CSN - LightWing Messages - New Years’ Eve Edition - 12/31/2023
The Greater Glory of the New Covenant
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:1-18 (NIV)
FOUNDER’S MESSAGE:
In one more day the world will begin a brand new year, whether everyone is ready for the new year or not. Memories of 2023 will remain as long as the moments can be re-lived or held within one’s mind or heart. Many stalwart people will commit to their new year’s resolutions to do this or that to improve: dieting, exercising, lifting weights all come to mind. However, Christians have just had the encounter with Jesus as a babe in a manger. The question brought up last week in the LightWing Message I offered is still critical to ask:
“…to what degree have I returned my love to my Father in Heaven?” CSN - LightWing Messages - The Birth of Jesus - 12/24/2023
In this Sunday edition, we ask two more relevant questions in the two messages offered for our readers to consider. The first message I wrote in January of 2021 that asked the question: “Once We Encounter Christ, Do We Honor and Practice His Word?” Related to this indirectly is a second question from Apostle Tim Taylor entitled: “What will you do with the gifts, talents, dreams, and vision God has given you?” (Watch the video). The encounter with Christ is an incredible moment for anyone who has such an experience. If it is properly arranged, by God or by the individual, it is a transformative experience. It is not a casual or a normal experience. Coming into such a real relationship with Christ or with God is intended to be a moment of intensity and/or will initiate and ensure a long term transformation. If that is not happening on one’s spiritual journey, such an individual may be on the wrong spiritual path.
The new year provides new opportunities for people to much more deeply explore the essence or substance of their relationship with Christ or with God in a direct way. It is possible that upon approaching the Christ child, one’s relationship does not go beyond the relationship with Christ in the manger. It is a safe relationship – watching or worshiping in awe. There is nothing wrong with this level of relationship with the child as far as such a relationship is established. However, Jesus grew up. One must ask whether they only want to be a spectator, or if they want to be an individual who is seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness?
It is safe to worship the Christ child as he cannot ask much of anyone from the manger, except one is able to return the love God gave to us all when He gave His son to the world. The grown version of Jesus challenges us to forgive and to love our enemies. We understand the concepts, but are we capable of practicing such audacious requests from God’s son? This is something to seriously consider as we make our new year resolutions. Another question: Are the resolutions we make only focused on physical or the material, or are they focused perhaps on something even more precious – more everlasting?
It is hard to believe that our LightWing Zoom call project has been operating for over a year, but God has shown favor upon us!
Our Zoom call this past Wednesday was surprisingly well attended despite the holidays. The call was focused on LightWing Message on “The Heart of Christmas vs. The Material World.” It went beyond the concept of remember the reason for the season and dealt with the reason for the reason – how to avoid putting the spirit of Christmas (or the reason) on the shelf with wrapping paper and the ornaments for the rest of the year.
To start off the year, we are offering an interview with Michael J. Lewinski and we’re going to focus more on the articles included in the “Founder’s Focus” edition that came out last week. Mr. Lewinski has written two books and is working on a third. He will answer questions about all his work, and the upcoming book. Our readers need to check in with other like minded readers.
We will have a Zoom call this Wednesday, even though there may be some hangover syndrome from the holiday season. For those readers who are able to join us this Wednesday evening, please get ready with any questions you may have. Readers can partake in this call Wednesday and participate (or just listen) in our discussion, by reaching out. Readers who are not on our list already to receive the Zoom link to the call, please send an email request to this address: d.jamzon@gmail.com We’ll honor the request and add you to our mailing list.
CSN LightWing Mission – Zoom call Wednesday 1/3/24 at 5:00pm PST Usually each Wednesday at 5pm PST (6pm MST; 7pm CST; and 8pm EST).
These words are being freely offered to you – intended to shine light unto our paths, as written: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18 - KJV
May God bless our readers and all of their loved ones. May God bless All His Children!
May we humble ourselves, seek His face, repent, and turn from wickedness - even if that may involve ceasing our indifference towards the gifts God has given to each of us. We need to consider where we have come from and where we are going. We can determine our reality if only we bring God into the midst of it. May we seek His guidance and may we transform our lives in the way He wants: to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness.
“Once We Encounter Christ, Do We Honor and Practice His Word?”
By Dennis Jamison
1/2/21 (updated 2023)
The stories of the First Christmas are most dramatic as it seemed so many arrangements were made by our Heavenly Father to announce the birth of His Son, and to invite His people, and other people of faith to come and witness His only begotten Son. One of the most dramatic of these stories involves the Magi who were men of faith as well as men who were attuned to the prophecies concerning the Messiah. They were prepared to receive the Son of God, and there are many reasons for this, but we only see the Magi as Jesus enters into the world.
“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’
“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:9-12
We know that the Magi journeyed a great distance at great risk and it took great faith. CSN - LightWing Messages - Faith of the Magi - Sunday - 12/17/2023 Yet, that all transpired before the “Wise Men” encountered the Christ child. Little is said about after they encountered him: 1) they saw the child with his mother Mary; 2) they bowed and worshiped him; 3) they… presented him with gifts; and then 4) they returned to their own country by another route. If one grasps the significance, it means they took an incredible journey over hundreds of miles to worship the new “king” and give their gifts. But, realizing the true character of Herod, they did not go back to even pay their respects to that current king of Judea.
There are several questions that the entire journey of faith raises, but that is for another day. Yet, when one is careful to stay within the context, it is still hard to believe they were simply glorified UPS delivery men. There are seemingly no known records of the Magi later, but if research is correct, they were wise men of great means, and could have helped Jesus in his later mission in life. One can place this within the framework of what happened to Jesus as he grew to be a man and gave himself to his people. And, he did need help almost immediately as King Herod sent his troops to murder the children of Bethlehem that were two years of age and younger. From this alone, One can understand that Herod was not truly a religious leader of Judea, a leader who valued the religion of Judaism, nor one who followed the Ten Commandments.
A simple takeaway within the scope of my message is that when the Magi encountered Jesus, they bowed down and worshiped him. On the other hand, King Herod, who never personally had wanted to worship the child of prophecy, sought to murder him. And while there may be many pseudo-intellectuals who want to claim that Matthew invented all of his stories regarding the birth of Christ, their proof is pitiful, and more an expression of faithlessness than of real value.
The connecting point between this episode of God’s Providence and the moments recorded in Jesus’ ministry is all of the other encounters with Christ that are recorded. What did people do as they encountered Jesus within the texts of the New Testament? But, the deeper connecting point regarding the encounter with the Messiah, is what would a person like yourself do after meeting Jesus? It needs to get that personal in our greater lives of faith. Especially, as we begin this brand new year, right after the season in which we celebrate the birth of the Christ child, it is a serious question that we ask of ourselves.
Whether one had a genuine encounter with Jesus in this season can only be answered by each individual as it is usually a very personal encounter. And, I have no idea of people’s answers, but if the answer was negative, why not? What was in the way? How far did one need to travel to connect in heart with God’s son? What great risk barred the way? Understandably, it could be said that it was hard given the realities of COVID and domestic terrorists, and all, but in one’s own private place in the heart, was there a genuine encounter with Jesus? And, if not, does it not matter? Now, let us turn together to the linkage between the encounter of the Magi with the child Jesus, and the encounter of an adultress, caught in sin, as she was forced to come into the presence of the Messiah.
This passage in John quoted at the beginning of this edition is one that many people of faith are familiar with regarding the crime of adultery in the time of the Old Testament. The crime today would not be considered punishable by death in the United States. And since the nation is primarily a Christian nation, this recorded event had a lot of significance for our nation’s laws regarding adultery. However, those old laws today are eroding. It may be more significant for Christians, Jews, and other people of faith that adultery is still to be considered a criminal activity in the eyes of God in accordance with the Ten Commandments. Yet, the ordinance regarding stoning women to death is not part of the Ten Commandments.
It is significant that the words that John uses regarding the punishment is according to “the Law of Moses” she should be stoned. A couple of questions that would immediately be asked today by many (especially feminists) is why was it only the women who were to be stoned to death? Does it not take two to tango? Did the male counterpart to the criminal act go unpunished? Despite the lingering questions about the legalities and fairness of the Hebrew system of justice in that time, the whole incident bears much information for us in our time that could help in our lives of faith.
The woman was caught in her sin and condemned by the leaders in Jerusalem. Her unfortunate predicament may be closer to our reality than we know. It may certainly be closer to our reality than the faith of the Magi, but that is for readers to determine -- not me. However, it should be noted that we are all capable of sin, which essentially separates us from our Heavenly Father. If we can admit that we are not that much different than the woman caught in the crime of adultery and we can picture ourselves there in the courtyard before Jesus, what would be crashing into one’s mind at that point, on the threshold of death? What was in St. Stephen’s mind as he was stoned to death -- for no good reason other than he was a follower of Christ?
Indeed, the encounters of the Magi and the sinful woman are completely different. Yet, both of the encounters hold invaluable lessons for all people of faith. Yet, the forced encounter of this sinful woman can help in many dimensions of our lives of faith. She was forcefully brought into Jesus’ presence; but likely by her preference, she would have chosen to run away to escape her accusers. But, the event turned out to be in her best interests. The sin was exposed before the Son of God, and he chose not to condemn her. But, his “command” or “guidance” to her was to “Go and sin no more.” This is the same message Jesus’ would likely give to us all. But, to the ones who would truly honor him, he would ask that one’s faith be expressed more fully, more proactively:
“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.…” John 14:12-14
So, the questions are before us as we begin this new year in hope and great anticipation. Yet to me, one of the deepest questions is: “Once we encounter Christ, do we honor and practice his word?” And, do we do the works Jesus asked us to practice? Will we forgive and love our family, friends and neighbors? It is quite the challenge from our Heavenly Father, but such genuine and sincere efforts contain the elements and energy to build God’s Kingdom.
What will you do with the gifts, talents, dreams, and vision God has given you?
By Tim Taylor
December 26, 2021
The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 teaches us a powerful lesson about Christmas. The question is, what will you do with the gifts, dreams and vision God has given you?
Les Brown said, “The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.”
Discover in this short video what God has been revealing about our gifts and how it speaks to our purpose and destiny. The question is, what is hindering you from pursuing your dreams and vision? Do you want to hear "well done you good and faithful servant?" "Enter into the joy of the Lord?" I do. How about you?
Did you know that is a good thing? Is God really glorified when we do well? Discover what Jesus revealed in John 15 and Matthew 25. You'll be amazed.
Click here for "Is God really glorified when we do well?"
Apostle Tim Taylor is the Founder, and overseer of Kingdom League International & the 1Church1Day strategy. His main message today is via a video presentation and it is quite powerful. We are grateful that we are able to share his messages on a somewhat regular basis with his blessing. His blog site: https://www.1church1day.org/blog
Onward and Upward!
From Shawna Edwards: He is the Gift - Christmas song by Shawna Belt Edwards - 11/10/2018
From World Outreach Church with Allen Jackson: Gifts Given (And Not) [Christmas Eve] | Pastor Allen Jackson – 12/24/23
From Angel City Chorale: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Theel - 10/18/2015
From Jonathan Cahn: What Jonathan Cahn Said of 2023 Before It Happened | New Year's Eve Message | Jonathan Cahn Sermon – 12/30/23
From CMA Awards 2020: Thomas Rhett, Reba McEntire & Chris Tomlin - "Be a Light" - 11/12/20
From David Jeremiah: A Great Promise for the New Year | Dr. David Jeremiah | Romans 8:28 – 12/29/23
From Audrey Assad: Be Thou My Vision by Audrey Assad — Official Music Video - 6/7/2016
Mario Murillo Ministries: Mario Murillo PROPHETIC WORD ✝️ 7 prophecies about America in 2024 – 12/25/23
From The Chosen: A scene from The Chosen - John 3:16 - 7/11/2020
From BitChute: Hallelujah Chorus - Handel Messiah (Johann Strauss Orchestra with Harlem Gospel Choir '04 Classic) – 12/27/2018
From The American Minute with Bill Federer: American Minute for December 31 — On this day
in 1955, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. told his followers to protest with dignity and Christian Love.
Podcast - From Dutch Sheets Ministries: Dutch Sheets 2023 🔥 The Divine Acceleration Give Him 15 Daily Prayer with Dutch – 12/29/23
Podcast – From The Victor Davis Hanson Show: End the Year with Hesiod and 2023 Highlights – 12/30/2023
Podcast – From “Bold & Blunt” w/ Cheryl Chumley: Character: it's good for the soul - Washington Times – 12/27/23
From The Academy of Ideas: Do we Need God? – The Loss of God and the Decay of Society
Recommended Reading…
From Kingdom Winds: Calling for Alignment and Willingness – 9/30/23
From The Christian Post: Did you grow closer to Christ in 2023? – 12/30/23
From Christian Headlines: Americans Making Resolutions Aim to Pray and Attend Church More in 2024 - Michael Foust – 12/29/23
From CBN: Hello, New Year – 12/31/23
From Kingdom League International: The Word of the LORD for 2024 is “Promises Made Promises Kept”
From CBN News: Former Hezbollah Fighter Recalls Supernatural Encounter with Jesus: 'God Didn't Design Us to Hate' – 12/26/23
From CBN News: In Banner Year for Anti-Semitism, Hamas Massacre Tops 2023 Global List of Heinous Incidents – 12/28/23
What affects one, can affect all!
* News From The Growing Free Union -
From PROPHECY NEWS: Dutch Sheets SHOCKING PROPHECY 🔥 THE RESET IS COMING TO AMERICA – 12/27/23
From Just the News: 4 out of 10 American voters say that 2023 was a good year for them on a personal level: poll – 12/30/23
From Christian Headlines: Fellowship of Christian Athletes Celebrates Spiritual Transformation of over 51,000 Salvations in 2023 - Amanda Casanova – 12/27/23
From Open.Ink: J6: A True Timeline | Open.Ink - trailer - full video coming 1/1/24
From National Pulse: Ex UK PM Boris Johnson Blasts Attempts to Keep Trump off Ballot. – 12/31/23
From Camp Constitution: Our Most Popular YouTube Video in 2023-A Republic, Not A Democracy by Dan Smoot
From Military.com: The Top 10 Military.com News Stories of 2023
ICYMI > From UPI.com: GOP expands impeachment probe into Hunter Biden's defiance of subpoenas
We hope our readers enjoy this edition of the LightWing Messages today as well as the limited aggregated messages. Read, absorb and share, and practice what is within you. We always hope readers would consider the messages in this edition meaningful, or relevant in some way, and if readers know others who might value such messages, please help: pass this newsletter on to those whom you feel would welcome it. Or simply, please receive it yourselves.
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