Word of Life Christian Ministries of Spring Grove

December 2009

October, 2009  

This Booklet was written after seeing all the things that people are doing with evil thoughts in mind and after hearing what kind of so called fun they had. Throughout my life this message of Halloween has moved through this world with progressively getting more evil and the grotesqueness is multiplying greatly.  I am not trying to criticize people for what they think is fun, but trying to show people that as we get used to evil it does get worse in our lives, in our nation and amongst the people today and even worse tomorrow and the days after that.

I was watching the news and a man who broke the law admitted to raping a you girl under the age of consent left the country to avoid prosecution and serve the time in jail that was about to happen, some years later he was arrested and not the community that he works in is in uproar over the authorities arresting him and wanting to punish him for that crime, he admitted he did the crime and because he is a genius in his field he and everyone else thinks he should get away with it, after all a long time has passed and that is punishment enough.

There is more examples of people forgiving when wrong is done, that we should over look. I think this stems from this harmless fun that takes place in the parties of Halloween where wrong is right and right is wrong. Just harmless stuff they say.

 May the peace of God be with you in the reading of this teaching? Be Blessed in the Name of Jesus.

Pastors Bruce and Bonnie Klowas

Halloween

Should we celebrate it even if we call it a Christian name?

     Halloween is beginning to attract many more people. Even Christians are celebrating this holiday. It is also attracting more people into dabbling into the occults.

     Do you know that our early founders, the pilgrims banded Halloween in America Did they know something back then? This day was not celebrated again in America until 1845. How did Halloween come back into existence in America again? It is like how Satan made Eve in the Garden of Eden believe it was alright for her to do what she did. He makes us believe it is right for us to participate in celebrating his day called Halloween. This is why we are celebrating Halloween again. There was a flood of Irish and Scottish immigrants to America, they brought with them their ways and old Druid holidays and customs. Halloween was one that gradually spread through this land. You see that Satan had people open this door again and then he moved in quickly to take control of his day.

Where did Halloween Begin?

         It began before Christ among the Celtics people (Britons, Gaul’s, Scots, and Irish). This was an end of summer’s celebration with sacrifices to Samara (Shaman) He was the lord of death and evil spirits. This also celebration marks the Celtic New Years. Early celebrations were held by the Druids to honor Shaman on Nov. 1. The Celtics consider Nov. 1 the day of the DEAD. They believe their sun god was losing his strength and dying. Shaman was growing stronger and overcoming this sun god. They also believe that Shaman on October 31 assembled the spirits of all who died during that year and on this day were allowed to return to their homes to visit the living.

      There was a “holy” day that celebrated the saints of the faith called “All Saints Day”. Those who chose to worship the dark side perverted the holiday and combined it with their cultic worship. They took the hallowed which means holy or blessed and made an anti holiness evening that began at midnight and lasted till dawn, to honor those who were not sanctified, and even “unholy”.

 There are three Holidays that are designed for kids

        They are Christmas, Easter and Halloween. Two of these holiday’s are where we make believe that someone who knows all we do (good or bad) and is good, gives to our children, family, neighbors, and friends gifts.

      Halloween is the one that portrays a day that you go out and tell people, mostly friends and neighbors, if you don’t give me a “Treat”, I will “Trick” you. In actuality, they are telling you, if you don’t give them something good, that we like, we will do something bad to you. Those that think this is harmless fun, think again.

       All year long you discipline and correct your children for doing wrong to others, and on Halloween, you allow your children to go out and trick or treating someone. Then we say this is OK to do on this day, because it is was all in fun.

Double Standard

     In the beginning this may seem harmless fun, but as time goes on, the children get older; things get more violent and destructive; like throwing eggs on cars and buildings causing many dollars in damage. In young adulthood they begin to participate in rituals like Ouija boards, fortune telling and séances in the name of fun. Some adults are getting angry and putting razors, poison and drugs into the treats, they give out, harmless fun, right. Well, friends in Christ, I want to let you know that you are opening yourself up to let the devil in! All he needs is a small opening and he can and will put both feet in.

To show you how Satan Works

He is sneaking in the church for his control on this day. Christians may have a party with a Christian emphasis, but people still see its still Halloween, no matter how you sugarcoat it. Having the kids dress up like Bible characters, is this ok? Well there is always someone that comes as a devil or a witch because that too is in the Bible. What does the Bible say about this?  As our children go to the event planned, dressed in the biblical costumes, someone will say, “look how cute that child is dressed for Halloween”! Some churches have a day to party before or just after Halloween. So they can say that they don’t celebrate Halloween, but it still is a dress up day which attracts attention to Halloween. Christians say that they are celebrating the end of season, harvest day or something like that, but it brings light to Halloween.

Do you know what some of these symbols of the Druid gods are?

     Here is one of the symbols of this druid god? Can you guess it? The Grim Reaper, it is a ghostly skeleton all dressed in black with a hood over its head, hiding, holding a sickle in his hands and ready to cut down and destroy all things living, bringing death to them. There are many others having to do with death or graves, but this is the main one.

Who are the Druids?

Do you know someone that is obsessed with death?

     They are occult practitioners, witches of all sorts, warlocks, doctors’ lawyers, police, dads, and moms, any one that worships the dead and other ordinary people that is obsessed with the dark side of life.

Are there Druids today?

Are there still practicing Druids?

         Some say they are still practicing today! I believe they are right. You can find some of them meeting at Stonehenge on Halloween carrying on with their symbolic grotesque sacrifices with a symbolic person or animal. And it is even said that they are still today doing this with real babies and people, today.  Although they claim not to practice human sacrifices; they still practice the old rituals. I say these traditions are still being carried on today from what the news say today. Some say that they are carrying on with the rituals with people and animals, but there is no real proof it is happening just rumors. There are people charged with the sole responsibility of keeping the occult celebration of Halloween alive and in front of the media and people, making it all look so innocent. I ask you, are they doing their job today?

        You can answer this question yourself!  A former high satanic priest said and I quote “Halloween is purely and absolutely evil, and there is nothing we ever do or will do that would make it acceptable to the Lord Jesus”. Halloween is part of the occult today, this is their holiest holiday. Halloween is a day witches celebrate above all others. Witches and Satanists love this day. They get a lot of media coverage. Either good or bad they don’t care it is still bringing attention and coverage to them. This coverage goes on for months before this eventful day. This event starts earlier every year. This holiday use to begin around mid October and I saw this year in some stores beginning of September.  These witches try to portray this day in a good light. It also generates recruitments to their causes. Research shows this is a unholy night, with witches, covens, drinking alcohol and blood, spitting out curses and spells, conjuring up evil spirits, engaging in  sexual immoralities, exciting new members into a frenzy and offering up sacrifices real of make believe (human and animal).

Where did costumes come from?

         The Druids built a bonfire of oak branches, where they burnt animals, crops, and human sacrifices to their Singed or Shaman, god. During this ritual, they wore costumes of animal heads and skins. As this ritual progressed they looked for a sign from the fire or the struggling sacrifice in the fire that their god accepted their offering. They party and dance around to scare the evil spirits away. All of this was done to chase and fool the evil spirits away. Also many Halloween customs came from ancient Baal festivals. There were usually blazing fires with a need to offer a human sacrifice with these also. Now you know why so many costumes look like the dead. Today these costumes look more and more grotesque, just as they were in the beginning when the Druids celebrated the end of season.

Trick or Treat

         If the evil spirits were not scared away by these costumes, they looked for other ways to fool and appease that evil spirit. Treats of food and fruits were set out; if your treats were satisfying to the spirits and they accepted them there was no Trick. Oh by the way a trick was an evil spell put on you and your harvest.

Black Cats

           Black cats were chosen to sacrifice because they were suspected to be a disguise for the witches!

Bobbing for apples

        Romans were in solid control of the Celtics, they introduced a ceremony for the Celtic people, to honoring their false gods! Bobbing for fruit on top of water was created scaring them into submission. This is how bobbing for apples was started.

Jack O’ Lantern

         What is the meaning of this? One story is, Jack O’ Lantern, was named after a man who could go to neither heaven nor hell, as a result of this he was doomed to darkness with his lantern until judgment day.

Pumpkin Carving

       People also were afraid of the evil spirits, so they cut out fall fruits and foods, placing candles inside of them to tell the evil spirits they had a friendly and sympathetic place for these evil spirits, to eat and rest for their cause. Thus no harm would come to them or their homes at this time. This is the reason for Pumpkin Carving.

Witches are a thing of the past or are they

           No! Witchcraft is not only from the past, they are here today; going strong, recruiting and making this occultist activity grow by leaps and bounds. Many people and even Christians are drawn into occultism activities, without even knowing that they are being sucked in because they are weak and not fully following Jesus Christ. Witches are seeking media attention to portray themselves in a positive manner with wholesome values and watching out for this land. They want to be known as white witches, or good people.

My thoughts are or more important is what does our God say about this?

           In short, Halloween has put the emphasis on violence and evil things.  The costumes the children and adults are wearing today represent pure evil and designed as witches, skeletons, grim reapers, black cats, sex objects, devils, walking dead people and many more grotesque’ things. Halloween also puts the emphasis on fear and horror to scare you. Some say, the more blood shown, the better the costumes are. Costumes are becoming more realistic than ever. This is the day where the witches and Satanist recruit more new members; introducing them to the seamier side of the occult, a hook into the devil world so to speak.

         Do you think after hearing and reading this, we should have anything to do with this day. Should we celebrate Halloween in any way, shape, or form? I say, there are plenty of other days we can celebrate God goodness and not look like the world. We need to be praying for the people who do celebrate this day, telling them about Gods goodness, forgiveness, His glory and saving power, telling them the truth before this day. So, Satan can throw his party and no one will show up. I say, if we do this, we will be giving glory to GOD. On Halloween: the day Satan is fighting to control no one will show up but his followers. I don’t believe that we should do anything, but pray for those that have fallen in to this trap of Halloween. We shouldn't dress up in costumes as they do, but we as Christians, should be a witness of Jesus Christ, and an example to show that Jesus is Lord. We should not give Satan any attention! We should not dress our children and ourselves in costumes and pretend we are somebody that we are not. What makes us different from those that are Halloween partying with or to Satan, if we dress in costumes and look like them? People will still think that we are celebrating Halloween. People will not see the difference by looking at both of us, Christians and those who celebrate Halloween. The simple answer is; don’t do anything on this day, but pray for the lost souls. Don’t let Satan know, that we, the Christian world, accept this day, his day, Halloween in any shape or form. Do you want to open a door that will allow Satan come in? Do you want to open a door for your children in which they may not be able to close later in life?  Do we need to give honor to Satan and celebrate his day, Halloween, or whatever we want to call it?  I ask, would we ever see Jesus at a Halloween party, or dressed in a costume? Halloween parties are an abomination to the Lord!

Check out what GOD says for you.

Scriptures to read about this text

 The Holy Bible Says in these verses

Jeremiah 32:35

Deuteronomy 32:16-17

I Samuel 28:

John 3:16

John 3:18 & 36

Ephesians 5: 11

Galatians 5:20

I Corinthians 10:20

I Corinthians 10:31

John 14:6

Jeremiah 19:5

Acts 19:18-19

Exodus 20:3

Revelations 21:8

Exodus 22:18

James 4:7-8

Ephesians 2:8-9

Romans 10: 9-13

Deuteronomy 18:9-14

Judges 2:11-15

Bonnie and I would like to acknowledge the Booklet called The Dark side of Halloween for some of the pictures to illustrate what we are talking about.

 Previous Message

Freedom and the Standards of Jesus

 

2009 has just begun!

We need to take stock of our lives for this upcoming year,

2009.

We have to ask this question.

How is it between you and me God?

Well another year has come and gone.  What have we accomplished for the kingdom of God? Have you talked to God on a regular basis or even lately?  Has He been calling you? Are you a mirror image of Jesus?  Do people see you in a Godly way? What have you been doing to help people that have been put in your path get closer to Jesus and God?  Are you meeting the needs of those that would not ordinarily get to church or even grace the doors of one? Are we Christians reaching anyone or are we looking to get something from God such as wealth or personal gain? Is God asking, are you are reaching the poor and those that are down trodden? Are you doing God’s will? This is a new year with time to start afresh, will you?

Be Partakers.

Growing in the knowledge of God

2 Peter 1:3-13

As we know Jesus better, his power gives us everything we need for living a Godly life. He has called us to receive His own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, He has given us all His rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by the evil desires and you will share in His divine nature.

So, make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then, your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to Godliness. Godliness leads to the love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone.  The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What to do next?

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

John 13:17

Be determined to know more than others about what God’s will is for your life and do what He has asked. If you don’t cut the line that binds you to the dock;  you will not do anything until God brings a storm to severe for the dock and send you into the deep on a great swelling tide to get you to do his purpose and you still will do his will. And He still will be glorified.

Obedience or independence

 Our Lord insists on our obedience. He stresses very definitely what we ought to do, but He never forces us to do it.  Our independence can prevent us from doing what is right. It is the dependence that we have in Him that shows us what to do and when to do it. We need to make up our minds and do it sooner rather than later.

Emanuel, God is with us. He has promised in His word that He will never leave or forsake us. As God created Adam, the first man, (and with all He created); He said it was good, to validate what He had done. So, when you hear that you are not good enough to be something for God; remember, that is a lie. The Bible says that Satan is the father of all lies. We have choices to make every day to do it the right or wrong way. Let us continue to do it God’s way. The whole world is in trouble. People are running amuck. There are crimes being committed to everyone in the name of one god or another. The economy is falling down hill where no one is safe from losing everything they worked for, for years. Seniors, who thought that they would have a good life when they retired, are now going back to work just to pay their doctor bills. Banks are closing; auto companies are going bankrupt. Stores are closing, manufacturing companies are closing because they cannot borrow money to pay their employees, cities are spending more money than they take in. States are trying to borrow money to survive, countries owe their nations to their creditors, nations are going to war.  There is more. Food prices are going through the roof.  My friends, we are in trouble. What we need in the Christian community is spiritual renewal. We need all the believers to go back to the basics. Remember, renewal is for the Christian community and is to bring us back & closer to Christ. Do you want to get closer to Jesus; then, go to the Word of Life, God’s word, His Bible! In the Bible there is everything you need to grow in faith and holiness. The Word will draw you closer to Jesus so you can become more like Him, a mirror image of Jesus, spreading His holiness, love and grace to all you meet.

Is Jesus really the center of your life or is the world and the things of this world the center of your life? Many of the Christians I have met are more in the world than some non-believers are.   We need to unite as one body, to hold us strongly together so the evil one will not be able to divide us from Jesus and keep us from being strong with the power of God. You see, if we are divided, the devil has won the war; but united we have conquered sin and have the power to help others along the way.

My questions are to all of us, who do you want to serve today?   Do you want the true power of God to help deliver those that have fallen, and help win them back to Jesus?  Then, let us truly unite into one body in the name of Jesus and use His whole power together. Let us become the body of believers that Jesus wanted us to be. Let us Love one another as Jesus loves us.

Pastor Bruce 

True Preachers are sent by God.

True preachers are called by God and are sent to serve him. There are many different preachers and people delivering a message that may be Bible based.  There is some claiming to be His messengers and go around carrying a Bible. They also claim to uphold the teachings of God, but are not preaching the truth because the teachings they are bringing are at odds with The Word and one another. We, as preachers, fall into two categories; one is the true teller of the Word and second false tellers of the word (True or false preachers). I thought it was supposed to bring us (God’s people) closer to each other and to God. But some preachers seem to say they are the only way. God speaks to only them and they only have the answer to our needs or problems. We should listen to only them, or support them or their ministry only. Also, some say that there is a cost to follow Him. But who is he in this.  They say there is a cost for what God has for us and by supporting them and their ministry there will be great rewards because they hear from God. Well, I think this is false. There is a half truth here. It does cost to follow Jesus, but the rest is not true. There is a cost for what God has for us and it is not money. The Bible says “trust in Me (God) and I (God) will supply all your needs. Ask anything, if it is my will, I will supply all your needs, freely I (God) give, freely you get.  Meaning God will supply all I need if I only believe in Him. And He gives me this free. Yes, there is a price to pay for this freedom and endless supply from God. That is, you have to give up your sin nature (repent). Stop doing the same old things you did in the past. Follow Jesus Christ and be more like Him.    

True preachers, even with their imperfections and human nature are those who are true instruments sent by God. He has chosen them and given them the right to serve and worship Him and the hope and knowledge of being saved from eternal hell; going into the nations and bringing glory to God and not themselves.  Preach the good news to those that will listen and keep God’s word in their heart. They are not looking for rewards here on earth. Their only purpose is to bring glory to the One who sent them, God.

False Preachers, on the other hand, not withstanding their vows to serve God, are not sent by Him, because they have the look of service, but are only interested in bringing glory to themselves, by gathering up wealth, big homes, that is more than they will ever use or need and many more things that are too numerous to mention; saying God wants you and them to have them.  They read the Word of God from the Bible and never listen to that small still voice of The Lord and the Holy Spirit.  In my opinion, they are sent by the Evil one to lead people astray from God and into total destruction, by telling everyone that it is God’s will that all His people should be rich.  Another half truth: for you are already rich with all God wants for you by His Holy Spirit.

Certainly, not one of these preachers would ever admit that they are sent by the Evil One. Every one of these preachers would claim to be sent by God for His Divine purpose. Just because a person claims to preach the true gospel of salvation doesn’t mean we have to take his word for it. We must examine what the word says about that. Look in Heb 5:4 it says there “No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God. Just as Aaron was called by God, He calls His ministers”. Make a note that there is no other way that man can go and preach the true word of God unless he is called by God. This is a true honor and calling.  The honor you receive from God is the calling to serve God in the office of a preacher.

(Exod. 28:1). ”This was Aaron’s calling, and he also served as Moses’ spokesman to the people”.  

(Exod. 4:16). “To let the people know the will of God”.

This has been the way that God calls His people. First, He calls and elects the person, and then He teaches that person, and then He sends that person to preach, His words. God calls his messengers in various ways. Like Aaron, it was thru Moses who he had a face to face meeting, that Aaron was elected to serve. Then Joshua, who succeeded Moses in leading His people into the promised land; Joshua was given the authority through the laying on of hands by Moses (Deut 34:9).

This process still continues today in the Christian community. Through Jesus Christ the Son of God and the greatest messenger of God, that the Apostles were called first. Then they were taught by God and sent out to preach Gods word. Here are some examples of how God did this; Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men”.  The brothers immediately dropped everything and left to follow Jesus. As Jesus traveled on, He saw two other brothers, James and John sons of Zebedee, in the boat of their father mending their nets. Jesus called to them, and the same thing happened, they dropped everything and followed Jesus (Matt. 4:18-22). The Divine calling always comes before preaching; this is a prerequisite to preaching. No true preaching can take place unless the one that is preaching the Word has the Divine calling by God first.  

  I am expressing and emphasizing the importance of being called first before anyone can preach the Word of God because I am beginning to see more and more people in churches, on television and in various talk shows and in person. People are trying to preach what the Bible says and there is no Holy Spirit there. Some are even mocking the Word and God. On one talk show there is a make-believe preacher that tries to use the Word of God but is full of falsities, and other TV preachers are promoting their kingdoms, and there are churches and ministries that are doing the same with the people of their church. God calls his preachers first and then teaches then and sends them out to preach is to protect the people from being deceived by self appointed preachers, who are not authorized by God and simply raise themselves up to such self righteousness that they are a grave danger to the people who listen to them. People who listen to them need to heed the warning of the apostles against unscrupulous so- called preachers. Paul says, “We must not dare to class or compare ourselves with those that raise themselves up, for they are measuring themselves”. But they are measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves is not wise. For not who commends himself is approved by himself, but whom the Lord commends is approved by the Lord.

Many of these self-appointed preachers, flaunt the many degrees they have and the doctorates they have earned from the best universities, their long years of studying Gods word, the biblical scholarships and they are even seminary professors, with knowledge of the original languages and translations of the Bible.  But any minister or preacher that is not chosen by God is not approved by God, no matter how much learning you have. You can present all those Lambskins that you earned in school and may talk with grace and be a smooth talker, you are just condemning yourself before God, and will simply turn off those that hear him in spite of projecting an impressive image of themselves. The Bible says, “Without understanding they preach the word” (II Cor. 10:14). How would they make others understand what the Holy Scriptures says? They are not understanding the Word themselves by twisting it , they distort its meaning to their own destruction and bring others along with them, Especially those that do not study the Word or know what God is saying to them.

Even Christ with all his knowledge and unique attributes did not commend himself. His right to teach the Words of God came from God.  (John 7:16)  “It is written in the Word:  ‘so also Christ did not raise Himself to be made high priest, but was appointed by God who also said to Jesus, “Thou are My Son, today I have begotten thee”(Heb.5:5).  Jesus presented proof that He was sent by the God the Father. He read the prophecy where it said that he was sent to preach the good news (Luke 4:16-21).

Jesus was the one who was instrumental in calling others to preach the Word of God. Before Jesus sent them out, he appointed the disciples to the office first (Luke 10:1-3).   After that, Jesus appointed seventy others and sent them two by two into every city and place where Jesus was about to go. Jesus said, “The harvest is great but the laborers are few, therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest send laborers to help with the harvest. Go your way for I have sent you, put as lambs among wolves”. 

Why is it necessary for the one who preaches the Word of God really has to be sent by God? If those who are preaching are not sent by God, the preaching would not result in real faith for those who listen. False preachers that God has not called have been preaching, are preaching a wasted message. What these preachers are doing is worthless in the sight of God and only benefits them. Those who listen and believe in these preachers will not benefit from this preaching and not result in genuine faith, as Paul said “how can they believe in the One of who they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” (Rom.10:15-15).

It is really important that man hear the real preaching of the Word of God and only His gospel from the one He sent. Because only then can he be sure his heart will be reached and result in the possession of the true faith. Jesus insures us that “he who believes and is baptized will be saved, and he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). 

People today no longer require or bother to find out if the preacher they are listening to was sent by God. They only measure his credibility by his glibness and the ability to talk and sweet talk what their ears want to hear. This is not surprising, in Scripture because Paul already warned us about this: “for there will come a time when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths and rules” (II Tim. 4:3-4).

I believe that we are looking for preachers to tickle our ears and make us feel warm all over. Folks, we are in the last days, there are wars and rumors of war, evil is becoming right, poverty is growing, gas is skyrocketing, it is getting very costly to live, and people are falling for the false teachings of the evil one, promising them everything like he did with Christ. What is sad is that most people are listening to this nonsense and the older I get; the more I see this happening. Where are the men (and women) of God to be sent by God to preach the good news of the Bible. There are people that are called and commissioned by God to go and preach; but are sitting back, arguing over the right to preach and what the Word means. Instead of waiting for the Holy Spirit and God to lead them with His armor and Word to save those going to the evil ones side, they bicker and disagree on the way to minister.

The only way we are going to win souls for Jesus is to unite as one body in Jesus Christ. And it is through preaching of the true word and without spot or wrinkle, so we and the world can know the true God. So we are enlightened on the only way by which we can benefit from the redemptive death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, being cleansed of our sins, we are able to serve the living God till His return.

It is my firm belief that in these last days, those who teach us the truths from the Bible must be called by God, taught by Him and then sent out to win the world to Jesus Christ our Lord.  Look at who is teaching you, does what they teach match up with the scriptures; not just the verse they preach on, but the whole paragraph, the whole chapter, the whole book and the whole Bible.  Look for yourselves into what they are saying about the Bible and then seek the Holy Spirit for help and understanding. You use what God is teaching you. Most of all don’t fall into what the devil wants you to believe are true, but what God says is the Truth.

Does He know me?

(John 10:3)

Is it possible for us to know all about doctrine and still not know Jesus?

Do we sadly misunderstand Him?

Our souls are in danger when our knowledge of doctrine surpasses that of Jesus. We are avoiding the intimate relationship and touch of Him.

Why was Mary crying?

(John 20:10 to 18)

Doctrine was nothing to her, in fact, any Pharisee could of run circles around her and made a fool of her doctrinally, but one thing they could never rule out is the fact that Jesus cast out 7 devils out of her. (Luke 8:2)   His blessings were nothing to her in comparison of really knowing Jesus personally. Mary turned around in this verse and saw Jesus sanding there, but she did not know Him. She did not know it was Jesus; she thought is this was a gardener.  Mary asked if the gardener took Him somewhere. (John 20:14, 16)   Only when Jesus said "Mary!", once He said her name, she immediately knew that she had a personal relationship with the One who spoke. She turned and said to Him," Teacher" (John 20:16) 

Part 2

Have I stubbornly doubted or denied Jesus?

(John 20:24 to 29)

Now Thomas, one of the twelve was not with the disciples when Jesus cam. So the disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" 

But Thomas said unless I see the nails in his hands and put my fingers where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.

Have I doubted something about Jesus?

Maybe it is experiences that other have talked about.

That we have not experienced yet. The disciples that saw Jesus, told Thomas about what they saw. But Thomas doubted and rejected what they saw, saying unless I see this for myself. I will not believe. Thomas needed a personal touch from Jesus. When Jesus touches will come, we will never know, but when they come they are incredible and indescribable and are precious. When Jesus came to Thomas, Thomas said to Jesus "My Lord and My God! (John 20:28)

Part 3

When I have denied Him?

(John 21:15 to 71)

Peter denied Jesus with curses and oaths. After the crucifixion and resurrection Jesus restores Peter in private when he appeared to Peter in private. Jesus also restored Peter publicly in front of others.

Peter said to Jesus "Lord, You know that I love You"

( john 21:17).

Do I have a personal relationship and history with Jesus? The true sign of discipleship on the one intimate oneness with Jesus Christ a true knowledge of Jesus that no one or nothing can shake.