The Stickman's Understanding...

  And Jesus said unto them, I AM the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. -John 6:35 Good morning and happy Monday. I am…is the most specifically empowering statement of identification you will find in the Bible. In seven statements the Lord Jesus described Himself. Let’s look at a few of them over the next week.  The Lord called Himself bread, or the basic form of nutrition. Every culture and ethnic group makes bread in some form. It is the base sustenance worldwide used to ensure hunger is held at bay.  Hence Jesus referring to Himself as the bread of life is appropriate. The people of the time of Christ were acutely familiar with starvation and all too familiar with what was needed to live naturally but not spiritually.  Jesus was speaking of the spiritual need that He fully satisfied. God ensured that prophecy was filled identifying Christ with bread at His birth, born in a city called Bethlehem o...

  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: -1 Peter 5:8 Good morning and TGIF! Beloved the saying that there is strength in numbers has some truth especially when that number is gathered in worship of God.  Further we are told in Hebrews 10, to “forsake not the fellowship”, this is not just good advice but necessitated by God to make us an interactive community, one that can gather our abilities to protect the whole.  The Apostle Peter refers to the danger of the enemy in forsaken fellowship as a hungry lion.    I am not sure what is more frightful, the size, the teeth or the roar.  Rarely is the roar used while hunting on a group. The most important thing then is to separate out one from the protection of the flock. The most danger is now the “seeking”.  The enemy is looking for loners. A loner can’t stop being a loner by simply tuning in, via radio, or TV, further live broa...

  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. -1 Corinthians 1:12 God bless and tremendous Thursday!!! In Christendom many are the rockstar preachers in our realm.  To the point that heaven help you if anything you say is perceived in any manner questioning the humanity of that Pastor. Not being able to express the humanity and thus fallacy of an individual who like us all are saved by grace can morph from admiration to worship.   The Apostle Paul was addressing this in the scripture above. Early church parishioners were in error attributing their salvation to mere men and literally denying Christ’ grace in the process.  The danger is real as those in the body present their affiliation credentials and the associated leaders of their organization. I am of Jakes, Osteen, Dollar, Sheard, etc…in the Pauline voice, “this ought not be”.  Beloved consider that admiration should never become worship...

  1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. - 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.    -1 Corinthians 2 God bless and happy hump day! Beloved as I read these scriptures this morning the phrase that came to my heart was “back to the basics.” The Apostle Paul while expressing himself went forth in an attempt to reset those who accursed him. Coming just short of hiding his tremendous gifts, he wanted the people to not consider how God had over his life prepared him for ministry, but the basic message.  That message transcends gifts, abilities, talents, life experiences and all else. Simply Christ, the propitiation for our sins, loved us received stripes for us, shed His blood and gave His life for us.  Sometimes as a Pastor somewhat educated I must go back to the basic message of the gospel because it is that base, basic message...

  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. -Matthew 6:1-2 Good morning and Terrific Tuesday. The scriptures above is looking out on a present day society full of opportunities and the equipment readily available for self promotion.  Nary a device exist that does not take video and or pictures. Cameras exist on traffic control devices, in retail security systems, and home security systems, capturing our every move.   This said even if public media collectors doesn’t capture your act, you can stage and capture your own alms via personal devices.  Some are particularly talented and use their gifts meticulously to get us to “look at them”.    What seemed to be selfless acts are seen for what they are, shameless public image building.  Even with these challenges before us the powerfu...

  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: -Matthew 7:13 Good morning and Happy Monday. I know very well this road and gate of destruction the Lord speaks of.    It is a path of broken hearts, broken promises, deceitfulness and more.  In this parable Christ identifies two gates and the roads leading to them. One is a a wide road leading to a wide gate. A wide road needs a wide gate because the traffic on the road is heavy and covers the width of that road.  This world travels on that wide road and through that wide gate often called the gate of perdition (hell).  The narrow gate or strait gate is the one which leads to Christ.    Those who have denied self, carried their assigned cross (burden) will travel this narrow path and be greeted by the Lord with “well done, enter.” God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are wel...

  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler,  and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. -Psalms 18:2 Good morning and TGIF! Continuing on reviewing the scripture above. The same rock who builds a fortress and delivers you with strength and thus increases your trust, is not short as to be distracted by the turbulence of this world.  Reinforcements are readily available via a sounding horn. In Hebraic tradition the horn of battle is called a shofar. Though the shofar would be used for other purposes, all it’s uses centered around sounding an alarm.  The horn of salvation is reserved for the righteous. Though the unrighteous might sound an alarm, the righteous is a horn God answers.  The Lord has put virtually an Angel army at our defense. We must learn how to sound the horn. First be in right standing, learn how to use the horn and also when to sound it. Your righteousness produces a horn t...

  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. -Psalms 18:2 Good morning and Tremendous Thursday.  The scripture above is one of a group of declarations made by David when he was in despair and running for his life from King Saul.  The metaphors are rich in the simple comparison, while extremely impactful.  Let me build some thought around those metaphors.  A ROCK is stable, unmovable, a firm    foundation capable of supporting weight and can be built upon.  A FORTRESS are the walls that are built around and on the rock and in that safe place you can recover, be refreshed and nourished as the Lord delivers.  As the Lord DELIVERs He gives the added reassurance of being your buckler. A BUCKLER is a small shield used to provide up close personal protection. Being so close is similar to swaddling. For the sake of length I’ll finish t...

  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. -Psalms 1:3 Good morning and happy hump day. A recent ice storm showed its might in the city toppling many trees and disrupting electricity for over a week.  On the morning after the storm I was on a major street known for being outlined by an array of majestic trees, which towers over the passing traffic. Many of those great trees of immense mass and height toppled causing much damage.  While seeing these trees I took note of a grove of smaller trees that though they were weighed down yet they did not topple.  I also noted that those same trees were well taken care of by someone. This was a planned grove.  I thought then of the scripture above and how if we are immersed in a relationship with the Lord we are like those trees, watered, pruned, and producing.  Beloved be as those tre...

  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. -Psalms 37:23 Good morning and Terrific Tuesday.  One of my favorite songs is called “Order My Steps”… The song found it’s basis in the scripture above.  As Christians we are not perfect and therefore we make missteps. Our missteps occur when we want to walk our own way. When we think we have arrived and step out on pride and not faith.  The song continues saying “Guide me, Keep me, and show me your will. Those who state guide me and even keep me may do so with honorable intentions, but what makes many fall to the way side is when we clearly see His will and it calls for sacrifice on our part.  The steps a good man are so ordered in, not just near the Lord. Near allows room for self to make most decisions without input from the Lord.  So as we walk this path every now and then look at self to ensure you are walking in His path and not ordering your own steps.  God bless yo...

  When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out."                              -John 11:43 Good morning and Happy Monday to you.  Called out…The phrase called out brings images too mind of betrayal of the highest order.  Your heart automatically thinks of a close family, friend or even spouse who has presented you in a less than honorable way.  But surely as our perceptions of their intent may not be as we understood, the same was applicable to those in the time of Lazarus.  Some who saw the Lord walking to the place of Lazarus’ burial perceived the purpose of Christ was to mourn at the place of the burial.  But contrary to their lack of faith, the Lord spoke and the grave, even death gave up that which it had claim over.  Beloved as Christ called Lazarus out of the grave and deaths grip, He called you out when you accepted Him as Lord and Sav...

  4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. 5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he  is  the anointed of the LORD.- 1 Samuel 24 Good morning and TGIF. I can’t recall anytime that the Lord did not reveal the heir before the incumbent was replaced.   We find this truth revealed with Moses and Joshua, Eli and Samuel, Elijah and Elisha, even John the Baptist and Christ. And though each was revealed and anointed, they waited on appointment and not just acted on the anointment.  Though you may have been anointed, hee...

  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. -James 3:10 Good morning and Tremendous Thursday.  Surely the Bible is true as it accurately speaks of the power of the tongue.  The Apostle James captured the refrain of Proverbs 18:21 and affirmed the characteristic of the tongues ability and its power to build or destroy.  His contribution to that truth is the shame of such opposing power proceeding from the same mouth.  The mouth being an extension of thought life calls us to account for thoughts put forth in any median. It matters not where it is written, it matters more that it was written.  Beloved in the words of James, “this ought not be”. It is a warning that we would do well to adhere too. Think life so you will Speak life.  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to Interceding Christian Cent...

  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. -Psalms 91:4 Good morning and Happy Hump Day! On the other day I saw a cartoon that had a younger Hen sitting at a table with an older Hen at the opened refrigerator looking at some eggs.  The older Hen then said to the younger “If you and Ben want to have children, next time try sitting on them” (eggs).  Younger folk may not understand that it is the warmth or the swaddling that produces chicks and the chick even when hatched are rarely distant from the mother hen. They often come and crawl underneath her to get the comfort.  The chicks trust the wings of their mother knowing that in that place is security. In like manner as the children of the most high God we can trust Him because truth originates in Him.  The truth is His love provides protection and under His wings nourish ourselves in the comfort of knowing that He affirms us as His own...

  Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. -Psalms 61:1 Good morning and Terrific Tuesday to you. Prayer is as fundamental as any essential life sustaining element, arguably more.  The Bible does after all states that in Him we live, breathe and have our being. But what is prayers value if you have no faith in who you are praying too?  David called “a man after God’s own heart” was surely a champion of faith, yet here he is in this scripture supplicating to the Lord.  Oh how much more blessed are that though we supplicate we have an advocate in Christ. One who testifies that we are sealed in Holy Spirit.  Yes the Lord does hear all conversations to include prayers, but attends to the prayers of those found in Christ. Those outside ride on, but not in grace.  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to Interceding Christian Center (ICC) using our cash app $int...

  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; -Luke 18:1 Good morning and Happy Monday!  Prayer is always in order. The Lord provided for us the antidote to our woes.  What many do not understand is that though Jesus gave us the keys, one thing for sure that will not be restored until (Shiloh comes) is what Adam and Eve had which was clear instant communication.  There was an instant exchange of words between the divine and the natural. Our current prayers character is supplication.  A supplication involves repentance, asking for forgiveness, a shedding of the influence of this world and invoking.  Invoking is a character of the supplicatory  Prayer. It is an invitation. Before the garden fall God didn’t have to be invited, He walked in the garden that He had given Adam dominion over.  Now we supplicate, invoke and plead. But there will come the day that all things will be back in order and we wil...

  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: -Matthew 7:24 Good morning and TGIF. I was up early this morning and the Lord said avoid false foundations.  As I meditated to get clarity, I heard “Those who build foundations to support their own revelations, aspirations, and personal goals; their foundations fall when the real weight of an ungodly cynical world takes a seat”.  You cannot build false walls or roofs on a real foundation, nor build real walls and roofs on a false foundation.  Beloved do not let the glitter of the world blind you from the truth…false falls. What is false in your life, friends, self perception,  Identity, hope, etc will eventually fall.  There is only one foundation whose building material is all power, love and grace. Get in covenant with the Lord and your foundation will be solid.  Go fellowship this Sunday, we all need it.  God...

  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh,  despise dominion,  and speak evil of dignities. -Jude 8 Good morning and tremendous Thursday to you. Despising dominion…hmmm let’s look at the word despise. The word despise is a word meaning to hate with a passion.  Dominion despisers are always at odds with authority. In fact they hate authority and anyone who represents it. As authority represents divine order and ungodly rebellion opposes order.   Dominion is another word for governance. Governments are usually put into place for the security of all with laws to protect socially, physically and general happiness of all. Those who despise dominion are also lawbreakers and other traits as (2 Timothy 3:1-4) describes.  That said, many advocate for a softer approach towards the dominion mandate.  Things such as refusing to serve in government, providing for family, selfish attitudes as well are despising dominion.  Beloved the first gif...

  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and   speak evil of dignities .  -Jude 1:8 dig-ni-ty (noun) The state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect. A sense of  self-respect Good morning and happy hump day.  Let’s look at Jude 8 some more. The word dignity means a decent, acceptable, purposed, position.  A dignitary has the attribute of dignity and dignity in this sense is not pride as much as it is part of a governance set forth of by God. Those who despise dominion further speak evil of those in authority.  There is a divine order set in place by God and we are to respect and not attempt to usurp what has been established.  Some do so based on their own preferences. Let’s say in politics; whether you voted for or approve who is in any office you must respect them.  Respect isn’t to reverence them, “Michael brought not railing accusations against Satan” (Jude) or “when he (demon possessed man) saw J...