like if you love Jesus - pass this to 10 people and you will see a rabbit run across the bottom of your screen or anything like that. I am not going to manipulate you into thinking that if you don't forward this on you are NOT a Christian.

These are just my thoughts on the election and our nation. If you feel led to pass along that's fine. or you can simply place this in your delete file.

May God bless you in all you do since He receives all the Glory.

Andy Zeggert

www.oldmillministries.org

Old Mill Ministries' focus is to be a light by serving and ministering to both the physical and spiritual needs of the people in Eastern Tennessee and the Appalachian Mountains.

Please consider becoming a Ministry Partner. Together we can bring hope to the hopeless and light into darkness. I ask that you count your blessings, remember those who are less fortunate and to prayerfully consider becoming a Ministry Partner to help us take back what is rightfully property of the Kingdom of God's. We need you and Gods people need you. (CLICK HERE) for more information.

Science versus God

Message for Saturday March 29, 2008

By: Andy Zeggert

I want us to discuss openly our thoughts and feelings regarding Science and God. I want to show you that science is not wrong because science only works based on a set rules and guidelines developed by Man. 

Is God Good?

Is Evil Bad?

Where does evil come from?

If God made everything, He made evil too. right?

Why would God make evil?

So, is God real?

"Science says we have five senses we use to identify and observe the world around us." What are they?

Have you ever actually seen Jesus?

"Have you ever actually felt Jesus, tasted Jesus or smelt Him? Have you only had some sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God
for that matter?"

"According to the rules of testable and demonstrable protocol, science says God doesn't exist. What do you say to that?

Well, let me ask this.

Is there such thing as heat?

How about cold?

Let me share a little science with you.

"You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat,
unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have
anything called 'cold'. We can get down to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing
as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458
degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or
transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or
transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You
see, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We
cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat. just the absence of it."

What about darkness?

Darkness is not something; it is the absence
of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light,
flashing light, but if you have no light you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use "darkness" to define the
word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make
darkness darker, wouldn't you?"

Do I have a brain?

Have you Seen it? Smelt it? Felt it? Heard it? Tasted it? I don't think so but just like my brain. We know I have one just like we know there is a God. We don't have to cover the five scenes to know God is real or to believe there is a God.

We just believe, have faith and trust there is a God.

However, have you ever felt the presence of God? Have you ever closed your eyes and saw God? Have you every heard from God?

God is real and alive today.

Okay, what about life and death?

"Science argues that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Science can't explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."

So, is there such a thing as Evil?

With the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world, aren't all these things nothing else but evil?"

Well, I believe "Evil does not exist or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me".

If you haven't accepted Jesus as your personal savior and would like to do so, we would like to pray for you.

If you have sickness, if you have trouble or conflict in your life or a burden in your heart, we want to pray for you.

Or you can email me at oldmillministries@embarqmail.com