The Good News

(Formerly Howard Priors Studies in the Word)

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. (Psalm 26:7)

Year 14 - Issue 4

and tank mechanic. He spent time both here and abroad, with honorable discharge. Following that time he had full a career as mechanic. After his retirement he became an active local trader and tractor restorer.

Our readers may be familiar with the Christian teacher, pastor, author, and coach, Chip Ingram. His mission is to help

On April 12 the family of Guy Jackson gathered at our home to celebrate his 90th birthday. Fifty-one family members were present, coming from as far away as Canada and Georgia. Dad Jackson is Lindas father. believers around the world move from spiritual spectators into healthy, authentic disciples of Jesus. Chip can be found at http://livingontheedge.org . He spoke at our Saturday and Sunday services on the subject: Spiritual Warfare 101: What is the Invisible War? Midway through we noted youth with their Bibles on front row seats. All intently listened to his presentation! Another answer to prayer: Our readers who know Central Ohio are aware of how unpredictable our April weather can be. When we scheduled Dad Jacksons party in February we trusted God to give us an outside day April 12 so our unheated garage could be used for seating space. God gave us a 73 degree sunny day! As

SOME OF HIS GRANDCHILDREN

Dad Jackson is a WWII veteran. He served in the US Army twice. During his service tenure he trained as a sharpshooter

Bill & Linda Prior 1335 Bluejack LN Heath Ohio 43056-8224 (740) 323-1080 priorgroups@gmail.com http://goodnews4you.weebly.com/

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Year 14 Issue 4

bonus He created beautiful, bright-colored flowers that burst forth in our flower beds! All who were there enjoyed a perfect day for a super dad and grand-dad! Our grow groups continues to grow! New members are added both on campus and home study. Some have special connections to Israel. Through connections a very special event came about. See the section titled Musings. Supplementing his daily Bible study, Bill just completed the book Mercy Beyond Measure. That book, co-authored by Kurt Salierno and Barry Shafer, chronicles Kurts homeless life experiences while attending Warner Pacific College, Portland, OR. Kurt lived much of the time among the homeless street people. His presentation of their lives and thinking, which is foreign to most folks blessed with living the American dream, is a great study for anyone called to minister among the less fortunate. Kurt vividly describes significant barriers that retard or prevent adequate and ongoing communication and, also, the reason ministry conducted within the walls will likely never reach these souls. Thanks to our son Kreig for lending us the book!

About ministries that are beyond the ordinary of most Christians in America, may we be reminded again of how Jesus and the early church took the precious Gospel to the world about. They went to the peopleand lived among the people. Recently we had the privilege of hosting Jessica Rivera Shafer in our home. This sweet Christian lady has a world-wide audience for her awesome singing voice and presentation skills. As people get to know her they see Christ. Shes a wonderful testimony of His love! Well close this segment with praise to the protecting power of God! While leaving the Coshocton County courthouse last month, Bill quickly walked the connecting sidewalk. But he didnt see the two steps midway and fell, face first, onto the concrete. His glasses were destroyed; but the glass didnt break! Other than receiving a bloody nose, sore knees, blackened eyes, and some skin abrasions he was uninjured by the accident! His only missed schedule was that evening! We believe in the song that begins: So many reasons, why I love the Lord, so many reasons I cant count them. So many reasons

Our Love,

Bill & Linda Prior

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Year 14 Issue 4

action word. In this context it goes beyond knowing Jesus. Abundant Scripture texts confirm the devil knows Jesus. The use of the word believes in this context implies belief to the point of having full trust and confidence in Jesusand commitment. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19) These Words of Jesus describe the real source of the condemnation upon humans. Its self-inflicted! Why so? Its because their love is being grossly misdirected to be a love for darkness/error. Under Gods Plan the love we possess is to be directed towards truth (light). When Gods human creation goes against truthand chooses to put mans ideas first in their love, it equates to having a love for darkness rather than light. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (John 3:20) Here Jesus explains why it is not easy for His servants to carry the light of God to a sin-loving world. Evildoers will hate whatever exposes their sin. They know that if they would come to the light it would bring them to the point of deciding which path to follow. There is no justification for choosing darkness rather than light. Consider the endand know. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:21)

The overarching theme in this continuing Bible study in the Book of John is that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah. Hes the promised Son of God! Wonderful eternal life comes to all who truly believe in Jesus!

For God so Loved the World

[As presented in the previous lesson: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3)]
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Life Eternal comes through Gods eternal love for His creation. The world really deserves His condemnation, yet He, in loving mercy, gives all a way to receive His love and escape His wrathto be kept safe and secure in His love forevermore! He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18) To best understand these Words of Jesus, consider each action component of the sequence. He (meaning us) that believes on Him (Jesus) has escaped Gods condemnation. Believes is an

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Year 14 Issue 4

Jesus now switches to the positive, speaking of the attitude of the person who walks in truth. That person desires light. He is one who will not be ashamed to have his deeds made public; examined in the light of the Gospel, and assured to be of God. He desires growth in/through God.

whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. John the Baptist is a son of the Jewish priest Zechariah. In those days priests (and heirs) were assigned the duty of ensuring purification. Purification resulted from closely following specific rites and rituals. Baptism is symbolic of purification. The Jews of that day were quite keen on making certain their religion was not being blasphemed in any way. They apparently had begun to receive Johns baptism as an accepted rite of purification. However, Jesus and His disciples may not have been viewed the same way as John (Rabbi) was by those Jews. Note their question to John is about purifying. They also mentioned drawing power. The answer John gave to their inquiry is solid gold in its message. John said A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. The entire history of the Jewish faith actually was built on that very same foundational premise. Every time their forefathers moved forth on their own it led to failure and nothing. But when they received God and His Ways they were successful. The soon-to-come foundation for the Christian faith, as initiated by Jesus, would likewise be built on that very same premise!

John the Baptist Exalts Christ

After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24For John was not yet cast into prison. (John 3) Jesus and His disciples now left the metropolis of Jerusalem to journey into the country area of Judea. There they baptized those who believed, as did John. (In His role as a forerunner to Jesus) Note an obvious contrast. While He had remained in Jerusalem, Jesus encountered those who thought they knew God the Fatherbut they wouldnt accept the Son as Gods elect. Now away from the temple area, there were people who came forward as believersand were baptized into the Faith. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to
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Our love, Bill & Linda Prior

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Year 14 Issue 4

Editor Musings
My favorite time of year is Easter! As a child it was so exciting to participate in preparationand then attend the Easter Sunrise Service. It was a time of rejoicing in renewal; even new clothing. We excitedly gathered with other believers to remember the empty tomb and praise God that He has (and is) Risen! I will never ever forget those happy times!

This New Covenant has made it possible for me, a sinner lost and hopeless, to enter into His rest! Hallelujah! There are many ways to commemorate the divine remembrance ordinances that Jesus instituted during His time on earth. Recently we were attended a Passover Commemoration Service; a service advertised to be similar to the Last Supper with disciples and Jesus, all being Jews. The service and presentation was led by Rabbi Howard Silverman, a Messianic Jew who accepts Jesus Christ as his personal savior. He gave to us both the Jewish faith and the Christian faith perspective about the Passover events that Jesus had hosted before He was tried and crucified. It was a nice evening of expanded learning!

Many churches today do not teach the true essence of Easter as we did back then. Some have even substituted folklore, such as the Easter Eggsor the so-called Easter Bunnyto entertain the younger crowd. Multitudes in America are failing quite badly at teaching the essential truths in the Word of God to our next generation. God demands far more than for us just to take Him lightly. He places ETERNAL LIFE decisions into our hands! God loves us so much that He sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Yet for us to enter into His rest, we must have faith in His Son Jesus and truly want His Spirit to be in us, to lead and guide us in all truth. I have lived through seventy-three Easters. No two were alike; yet the Easter message is unchanged! It was at that time, over two thousand years ago, when Jesus lovingly perfected a New Covenant between God and His human creation!

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God has deep desire for His people to recall and remember the essence of His abiding love for His own. Here are some highlights the Rabbi shared about God: The first Passover is historical fact. Through it the Children of Israel were fully delivered from Egyptian bondage (which also is symbolic of slavery-like bondage by sin). God had ordered His people, by specific instructions, to faithfully teach every generation of all the happenings that led to their miraculous deliverance (see Exodus Joshua for details/results). In Jewish tradition, the Passover is the oldest of biblical Festivals. Initially it consisted of scripture recitation together with the serving of unleavened bread (matzah), lamb, and bitter herbs. Over the centuries since, Jewish faith had added in tradition and other foods to be part of their Passover Seder (order of service); with a goal of enhancing the retelling of Gods faithfulness and redemption to His people. Space will not permit me to describe in detail the extensive, special preparations that a practicing Jewish home will make in readying the home for the Passover. Suffice it to say that although my family has hosted many special events, our preparations were never to the exactness and thoroughness of what was explained. Each ceremonial component (and each placement) has symbolic meaning linking to God and/or what Israelites experienced during or before their exodus from Egypt. Here are a few examples of their preparation forand in Passover Week: 1. Prior to the Passover period, an extensive search is made throughout the home to eradicate any traces of leaven (sin).

2. The bringing of light to the table is by woman (birth of Christ). 3. The celebration of deliverance (Egyptand later, deliverance from sin through the Son). 4. The celebration of joy (a result of deliverance). 5. The celebration of purification (Sanctification through Jesus). 6. The remembrance of suffering (how God made His Nation). 7. The breaking of unleavened bread (body and Trinity roles). 8. The freedom from bondage (the free gift brought through Christ). 9. The teaching of children (why?- questions and answers) 10. The Exodus (what took place and how/why God did it). 11. The cup of judgment (the plagues that led to deliverance). 12. The bread of life (manna, then Jesus the fulfillment of the Law). 13. Bitter herbs (tears/reminder of Judas, the traitor participant) 14. The cup of redemption (for the blood of the New Covenant). 15. The cup of acceptance (the unity we may have with God). However you choose to celebrate the earth-changing resurrection of Jesus --- the living Son of God --- with that awesome life He brings to all who will receive Him, may your joy in it be full! May you do well in your preparation for that eternal life that follows mortal death. Remember, Gods promises are forever true. His love is unfailing. It is a perfect love!