A Vision of the Future (COGIC Legacy Version of Sunday School)

Restoration (COGIC Legacy Version of Sunday School)

Is Frequency Illusion the same as our Spiritual Senses Operating

https://web.colby.edu/cogblog

The Frequency Illusion, also known as the Baader-Meinhoff phenomenon, is a cognitive bias which describes our tendency to see new information, names, ideas or patterns 'everywhere' soon after they're first brought to our attention.

Our God really created a masterpiece when He created humans. Remember the Scriptures state that when he formed man from the dust of the ground that His breath gave life to man. Unlike other creatures who He made just from speaking Words, He actually created man from dirt and breathed into man’s nostrils causing him to become a living soul. This process includes taking air from within HIMSELF and expelling that air into man’s body. Creating life this way equipped all humans with the ability to think instead of reacting from instinct like the animal kingdom. However, one unique feature of a human is his incredible talent for pattern recognition that is known as Badder-Meinhoff phenomenon or commonly called frequency illusion. In other words, our brain will process new information like names or patterns while constantly identify these same names and patterns anywhere thereafter. For instance, one may become pregnant, then the pregnant individual or the spouse of the pregnant female will constantly notice others who are likewise pregnant. Remember, as humans we are created in the image and likeness of God; yet, we only tend to recognize our physical attributes while often times limiting our spiritual awareness. The Badder-Meinhoff phenomenon gives us a glimpse into our ability of spiritual awareness. For example, Elisha, a prophet in the Old Testament demonstrated his spiritual awareness on many occasions. On one occasion, he prayed that his servant will become aware of his spiritual senses when he became frightened. The enemy of Israel had come to capture Elisha from aiding the king of Israel, and they had camped and surrounded the mountain side where Elisha resided. So his servant was frighten when he saw this army. Notice Elisha’s prayer for his servant.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:16-17

The existence of the spiritual realm was already intact, but the limitation of seeing this spiritual realm rested on the inability of the servant to see. Our natural eyes can only see tangible things around us yet when we encounter a Badder-Meinhoff phenomenon, we become sensitized to that experience while enabling you to focus on similar experiences. I can imagine how Elisha’s servant reacted when he encountered another similar situation of being surrounding by his enemies. Was he able to see with his spiritual eyes again? When you read about Elisha and his insights concerning simple things that he encountered such as using a stick to rescue an iron ax that fell into the lake, give you confidence of everyday successes relating to the spiritual realm. It you look closer at what the servant saw with his spiritual eyes, “he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire.” Yet, his natural eyes saw men on horses and chariots against them, but his spiritual eyes saw more horses and chariots for them. Even the model prayer, Jesus requested that we should include a similar statement, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Therefore, whatever God’s will is in the heaven then we must align our actions on earth with that will. When this alignment with God materializes then we will see with our spiritual eyes like the servant of Elisha. 

As we continue in this battle with COVID-19, my prayer is like Elisha’s prayer for his servant. Open the spiritual eyes of your people that we may see. Then, I know that we will see more for us than what is actually against us.  

I am finished

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2 Timothy 4:7 KJV

What is your WHY?

Even though you and I can depart this world unexpectedly, I often wonder how it feels when you are anticipating the realization of your departure. When you realize your imminent demise is about to occur will you have regrets or will you say vividly that you are ready to leave because you know what is waiting after this life.

I read this anecdote the other day regarding a couple going on vacation but his wife was on a business trip so he went to the destination first. His wife was to follow the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick email. Unfortunately, when typing her address, he mistyped a letter and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher’s wife whose husband had passed away only the day before. When the grieving widow checked her email, she took one look at the computer monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor in a faint. Because of the commotion, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen:

The Apostle Paul had much confidence in his destination after this life. Why does he possess so much confidence at this point in his life? Remember the younger version of Paul failed to believe that the Messiah was Jesus so he punished followers of Jesus. Later, he even discusses his sinfulness as a believer when he writes to the saints in Roman.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  Romans 7:18-19 KJV

Now in his 60's (as noted by some scholars that his age was between 62-68) Paul finds himself in prison pending execution. Yet, he writes to Timothy this letter which includes this unique thought-provoking statement as he recounts his eventful life and states, "I have fought a good fight." He reflects on life as a fighter like a prized boxer who has fought his last fight realizing that he did his best while competing. Oftentimes, athletes follow a similar routine when crafting their skill set. Mainly, they tend to perform their best because they know the value in competing as well as the rewards from winning. Likewise, Paul's reflection gives him confidence that he had lived his best by keeping what God had entrusted to him on the road to Damascus with confidence the reward that awaits him.

Secondly, Paul comments that he had finished the course. What a profound statement to make when facing your demise. The term finish refers to completion or final. For instance, every race has a finishing line that the racer must cross to finalize that race. Even in the military, we uses the term End State to determine the closure of a military operation.  The End State represents a specified situation that the Soldiers must successfully complete on the final phase in that operation. Basically, Paul states his End State by saying I have finished my course of fulfilling God's goal for my life.

Lastly, Paul reiterates, "I have keep the faith." I expect on numerous occasions Paul thought about giving up. Notice how he recalls his struggle when writing to the Corinthians to combat the false apostles who had infiltrated this church:

I’ve worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death’s door time after time. I’ve been flogged five times with the Jews’ thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I’ve been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I’ve had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I’ve been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I’ve known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather.

(I Corinthian 11: 23-27)

Keeping the faith is paramount in ones' walk. Individuals must believe in something despite the oppositions, they must determine to hold true to their faith even when facing real consequences. For example, Deandre Arnold, a black student in Texas, was suspended because his high school said the way he wore his dreadlocks violated their dress code. Because he stood in what he believes, he will have the opportunity of going to the Academy Awards because "Hair Love" an animated short film is an Oscar nominate, and the producers invited him to walk down the red carpet with them.

Everyone tends to stand for something. Everyone must have a WHY when they opt to stand for something. Mainly, the WHY gives us the ability to stand for something. So the Apostle Paul announces that he has kept the faith since his initial encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. His willingness to stand for the faith enables him to state his WHY in the next verse:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:8 KJV

Paul realizes his WHY requires an existence after this life of which he sees a crown of righteousness waiting for him. Yet, this crown of righteousness is an award that occurs when Paul executes these three actions:

1) fighting the good fight,

2) finishing his course, and

3) keeping the faith.

Likewise, when we finish Kingdom work, our WHY will come in the form of a crown of righteousness. This crown is not for those who depend upon their own sense of righteousness or of their own works. Such an attitude breeds only arrogance and pride. Our crown of righteousness is our why for desiring and preserving Kingdom work that our Savior enables us to perform. So I challenge each of you to persevere and continue toward your Why!

Differences between serving and receiving

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him [Jesus]. (Matthew 4:11 KJV)

Thinkers think and doers do. But until the thinkers do and the doers think, progress will be just another word in the already overburdened vocabulary of the talkers who talk. (Anonymous)

How often do we recognize the need to do something or do we just think about doing something? When unforeseen events occur or happenings evolve unexpectedly in our lives, our independence becomes vulnerable because our needs overshadow our capabilities. At that moment we wonder anxiously for someone to intervene on our behalf.  Yet, these events actually create opportunities for doing something even though our dependence outweighs our independence. In other words, our lack of resources can fuel the opportunities for doing instead of receiving.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cent," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain disk of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she harshly replied. The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies (15 cents). You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

Scripture paints a similar picture when the Savior fasted for forty days in the wilderness where Satan tempted Him. During the fast or after the fast, Satan reminded the Savior of His status and His supernatural capabilities as an independent being. “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (Matthew 4:3). Remember a fast enables you to give up a physical craving to fulfill a greater spiritual need. Yet, the Savior who was definitely hungry during this 40-day period resisted this temptation of self-feeding while rendering an answer to Satan by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” In other words, the Savior demonstrates His willingness to trust God the Father to provide rather than to act independently of God. The Savior used this temptation as submission to God’s Word instead of acting independently from God by resolving the issue Himself.  Likewise as believers, we must develop a dependence on God especially during difficult periods in our lives instead of acting independent from God, we must act as dependent on God.

Secondly, Satan changes the Savior’s setting by taking Him to the pinnacle of the temple. This test explored a shortcut for the Savior to meet His mission quickly by revealing His power in the streets of Jerusalem. This requested action of falling from the temple and having angels save Him would have demonstrated His heavenly authority. The spectators at the Temple would have been awe struck just to see this spectacular demonstration of angels swooping down to save Jesus. Satan even quoted Psalm 91:11-12 as proof of God’s promise of angelic protection. The problem with this shortcut is that it totally ignores God’s plan for the Savior while bypassing the Cross. Likewise, as believers we must remove any shortcuts in our lives and stay the course toward Kingdom’s work despite our feeble desires and impatient wishes to move ahead of God’s timing. Remember the impatience of Sarah and Abraham in waiting for the promised son, Isaac which led to the creation of first recorded blended family as Abraham’s son, Ishmael and his mother, Hagar.

Finally, Satan presented the ultimate reward in the form of wealth and power from the kingdoms of this world. The cost only required that the Savior fall down and acknowledge Satan as lord. Even today, Satan wants our worship and he still uses his tactful deception techniques. Remember the scene with Adam and Eve when they took his advice and ate the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Yet, the Savior quoted another Scripture, “worship the LORD your God, and serve only Him.” (Deut. 6:13). Likewise, as believers, we must avoid following our own agenda but accept God’s agenda. If the Savior is our ultimate authority, He deserves our exclusive service each day of the week.

Notice the transpiring of events at the end of these temptations. Matthew recorded that the heavenly angels came and ministered to Jesus. When the fallen angel, Satan left, faithful angels came. These faithful angels fulfilled their duties by ministering and worshiping the Savior. Notice the differences, Satan wanting to receive something from Jesus instead the heavenly angels gave to Jesus. Satan wanting to receive Jesus’ worship and service while the heavenly angels gave worship and service. How often as believers, we travel the path of Satan wanting to receive from the Savior instead of giving to Him like the heavenly angels.  In other words, instead of doing for HIM we rather think about what we can receive from HIM. For believers to develop dependence on God, we must remove the tendency of pursuing shortcuts and stop following our own agenda. Mainly, we must perform the true path of worship by serving instead of receiving. Then, you will realize your role as sons of God who can perform the ultimate duty as ministering to the Lord and Savior, Jesus just like heavenly angels. Even the Apostle Paul notes that the ones who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:14). As sons of God, we have the right to serve HIM because when He appears we shall be just like Him. As believers, we will experience our true calling as noted in I John 3:2, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Therefore, I encourage you to do like the heavenly angels and serve your Savior even when mayhem occurs in your life. Remember, Thinkers think and doers do. But until the thinkers do and the doers think, progress will be just another word in the already overburdened vocabulary of the talkers who talk. Learn to do like the 10 year old boy who left a tip in spite of the waitress’ service unlike Satan who only wants to receive your service.  

Weekly Sunday School Lesson

Sunday School Lesson 11 "Piety that Honons God" Winter Quarterly 2020

Elevator Inspiration for Sunday School  

Lesson 11 declares the Savior’s teaching on Piety that Honors God as demonstrated in Matthews 6:1-8. Although, Jesus uses parables when instructing his followers, but in this text he uses plain-spoken directives. He reminds us that God is not concerned with only the outward appearance of doing what is right. God looks at the heart, and He desires our good deeds to come from pure motives not from a desire for accolades. Remember the short-lived reward for hypocritical behavior is like the theater crowd’s applause when the hands quit clapping and the sound fades, nothing is left. The hypocrite is a deceiver, a pretender who conceals true motives for actions. Yet, public acts of worship are not necessarily hypocritical. The primary issue is motive. We must remember if are we drawing attention to ourselves or pointing others to God? Is our giving intended to draw the praise of people or to encourage others to give? Are our public prayers designed to impress or to lead others to God’s throne? Mainly, we should never try to impress either God or others in both our giving and praying.

See you in Sunday School!

Prayer for Healing

Dearest heavenly Father, I know that you are an all knowing and all powerful God who created us in your image. Although, you created our physical existence from dirt that abides within the elements of Earth so we understand our limited status. Nevertheless, you breathed life that created our natural and spiritual existence. Therefore, healing will occur from your physical touch as noted  in the Scriptures when People brought all their sick to YOU and begged YOU to let the sick just touch the edge of YOUR cloak, and all who touched YOU were healed” (Matthew 14:35–36). Now today as God the Son sits on the right hand of God the Father realizing this scene in history, we plead and beg like the people of that day for you to allow us to touch YOUR cloak with our spiritual hands. Then you will release YOUR healing power to flow into these feeble bodies like renewed strength to glorify, yet again your marvelous Love and Grace toward us. In Jesus' name I pray.