The Stickman's Understanding...

  And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. -Nehemiah 9:2 Good morning and welcome to Thursday. In the scripture above we see an odd occurrence as Israel seems to repent of not only their sins but sins which they didn’t commit (iniquities).  There is certainly a difference between transgressions and iniquities. Transg-ressions are your and iniquities are ancestral.  Right here I can here some saying “well those are not things that I failed at, God doesn’t hold me accountable.” In a sense you are correct but please understand how things work in the spirit realm. Ever heard the phrase “generational curse”? In the natural no you are not as accountable and I say “as”, because a child with a criminal or neglectful parent does suffer from their parents or grandparents sins.  But even more so in the spirit realm. The inner workings of the spirit realm has the spirit that cause anc...

  And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. -Deuteronomy 28:2 God bless you and happy hump-day! Have you ever really thought about the polite and expected phrase of  be blessed ?  It is used to convey warms thoughts towards someone. Yet there is a very small word that changes the direction of the meaning.  BE  is the basis for the word being or denoting existence, but it also expresses action or lack of.  I’ve heard some use the word “stay” which may BE understood better by most. What does it take to BE blessed?  BEing is only part of the basis of being blesssed, that is merely existing. Not to forget that God blesses us even when we don’t deserve it as it rains on the just and the unjust.  Yes there are general blessings gifted for all, but your BEing blessed as Jabez and a recipient of exceeding, abundant and abounding blessings. you have a role.  The scripture a...

  For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. -Proverbs 25:22 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; -Matthew 5:44 Good morning and welcome to Tuesday.  One southern way of disdain-ment is to say “Why, God bless their poor soul”.  This phrase or a similar is used when someone’s intelligence is questioned, used when someone offends you, actually used to say Jesus get ‘em.  Many Christians take the Old Testament version of praying for others to mean literally to curse them.  The Lord Jesus brought clarity saying what hadn’t been said in Proverbs, we are not to use our standing in the Lord as a hopeful way of bringing down anyone.  Yes it still does heap coal on them but our hearts mustn’t seek nor enjoy the retribution. Vengeance is the Lord and His vengeance is used mostly to restore fellowship with s...

  21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Good morning, happy Monday, and God bless you! In Matthew 18, Peter approached the Lord perhaps with an unforgiving thought and heart towards someone, asking how often should we forgive?  I am sure Peter meant that person who keeps offending, and Jesus called him as well as us on the carpet saying seventy times seven (490).  Seems to be an arbitrary number and likely with good reason. Lord knows how many people are rapidly approaching 490, some at 485 and holding.   Beloved as a reminder first of all we forgive to emulate our Lord as he forgave those who crucified Him. Up next we forgive for their sake because life and death is in the tongue so to keep the tongue we must cleanse our thoughts.  Finally for our own sake. Our mental a...

  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. -Proverbs 24:16 God bless you and TGIF! In the scripture above a contrast is shown.    As fallible beings we certainly fall short, but one whose heart seeks the Lord does not stay down while the wicked doesn’t even attempt to rise out of sin.  The old sage Solomon after years of falling finally rises up and makes the statement here. Given his history we should all be encouraged of God’s grace.  Solomon had fallen into idolatry and was very promiscuous, making alliances by marrying idol worshippers and joining in their foolishness. So when he says been there, done that, trust him.  Yet at this point of his life he wrote with conviction that he was rising again. Many times people find it hard to rise up due to the unforgiving nature of those they may have offended. But rise again we must!  Perhaps you have fallen and in your fallen state you realize that y...

  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.  Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. -2 Chronicles 16:9 God bless you and welcome to Thursday. On yesterday the Lord began to speak to me on purpose and how purpose is connected to faith.  In that I began looking at a few scriptures about purpose, for instance:  Romans 8:28 Jeremiah 29:11 As I thought on how lack of faith impedes us the story of the fear that kept Israel in the desert came to mind. I then dug deeper and the rather obscure story of Asa and his dilemma came to memory.   It was not fear but an arrogance spirit and misplaced faith that had Asa in his predicament. But if you really think about it misplaced faith sounds like fear wearing one of its many masks.   David said some trust in chariots…but I will trust in the Lord. Asa trusted in Syria...

  Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. -Proverbs 22:16 God bless you and happy hump day. It is ill advised to take Advantage of the weaknesses of others.  Whether it is a moment or lifetime, emotional, physical or mental weakness, the Lord admonishes us that are strong to help the weak.  Further the scripture above warns us of catering to those who we need but have little need for us.  This is certainly understood as an effort is often made by those looking to get ahead to gather and gift those who they seek favor; taking no regard towards that persons lack of character and need.  If the truth is told those who cater towards those who have wealth mainly do so out of covetousness.  Both warnings ignored brings the consequence of poverty.    Instead why not help those who are in need and not try to use those who you deem to have something that you want.  Your comments and questi...

  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:  weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.  -Psalms 30:5 Good morning beloved and welcome to Tuesday. As I am sure you have not lived on a deserted island the last two years, you have noted the current state of things. Hate is rabid, corruption is normal and immorality is celebrated.  Just recently I was able to pick my jaw up off the floor when a perverted song was voted song of the year.  Yes it is certainly the state of the world today, but even among the carnal at one time there was a line of respect of God and themselves they would not cross.  But as this world rapidly approaches it’s end there is a great mourning in the hearts of all due to many who unexpectedly transition.  Death has indiscriminately knocked on most of our doors, but even be that as it may those who have hope in Jesus know that physical death is a short tunnel into eternal life with Christ. ...

  Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.    -Psalms 127:1 God bless and happy Monday. Jesus once said that those who build their houses on sand is akin to an unwise man.  What a revelation but more of an affirmation of what David wrote in the scripture above.  Jesus is the rock that we build upon and though we build the house we still do all things first through Christ who…builds.  On today as you go about grab a plank of salvation, a nail of redemption, a brick of hope and concrete of joy!  Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to Interceding Christian Center (ICC) using our cash app $intercedingcc  God bless you and command your day!!!

  I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.                 -Psalms 122:1 Bless the Lord oh my soul, TGIF!  Beloved I so lone for those days of full houses of worship. When people look for a reason not to go to church, they usually don’t have to look far or for long.  They painstakingly seek reasons to not go to work, they exact reasons to not go to a sporting event, they with great diligence seek sin or to convince themselves not to sin. But when it comes to following the simple scripture Hebrews 10:25, (foresake not the assembly) they balk and refuse.  They have no fear of going to malls, Walmart or grocery stores, but not church because the uncrowded church before the pandemic surely is more dangerous than the aforementioned places.  They travel on crowded planes, but will not come to church and sit six seats away. To make it simple what is important to you, you make room, provisions ...

  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;               -2 Timothy 4:3 God bless    and good morning.  Has anyone besides me noticed how social distancing is extremely hard on the church?  More so than any other organization and it is because of our 2nd greatest gift from God, the first being grace and this one, free choice. That said it is becoming more of a challenge to share faith, let alone maintain faith. Added to that equation are those who seek a god that caters to their sin. One that calls purposed sins a mistake. The scripture above describes this time that we live in.  So for one to feign shock at this state that we are in indicates a need to study more. Because if we didn’t know that these things would occur we would become discouraged.  The Lord saw fit that we would know that even these thi...

  1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.                -Psalms 121 Good morning and Happy Hump Day!!! The scripture above shows David, a man after God’s own heart crying out.  David had come to the end of self, cried out saying I am looking now for my help to come from high places.  When you have given your all is a time to look for help and many times it is when we are at the end of self is when we look for help. At the point of desperation.  But when you have our God on your side you don’t have to get to this point.    Nothing wrong with being at wits end and then asking for help but the Bible teaches us to present all things before God.  That means before we come to that point of saying I have done what I can. Put it before the Lord when you have an inkling of which direction trouble is coming from and what ...

  If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; Isaiah 58:9b God bless you and welcome to Tuesday. As I was preparing for Tuesday morning prayer a word or phrase in the excerpt of the above scripture caught my attention. “Putting forth of the finger”. Immediately I thought of the many times I have and do put forth my finger unfairly and inaccurately to accuse others. I had to repent as daily this is something we all do.  Those in Christ especially in Christian leadership too often cross the boundary of correction into the realm of criticism.   A blurred line exist and it is made murkier still when we refuse to examine ourselves. Our goals, motivations and or our fleshly intent has to be measured against what God has called us to do.  Lastly the old adage of when we point one finger at others, three more point back anchored by a thumb.  Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaeff...

  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. -John 6:68 God bless you and happy Monday. How far will you go to hold onto Jesus? Beloved the time is coming where your faith will be tested, even now the pressure is ramping up.  In the story above the pressure was on the disciples as many began to turn on Jesus. He began teaching about Himself as sacraments of God (body as bread and blood as wine).  The teaching was beyond hard for the crowd and even difficult for His disciples. The Lord sensing the uneasiness among them, brought forth a question placing their hearts in their throats but also bringing ease to a tense situation.  Brother Peter who you can always count on for boldness, said Lord no one else has given unto the the words of life, who can give this unto us, to paraphrase his statement.  Oh how easy one may say to of the Apostles as they had seen Him walk on water, to which I’d answer the same crowd tha...

  As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. Romans 14:1 Good morning and TGIF. Often we see disputes arise among Saints in a very public way on public medians.  And more often than not the topic isn’t worth the time they spent disagreeing. It would be hard to understand if we didn’t know that within the flesh is a desire to “have the last say so, one up, best your opponent” or what our flesh tells us is a “win”  Such contradictions reveal that the issue may be found in a deficiency in your love. Useless quarrels promote disunity, division and ultimately if unchecked cause splits. Many churches, marriages, families and friendships splits have been caused by unchecked disagreements.  Yes you may be right about your position and can even defend it in scripture, but sometimes ones not as astute as yourself need not be constantly addressed.  Constantly reminding them of their wrong may trigger rebellion, build a stronghold of...

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8 God bless and welcome to Thursday. A popular song declares in it lyrics these words “Even at my worst He loves me.”  As the simple words cruised through my soul, I can recall how before I surrendered totally the “worst me”. Unlike you theologians I have not always been saved.  In fact I was a total slave to sin. I was what is called a loose cannon on deck. I rolled and crushed whatever got in my way and as if crushing wasn’t enough I was always ready to fire a cannon ball.  It wasn’t until I accepted the grace that was always there. Always tapping me on the shoulder, always siding up next to me, on long walks. That grace that had kept me when I wasn’t letting it. I was at my worst, but His love never waned.  Beloved as I was many were and are and some are worst. But God still loves you and He loves them. The amazing thing about His love is it is eternal, loving ...

  And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. -Matthew 14:21 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. -Matthew 15:38 God bless, Good morning, and happy Hump Day! I have been writing on the differences between the feedings of 5000 and 4000.  As shown yesterday the 5000 seemed to focus on the chosen people; location (Bethsaida), populous and 12 baskets remaining in similitude to the number of tribes.  Whilst the feeding of the 4000 was located (Decapolis) in a Gentile populous and 7 baskets or the number of completion was highlighted.  Both feedings pointed to the Lord as the bread of heaven and alluded to life being more than natural subsistence.  The plan of universal salvation is shown as being afforded to all as the Gentile community was flushed with and represented the conquered nations under Roman control.  Jesus gave us some Christian examples, sharing with the needy, discerning a nee...

  And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. -Isaiah 25:6 God bless you and welcome to Tuesday. Happy Jewish New Years. The scripture above comes from the Prophet Isaiah and it pertains to something that the Lord would do.  As we are looking at the feedings of Christ, I thought it appropriate to provide this nugget. So the feedings shouldn’t come as a shock to those who knew prophecy in particular the High Priest, Pharisees and such.  Take note that the feeding of the 5000 took place in the very mountain that the prophet spoke about. This very mountain that the feeding took place He also taught the truth (removing the vail vs 7) and was celebrated (vs 9).  Location is important I the feedings as with the 5000 the location was a providence populated mostly by Jews. So first to the chosen people in contrast the 4000 was in another...

  And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. -Matthew 14:15 Good morning and Happy Monday. I have been looking at the two feedings of Christ. Both feedings had purpose. The Lord never does anything without purpose. Over the next few days I want to pull from those feedings and their purposed significances.  I was meditating yesterday morning, on the story found in Matthew 14 above and the truth that many people do not know that two feedings took place. The scripture above comes from the first feeding of over 5000.   The question asked of Jesus by the disciples, showed that they lacked faith. And I found myself asking the same, why didn't the people just go into town to buy substance and then return to Jesus?  Before the question was fully formed in my mind, the Spirit began to speak understanding.    The...

  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: -Ecclesiastes 3:1 God bless you, good morning and TGIF. I often see meme’s that depict people excited because it is Friday and all have great plans for the weekend.  A friend on yesterday told me she was so excited that it was Friday until she realized it was Thursday.  I love Fridays, but I also love Monday, Tuesday, etc. because everyday is a gift and though you may not know what the day holds, as long as you know who holds the day you will do well.  Solomon advised us in Ecclesiastes to know that Seasons are applicable to much more than the climate, seasons hold within them blessings, sorrows, hopes, victories, and all the things we face.  Yet taking this all in and understanding Roman 8:28, you still can have joy because it is all working in our favor.  Some choose to give credence to the bad but we mustn’t allow those unpleasant though necessary and often based in choice ...