Author: Jacinta da Cruz Rodgers

I have been committed to teaching the truth of the Word of God beginning with Trans World Radio on Bonaire, N.A and Swaziland, Africa (1969-1980), then through churches in the United States in both English and Portuguese and then through ministry in Israel (2005-2006). This ministry continues through local Bible studies and outreach to the world via the internet. I have written a book about my life from that of an orphan in Brazil to missionary in 5 countries. You can find out more on the "Book" page of our blog site.

Children of Light

Peace and safety will bring sudden destruction according to Paul to the letter to the Thessalonians. No one heard of such thing, for we all desire peace and safety, especially in our days, when the world is unsafe and chaotic. We must understand that “peace and safety” at the end of times, will be a sign of sudden destruction, as the church of YAHSHUA will be taken from it all.

World’s chaos has been created by a controlling and powerful small group of people, so that it will heavily depend on them to function. While there is political order in the world, there will never be possible for them to implement their plan. It is only when the countries are in chaos through wars and other means that they will surrender their sovereignty and they will take over the world as one. The Bible predicts this event coming to all that inhabits the earth. The entire world will surrender to one world order of government and religion. The antichrist and the false prophet will control all the aspects of government and religion. As it were in the days of Nebuchadnezzar when he forced all to worship his statue, so it will be then, when a statue will be erected in the image of the antichrist and forced all to worship it. Those who will reject the idea, will be killed. There will be no way of escape alive. Technology has been developed in part for purpose as surveillance of everyone, for a while now. So, there will be no way out for those who refuse to worship the Beast. Freedom lost today, will be non-existent freedom of tomorrow. When children of Light will be gone from this world, the presence of the Holy Spirit will be taken with them. The remnant Jews- four hundred forty-four thousand will carry the message of the Gospel to those left behind under the power of the Holy Spirit, Who will still operate in this world through them.

Many people today call themselves Christians according to their own way, not that of Christ. YAHSHUA so expressed their fate: Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven; many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And I will say to them openly, Never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly (Matt. 7:22-23). They are not sons of Light, but of darkness and destined to perdition, unless they repent even in the time of tribulation through the preaching of the Gospel by the Jewish remnant. They will suffer persecution and pay with their lives, because they rejected the Lord in time of salvation. This is a time of deceit and it will get worse, bringing great confusion.

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YAHSHUA, the First Born of the Dead

And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake (II Corinthians 5:15).

The ministry of reconciliation between God and men cost the life of YAHSHUA, for it was done by the shedding of His own blood. Reconciled with God, men are forgiven and given the position of God’s sons and daughters. We became God’s firstborn and part of the harvest of souls. But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead, and He became the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep; for since through a man that death [came into the world, it is] also through a Man that the resurrection of the dead [has come]. Therefore, if any person is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! But all things are from God, who through YAHSHUA Messiah reconciled us to Himself and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation. It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against their trespasses and committing to us the message of reconciliation (I Cor. 5:17-19).

YAHSHUA died and was raised for the sake of those who live for Him. That is, who had been born again. His resurrection foreshadows the resurrection of believers at the time when He calls us up to heaven. The Prophet Isaiah prophesized saying, “Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for Your dew is as the dew of the dawn; and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits” (Isa. 26:19). The redemptive work of YAHSHUA would be incomplete without His resurrection. Had He remained in the grave, we would be without hope and doomed to hell. Paul said, “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen; and if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is devoid of truth and is fruitless; and further, those who have died in Christ have perished; if we who are [abiding] in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all people most miserable and to pitied. But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead, and He became the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. For since through a man that death [came into the world, it is] also through a Man that the resurrection of the dead [has come]. For just as in Adam all people die, so also shall all in Christ be made alive But each in his own rank and turn: Christ is the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at His coming” (I Cor. 15:13-14;16-23)

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Simon and the Cross

Beaten beyond recognition, weak, bones out of joint, His heart was like wax; softened; His strength was dried up like a fragment of clay pottery, so thirsty He was that His tongue cleaved to his jaws (Ps 22:15). That’s how YAHSHUA was found after they scourged Him merciless. At the right time, a man called Simon was coming from in (Jerusalem) from the country, when they laid on him the cross and made him carry it behind YAHSHUA. (Luke 23:26). I wonder if he knew what was going on that day, with YAHSHUA accompanied by soldiers and a host of people behind Him. Did he even know who YAHSHUA was, since he lived in a “Greek city in the province of Cyrenaica. This was a place where 100,000 Judean Jews had been forced to settle in 323-285 BC.” (Wikipedia). He was the father of Alexander and Rufus, who together with their mother were saved. Nothing is said in the Bible concerning Simon’s relationship with YAHSHUA. His name is of Jewish origin, but that does not confirm that he was a Jewish man. We read that he was made to carry the cross behind the Lord. That reminds us of YAHSHUA’S teaching about following Him; one must deny self, take up the cross and follow Him. Simon, here was doing what he was told to do, without realizing the deep meaning that was hid in that event. First of all, the cross he was carrying was not YAHSHUA’S. That cross was his and the world’s. Simon unaware of all the spiritual meaning of what was happening, was representing the world’s spiritual condition and in need of a Savior to save it. That cross signified a curse. The Bible says “Cursed is everyone who is hung on the tree (cross). Christ purchased our freedom from the curse of the Law by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (Gal. 3:13). Simon was carrying a curse we all were under. Since Simon could not liberate us from it, YAHSHUA took it when arriving to the place for the sacrifice by means of crucifixion. That’s all Simon could have done, for he too needed a Savior to free him from the curse.

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He Makes Me to Lie Down

Life is for many of us a go, go without making time to ponder on its spiritual consequences. The physical part of life demands without excuses. People work three jobs to meet the everyday needs. Not making time for enough rest or sleep to restore the body’s energy. Life is without a doubt a run, run 24/7 for some. Like robots disregarding the importance of caring for the body, people live under the influence of having to work for things, in many cases to pay for unnecessary accumulated debts. We Christians follow the way of the world, sinking into the love of things as well. They are the sheep who strayed from the way that led them to a closer relationship with God. The Bible, yes, their Bibles lie collecting dust, while they find time to go to church once a week to appease their conscience. YAHSHUA, our Shepherd, faithfully leads with His staff and His rod, calling all to hear and follow Him. Always providing, always listening to the needs of His sheep.

He even gave His life to save them from eternal destruction, offering forgiveness and restauration of their soul to unite with Him. He says, I am the good shepherd. The good Shepherd risks and lays down His life for the sheep; “I am the good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own knows Me- even as [truly as] the Father knows Me and I also know the Father- and I am giving My [very own] life and laying it down on behalf of the sheep” (John 10:11,14-15). That’s the love our Shepherd has demonstrated to us.

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Then Came the Morning to the Life of Job

This is an interesting and to us a controversy story about a just and blameless man under a test proposed by Satan to God. He was from the land of Uz. He possessed a host of sheep, camels, oxen, donkeys and a very great body of servants (Job 1). He feared God and shunned evil. He was a wealthy man, but not one prideful and selfish. His life was always a light to his world. God took notice of it and said to Satan: “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and abstains from and shuns all evil; and still he holds fast his integrity although you moved Me against him to destroy him without cause” (Job 2: 3). At Satan’s request, God allowed him to touch Job with the death of his family, destruction of his proprieties and disease on his entire body. As a matter of fact, he was disfigured beyond imagination. To that his friends lifted up their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and they cast dust over their heads toward the heavens (Job 2). Job used a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself, and he sat down among the ashes. His ordeal continued for a long time. His wife suggested him to renounce God and die. In time, his friends from pity to the pointing of the finger, blamed him for his situation.

The time of his illness became a debate time among Job and his friends. He defended himself by saying, “Surely, I wish to speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue and reason my case with God” (Job 13:3); “though He will slay me, yet will I wait for and trust Him”. (Job 13:15). “Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and He who vouches for me is on high” (Job 16:19); “Oh, that there were one who might plead for a man with God and that he might maintain his right with Him as a son of man pleads with or for his neighbor” (Job 16:21); “I was living at ease, but [Satan] crushed me and broke me apart; yes, he seized me by the neck and dashed me in pieces; then he set me up for his target; his arrows whiz around me. He slashes open my vitals and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground; he stabs me making breach after breach and attacking again and again; he runs at me like a giant and irresistible warrior; I have sewed sackcloth over my skin and have defiled my horn in the dust” (Job 16:12-15).

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The Glory of the Gospel in YAHSHUA’S Face Overwhelmed the Glory of the Law in Moses’ Face

(Exodus34:28-33; II Corinthians 3:10-18)

“Shekinah Glory is a visible manifestation of God on earth, whose presence is portrayed through a natural occurrence. The word shekinah is a Hebrew name meaning “dwelling” or “one who dwells”. Shekinah Glory means “He caused to dwell,” referring to the divine presence of God. It is the majestic presence or manifestation of God in which He descends to dwell among men. Whenever the invisible God becomes visible, and whenever the omnipresence of God is localized, this is the Shekinah Glory.”

Ref: Christianity.com, What is the meaning of shekinah glory Biblestudytools.com, The abiding presence of God.

When our Lord and Savior came to earth as a baby, a bright star shone in that dark night announcing His birth. That was a very special star. The Magi of those days well understood the meaning of that star and took years traveling to meet the King that star was pointing to. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, (the shepherds) and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them and they were terribly frightened; but the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord! (Luke 2:11). The Shekinah Glory of the Gospel is YAHSHUA incarnated, bringing forgiveness to all who will receive Him as Lord and Savior- as the Son of God. John testified about Him and cried out, This was He of Whom I said He Who comes after me has priority over me, for He was before me. For out of His fullness, we have all received one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift, for while the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through YAHSHUA Messiah. (John 1:15-17).

When God came to mount Sinai, in His holiness, He came to establish the law with all its demands and consequences to covenant with Israel. The Bible says, Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord Descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. (Exodus 19). God showed Israel His holiness, as never they had seen before. He said to Moses, Write these words, for after the purpose and character of these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel; Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he ate no bread and drank no water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tables of the testimony in his hand, he did not know that the skin of his face shone and sent forth beams by reasons of his speaking with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone and they feared to come near him…Afterword, all Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all the Lord had said to him in Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. The Israelites saw the face of Moses, how the skin of it shone; and Moses put the veil on his face again until he went in to speak with God (Exodus34).

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America, in the Hands of a Righteous God

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually, and the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at heart; so the Lord said I will destroy, blot out, and wipe away mankind, whom I have created from the face of the ground- not only man, [but] the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air- for it grieves Me and makes me regretful that I have made them (Genesis 6). However, Noah was found righteous before the Lord; he and his family were saved from the flood which destroyed the entire earth. Many years of Noah’s warning the people of the coming judgment from the Lord, didn’t turn their hearts to God. Consequently, God destroyed everything, man, vegetation, and animals through a great flood. He preserved the animals, which came to Noah on the last days before the flood came. After Noah and his family, together with the animals entered the ark, the rain started to fall; people assembled together to plead with Noah to open the ark; Noah then answered them with a loud voice, saying, “Have you not all rebelled against the Lord, and said that he does not exist? Therefore, the Lord brought upon you this evil, to destroy and cut you off from the face of the earth” (Jasher 6:18-19).

The Bible says that the Lord is longsuffering and compassionate. Amazingly so! Reason why the world has not been destroyed. Time and time again, God sends prophets, preachers, and messengers to warn of coming judgments, so men will repent and be saved from the destruction. He spared Nineveh, an Assyrian wicked city at the last moment, in which more than 120,000 persons did not know their right hand from their left, and also many cattle (Jonah 4:11). God was concerned even for His creation as in the animals, not accountable for sin. Sodom and Gomorrah and other cities became exceedingly wicked before the Lord. They provoked Him through their abominations; their wickedness was great before the Lord. The time came when the Lord rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heavens. He overthrew, destroyed and ended those cities, and all the valley and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But God saved Lot and his family by removing them from the path of the city’s destruction.

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There Is a Refuge in Praise and Worship

The word refuge, among many other definitions, has a spiritual meaning in which we submerge in faith seeking God In our troubled days. It is also a physical place where we can hide from enemies in times of wars, coming our way. Psalm 46:1-3 says, God is our refuge and strength, a very present and well proved help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, through the earth should change and though the mountain be shaken into the midst of the seas, though its waters roar and foam, through the mountains tremble at its swelling and tumult. God, as our refuge, is impenetrable. Nothing is stronger and greater than He is. A lighthouse from a distance assures us of a refuge, well built, with a light that illuminates the areas of danger. As a matter of fact, YAHSHUA is our lighthouse. Praise and worship were the way that God instructed the Israelites to fight their battle against three countries, as in the Moabites, the Ammonites, and with them the Meunites while Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. Battling fear and uncertainty, he determined to seek God by proclaiming a fast in Judah. He prayed, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In Your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand You. Did not You, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before You people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend?” (II Chron. 20:1-7).

As the nation of Judah sought the Lord for deliverance, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and he said, “Hearken, all Judah, you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat. The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down to them, Behold, they will come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the ravine before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You shall not need to fight this battle; take you positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord, [Who is] with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you…” After consulting with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy garments as they went out before the army, saying, GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD; HIS MERCY AND LOVING-KINDNESS ENDURE FOREVER. As soon as they started singing, the Lord set ambushments against the men of Amon, Moab and Mount Seir (II Chro. 20:1-22). As King David, so Jehoshaphat, followed His steps and found refuge in the presence of the Lord; praise and worship offered to the Lord saved them from a multitude of enemies, who had come to destroy them. “God inhabits the praise of His saints.” In no way will He forsake them in their destresses as they seed Him with worship and adoration. The army of the Lord is powerful when God goes before them. The weapons of praise and worship to Him will take over the enemy, be it anything that disturbs our peace and health.

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The Past Remembered Through Twelve Stones

When Israel left Egypt under the leadership of Moses and his brother, Aaron, they were a multitude of people of which God created a nation for Himself. The first challenge they faced was the Red Sea in front of them, the Egyptian’s army behind and mountain. They all constituted challenges of great proportion, impeding the journey planed by God. Moses, however calmed them saying, “Fear Not; stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest”. (Exodus 14:13-14). All through their journey to the Promised Land, Israel experienced the supernatural, for God’s plan was going to be completed amidst all their troubles. From the parting of the Red Sea for them to go through on dry land, to water provided through the rocks to satisfy their thirsty, to food falling from heaven, called mana; for forty years their clothes and shoes did not wear out; they experienced the presence of God on Mount Sinai, when He Himself came down and touched the mountain, to covenant with them, leaving the mountain wrapped in smoke; Israel heard His audible voice and feared Him greatly (Exo. 19). Those were forty years God used to make a nation out of them, a nation like no other nation, whose God was their King.

Psalm 78 gives a report of Israel’s journey through the desert, God’s provision and their rebellion against Him. Psalm 107, the psalmist calls to attention the need for us to give thanks to the Lord, as He reminds Israel of God’s goodness in all Israel’s pilgrimage through the desert to the Promised Land. Verse 20 we read, “He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction; OH, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men” (20-21). At the end of his life, Moses predicted Israel’s faithlessness. He said, “For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days because you will do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands (Idolatry)” (Deut. 31:29). Israel provoked Moses at the water of Meribah and quarreled with the Lord. Moses struck the rock twice instead of one time he was commanded to do. For that, he was not allowed to lead the people into the promised Land. (Deut. 20:10-13; 3:23-28).

Twelve stones of remembrance served as a testimony “that the hand of the Lord is mighty and that you may reverence and fear the Lord your God forever.” (Josh. 4:21b). Stones are silent witnesses of the present and the past. Israel’s pilgrimage left enough behind to be remembered. These stones would remind them of all the Lord had done for the nation for their children to know. They had arrived at the end of the road that would take them to the place promised many years ago. Their lives will now change; for they arrived home. Now they were given land to own and establish their lives with their families. A nation now they were considered. With these twelve stones reminding them, for sure that they would not forget their God. These stones remained pointing to them all the blessings of the past. However, they followed after other gods, as Moses prophesized. They were without excuses to forget forty years of experiencing miracles after miracles, and supernatural miracles.

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I, the Lord, Have Spoken

The emphasis in this phrase, “I. the Lord, have spoken” is strong enough for us to consider the veracity of the Bible. In the beginning of all things, while creating the world, It was His spoken word that brought existence to what He commanded be created. And so, it was that the world was created in six days and on the seventh, He rested. He was pleased with all that He had created. He had only to speak and the power of His words brought life and form in everything that He created. At the command of the Lord’s voice all subjected to Him. There was sun light to govern the day and moon to govern the night; Man was created in God’s image; and a beautiful garden was provided for him to live in and tend to. “When the Lord speaks the word that He will speak and the word that He shall speak shall be performed; it shall be no more delayed or prolonged, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and will perform it, says the Lord God.” The spoken word of God is powerful to perform that which He sends it for. Isaiah 55:10-11 says, “For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it”. The Bible says, “He Who promised is reliable and faithful to His word” (Heb. 10:23b). The Lord spoke to Jeremiah and said, “I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it” (Jer. 1:12b). That confirms that the written word of God is alive and powerful to perform His purposes and fulfills His promises.

The voice of the Lord thunders in power and might; it causes the ocean to rise in judgment. When He came down to Mount Sinai it was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace and the whole mountain quaked greatly; as the trumpet blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with a voice (Exodus 19:18-19). Then He spoke to the people of Israel in covenant with the nation, by giving them the ten commandments. They were all afraid when they perceived the thunderings and the lightenings, and the noise of the trumpet and the smoking mountain, and as [they] looked they trembled with fear and fell back and stood afar off (Exodus 20:18). Thunderings, lightenings, trumpet sounding, all represented the voice of the Lord in His holiness and power. Nor men, neither animals could stand at the foot of the mountain to face the physical presence of God, because of what nature became after sin entered the world. Sin, without a doubt, changed man and nature, causing them to be afraid of God and be separated from Him. “Hear, oh, hear the roar of His voice and the sound of rumbling that goes out of His mouth! After it His voice roars; He thunders with the voice of His majesty, and He restrains not when His voice is heard. God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend” (Job 37:2-5). The letter to the Hebrews gives us a warning concerning our lack of zeal for the word of God: It says, “Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest, that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience, for the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life and spirit, and of joints and marrow, exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart, and not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:12-13).

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