WEDNESDAY

DECEMBER 22, 2021

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END OF THE YEAR GIVING

With the end of the year approaching, this is an opportunity for you to still receive a tax deduction by sowing into our ministry before December 31.

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Thanks for remembring us as we continue to bring the word of God to you daily through this newsletter and by our online ministry through video.

Russell and Helen Sanders

RUSSELL AND HELEN SANDERS

Your Life Coaches

Equipping the Saints

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12-17-2021 BROADCAST

PAUL'S THORN

IN THE FLESH

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BIBLE SCHOOL

COMING TUESDAY

12-28-2021 7 P.M.

SESSION 46:

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Part 2 - WHO IS SATAN?

Missed a Class? Click here for notes and video links

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RUSSELL SANDERS

12-2202021

THE CHRISTMAS SERIES – LESSON 2

DECEMBER 25

SATURNALIA AND CHRISTMAS DAY

Roman Emperor Constantine I called the Council at Nicaea in 325 A.D. which established a uniform doctrine known as the Nicene Creed. It also established the first ever Christian holiday which they named Easter. It also established the Bishop of Rome as the head bishop of the church elevating him above the other four regional bishops, despite the fact that he did not even attend the council. He had only sent “legates” as his representatives. After all, Rome was the seat of the empire and would therefore be the seat of the church.

However, Constantine faced an uncomfortable situation in his empire. Although Christianity had been decreed as the official religion, most of the empire remained pagan. When the pagans had a special religious holiday, they ceased all work. The Christians would continue to work and do business. This greatly irritated the pagans and caused conflicts.

The solution for the Emperor was to create a religious holiday for Christians that would fall on the same date as the pagan’s most important holiday. This resulted in what became “Christmas” which literally meant “Christ Mass” a Catholic mass done in honor of the birth of the Christ child.

The highest pagan holiday was at the winter solstice which was December 25 on the Julian calendar of the Roman Empire. It was a great celebration to honor Saturn, the Roman god of time and agriculture. It was called Saturnalia. All work ceased, as businesses, schools, and courts closed. Normal daily social patterns were suspended. The people decorated their homes with wreaths and other greenery. Evergreen trees were decorated in their pagan temples. They dressed colorfully. Wax candles were lit to signify the returning of the light that would follow after this darkest (shortest) day of the year.

It was a time of merriment with gaming, music, singing, feasting, socializing, and exchanging of gifts. This is how Saturnalia was celebrated. It was the pagan’s highest “religious” time of the year. In 335 B.C. Constantine and the Roman Catholic church officially declared December 25 for the “Christ Mass.” It was to be a holy day where no work was to be done in honor of Christ’s birth. This solved Constantine’s problem. The pagans and the Christians could now celebrate at the same time. Over time, the Saturnalia celebrations that you just read about crept into the “Christmas” celebration.

Despite the parallels to this pagan festival, the one true reason to celebrate Christmas on December 25^th is to commemorate the birth of Messiah, the Anointed One sent by Almighty God, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. It gives Christians a common day to come together to commemorate God’s greatest gift to mankind. Let us cherish the day.

Missed some of Russell's messages? Click here to read

HELEN SANDERS

12-22-2021

GOD’S PROVISION ISN’T ALWAYS MAN’S IDEA OF PROVISION

It must have been quite a hard trip for Mary and Joseph, knowing that she was 9 months pregnant, and the child was about to be born. They didn’t have taxis like we have. They didn’t have a train or a car of their own. Some travelled by foot while others rode a horse or donkey. Some even travelled by a camel, which might not be the smoothest trip even if you weren’t pregnant.

God had set everything up before they left Nazareth. Who would have thought that a decree would go out and everyone, yes, everyone had to go to their ancestral city to be counted in a census? The whole family went, even those that were pregnant. God orchestrated this census so Joseph and Mary would be in the right place at the right time to give birth to Jesus as it was foretold in Micah 5:2. It was not a coincidence that this happened.

I am sure that they expected to find a nice clean place in a private room since her delivery was so near. If you have ever given birth, and I have four times, then any woman would know that it isn’t something that you want everyone to see. Yet, God did not provide that place of privacy.

If you have been reading Russell’s messages on the Migdal Eder, then you will have learned about the special place in Bethlehem that sacrificial lambs were born. You would learn about the manger where newly birthed lambs were wrapped in swaddling clothes and put into a manager as a part of their setting apart for their future sacrifice.

There could not have been room in an inn so that Jesus would be born in the right place at the right time and be placed in the sacrificial lambs’ manger and be put in swaddling clothes. God orchestrated the lack of “beautiful conditions” so there would be another plan. Jesus was that sacrificial lamb born and swaddled just like Bethlehem’s sacrificial lambs.

Often in life we want things one way, but God has something different for us. It is when we fight his provision that we find ourselves fighting God. We don’t have to know everything about God’s plan, we just must follow the leading of Holy Spirit. When we try to force our plan into action, we often see immediately that we made the wrong choice.

What is God orchestrating in your life? Does he have a move that you are uncomfortable with? What about a relationship that isn’t pleasing to him? By marrying the wrong person, we might not fulfill the plan has with the right person. We must realize that His plan is “always” right, and we must follow it, regardless of whether it seems right or not.

Mary and Joseph fulfilled prophecy by being right where they were supposed to be at the right time regardless of the conditions. Perhaps not only your destiny but others will be fulfilled by your being in the right place at the right time. Don’t fight it.

Missed some of Helen's messages? Click here to read

TODAY'S POLL OR TRIVIA QUESTION

Which president watched the battle of Bunker Hill from his family farm as a child?

I honestly do not know the answer to this question

YESTERDAY'S QUESTION:

Which president was elected to his second term after suffering a heart attack?

The correct answer is:

Dwight D. Eisenhower

0% answered correctly with:

Dwight D. Eisenhower

100% answered with:

I honestly do not know how to answer this question

We do not share these polls with any other sources. They are for your enjoyment and benefit only.

All responses must be in by 6:00 p.m. EDST to be validated for poll

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:7 KJV

RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION LETTER

For those of you that believe taking the jab is against your Christian convictions because it contains aborted fetal cells and you believe that it is absolutely wrong, we are offering a religious exemption for those of you that consistently support us financially or in prayer. We will make it available to you on our ministry letterhead so you can use it. If you are in need of this please email us. To view what this letter looks like click here The letter is an example only. It is not legal until it is filled out by our ministry and signed, then we mail it to you.

Email us your physical address so we have it on file and we will mail it to you signed and with our corporate ministry seal.

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From a reader in Michigan:

Beautiful Newsletters this Morning, The Best way to start the day, after I say Good Morning Lord!!

From a reader in Florida:

The newsletters are keeping me alert during this pandemic. i am learning a lot as well. I had not known of The Bema seat of judgement.

reading these articles is feeding my spirit. thank you. last year ,the lockdowns prevented churches from being open. your ministry fills in the gap, for " manna" .

From a reader in Ohio:

I want to thank you for putting things on here to enlighten us on the real truth.

I was raised in a Bible believing church, but never heard the scriptures taught the way I'm taught through reading every morning. Thank you so much for following God's leading in your lives. Thank you again. Love to you both in Jesus.

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TODAY'S BIBLE CHALLENGE

What country were Abram and Sarai originally from?

Syria

Ur of the Chaldees

Canaan

Mesopotamia

I honestly do not know the answer

YESTERDAY'S BIBLE CHALLENGE

Which of the following is not considered a feast mandated by God?

The correct answer is:

Hanukkah

100% answered correctly with:

Hanukkah

We do not share these polls with any other sources. They are for your enjoyment and benefit only.

All responses must be in by 6:00 p.m. EDST to be validated for poll

TRAIL TO TROUBLE

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PROPHETIC WORDS AND EXHORTATIONS

Missed a Prophetic Word click here

God still speaks through his prophets.

Click here to see some of the prophetic words that have been given this year through this ministry.

HELEN SANDERS

12-19-2021

PROPHETIC WORD

As surely as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, my word shall arise and go forth that I have proclaimed over you. For there will be a shifting in the spirit realm unlike any shifting that has taken place. The battle is fierce, for the day is at hand that will be the final showdown of evil vs. good. You are the light my children that must be taken into a dark world. You must proclaim the good news of the gospel to those that are in darkness before it is too late. The chess pieces are on the table, and I am about to say checkmate, and the game of life will be over for many. Rise up and be what you have been ordained to be. Be the mouthpiece of my word that surely must be spoken in this hour. Do not hold back for many, yes, many are in the valley of decision and the enemy would pull them into darkness more and more. You must, again I say must, go forth into the darkness with my light and dispel the lies of Satan that have been planted in their lives. You will see the anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit upon you as you go forth. Words will come from your lips that will be so powerful that they will break the chains off those that are being held captive by Satan’s snares. So, rise up now, and come out of your slumber and stay alert for I will be with you. I will be like the cloud by day and the pillar of fire at night that will lead you in the right way. Time is being shortened, so do what I bid you quickly before the time is gone for the ones that will perish. Do not let their blood be upon your hands. The watchman must warn those in darkness, or they will be held accountable. So, again, I say rise up and go forth for I will be with you saith the Lord.

Apostle Pat Murray

12-21-2021

PROPHETIC EXHORTATION

Be wise and don’t bring up the PAST to someone who is TRYING so desperately to FORGET the good, the bad and the ugly from their PAST; And to hopefully BUILD a bright FUTURE with new faces and new places. Remember, no one can FORGET the mistakes and the sorrows of their PAST; And work towards building a new and better life for all of their TOMORROWS...IF inconsiderate folks continually brings up the people, the places and the things of their past to them or even around them. Yes, in order to FORGIVE, FORGET and MOVE ON...One has to NOT only CHANGE their HEARTS and their LIVES; But it’s also VITAL for them to...CHANGE their PLANS, their PLAYGROUND and their PLAYMATES. So just do your part; And be an agent of change by helping those who are struggling with their past as well as their present. In doing so you’ll help them to have a Blessed and Merry Christmas; While you’re motivating them to move on into their FUTURE and to have a Healthy and Happy New Year.