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Burnett Ministries
P.O. Box 20643
Greensboro, NC 27420
USA
Phone: 336-681-2973
Email: [email protected]
New: "An Hour of Bible Sharing With Betty"
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The Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians, Chapter 12) – Part One 10-27-2020

These gifts given by the Spirit of God are important and we need to learn and understand how God wants us to edify (build) each other up. You will see the Trinity or Triune God which involves all the other gifts given by each person of the Godhead.

Paul said: I do not want you to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts. Why did Paul say this? Some of the people in the church were operating in false or counterfeit gifts. They came from out of the world of idol worship and they were influenced by demons.

They needed to know that the true gifts gift by the Holy Spirit would never do anything to discredit Christ and that is what the word accursed means.

False gifts? Yes, I said false or counterfeit gifts that people were operating with under the influence of demons. I was in the company of some women who were prophesying, and they said they went to Salem, Massachusetts every year to the witches festivals.

John McArthur’s study Bible: They claimed to be prophesying or teaching in the spirit while demonically blaspheming the Lord whom they were supposed to be worshipping.

You need to know that everybody in the church is not born-again, although the body of Christ should only consist of born-again believers. Since we cannot determine who is saved and who is not, they are accepted upon their confession.

Satan has influenced many people throughout history, he was operating through Pharaoh’s magicians and sorcerers when God sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to let His people go (Exodus 7:11, 22; 8:7), he is influencing some in the church during this present time, and he will also operate in counterfeit miracles in the future (Revelation 16:14). There was and is no match, God is greater than any devil, and He is the Only One who is all powerful.

Moving forward: Now that the people in the church at Corinth became aware that they could not function in the church like they did in the world, Paul introduced them to the work of the Trinity when it comes to the gifts. Paul told them that no one could say Jesus was Lord except by the Spirit of God.

Note from a John McArthur study Bible: The power of the Holy Spirit does not drive people to compulsive acts. The Holy Spirit does not overpower people; He empowers. My example: Saying that you got caught up in the Spirit or saying that your emotionalism was caused by the Holy Spirit is not true.

Now to understanding who gives the gifts. The gifts are given by the God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Triune God is totally connected as One God in three persons, not three separate Gods. The Three functions are different but are always in harmony, just as we are to be in harmony (oneness) with one another, even though we function differently.

This is how the gifts are distributed, even though they are different it is by the same Spirit – this is referring to the gifts in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12 that are given by the Holy Spirit (verse 4).

There are different ministries/offices/administrations, which are the five-fold ministry given by the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:11).

There are different operations (motivational gifts) – (Romans 12:6-8), but the same God who works in all of us.

We have studied the five-fold ministry gifts given by Christ and the motivational gifts given God the Father, and at the present time, we are studying the gifts in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12.

In tomorrow’s message, all the gifts will be listed truthfully. Some people are in error when it comes to understanding certain gifts.

The Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians, Chapter 12) – Part Two 10-28-2020

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Communion: Purpose and the Danger of Taking It Unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:17-33) 10-26-2020

Many people in the body of Christ do not understand the significance of Communion and what it really means. God our Father did not take it lightly and neither should His children take it lightly. Paul gave a strong word of rebuke (warning) to the church at Corinth and the same applies to the children of God today.

I learned in a couple of the denominational churches that I had a been a member of, that we need to ask for forgiveness before taking Communion. That is true, but there is more to it; in my studying it also is about cliques, and that causes division in the church.

When one group thinks that they are better than another group and that they have more privileges, it causes division in the body of Christ. We are one body jointly fit together and no person is better than the other regardless of how insignificant one part of the body may be. Each part of the body is as important as the other (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

As I was traveling, this subject came up in a conversation with a brother of a different race; he said that he did not have a racist bone in his body. In other words, he was not racist, nor did he think he was better or superior to others. If anyone in the body of Christ is racist, this also causes division. Paul addresses it this way: "Is Christ divided?" (1 Corinthians 1:11-13).

It does not matter what the denomination is, what the color of one's skin is, or what a person's position in the church or the community may be, in the body of Christ, there is no distinction (Galatians 3:26-29).

Some churches use the scriptures in 1 Corinthians 11:25-29 prior to partaking of Communion, but we need to back up to the previous scriptures (verses 17-22). Paul rebuked the people for being out of order when taking Communion.

The word communion means to fellowship and share the bread and wine with mutual participation. The word implies a deep connection, particularly a spiritual one. The root Latin word for communion is a participation by all; leaving some out of this sacred ordinance is evil.

When Paul addressed the church at Corinth about communion, it was different than it is today. When Jesus celebrated the last supper (communion) with His disciples; it was a full meal, and the early church also celebrated communion with a full meal.

There was a problem that Paul had to address: When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry and another gets drunk.

STOP! To those who think that wine was not fermented, this scripture confirms that the wine was fermented, otherwise how could someone get drunk?

Do you have no houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?

Footnote from John McArthur’s study Bible: The church was torn by dissension (disagreement which leads to discord). The love feast had become so perverted that it was a sinful, selfish mockery. They could not say it was devoted to the Lord, since it was not honoring Him. If they were intending to selfishly indulge themselves, they may as well have stayed at home.

Remember what Jesus said: This cup is the new covenant in My blood. As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of Me. When the communion is not being observed properly and without holiness, which means with the wrong attitudes, motives, and an unrepentant heart, it can cause sickness and even death. That is why it is important to humbly examine our hearts and get it right with God.

Although we do not observe communion with a full course meal in the churches today, the principle is still the same. Any brother or sister who shows partiality or thinks he or she is better than another brother or sister is sinning which results in judgment.

Next: The Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians, Chapter 12)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

What Does the Word of God Say About Communicating with the Dead? (Necromancy) 10-25-2020

Yesterday I posted a message about my fears and how God caused circumstances to happen for me to recognize my horrible fears, face my ugly fears, confront those tormenting fears and deal with them. This was the process that was necessary for me to get delivered from my past fears. Now I can minister more effectively.

There are certain deliverances that must take place before we can minister at the level needed to help set other captives free. Recently I heard several times that people who profess to be born-again say they go the cemetery (graveyard) and talk to their deceased loved ones.

It is necessary for the readers to know that communicating with the dead is called necromancy and it is totally contrary to the Word of God. Before I go to the scriptures, I want to say this:

Your loved ones are not in the grave, they are either in heaven with the Lord: to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8), or they are in hell (Luke 16:19-31, key verses 22-23).

So, those who visit the cemetery thinking they are talking to a loved one, is deceived by the devil. They are communicating with demons, even though they do not hear their loved ones speaking back to them. The Bible calls this necromancy, and it is like communicating with mediums, spiritualists, witches, which is the same as voo-doo, witch doctor, or psychic and so on.

You may say, “I am not talking to a witch, root doctor and so on”. Regardless, the principle is the same “You are communicating with the dead”.

There are five scriptures warning about the danger of communicating with the dead:

The Israelites were told to put the mediums and those who practiced witchcraft outside the land (Leviticus 19:31; 20:27, Deuteronomy 18:9-12). People were using mediums and wizards to communicate with the dead in Isaiah’s time (Isaiah 8:19).

Saul knew these people were not to be in the land, but when lost his communication with God, he asked the witch of Endor to bring Samuel out of the grave so he could have a conversation with Samuel (1 Samuel 28:6-19).

There shall not one be found among you who practices witchcraft……. or conjures spells, or who calls up the dead (they were impersonating demons). For all these things are an abomination to the Lord and they were to be driven out of the land (Deuteronomy 18:11-12).

Example of someone going to the cemetery and talking to the dead: Someone told me years ago that he went to the cemetery every day to talk to his wife, who was the love of his life. One day he heard a voice like his wife ask him: "What are you doing here? I am not here." That was the last time he went to his wife's gravesite to talk to her.

I believe the Lord allowed that to happen to get the man's attention and let him know that he was not supposed to communicate with the dead.

Why would anyone talk to their dead loved ones? Dead means the body has no life in it; the body is an earthly house that the soul and the spirit live in. Once the body dies the soul and the spirit leave the body. The people in heaven cannot communicate with us.

However, they are the cloud of witnesses that are watching us from heaven, they see us pressing our way, and they are rooting for us to overcome as they overcame. That is why the next part of the sentence tells us to run with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).

When anyone talks to the dead, it is like talking to an idol that cannot answer, but the demons can speak through the statue. Why would any born-again believer want to talk to the dead who cannot do anything for them? The only One who can do anything is the true and living God, and He certainly is not dead, plus He is relational.

To those of you who are born-again and are still allowing your children to celebrate Halloween, remember what thee Word of God said about communicating with the dead.

Are skeletons not replicas (models or symbolic of) of the dead? What about witches and ghosts? What do you think they symbolize? You may not talk to these replicas but having any involvement with anything pertaining to the devil displeases God.

Next: Communion (The Lord’s Supper) 1 Corinthians, Chapter 11

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

What Does the Word of God Say About Communicating with the Dead? (Necromancy) Introduction
10-24-2020

For many years, I heard people talk about going to the cemetery and talking to their dead/deceased loved ones. During my early childhood years, so much fear was instilled in me that I was afraid of the deceased. I did not know that the dead could not hurt you; this is what was said back in the day: “The dead cannot hurt you, but they can make you hurt yourself.”

The truth is the demons can make you hurt yourself. My cousins and I had an experience that was unforgettable; we saw an image of someone who had already died. That was just one of the experiences that I had on the same property.

Our church had a graveyard next to it, and I was afraid to be in the church at night because I thought one of those dead people or ghosts/haunts was going to come into the church or when we would leave that dark parking lot that had no outside lights; one of those ghosts would come after us.

It was not until a few of years ago, the Lord placed me in an area not far from where I had those horrible childhood experiences. I hated where I have been living for five years. I would say it is dark out here and I began to sense the evil presence outside the house, but more on the inside.

Satan knew about the fear; the demons had been following me all my life, they watched me, and they used that fear against me. I would see images in the house and the demons would make noises to make me even more fearful, so much so that a light would be left on all night.

I have some prayer partners who have been in my life for nineteen years and these powerful intercessors have prayed and encouraged me. One of my prayer partners told me to walk through the house every day and take authority over the demons. I started taking authority day and night and after five years, much of the demonic activity has calmed down.

I hated this place so much that I asked some of the church members on the prayer team to pray that the Lord would move me from this house.

It took me quite some time to realize that God placed me in an area close to where the horrible experiences happened for a reason. I began to understand that I had to recognize it, face it, confront it, and deal with those demons who had me bound with fear. Like Jesus, Moses, and all of us who have a call on our lives, the enemy will try to stop us from fulfilling our calling.

Whatever the specific call is, God will use our experiences for the work of the ministry. I do not know how much longer my assignment is in this area, I just know that this has been a time of preparation to take me to the next level of my ministry and to God be all the praises, honor and glory.

My calling takes me places where there will be a lot of demonic activity. God will not launch His children out until we are prepared and ready. Moses was in Midian for forty years (Acts 7:29-30).

Jesus Christ was led in the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted of the devil, forty days, and forty nights before He started His public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). The Apostle Paul was in the desert of Arabia for three years being trained by Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:15-18).

Whatever you are dealing with that is hindering you from going forward, my encouragement is to do like me: Recognize the deeply embedded root, face, confront it and deal with it. The reason I wrote this prior to Communicating with the dead is, some of you may need to renounce any evils that you may have participated in, even if it was done ignorantly.

All of us need to be delivered from something, and the fear that had me bound; like me you may not have willingly participated, but however that stronghold came in and had you gripped, there is deliverance. Jesus came to set the captives free.

Next: What Does the Word of God Say About Communicating with the Dead? (Necromancy)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Head Coverings (1 Corinthians, Chapter 11) 10-23-2020

There has been a lack of understanding of what head coverings mean from a spiritual perspective. When you see women in the church wearing hats and veils on their heads today, just know it has nothing to do with a spiritual head covering.

With that being so, we will find out what the truth is about head coverings. Paul continued to answer questions about the ungodly influence that was affecting the church at Corinth.

The key verse is this: “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of every woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”…The veil or the covering on the head of a believing Corinthian wife showed that she was under the authority of her husband, and therefore under submission to God.

In the Corinthian culture, a woman who refused to wear a covering was putting her husband to shame. Some of the women in Corinth were trying to take the place of men and they wanted to be heads of the family. Some shaved their heads and from the back they looked like a man.

They went game hunting which was what the men did; women did not go hunting because they stayed at home and raised the children. These women did not want to be submissive and because of it their influence was affecting some of the women in the church.

As I say so many times; there is no new thing under the sun. This same spirit has been influencing many women throughout history.

Moses wrote: The woman’s desire was for her husband (to rule over him) but Adam was to rule over her (Genesis 3:16).

Paul wrote about Adam and Eve: For Adam was formed first and then Eve. And Adam was not deceived but it was the woman who fell into transgression (1 Timothy 2:13-14).

This is not saying that the woman is inferior to the man; they have different functions. Also, Paul did not say that the woman should be submissive to every man. Paul was saying to the church and in the church that the man was head of the woman.

It has been said by some people that since there are less men in the church, that God is using the women. Do you think God would go against His Word? When Elijah thought he was the only prophet left, God told him He had seven-thousand prophets who had not bowed to Baal (1 Kings 19:14-18). The devil wants the children of God to go contrary to His Word.

I am going to back up to a previous message in 1 Corinthians 7:4. This is what Paul said: The wife does not have power over her own body, but the husband does, and likewise, the husband does not have power over his own body, but the wife does. In a marriage covenant, each spouse is given the right over the other’s body to satisfy each other.

This is different than being in the church and being obedient to the headship of God in the church at Corinth.

Today, many women still wear hats to church, and it is okay if that is your personal preference. But please do not think that wearing a hat is a sign of you being spiritual.

How we live determines if we are spiritual. Living a holy life is pleasing to God; it has nothing to do with wearing hats or veils. I will say this, there is nothing wrong with the ladies who wear beautiful hats; they are quite stylish.

Wearing a hat, cotton stockings, a long dresses or a cross, does not make one holy. Some devil worshippers wear crosses.

What really matters is the attitude of a person’s heart, and if the heart is right, the person’s attitudes and actions will be right.

Next week: Communion (The Lord’s Supper) ~ 1 Corinthians, Chapter 11

Tomorrow: What Does the Word of God Say About Communicating with the Dead? (Necromancy) Introduction

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Eating foods offered to idols (1 Corinthians, chapter 8) 10-22-2020

Paul starts off with knowledge being puffed up, but love edifies (builds up). This chapter is talking about people eating foods offered to idols and how the mature Christian knows that the idol is nothing within itself, since it is known to us that there is One God the Father of whom all things and One Lord Jesus whom we are all things, and whom we live.

However, everyone does not have that kind of knowledge; it depends on the level of their walk. And because these people are weak in the faith. So, we who are more mature should not be a stumbling block to those who are less mature. Therefore, if certain foods make my brother or sister stumble, I will not eat it [not in front of them].

An offense against a weaker Christian is a sin and we sin against Christ. When we cause a brother or sister to stumble it is a sin (Romans 14:21). Love does no ill toward his brother (Romans 13:10).

Let us proceed to chapter nine

We have rights to do certain things, but for the Gospel to reach others effectively, we must deny ourselves and esteem others above ourselves (Philippians 2:3). Even though Paul knew that those who lived by carrying the Gospel should be compensated, he was willing to preach even if he was not compensated.

Paul was so passionate about his call that he became all things to all men yet without compromising.

Paul served all men (people)

The only way anyone can witness or minister to others effectively, is to come down to their level. Paul stayed within the limits of God’s Word; being a Jew himself, Paul knew the culture. He became weak to those who were weak; he stooped to make the Gospel clear to their level of understanding. In other words, he made it plain and simple.

After all that, Paul was striving for a crown

Like a marathon runner he had to discipline himself. Paul compared the marathon runner who will get a perishable crown for winning the race, being in a spiritual race and receiving an incorruptible crown that will not perish.

A marathon runner cannot be overweight; therefore, he disciplines his body; he wears the most lightweight clothes so that nothing will hold him back. In our spiritual race we must lay aside every weight (anything that weighs us down to hold us back) and sin that besets us (Hebrews 12:1).

We cannot let things take our focus off Jesus in this race; anything that sidetracks us will keep us from reaching the finishing line. We must keep looking straight ahead or we will lose the race.

In the natural athletes have been disqualified for certain reasons; they did not keep the rules; they cheated. Example: Many of the famous athletes have been disqualified for taking steroids to increase their stamina.

According to worldly rules, cheating is not acceptable; it is the same way in the race we are running for God. The Bible says this: Be sure your sins will find you out (Numbers 32:23) and what is done in the dark will be come to the light (Luke 12:2-3).

Please read all the scriptures so you can get the full understanding of what is written.

Next: 1 Corinthians, Chapters 10-11 (Head Coverings and Communion)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Marriage and Divorce (1 Corinthians, chapter 7) – Part 2 10-21-2020

Principles of Marriage (Overview)

I am continuing with the questions the church at Corinth asked Paul about marriage and divorce. I am putting more emphasis on this chapter because so many people who profess to be born-again are getting divorced or they are already divorced.

Paul answers them: Now concerning matters about what you wrote, it is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. But because of the temptation of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each wife her own husband.

The wife nor the husband has authority over their own body; the husband has authority over his wife’s body and the wife has authority over her husband’s body.

They are not to deprive one another of sex, only by one another’s consent for fasting and praying and afterward come together again so that Satan does not tempt them because of their lack of self-control.

I speak this by permission and not a commandment. Paul is saying not by commandment because Jesus Himself spoke it while He was alive and that gave Paul permission to say what the Word of God said.

Paul says that he wished all men were like himself, but each has his own gift. Since this is a personal preference, it is also another indication that Paul had been married. He said to the unmarried and the widows, it is good for them to remain even as I am. They can serve the Lord more freely, like me.

Notice how I write on a regularly basis because I have more time to spend with the Lord in His Word and prayer.

Paul recognized the freedom he had to serve Christ as a single person and the focus is more on Christ than it would be with those who are married; their focus is more on the family and it should be. After all, God instituted marriage for procreation (Genesis 1:28). Therefore, it is not wrong for people to have a desire to be married.

If a person cannot not contain (have self-control) themselves, it is better to marry than to burn. I heard many people say that to burn is talking about going to hell. That is not true; this scripture means to burn with passion.

Keep your marriage vows

A wife is not to leave her husband; if she does, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband (Jesus Christ said not to sever the bond of a marriage (Matthew 19:3-9).

If a brother or sister (meaning that he or she is born-again) is married to an unbeliever, and the unbelieving spouse chooses to stay in the marriage, let him or her stay, because the saved person’s lifestyle (light) may cause their unsaved spouse to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ. On the other hand, if the unbelieving spouse chooses to leave, you are not in bondage.

As for two Christians, the only biblical justification for a divorce is that one of the spouses commit adultery (Matthew 19:1-9). Some of you may have married and divorced for a different reason; if so, ask God to forgive you and keep pressing forward. Just learn from this message what God expects from His children when it comes to marriage and divorce.

I want to let you know that God never intended for His children to marry an unsaved person. I am reemphasizing that in this case, if the person married before he or she was born-again, the marriage union is to remain unless the unbelieving spouse chooses to leave.

For you who are born-again and have not married and you are planning to, the Word of God tells us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers… what fellowship does darkness have with light…? (2 Corinthians 6:11-18).

Lastly! It is the man who seeks after the woman as the Spirit of God leads him (Proverbs 18:22), so women of the Most-High God, do not go chasing after a man.

Next: Other Short Topics in 1 Corinthians

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Marriage and Divorce (1 Corinthians, chapter 7) 10-20-2020

As I did some historical research from various resources, there is information about Paul the apostle that may not be known to many people. The reason this is being brought up in this chapter is due to marriage and divorce and Paul’s experience.

Before getting into marriage and being single (virgin, widowed or divorced), I am going to share what I believe according to my research. Many people think Paul was never married because a wife was not mentioned. Remember this, everything is not written or spelled out in the scriptures, but it is inferred (concluded).

According to history, Paul was married. Before his conversion (new life), Paul was present when Christians were tried before the governing body (Sanhedrin Council) and he gave his vote against them (Acts 26:10).

As such voting power was restricted to those who were married men. Anyone on the council had to be married, the implication is that Paul seemed to have been married. It is said by some writers that we may have traces of the dead wife given in a message in Romans 16:13, “Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.”

The natural conclusion drawn from the salutation is that Rufus’ mother was the mother of Paul’s wife. In this case she was the daughter of Simon the Cyrenian who was compelled to bear the cross of Jesus to Calvary; he was the father of Rufus (Mark 15:21). Words taken from Herbert Lockyer’s book on All the Apostles of the Bible.

The importance of knowing history helps us to understand the culture and language so the scriptures can be interpreted properly. With the history about Paul’s marital experience and being widowed (single), he understood about both, and how to live accordingly.

You may wonder how could a man write so eloquently about scriptures unless he had some experience?

Paul’s past life experiences were written in many scriptures. Example of a few: He talked about persecuting the church and how he tried to destroy it (Galatians 1:13); Paul understood why people reap what they sow, because of all the evil he did prior to his new life (Galatians 6:7); God told Ananias that He would show Paul how many things he must suffer for His name’s sake (Acts 9:16).

Paul also have the most incredible encounter with Jesus Christ: But I make it known to you brothers that the Gospel that preached by me was not according to man….. it came by revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12).

Paul was writing to the church at Corinth in this chapter about their problems when it came to sexual conduct. Therefore, questions were asked, and Paul answered them according to the scriptures.

Next: Marriage and Divorce (1 Corinthians, chapter 7) – Part 2

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Church at Corinth – Lawsuits and Sexual Immorality (Chapter 6) 10-19-2020

In writing to the church at Corinth Paul made a strong statement to them about going to the law and suing each other.

Dare any of you having a matter against the other go to the law of the unrighteous and not before the saints? This is shameful. [my input- how can a sinner take care of spiritual matters]? The Word of God says the natural or unsaved person does not understand spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Do you not know that we shall judge the angels, then how much more so to things pertaining to this life? One day the saints will judge the world, then why is it you cannot judge the smallest matters?

I say this to your shame, is there not a wise man among you, even one that will be able to judge between the brothers? You do yourselves wrong and cheat your brothers.

Glorify God in your body and spirit

Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Paul goes on to say: And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God…….. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord and the Lord for the body.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!

Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot (whore) is one body with her? [This is called soul tie, which means that regardless of how many partners one has, he becomes joined to that person- so now you have taken on all these personalities, sad but true]. But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

Flee sexual immorality; every sin one commits is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Do you not know that the Holy Spirit is living in you, whom you have from God and you are not your own?

For you are brought (purchased) with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which is God’s.

If you are born-again, please stop saying you can do what you want to with your body because it is yours. Not according to the Word of God. And another thing, stop trying to change your God-given beauty.

If you are single or married (and have roving eyes); every time you have a sexual desire, remember WHO is living in your body.

These messages are some hard pills to swallow, but they are medicine for the soul. Some of you do not know about these scriptures, and if you do, you have taken them lightly. Every Word of God is serious, and we need to follow the His guidelines.

This is the Word of God and if anybody has a problem with these messages, I advise you to go to God. These messages are to bring conviction on all of us, in whatever area we need to be convicted in, why not say: I surrender all!

Next: Marriage and Divorce (1 Corinthians, chapter 7)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

“We Kissed and Said Goodbye”- Never Goodbye Spiritually 10-18-2020

Yesterday, you read about a young lady and me and how Lord ordained for us to be a part of each other’s lives. This is what took place:

We introduced ourselves to each other and I recognized a particular gift that she had been blessed with. As time moved forward, I noticed that her gift was utilized more frequently. You may ask how I recognized her gift. I am a five-fold ministry office gift, and these gifted leaders recognize gifts in others.

During our short season together, the young lady name Shakera was there when I was injured, took me to the hospital and she supported me throughout my recovery, which took about six months. And then the Pandemic coronavirus struck while I was still recovering.

During the continued progress of my therapy, Shakera and I started walking, which was beneficial to both of us. I became one of her mentors and spiritual leader. As we walked together almost five days each week for months, the Bible was the number one topic of our discussion.

She was eager to learn more about the Word of God and because Shakera was open, she learned and accepted what God wanted to do in her life. As with most of us, learning truths that we thought we already knew does not feel good. It is difficult to bust pride and admit that we did not know as much as we thought we knew. Yet, when we admit it, we grow, and growth is always good for us.

After our walks, we prayed together for various people and whatever else would come up. We had Bible study and she was given assignments; Shakera was such a good student of the Word. We also went on trips together a few times.

On Thursday, October 15, 2020, we kissed and said our goodbyes for now. We might be physically disconnected, but we will never really be spiritually disconnected. What matters most is, all of us who are physically disconnected now will be reunited again in the future when we meet Jesus Christ, and we will be together throughout eternity.

These are some of the many saints from former churches I will meet again when we all get to heaven

St. John AME Church family (Gibsonville, NC)

St. James Baptist Church family (Greensboro, NC)

Cathedral of His Glory family (Greensboro, NC)

Antioch Baptist Church family (Camden, NJ)

Mt. Hermon Baptist Church family (Ruffin, NC)

St. Paul Baptist Church family (Greensboro, NC)

Faith Christian Fellowship, Greensboro, NC (not a member, led to sit under the pastor’s teaching for a year)

Daystar Church family (Greensboro, NC)

Also included will be my Facebook family and friends, my LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram friends, and all those who read my messages world-wide. I look forward to that great day when “When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be, when we all see Jesus, we will sing and shout the victory”!

In the meantime, while still on this earth, I am waiting for the Spirit of God to lead and guide me to the next ministry that He ordains for me to be connected to where my gifts can be utilized.

This is important! I know that I am still connected to all those who choose to be connected to me and I value our friendship and kinship.

Next: The Church at Corinth – Lawsuits and Sexual Immorality (Chapter 6)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

“Let’s Just Kiss and Say Goodbye” 10-17-2020

Back in the day, there was a song by the Manhattans called “Let’s Just Kiss and Say Goodbye”; one of my favorites. Even though it is a secular song, some of the words were meaningful to me and especially with my recent experience. This song came to mind when someone in my life was relocating.

The theme of the song is about “Love” in a secular way; some of the words were not what I would use, but I am comparing this with “brotherly love” that people should have for each other and when it comes to born-again believers, God also expects us to have Agape love (unconditional love) for each other.

I felt that some words from this song would be appropriate for today’s message.

There is a time and purpose (season) for everything under the sun (Ecclesiastes 3:1). God places people in our lives for however long or short a season may be.

The Lord placed a young lady in my life, for her to learn what her gift was and to prepare her for the next phase of her life for the work of the ministry and her career. I grew too; this was an awesome learning experience for me.

I want pause and say this: “Some people jump from place to place because they do not learn and grow; others move from place to place because of immaturity and are not satisfied anywhere they go. These kinds of people think that they are more knowledgeable than others.”

Regardless of how knowledgeable one may be, we can always learn from others, even those who are not as mature as we are. In other words, we can learn from a baby.

The main reason this story is being posted is to acknowledge someone who is incredibly special in my life. Although all my sisters and brothers are special, this sister stayed on board and did not jump ship like some others did.

I had people to tell me in the past: “When I grow up, I want to be like you”. Well, some of them jumped ship because they were not willing to go through what I go through. The person is saved, but not “Sold-Out”.

Now to the person that is almost like a daughter to me, is physically moving out of my life due to relocating. However, we will still be connected spiritually. It was a shock when I was told that she would be moving, yet I thank God for the bond that we had and still have.

We met at a church that God had ordained for the two of us to be a part of. And, when both of our seasons were up, we moved on. This was the same with all the churches I have been a member of.

But, moving on did not stop my spiritual connection with many of my brothers and sisters, which is impossible because we are all children of God and in the same family. I am also still physically bonded with many of my brothers and sisters from the former churches and I am grateful to God our Father.

It has always been difficult for me to let go when certain people were no longer in my life for whatever the reason may have been. The apostle Paul and those whom he was with felt the same way (Acts 21:36-38); so this is not an out of the norm situation, when we know that it was and is a part of God’s plan for our lives.

Tomorrow: “We Kissed and Said Goodbye”- Never Spiritually Disconnected

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Church at Corinth – Sexual Immorality (Chapter 5) 10-16-2020

There are so many problems that some the churches have experienced throughout history, they had to continually be addressed. Each church had its own issues, but it was and is the same spirits that are behind all the problems.

It is important to know that Satan hates God, he is an enemy (adversary) of God and that stands to reason that he hates God’s children. Therefore, Satan and his devils/demons are causing many problems in the church.

As you continue to read about the different types of spirits that are influencing and infiltrating the churches. The devil does whatever possible to keep us divided.

Chapter 5- I will start off paraphrasing how immorality defiles the church. It was reported that a man who professed to be born-again was having sex with his father’s wife. This act was so heinous that it was not even named among the Gentiles (unsaved people).

And the church was so puffed up, rather than being saddened by this horrible act and Paul said: You are not doing anything about it.

Paul was not physically with the people but someone reliable from the congregation was reporting to him. Paul tells them to deliver this man over Satan that he may be beaten up and perhaps this would make him come to his senses.

Paul tells about the leaven (bread), like yeast will rise, which is like sin not dealt with will spread and affect others in the congregation. He goes on to tell them to keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (bread that has not risen).

Paul continues with: I wrote to you not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I did not mean with the sexually immoral, or others of this world; you need to be a light to them,

but you are not to keep company with anyone named a brother who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even to eat with such a person.

We do not have the right to judge the unsaved, but God has given us the responsibility of judging our brothers and sisters who are living immoral lifestyles. After all, we are our “Brother’s Keeper”. We are responsible for doing whatever we can to keep on track.

Next week: The Church at Corinth – Lawsuits Among Christians Before the Courts (Chapters 6)

Tomorrow: “Let’s Just Kiss and Say Goodbye” – Still Spiritually Connected

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Church at Corinth - The Sectarian spirit (Chapters 1-4) 10-15-2020

I am writing topic by topic, and if there is enough space, another topic will be included in the same message. Paul greets the church, prior to correcting them; Jesus told John to write a commendation before the rebuke when John was writing to the seven churches in Revelation, chapters 1-3.

Some of the people were saying Paul was better than Apollos and vice-versa, which caused division in the church. I have seen this happen in the church many times. The church gets leaders to preach revivals on the notion that they are more popular or better preachers than some other preachers. This is showing partiality.

Who gives any of us the right to say one of God’s preachers is better than the others? The truth is, if they prayed and allowed the Sprit reveal to them who was to preach, the people would be encouraged (edified) blessed.

None of God’s children should feel inferior to others; nor should anyone think he or she is superior to others. God does not have respect of persons (Romans 2:11) and neither should we.

The people who put one leader above another are immature, and this is called sectarianism, which is sin. This causes division in the body of Christ. Paul addressed the situation sternly and he let the people know that it was all about Christ and not about him or Apollos.

When the body of Christ (the church) is divided, this is the same as dividing Christ. The entire Gospel is about Christ anyway, not about Paul, Apollos or you and me.

When Paul came to them: He did not come in his own human wisdom, nor with persuasion of words, but of demonstration of the Spirit and of power and that your faith should not be found in the wisdom of man but in the power of God.

Paul talked about those who were not born again and how they could not understand the things that were of the Spirit of God. Many of those in the church were carnal (operating in the flesh), just like unbelievers.

And Paul said they were still babies and he could not take them any further in their spiritual growth; not only were they divided, they were envious of each other and there was strife between them.

In their making a difference between Paul and Apollos, Paul let them know that whether he or Apollos planted or watered, only God gives the increase or causes the growth. Paul goes on to say that he and Apollos are fellow workers in God’s field. [This was good; Paul and Apollos did not have the problem, the problem was with the people].

According to the grace given to them and us too, there is only one foundation and each person should take heed as to how he or she builds on the foundation of Christ- in the end, only what any of us are called to do will last, otherwise our works will be burned.

He tells the church of Corinth not to be puffed up because one is against the other. Paul puts emphasis on what he and Apollos had to endure for the sake of the Gospel. He comes to a closure in chapter 4 with: I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children, I warn you.

Dearly beloved brothers and sisters, when I write messages, they are not to shame you but to warn you. That is love - God corrects us because He loves us (Hebrews 12:5-11).

Next: The Church at Corinth – Sexual Immorality (Chapter 5)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ in the Book (Letter- Epistle) of First Corinthians 10-14-2020

This is the beginning of Paul's letters, starting with the church at Corinth. Paul has been called the apostle extraordinary. He was considered the worst of sinners, yet God used him in an extraordinary way.

No one known in the history of the Bible has written as many letters (twelve, and it is believed by many he also wrote the book of Hebrews), this makes sense to me since Paul called himself a Hebrew of Hebrews (Philippians 3:5).

This book talks of much that goes on in the church and some of the types of Greek culture during Paul’s day. Certainly, the church of today can identify with what was going on in the church at Corinth.

The problems included sexual immortality and the Greeks were known for their idolatry. This was a seaport town, and it was known for prostitution. Venus, the goddess of licentious (no restraints), was worshipped and the spirit of lust showed up in the church, which explains the problem the people faced.

History of all the books or letters are important, you will have a better understanding about the culture and language of the people and how we can benefit from it. Many times, we will see how history repeats itself; there is no new thing under the sun.

Even though these messages are an overview, I am going to proceed slowly to provide enough information for the readers to absorb or gradually soak it in.

The letter to the church at Corinth has sixteen chapters that consists of Paul’s response to ten separate problems: 1) a sectarian spirit, meaning an excessive devotion to a particular sect which is a group of people (usually an offshoot of a larger group).

Example: Since the rise of the nineteenth century, the influence of Primitive Baptists waned (to become smaller) as Missionary Baptists became the mainstream, similarly, certain Methodists branched off from the mainstream Methodist. These are denominational barriers (division).

Number two of the ten problems in the church at Corinth: Incest (sexual relation between closely related persons- family members).

3) lawsuits 4) fornication 5) marriage and divorce

6) eating food offered to idols 7) wearing the veil 8) the Lord’s supper 9) spiritual gifts

10) the resurrection of the body. These categories will be broken down briefly as possible.

No letter (epistle) in the New Testament gives a clearer insight into the history of the first century church than 1 Corinthians. In it, Paul provides straight forward of such moral and theological problems as sectarianism (a form of prejudice, discrimination, or hatred arising from attaching relations of inferiority and superiority (cliques) to differences between subdivisions within a group).

I am sure Paul experienced some of these evils in the church. After all, he was a dark complexion man who was sent to the Gentiles/Greeks (Acts 12:21). Oops! The devil does not want you to know this.

That is a wow! I am sure you will learn from the church at Corinth, that the same things are seen in the church today. This is going to be quite interesting indeed! Also included will be spiritual immaturity, church discipline, ethical differences, the role of sexes and the proper use of spiritual gifts.

Where these same problems exist in the modern church, the remedies are the same.

Christ revealed: No human boastings is justifiable because of the unmatched death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (chapters 1-4). We are to model Christ in our walk (chapter 11). Paul describes the church as Christ’s body in chapter 12. Paul describes our hope in the risen Christ (chapter 15).

The NKJV Spirit Filled Life Bible notes/comments are used in this message. However, to make the language more understandable, I paraphrase some sentences.

Next: The Church at Corinth – The Sectarian spirit (Chapters 1-4)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Bearing One Another’s Burdens and Paul’s Benediction (Romans, chapters 15-16)

As our travels on Romans Road conclude, Paul wrote this meat of the Gospel (Good News), and we have seen Jesus Christ our Messiah in every chapter.

You will see some of the same scriptures repeated, which shows they are connected, related, and they support each other.

In Romans, chapter 15, Paul starts his writing with: We who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak (those without strength) and not to please ourselves (it is not about us but we are esteem others above ourselves).

Each of us has some type of struggles that we are dealing with. Therefore, we who are more mature should help our weaker brothers and sisters.

An example of a weaker brother or sister: Some are still struggling with certain practices that are difficult to let go of. It is like this: “Old habits are hard to break”. Therefore, we who are stronger are told to help the weaker ones and bear their burdens (to hold up).

Although the Word of God tells us this: Come to Me all you are who are burdened (weak) and heavy ladened and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30), we also have been mandated to bear others burdens.

What about those who are weak and what does being weak mean? Definition: Lacking in strength or will power, yielding easily to temptation; or easily influenced by others.

Weaknesses cause hindrances in our spiritual growth, but there is nothing in our lives that we cannot be delivered from, nothing is impossible with God.

We who are stronger should have no problem helping someone overcome their weakness, after all, we could be in that same state.

Chapter 16- Women and men connected in Paul’s ministry

Being a female, I really like what Paul said about his fellow-laborers in the ministry. Of approximately thirty-four people that Paul mentioned, several of them were females.

Phoebe was a deaconess, who served in the ministry and she carried the Word of God.

Paul also mentioned Aquila and Priscilla (husband and wife) who had a church in their home. All of Paul’s fellow-laborers were important enough to name each of them.

Paul urged his fellow-laborers to avoid divisions:

Now I urge you to note those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them. For they do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple….. your obedience is known to all…. But I want you to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Whatever has been written is the book of Romans was a learning tool with principles and guidelines for every born-again believer to live by.

I encourage you to read both chapters for further understanding.

Next: Jesus Christ in the Book (Letter- Epistle) of First Corinthians

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans – Liberty and Love (Part 4) 10-12-2020

Do not abuse your liberty, allow the law of love to transmit from you to others (Romans, chapter 14)

Today as we continue to travel on Romans Road, liberty and love will be the focus of the message.

We have been set free in Christ Jesus however, some people are out of balance with their freedom. With that being so, I am going to share what the Word of God says about liberty and love.

God has given us freedom to eat what we like if it does not go against our health. I do not judge my brothers and sisters for what they do or do not eat. Foods are to be received with thanksgiving to those who know the truth (1 Timothy 4:1-5).

Some people do not eat all foods and they have that liberty. However, they should not pass judgement on others who eat all foods. Each person should be persuaded in his or her own mind. Because many of us are at different levels of our walk than others, love should always supersede whatever our different beliefs are.

I just want to say this: Many people have conflicting interest; yes, even in the church. Why is this so? Because they are immature, and they think they are mature; that is pride! Sometimes there is a denominational barrier, meaning divided or division.

Remember that a denomination of people (the true church) is different from false religions and cults.

[My input and it is biblical: Some people think they are more mature than others, but the truth as to how mature people are come out through their actions].

Regardless of what level of maturity (faith) one is, if you are in Christ, that is what really matters. If I eat only vegetables, but if someone else believes he or she can eat all things, they should not be judged or condemned.

Moving forward to celebrating certain days or the same day of worship. I do not judge people because they do not have worship services on the same day that I worship the Lord on.

Everyday belongs to the Lord and I celebrate my risen Savior every day! Thanks be to Christ for the freedom we have.

If a brother or sister is weaker in the faith than me, I purpose not to offend or be a stumbling block. We are not called to be showy when it comes to our liberty, but we are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), and love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:8-10).

My brothers and my sisters, if you do not agree with what some people eat or what day they have worship services on, please do not tell others how wrong they are and please do not try to convince them to distance themselves from those whose beliefs are different. Let each person be persuaded in his or her own mind. Thanks be to God for Freedom in Christ.

Next: Bearing One Another’s Burdens and Paul’s Benediction (Romans, Chapters 15-16)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans (Part 3) 10-11-2020

Some of Romans, chapter 12 talk about our reasonable service to God (what is right toward God) by staying on the altar of sacrifice. In the Old Testament, the animals were the sacrifices and hooks were put in them to keep them from slipping off the altar.

How do we stay on the altar of sacrifice? Our hooks are studying the Word of God, prayer, and fellowshipping with other saints; these keep us from slipping off the altar.

We are to humbly serve each other with our gifts given by God our Father. We must also realize that no one person is better than the other, that we all started off at the same level of our faith (new life), that we were babies and had to be developed and trained and we grew gradually; it was a step by step process of growth.

All the gifts are to be functioned with simplicity, and we should not make others think we or our gifts are better than theirs; every child of God is given at least one of these gifts in Romans 12:6-8.

Paul goes on to say how we are to treat each other right as brothers and sisters in Christ, and the same with those who are not born-again (Romans, chapter 12:9-21). We are told to treat people right regardless of how they treat us, and let God take of them.

We do not have the right to take matters into our own hands. My brothers and sisters, that is not easy (I am a living witness!) but we can do all things through Christ who give us the strength (Philippians 4:13).

This scripture connects with: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who despitefully use you (Matthew 5:44). This is certainly an ouch for me, my toes are hurting! I told you that I have not arrived yet, still being worked on and I am steady pressing (struggling) forward (Philippians 3:14).

The war is on and it is not against people, it is against the devil and his demons (Ephesians 6:10-18). Also, Paul said in Romans, chapter 7 that there was nothing good in his flesh, and mine either.

As Paul moves on to chapter 13, we are commanded to obey those leaders who rule over us (Romans 13:1-3). [I say if it lines up with the Word of God], and pray for them, some of them may not be saved. Therefore, our concern should be for their souls (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

We are also told to be subject to the government; pay taxes and so on. Human government was instituted after the flood, starting with the justice system. God gave man the responsibility of governing the world. The highest function of government is the judicial taking of life {Scofield footnotes}.

Since humans are made in God’s image, they/we are the most sacred to Him, therefore, we do not have the right to take another person’s life. [I will interject that are certain conditions that a person can take someone else’s life]. One example is self defense.

The Word of God said: Whoever shed man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, because he was made in the image of God (Genesis 9:6). This is called capital punishment.

Some of you may question whether we are commanded to do what the Word of God says. The word command is not written, but it is a strong statement. For instance, when Jesus said “Go”, that was a command.

When Paul said “Study”, that was a command, which is an order or a charge. Example: Paul said to Timothy, I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ ….. Preach the Word!..... (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Paul was saying, “I command.”

My point is this: Some people think that commandments are for the Old Testament only; there are many commands in the New Testament. Jesus said: A new commandment I give you, that you love one another….. (John 13:34). Paul brings it out in Romans that we are to love each other, love fulfills the law.

Next: Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans (Part 4)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans (Part 2) 10-10-2020

Yesterday, an overview of the first seven chapters in Romans was written. Today, we are going to continue traveling on the Romans Road with chapter 8. Some of this chapter talk about being free from sin through Christ Jesus.

It was written in a previous message that the law could not set us free, it only made humans aware of their sins. We could only be free through and by the perfect sacrifice of Christ.

This awesome book tells us that we are no longer in condemnation; if there is condemnation, which means that God keeps punishing us, it comes from the devil. He wants us to stay stuck in a place where we keep beating ourselves us up.

Once we are convicted by the Holy Spirit (He shows us we are wrong), we pray, ask God to forgive us and we move on (1 John 1:9).

We are to be dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11), which connects with us being crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). We are told to mortify (kill or put to death) the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:11). We are to yield to the Spirit of God so we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

Paul writes that the creation groans for the new and perfect environment because we are not comfortable in this type of environment; since sin caused the earth to be cursed. Even still, we can live a victorious life despite our circumstances because all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord, who are called according to His purpose.

Regardless if it is our fault because of our mistakes or bad choices, or if those things that were not so good happened to us that were not our fault, they still work out for our good.

Paul also talks about the suffering on this earth that cannot be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us (in the eternal realm).

The Sovereignty of God is amazing and almost incomprehensible (Romans 9:14-29); His ways are always perfect (Psalm 18:30, Matthew 5:48) whether we understand or not. Who has the right to question God? No one! How can the clay say this or that, or question the Sovereign God the Potter who made everything?

Salvation comes by faith when one believes that Jesus Christ died for his or her sins and on that belief, confession is made with the mouth. We must believe in our hearts that God raised Christ from the dead, for us to be born-again (Romans 10:9-10); this verse connects with John 3:16.

Chapter 10 tells us that the Gospel is to be preached by every born-again believer; Israel also needs the Gospel. These are connecting and relating scriptures: Isaiah 52:7, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 10:13-17, Ephesians 6:15

Paul’s heart desire and prayer were that Israel would be saved. Not all of Israel rejects the Gospel; there is a remnant because God made a covenant with them and with that being true, every promise of God is yes and amen to the glory of God.

This is in line with the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Whatever God gives, He cannot take back (Romans, chapter 11), more on that subject tomorrow.

Next: Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans (Part 3)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans 10-9-2020

Romans has been said to be the meat of the Gospel, it is considered the greatest exposition or the most comprehensive book of Christian doctrine anywhere in the scripture. Foundational principles are laid out about salvation that came through Christ alone and how nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Since Romans is expansive and covers so many areas, I will paraphrase. Please take time and read all the verses to broaden your minds. Let’s take a journey on the Romans Road:

Paul gives a salutation, and he proclaims that he is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of salvation to all who believe, to the Jew first and to the Greek. Paul goes on to talk about God’s wrath (anger) on unrighteousness.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so they (all people) are without excuse.

In other words, everybody knows God exists, even though they choose not to worship God. Therefore, they have no excuse. Because they knew God and did not glorify God, they were not thankful, but their thoughts were futile (empty), and their foolish hearts were darkened. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:18-27).

They did everything in the book, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practiced such things deserved to die. And those who approved of the wicked acts were also just as guilty.

The Jews are just as guilty as the Gentiles in that they say one thing and do another; they are not living according to God’s standards, even though they know the truth. And because of their hypocrisy, the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles (Romans, chapter 2).

Paul goes further to say that because you are Jews, do you think you are better than the Gentiles and that you are in good standing with God even in your unrighteous acts? No one is good, no not one (Romans 3:12), let God be true and every man be a liar (Romans 3:4). Everybody has sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

They thought they were okay because of their works, but justification comes by faith alone (Romans, chapter 4), not by works. This scripture is connected to Ephesians 2:8-9: We are saved by God’s grace and through our faith, therefore, no one can boast. As Paul had stated at the beginning of Romans, the Gospel is extended to all who believe, therefore, God has no respect of persons (Romans 2:11).

It was because of Adam’s sin (disobedience) that sin came on all people (Romans 5:12), which means the wages (payment) for sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

For, God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son and whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). God sent His own Son to become sin for us so we could have eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Although the law was in place to reveal to mankind of his sin, the law could not save. In Romans, chapter 7, Paul said: Without Christ, he was wretched (miserable), and it took Christ to deliver Paul and each of us from this body of death. Paul recognized and battled with his flesh to keep it under subjection; he knew there was nothing good about his flesh.

If the truth were to be told, we all were miserable without Christ. And even with Christ as our Savior, it is a daily battle struggling to keep the flesh under subjection. During the struggles we fall and that is not a good feeling. If we confess, our sins God forgives and cleanses us and our fellowship with Him is restored (1 John 1:9).

Next: Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans (Part 2)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ in the Book of Acts 10-8-2020

Jesus Christ has been prophesied about, foreshadowed through types and figures and finally He appeared in the flesh at the end of the Old Testament; the four Gospels. You read about His ministry of miracles and healing.

He came to set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1), and it was written by Luke: How God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power and He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38).

Prior to the Church age (Day of Pentecost), Jesus told the apostles that He was going to prepare a place for us and that He would come again to receive us unto Himself (John 14:1-6) – this is when the church will be raptured (caught up) to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Jesus said it was necessary for Him to leave so the Holy Spirit would come (John 16:7). We have the assurance that Jesus Christ will return for us, just as He said He would.

The Ascension - Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight and while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold two men (angels) stood by them in white apparel.

Who also said, men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven (Acts 1:9-11).

The Word of God has been confirmed that Jesus is coming back to take us to be with Him. That gives us hope and we are to encourage and comfort each other (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

Jesus’ powerful legacy that was passed on to the apostles and the church is forever imprinted in our hearts. He was born, He lived, He died, He rose from the dead and He is coming again to receive us unto Himself and we will live with this wonderful Jesus Christ forever.

How was His legacy left with the apostles? When their eyes became fully open to what Jesus was on this earth for, they turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Jesus’s legacy was so powerful that on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit lit on the people in the Upper room and they were given a new language (tongues)- Acts 2:1-4.

They also were empowered to take the Gospel of Christ from Jerusalem to the uttermost part of the world, as Jesus told them this would happen (Acts 1:8). Peter (the same one who denied Christ) preached and God added three thousand souls to the church (Acts 2:40).

They preached boldly, confidently, and fearlessly. The name of the Lord was magnified. The hearts of the people were changed and many of them came confessing their deeds. Also, those who had practiced magic brought their books and burned them before others.

They counted the value which totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So, the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed (Acts 19:19-26). They were “Sold Out”! I wish more people were like that today.

Some of them suffered, were imprisoned, and were martyred, but that did not stop them from doing what they were called to do. Why? Because they knew that this world was not their home and they were pilgrims passing through (1 Peter 2:11).

They had the assurance that to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). How did they know what was in the Word? Jesus Christ told them many things and He was the Word.

In the Old Testament, the Jews were looking toward the cross; they believed by faith that the Messiah was going to liberate them.

In the New Testament the saints look back at the cross because we have been set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-3). Today we look forward to seeing Jesus Christ when He returns (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Next: Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Four Gospels (Part 2) 10-7-2020

In the life and ministry of Jesus, you will find that everything He did was because He had such a love for people that He came to set them free from whatever had them in bondage (Isiah 61:1).

Jesus healed all types of diseases and He performed miracles; the feeding of five thousand (Matthew 4:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-15).

Jesus Christ was falsely accused of blasphemy by the religious leaders because He forgave sins. They said: Who can forgive sins but God? (Luke 5:21). And they said He made Himself to be God (John 10:32-33).

Peter, a disciple who walked close to Jesus, told Jesus he would never deny Him (Matthew 26:35, Mark 14:31); Jesus said before the cock (rooster) crows twice, you will deny (disown) Me three times (Mark 14:30).

Jesus was betrayed by Judas, another one of His disciples and he was sold for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15).

Jesus was handed over to Pontius Pilate by the Jews (Matthew 27:2, John 18:12-14).

Jesus was tried before Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27:11, Mark 15:1-5, Luke 23:1-5, John 18:28-40).

Jesus was sentenced to death (Matthew 27:22-26, Mark 15:12-15, Luke 23:24-25, John 19:5-16).

Jesus died on the cross (Matthew 27:45-50, Mark 15:33-38, Luke 23:44-46, John 19:29-30).

Jesus Christ was raised from the dead - The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-6, Luke 24:1-7, John 20:1-9).

Because of our Savior’s death and resurrection, Salvation came to many – Glory to God!

You have learned enough about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ to know that He was born, grew up as the same way we grew from children to adulthood. The difference between our Savior and us is, He was one hundred percent God and one hundred percent human, and He died for our sins; we could not die for others’ sins.

Most importantly He was raised from the dead to deliver us from death and hell (Revelation 1:18) and we owe our all to Him. Therefore, we should be forever grateful for what Christ did for us, and we should show our appreciation by living a life that is pleasing to God.

Jesus Christ in the Book of Acts

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Physical Appearance and Life of Jesus Christ in the Gospels 10-6-2020

The life and ministry of Jesus are in the four gospels that are called the synoptic gospels, meaning they are similar; sometimes the wording is identical. They are similar and not exactly alike because each writer was given what they were led to write by the Holy Spirit and according to their personality (1 Peter 1:21), and the timeline was different.

These are some of the verses that are similar in all four Gospels pertaining to the paralytic (one who cannot walk): Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26, John 5:1-9 and Jesus’ journey to Galilee: Matthew 4:12, Mark 1:14a, Luke 4:14a, John 4:1-3.

Now, I will point out a specific difference in each gospel:

Matthew 1:18-25 says Mary was a virgin.

Mark does not mention the birth of Christ- He mentions John preparing the way for Jesus and Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist (Mark 1:1-8). John, the writer of the Gospel of John was not John the Baptist.

Luke 2:5-7 does not call Mary a virgin.

John does not mention the birth of Christ. His book starts off with Christ being the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1).

Birth- Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, it was prophesied by God (Genesis 3:15), it was prophesied by Isaiah 7:14). Jesus Christ was born in a flesh body (Matthew 1:18-25).

He grew (increased) in wisdom and in stature and had favor with God and man- the scholars in the temple were astonished at His understanding and answers (Luke 2:41-52).

Jesus was a carpenter’s son (Matthew 13:55) - Joseph was his father because he was Mary’s husband (in today’s time we say stepfather).

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, who was His cousin and forerunner; John announced Jesus’ ministry – Behold the Lamb of God who takes away sins of the world (John 1:29).

Jesus Christ was given the Spirit without measure (John 3:34). He was the only one who did not have limitations when it came to functioning in all the five-fold ministry office gifts. Since Jesus Christ is no longer here, the church has been given the Spirit without measure to function in the five-fold ministry, just as Christ our Messiah had.

Jesus Christ functioned in the five-fold ministry office gifts as:

Apostle- He was sent from heaven by God to establish His kingdom, which would cause people to be born-again (Ephesians 2:20).

Prophet- Jesus Christ encouraged; He also warned and corrected religious leaders. He said: O generation of vipers (Matthew 12:33-37, Matthew 23:33).

Evangelist – Jesus Christ preached messages of repentance (Matthew 4:19), He came to set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1-12, Luke 4:18).

Pastor – Jesus Christ was and is the good Shepherd (John 10:11) and will come as the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4).

Jesus Christ also functioned in the teacher office – starting at Matthew, chapter 5 and throughout the book of Matthew.

Jesus Christ was the perfect example that the church is to model. Now that you know that the church is to model Jesus, why is it that the five-fold ministry office gifts are not functioning in many of the churches? And how can the body of Christ be complete without the five-fold ministry?

Next: The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ our Messiah

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

What God Requires from His Children (Part 2) 10-5-2020

God has set rules or guidelines for us to follow. If you were employed by a company, you would be expected to follow the rules, or you could lose your job, which is a consequence of not adhering to the rules. It is the same way with God, there are consequences for not living according to the Word of God.

Going back to Saul and David, who was Saul’s number one enemy, yet David had great love and respect for Saul.

Someone may say by the time they finish reading this message, it is difficult to love your enemies. Jesus loved us, right?

Let’s see what we as children of God can gain from this message.

We can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength (Philippians 4:13). I am going to give an example of a lady I knew years ago who testified that she visited someone in prison who had murdered her sister. She told the man that she forgave him for killing her sister. That had to be difficult, but she knew it was the godly thing to do.

In this case forgiving and love go hand in hand. One cannot love without forgiving, nor can one forgive without loving.

Getting to the point; many of us have gone through some things in life and were treated unjustly; this is just putting it mildly.

Yet, God sees everything, and everybody has a day of reckoning. With that being so, we are not to take matters into our own hands.

Why? Because we are not wrestling against flesh and blood (people); our battle is with the devil and his demons.

In the Old Testament, God took care of the enemy. God said to stand still, and He would fight their battles (Exodus 14:13-14). However, the Holy Spirit has empowered us to defeat the enemy. Jesus said: Behold I give you power to trample over serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing by any means shall hurt you (Luke 10:19).

The armor is not just something that you take off and put back on; it should be our life-long and permanent clothing.

When we understand that the Word of God is our best weapon; then we will also understand that we are battling against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against a host of spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:10-18).

In Matthew 12:44, we are told to love our enemies – Really? Yes, even our enemies.

Bless those who curse you – Are you kidding? Not kidding!

Do good to those who hurt you – But how? We can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength (Philippians 4:13).

Pray for who despitefully use you and persecute you – That is a difficult thing to, God gives each of His children grace for every situation we go through, including praying for our enemies, with the right attitude (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Once we set our minds to distinguishing the difference between the enemies (devils) and people, that the devil influences the people, and that he is the source behind all evil, we will win the battles over the real enemy and walk in victory.

The Physical Appearance and Life of Jesus Christ in the Gospels

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

What God Requires from His Children 10-4-2020

Today, I am going to share with you what God requires from His children. We are so close to the presidential election and many people are confused as to what candidate they are going to vote for, of if they are voting at all.

That is understandable with all the debates, arguments, divided government, and all this is to be expected because of what our forefather Adam did. But Jesus Christ the last Adam came with a remedy for all this chaos.

But until the set time that God only knows, we must suffer through some evil days. In the meantime, God requires these things from His children, to do justly and walk humbly.

I am not into politics, but when it comes to who to vote for, like some others, I do not know what to do. I do not like the way some things are taking place in this country, but I am careful when I am engaged in a conversation not to say anything negative.

When it seems like the conversation is something that God would not be pleased with, I do not continue to discuss the matter.

I want to share something that may benefit the children of God by informing you that regardless of who is in office, we need to be careful with our conversations and attitudes. David was going to sit on the throne one day as king, but not until Saul would lose the kingdom.

Saul became an evil and jealous king and he made several attempts to kill David. And David could have killed Saul a couple of times. In fact, David was so close to Saul that he cut a piece of his skirt off, and he was sorry for doing it. He knew Saul had been anointed king of Israel and what the consequences of harming him would be (1 Samuel 24:1-2).

David even had the man killed that killed Saul, even though Saul asked the man to kill him (2 Samuel 1:1-16). Verse 16b: David said to the man, out of your own mouth you have testified saying I have killed the Lord’s anointed.

Here is my point: We must be careful when it comes to speaking against any official whose office has been ordained by God. We have been called to pray for those in authority over us (1 Timothy 1-4), whether we like them or not, it was ordained by God for them to be in that office. Therefore, we bring damnation on ourselves when we oppose them (Romans 13:1-2).

We do not have to like what they do (we are not perfect either), but we should love them; hate the sin but love them. God hates sins but He loves us, and He also expects us to love everybody.

I believe the damnation can have something to do with a born-again believer taking communion unworthily - We need to be careful about having the wrong attitude (hostility/animosity) against the evil person; our attitudes play a major role in our health and speaking against others can lead to an early death.

I will end my message today with the Israelites and how the Lord allowed evil kings’ rule over them because they had turned their backs on God. He even allowed their enemies to defeat them in battle because they were backslidden.

I have seen many posts on Facebook how people used 2 Chronicles 7:14 pertaining to Covid-19. That scripture did not connect with the pandemic because Jesus said what must take place and pestilences (diseases) was one of the things He named.

How we talk down on government officials and the bad attitudes call for repentance: If My people who are called by My name would humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Next: What God Requires from His Children (Part 2) 10-5-2020

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Take me Back! Things Sho Ain’t the Way They Used to Be!!! (Part 2) 10-3-2020

As I continue from yesterday’s message, changes take place from one generation from the other as time moves forward. However, the Word of God never changes (Malachi 3:6) and we cannot try to fit it in with our agenda.

For instance, saying that a church needs something to draw the young people does not line up with the Word of God. Jesus Christ never used any form of entertainment to draw people. Only what is done the way God ordained it to be will last. The younger people may be drawn by entertainment, but how long will they stay?

During my generation, there was no entertainment, yet I was kept by the power of God. One must have a desire to get close to God, I had a hunger and thirst: Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for the shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).

The Word of God will fill you with all the things pertaining to life.

As I continue with how the church should function according to the standards of God. What happened to taking disciplinary action in the church? What happened if the person chose to continue in sin? 1 Corinthians, chapter 5.

There was more discipline in the church and in the homes back in the day. People are doing whatever they want to do and when it is addressed, they say: The Bible tells us not to judge.

That is true when it used in the proper context. We are told not to judge a person’s heart, because only God knows what is in the heart of every person (Matthew 7:1-5). This means that we do not know who is born-again and who is not.

There is a difference between Matthew 7:1-5 and 1 Corinthians, chapter 5. The difference: Paul is talking about a person who is having sex with his father’s wife and when it was addressed, he continued with his adulteress acts. Because he continued in this sinful act, it could also affect others (a little leaven (sin) leavens the whole lump, it spreads.

However, if a person professes to be born-again and they are continuing in sin, the Word of God says if they do not take heed, expel them from the church and hopefully the devil will beat up his flesh and he will come to his senses.

Also, in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, Paul does not tell the church not to keep company with the sexual immoral of this world (the unsaved) - because we need to be lights to the unsaved.

Yet he wrote that we should not keep company with anyone who calls him or herself a brother or sister who is sexually immoral or covetous (greedy), or an idolator (worshipper of false gods), or a reviler (abusive), or a drunkard (intoxicated) or an extortioner (robber) – not even to eat with such a person….

Those on the outside (the unsaved), God judges. Therefore, put this evil person away from you. This is righteous judgement.

Generally, it is the immature people who do not understand the Word of God that will challenge others about judging. Therefore, the Word of God talks about those being in positions who are novices (a baby Christian or one who is inexperienced).

Babies need some spiritual training on how to carry themselves in a way that would not cause someone else to lust or stumble; it is like the blind leading the blind and they both fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14).

The Bible tells the older women to mentor the younger women (Titus 2:3-5) – teaching them Christian character and their responsibilities to their families.

My, my, how things have changed. God does not take this lightly and neither should we.

Tomorrow: What God Requires from His Children

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Take me Back! Things Sho Ain’t the Way They Used to Be!!! 10-2-2020

After studying, learning, and understanding more of the truth of God’s Word and looking back over my spiritual life, I see how much the church has veered from the truth.

Even though the Word of God is more accessible than ever, the Word of God continues to be watered down.

I came up in a traditional Methodist church, was born-again while I was still a member of the Methodist church; later moved on to a Baptist church, from there to a Non-denominational church; then to a total of three Baptist churches, and finally to a Contemporary church.

I grew accustomed to the traditions and I was comfortable because that was all I knew. One thing really stood out; even though many of the people did not have much knowledge of the Word, they had a connection with God, and they feared God. They reverenced God and they were certainly morally upright.

I must admit that my mother was strict, but when I look back over my life, I am grateful. Mother’s standards were high, and as time went on, I wondered how she was raising me according to Proverbs 22:6, by training me the way the Word of God said to do. Evidently, she had heard it somewhere.

I am not saying that there were not problems in some churches, but it has gotten progressively worse, just as the Word of God said it would. That does not mean that every born-again believer will go along with what is not right. God always has a remnant of people who will not compromise their spiritual values.

I had been born-again about twenty-five years before I was taught and understood the principles of God’s Word. It was at that time my life began to take on a new meaning. Prior to the new meaning, I was basically going through the motions, and thought I was okay.

Then I learned that many of us were not okay. I began to take notice of how some people in certain positions were in a clique; they thought they were better than others.

This was really a problem to me, and when some pastors’ wives were called first lady or lady, I was disturbed and troubled by it. This started in the churches about twenty some years ago; the church has taken on the ways of the world. Up until that point the only person I heard called first lady was the President of the United States’ wife.

Why would a pastor’s wife be called first lady when all of God’s children are equal? God does not have respect of persons, even those in ministry are not better than others (Romans 2:11). All the children of God are ministers and they have ministry in them (Romans 12:7).

My, my, how things have changed, and God is not pleased.

Tomorrow: Take me Back! Things Sho Ain’t the Way They Used to Be!!! (Part 2)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

What about offerings? Sowing on Good Ground 10-1-2020

Who do you give offerings to?

For many years I heard this: Bring your tithes and offerings into the storehouse (church). That is not what the Word of God says. The Word says to bring all the tithes into the storehouse. It goes on to say: You have robbed Me of tithes and offerings.

The tithe is for the church to financially support the five-fold ministry, and for those in various places who have a need.

In the Old Testament they made a sacrificial offering to God (Leviticus 1:1-13), they would take an offering to the priest as an offering to God (Leviticus 3:1-12). Whatever you do with offering is an act of worship to God.

The norm is, the Spirit of God will lead you where to give and God will leave it up to you as to how much to give. A person gives as he purposes in his heart how much to give, and God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

The offering is over and beyond the tithe. The offering is a sacrificial giving of money to whoever the Spirit of God leads you to bless.

Suppose the Spirit prompted you to give to someone, there was no fore thought and you did not know that the person had a need. You obeyed and found out later what the person’s need was. You would feel so blessed to be able to help someone who had a need, and the person who received the blessing would be overjoyed.

This was out of the norm; I do not put God in a box. I was sitting in church one Sunday and the Spirit prompted me to give a certain amount of money in the offering. I obeyed and less than two weeks later, I received five times what I had given.

The Word of God tells us to give and it shall be given to you, good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give to your bosom…. (Luke 6:38). Whatever the it is, comes back.

The Word of God commands those (children of God) who are rich in this present age not to be haughty nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute….(1 Timothy 6:17-19). God allowed these people to be rich to help others.

Jesus said the poor would be with us always (Matthew 26:11), that is the reason we are to help others.

What about sowing into a ministry that you are being blessed by? It is called sowing on good ground. If you are not sowing to that particular ministry, it is like going to a restaurant, eating the food, and leaving without paying for it.

I do not solicit funds for Burnett Ministries, but according to the Word of God if this ministry is blessing you, I encourage you to support it. The donations, contributions, tithes, and offerings are used to blessed others.

Examples: We have sowed into Ministries in New Jersey, Kidney Foundation, families who did not have sufficient funds to bring closure to loved ones lives, sowed into ministries that were sending others on foreign soil, financial aid to young adults entering into college.

Also, it takes funds to do the work of the ministry such as, computer, printer, ink, pay for the blog to get my messages to social media.

Even if you do not choose to sow into this ministry, your readership is a blessing to me.

Next: Take me Back! Things Sho Ain’t the Way They Used to Be!!!

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Benefits of Tithing ~ Sowing and Reaping 9-30-2020

The principle of sowing and reaping has been in the Word of God since the beginning of humanity. God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28). What does this mean?

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. He had to work the garden (cultivate it) so a crop could be produced.

The principle of sowing and reaping is, you give to God what already belongs to Him and you will be blessed with abundance. If you do not give, how do you expect to receive?

This is what I heard through someone else that a minister said: Work God’s principles and they will work for you. That is such a true statement and I am a living witness that it works!

Tithes were to support the Levites who were the priests (Numbers 18:21-24) and today they are the five-fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11). For your information, I did not write the Word, the Spirit led men wrote it (2 Peter 1:20-21). I am just writing what has already been written, as the Spirit leads me.

Symbolism: The Levites who were the priest, is symbolic of five-fold ministry: Do not muzzle the ox; who are the five-fold ministry which consists of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, not associate pastor, assistant pastor, or campus pastor.

Let the elders rule well… who are the elders? The five-fold ministry office gifts are the elders. Do not put a muzzle on the ox that feeds you – to close the mouth, to reduce to silence (1 Timothy 5:17-18). So, who feeds the children of God? The five-fold ministry elders, of course.

No one in ministry is to be called Reverend, Right Reverend or the title of Chief apostle which belongs to Jesus Christ only. Anyone who uses that title is saying they are equal with Christ, just as the pope thinks he is equal with God. Do you see those names in the Word of God? God said He would not share His glory with anyone (Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 48:11).

Oh my God! the church has veered from the Bible and taken on the ways of the world with their extra-biblical and antibiblical egoistic titles. That same puffed up with pride spirit that Lucifer had is still moving throughout the land today (Isaiah 14:12-14). This is shameful. We are truly living in the last days.

The Word of God says: Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the church of Galatia, so you do also. On the first day of the week (Sunday), let each one of you lay in store as God has prospered him, that there will be no gatherings when I come (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

Somebody could challenge this, but it will not work. Why? I have written repeatedly that there are scriptures that connect, relate to, and support each other. Everything is not written yet it can be inferred.

Even if 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 does not say tithes, that is what is inferred. The Word of God has already said to tithe in Malachi, Genesis, and Hebrews.

Additionally, we are told to honor the Lord with our possessions and with the first fruit of all our increase (tithe off the top, the gross). So shall your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine- reference back to Malachi 3:8-10; I will pour you out a blessing that you will not have room enough to receive it.

How dare anyone say that tithing is not for today. When you think like that, you are not honoring Jesus Christ our King.

And the blessings of God are limited on your life. The Word of God says: You are cursed with a curse when you do not give your tithes- you are robbing God (Malachi 3:8-9).

In the eternal realm, nations will pay homage to King Jesus (Isaiah 66:12, Revelation 21:24) and our King needs to be honored with our tithes.

What about offerings? Sowing on Good Ground 10-1-2020

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Purpose of Tithing 9-29-2020

As we continue with tithing and the Old Testament and New Testament connection, I am starting off by challenging you with this question. Who gets benefited from tithing? It certainly is not God; it benefits us with blessings that are beyond our finite understanding.

However, it gives God pleasure for us to walk in obedience: If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19).

First of all, it takes faith to totally depend on God. We have been so accustomed to doing things without God being involved, that we do not recognize that He is not involved. For instance, when you got a job, did you ask God to help you or you just went out on your own and left Him out?

Secondly, if you already had a good job, or you were financially set, would you depend on God? Some of those like me certainly put our trust in God and we recognize that it is God who takes care of us. And that makes our relationship with God so much sweeter. I want to say, that not everybody who is financially set, lives independently of God.

Example of dependence: When we were growing up as children, who did we depend on? We depended on our parents to provide for us, because we could not live independently of them. It was natural for us to depend on them because we did not know any different. God expects us to think the same way when it comes to Him.

This is what happens when we do not depend on God as our Source:

When we do not tithe, we leave ourselves wide open for the enemy to devour, it is like you have it and before you know it, you do not have it anymore.

Some use a water bucket with a hole in it as an example: Water runs out of the bucket as fast as you put it in the bucket. Others say it is like having your fist tightened; so how can something come in or go out if your fist is closed?

Personally, many times resources are not there; so, this keeps me having to lean, depend and trust God; He has proved Himself over and over. Trusting Him was not easy, but over the years my faith has grown, and I know without a doubt that He is Jehovah Jireh, my Provider (Philippians 4:19).

I am going to the purpose of tithing:

Tithes were given to the Levites who were the priests. They did not do physical labor, but they took care of the spiritual needs of the people, just as the five-fold ministry are to take care of the spiritual needs of the church (body of Christ) today. I will be more detailed about this in a future message.

The church is also symbolic of the welfare system; it has been called to take care of the poor among them. Jesus said the poor would be with us always (Matthew 26:11). And the Word of God specifically told the Nation of Israel to take care of strangers too (Leviticus 19:34). God reminded them that they were once strangers in Egypt (Deuteronomy 10:19).

In this time-period, the church needs to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to lead, because so many people abuse the church when it comes to the church blessing them. Yet, the Word of God has not changed, and we need to understand that the church has a responsibility to its own first and then the stranger:

Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people but especially to those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10).

Next: The Benefits of Tithing ~ Sowing and Reaping

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Foreshadowed Through Tithing - The Malachi and the Hebrews Connection 9-28-2020

I am writing this to show the readers how important it is to connect the Old Testament with the New Testament. Some people say tithing is not for today because it was in the Old Testament.

As we go to the book of Malachi, there is going to be a connection to support, and relate to how we are still commanded by God to tithe. God told the Israelites to bring all the tithes to the storehouse. The word BRING is a command!

The Word of God talks about tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-10), which is also foreshadowing tithes to Christ our King (Hebrews, chapter 7).

We cannot disconnect the Old Testament from the New Testament, just as one cannot disconnect Jesus Christ throughout the entire Bible. He is the center of the Bible; without Him there would be no Word (Bible) because He is the Word (John 1:1).

Tithing was first instituted with Abraham and Melchizedek. This is the history.

Abram, whose name was later changed to Abraham (Genesis 17:5) had been in war because his nephew Lot had been captured ….. and Abram brought back all the goods and Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people…. (Genesis 14:1-17).

Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils to the King of Salem (Genesis 14:17-20).

I am going to Hebrews: For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most-High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness”,

and then also king of Salem (Shalom-Peace), meaning “king of peace”,

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days or end of life, but made like the Son of God, being a priest continually (Jesus Christ is both Priest and King).

Now, consider how great this man was, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils (Hebrews 7:1-4). My brothers and sisters, Melchizedek was certainly a type of Christ.

I want you to take notice that tithing came before the law, which was written by Moses. Under the law of Moses, all tithing was a tenth of the land whether it was of the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s, it holy to the Lord (Leviticus 27:30).

Everything belongs to God (Psalm 24:1, Psalm 50:10-11), and He so graciously gives us ninety percent and some of us do not want to give Him a tenth of what is His anyway?

So, what is tithing? In the present time-period, tithing is money. Tithing tests our faith (Malachi 3:8-10). I am a living witness that tithing works. With my little measly income, God stretches it beyond my comprehension. I do not have to understand; I just need to continue to walk in obedience to His Word.

He certainly rains down blessings on me and the enemy cannot curse or touch what my Father has blessed.

Next: The Purpose of Tithing

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Malachi 9-27-2020

This book is like having a conversation between two people, only God is having a conversation with Israel, and especially with priests who were corrupt. I found it be most intriguing; the people never saw themselves.

Every time the Lord would address their wrongdoing, they acted as if nothing were wrong with what they were doing. To top it off, some were divorcing their wives and marrying women from the ungodly nations around them. They were unfaithful in their relationship with God (Malachi 1:2-5).

Have you ever talked to someone and brought something to their attention that they did wrong and they looked at you as if you were the one with the problem? The Israelites reminded me of some people who are addicted to drugs or just full of pride. Not only are they in denial about themselves, they will say you are wrong when they are the guilty ones.

The Lord sent Malachi to the Israelites as His messenger. Malachi’s name meant “My Messenger”. Malachi as well as the other prophets had a message of warning, correction, and encouragement.

As it was with the other prophets, the warning seemed to have caused them to stop for a short period and they fell right back into their old way of living.

Does that sound like there is nothing new under the sun? These people had no regard (respect) for God, yet He loved them and said: Return to me and I will return to you (Malachi 3:7).

This is what the Lord said: Behold I send My messenger. And He will prepare the way before Me. Not only was Malachi the Lord’s messenger, but it was prophesied (foretold) that He would send another messenger who would be John the Baptist the forerunner of Jesus Christ (John 1:29).

And the angel Gabriel said to Zechariah, whose son would be John the Baptist: He will also go before Him (Jesus Christ) in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17).

John the Baptist had the spirit of Elijah in that he was like Elijah. Both men were bold, and they proved themselves to be loyal to God.

Jesus Christ came as a Messenger in the same sense that Malachi did, in that He warned and corrected the pharisees, who were also Jews. They never saw their wrongs and they questioned and challenged Jesus Christ was as if they were God (Mark 8:11), they questioned Jesus’s authority (Luke 20:1-8) on many other things, and they tried to find a way to get rid of (destroy, kill) Him (Matthew 12:14, Luke 22:2).

The difference between Jesus’ message and Malachi’s message was, He came to do what no other prophet was able to do.

Jesus Christ also became the Messenger that was sent by God as a prophet who proclaimed the Word of God to a dying world of sinful people.

The other prophets warned, corrected, and encouraged, but they could not save souls. It took the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Messiah for us to have eternal life.

As we continue in the book of Malachi, this is what you will learn next:

The Lord talks about tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-10), which is also foreshadowing tithes to Christ our King (Hebrews, chapter 7).

Next: Jesus Christ Foreshadowed Though Tithing - The Malachi and Hebrew Connection

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Foreword to Malachi 9-26-2020

Malachi is supposed to be the last book in the New Testament, but as was posted in an earlier message, it is not the last book in the Old Testament. I want to say that regardless of who says what, the Word of God is solid proof.

While Jesus ministered healing, deliverance and so on, and when the healing manifested, He would tell the person who was blessed with the deliverance to show himself to the priest (Matthew 8:4, Mark 1:40, Luke 5:14, Luke 17:12-15).

Why was this so? Because Jesus was still functioning under the Old Testament law. The example is the leper who went to the priest and brought the appropriate sacrifice so he could be accepted back into society.

Leviticus, chapters 13-14 gives all the aspects of leprosy and how the priest was involved in examining and confirming if the person could go back into society.

Back to another reason the four gospels are not part of the New Testament is because Jesus Christ was owner of the old covenant (contract) or will, and until He died the will was just a will. Before Jesus Christ, the testator or the will owner died, Jesus Himself had to abide by the Old Testament rules.

The four gospels became the New Testament in the last chapter of each book:

Jesus Christ hung on the cross and died (Matthew 27:45-50, Mark 15:33-37, Luke 23:44-46, John 19:30).

When the veil was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51) that separated the old covenant from the new and better covenant (Hebrews 8:6, 13). This was end of the time-period or dispensation of the law and grace was ushered in. The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

By the way, notice that in my writings pertaining to Jesus Christ being foreshadowed throughout the Bible had nothing to do with the law. Jesus Christ was before the law because He is eternal. Yet the law was in place to show mankind their sins and that they were not able to keep it.

Therefore, it took someone (the Perfect Jesus Christ) to become the sacrifice for our sins. No other sacrifice was sufficient; they were just temporary until the perfect sacrifice was revealed in the fulness of time (Galatians 4:4).

Sunday: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Malachi

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Zechariah 9-25-2020

Reading the book of Zechariah amazed me; had never seen it with my spiritual lens until recently. I kept saying wow to so many scriptures.

The book of Zechariah was one of the most Messianic of all the Old Testament prophets, giving distinct and verifiable references to the coming Messiah (NKJV Spirit Filled Life Bible).

Zechariah's name meant “Yahweh remembers” (Yahweh’s name means to be). The significance of the name “Yahweh” is to confirm God’s existence, but most importantly His presence.

Zechariah was given several visions of the future; I will list some of them:

Vision of the measuring line: I was absolutely amazed when I read about Zechariah measuring the city of Jerusalem, chapter 2, verse 15. This will be our future and eternal home (Revelation 21:1-3), not heaven

In the future we are writing a series about the new heaven and a new earth and the holy city New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. You will read about this awesome and most incredible city where we will live, you learn about its measurements and much more.

More visions:

The coming Servant Branch:

(Chapter 3:8-9): Joshua was a priest who was foreshadowed Christ as both and King and Priest.

Behold the Man, the BRANCH (Chapter 6:12) – Christ is also foreshadowed as the root or lineage (BRANCH), which was the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1). Paul wrote what Isaiah prophesied about Christ being a root, offspring of Jesse …. (Romans 15:12).

The Messiah is both King and Priest (Chapter 6:13) - New Testament, Christ as King (1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14); Christ as Priest (Hebrews 4:4-16).

True Shepherd:

(Chapter 11:4-11, John 10:1-5) – New Testament, Christ as the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). If you are wondering why I did not use the scripture in John 10:1-5 as a New Testament scripture, I will explain.

The Gospels are Old Testament until after Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The owner of a will (last will and testament) must die before the will becomes effective. Therefore, Jesus Christ had to die before a New Testament (called a new and better covenant) became effective (Hebrews 9:16-17).

His betrayal:

Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver (Chapter 11:11-13) – End of Old Testament prophecy revealed - Judas the one who betrayed Jesus Christ, sold Him for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16).

His suffering:

And they will say to Him, “What are these wounds between Your arms (hands); then He will answer, those of which I was wounded in the house of My friends (Chapter13:6). Jesus Christ, who was a Jew came to the Jews and they did not receive Him (John 1:11).

As a matter of fact, it was the Jews who turned Him over to the Romans to be crucified (Acts 2:22-23, Matthew 27:11-14).

Christ’s crucifixion:

They will look at Christ and mourn (Chapter 12:10) – at the end of the New Testament; they looked at Him, whom they had pierced (John 19:33-37).

The coming King:

Rejoice greatly O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold Your King is coming to you (Chapter 9:9). New Testament - He is coming on a white horse……. KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS (Revelation 19:11-16)

This is when Jesus Christ comes back with His saints - the millennial reign.

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Malachi

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Does God Accept What is not in His Will? 9-24-2020

There is something important that the children of God should be aware of. The Word of God has specific instructions that we should follow. There are natural laws and spiritual laws.

If we were speeding while driving a got a ticket, according to the law, rules were broken and there would be a fine to be paid.

It is similar with the Word of God, there are penalties for not following God’s rules. Which would you prefer, to find out the truth now, or go through the rest of your life in error and suffer eternal consequences?

Maybe you do not want to change because pride would have you thinking that it will be an embarrassment when people found out how wrong you were.

Whatever the case, God loves each of His children so much that He forgives our mistakes and bad choices, when we confess them to Him (1 John 1:9).

I am going to a scripture that will let you know how some of the people who walked close to Christ were outside of God’s will. But first I will share some history about casting lots:

In the Old Testament God allowed the Israelites to cast lots to determine His will for a given situation (Joshua 18:6-10, 1 Chronicles 24:5-7, 31).

In the New Testament there is not one scripture that says people cast lots to help with decision making. We have the Word of God, the Holy Spirit and prayer to receive answers that are needed for whatever the situation is.

This scripture is about Peter and the apostles casting lots. It was the beginning of the church age and since Judas was no longer an apostle, there was a need for someone to replace Judas. So, Peter and the ten apostles picked Justus and Matthias.

And they prayed and said, “You O Lord who know the hearts of all, show us which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might to his own place (Matthew 27:3-5). And they cast their lots and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles (Acts 1:23-26).

Peter was known to be quick to jump to do things (impetuous); especially when he walked with Jesus. Even with that being so, God still used him. In the situation with the apostles’ casting lot, Peter knew better. You read how they prayed to God, but this was on their terms, not God’s.

They wanted God’s approval of one of the men they, the apostles had chosen. They should have asked God about the person He had chosen, which was Paul the apostle. And God would have shown them it was Paul (Galatians 1:15-17).

Jesus said to Paul: Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21). Apostles are sent to establish!

Matthias’ name was only mentioned two times (Acts 1:23, 26).)

What about a Search Committee? Who gives anyone the right to make their own rules? As was written and posted in previous messages, it is the apostle and prophet who establish the church and Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).

The church should also be a spiritual training center which includes, Bible study, New members class, Evangelism class; some have Sunday school and Vacation bible school. All of these are spiritual tools to enhance the growth of the church (body of born-again believers).

Years ago, I was a member of a church that had cell groups and the leaders were men and women who had experience in the Word. And they had experienced different situations in life, which made them more qualified to lead.

Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Zechariah

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

“Go Where You can Grow” 9-23-2020

Before I go further, you should know that the church should never function like a worldly business. It is an organism, not a business (organization). When Jesus said: I must be about My Father’s business, it was spiritual (Luke 2:49). Saving souls was Jesus’ business (Luke 19:10).

The difference in an organism and an organization paraphrased from Bible Truths:

Organism - created by the Creator (God); the Head is Jesus Christ; it would be with the life giving power that flows from the blood of the Lord Jesus; you would have to be supernaturally added to the organism by the power of the Holy Spirit;

there is only one body of Christ composed of all the members who are different from each other, the members would care for one another in genuine love; you would be a permanent part of the organism that rejoices and suffer with each other.

Organization – it could be created by the people; it would have a human head and some haughty title (CEO, President, Administrator, etc.); it would be organized by man-made rules, you could join or change organizations, or leave anytime it was convenient for you; you could be excommunicated from the organization if you disobeyed the laws.

If the church is not established on the foundation of Christ, it is spiritually dead, even though the person/s who started it may be born-again.

Now that you know the difference in a true church (organism) that is called by God and an organization that is formed by man, it is of utmost importance that you seek to be in a true church where you can grow in your relationship with Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

One can only grow where principles from the Word of God are being taught. God’s Word should always be the number one source of study. Jesus is our role model - He taught principles for growth (Matthew 5:1-2). You should put your number one dependence on the Word of God and the Holy Spirit will help you.

The Holy Spirit is our Teacher- the scripture says you have need for no man to teach you (1 John 2:27). Since we know God’s Word cannot contradict itself, let us see what the scripture means. John is writing about false teachers.

A group of people were called Gnostics, and they felt like they had superior “knowledge”. They said that Jesus could not have come in the flesh because all flesh (matter) was evil.

This is what I learned years ago and the NKJV Life Study Bible footnotes are similar. The born-again believers were warned not to be seduced into Gnosticism which was a false doctrine.

That is the reason John wrote that no man should teach you, he was writing about false teachers. The Word of God must be rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15).

There are the teacher gifts that God the Father gave in Romans 12:7. Christ also gave the five-fold ministry offices (Ephesians 4:11).

Disciples begat disciples (sheep beget sheep) – what we learn we pass on to others (Matthew 28:20).

Everything that is listed should be taught in all the churches that has been established by Christ.

Next: Does God Accept What is Not in His Will?

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

“How to Know if a Church is Established by God” 9-21-2020

I am sharing what the Bible says, not from my opinion or what someone else has said, or what someone thought it meant. We are going straight to the Word of God.

This is the proof or evidence that a church was established by God. We will start with what Jesus said in giving an answer to Peter: And I also say to you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build My church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

What did Jesus mean? 1) Jesus is the owner of the church and He is the Rock. Peter was the little rock meaning petra (piece of rock or stone).

2) Jesus sent the disciples out and they became apostles; on the day of Pentecost Peter preached and God added three-thousand souls to the church (Acts 2:40-42, 47). The Roman Catholics say Peter was the first pope. According to the Word of God, Peter was an apostle.

This is another scripture that supports, relate to, and connect with who the owner and founder of the church is: Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Himself being the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).

No one owns a church; Christ is the Owner/Lord and the head of the church (Ephesians 5:23). He purchased us (His church) with His own blood.

So, for you who are truly called to be five-fold ministry offices- apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11): Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He has purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).

Notice the word overseers; it applies to all five-fold ministry offices and there are other interchangeable words like elders and bishops that are fitting for the five offices.

What about families starting churches? What does the Word of God say when it comes to how the church was started? Answer: Ephesians 2:20

What about a church who split off from another church and the members started a church and asked someone to be their pastor? What does the Word of God say? Answer: Ephesians 2:20

Unless the church is founded the way, it is written in the Word of God, it can never please God. People who join churches may feel like they are being blessed, but they will never reach their full potential.

That is why I urge you to allow the Spirit of God to lead you where He wants you to be. And for those who are functioning in pastoral positions and you have not been called, I urge you to step down, repent and find where you belong in the body of Christ.

What I mean is to find out what your gifts are. That is reducing pride, and by doing this, God will use you to serve in the capacity He has called you to serve and you will be rewarded.

Bottom line is this: Everybody is going to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and give account of everything done in your bodies whether it is good or bad (Romans 14:12, 2 Corinthians 5:10).

You will not be rewarded for anything that God had not called you to do (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). As a matter of fact, you will lose your reward, Jesus will call you a wicked servant (Matthew 25:26).

Remember this: Unless the Lord builds the church, they labor in vain who build it (Psalm 127:1).

It could appear that a church is prospering, but only what Christ tells us to do will last and have eternal benefits.

Coming Wednesday: “Go Where You can Grow”

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Recognizing the Call

Greetings friends and family!

I am deviating somewhat because of some feedback from yesterday’s message. The Spirit is directing me to bring more clarity to those of you who have been tossed here and there and still are not satisfied because something is missing in your spiritual lives.

That is what the five-fold ministry is for; to train/grow you up in your spiritual walk.

Many of you who know me and are mature enough to understand, also know that I am a five-fold ministry evangelist/prophetess. I am overjoyed for your support, love, and encouragement as I operate in my ministry gifts.

On the other hand, there are some who are offended by some of my messages, and that is to be expected. The pharisees were offended when Jesus confronted them about keeping people in bondage. They were preying on the peoples ignorance for their own gain.

Perhaps some of these leaders today are ignorant to what they are doing because they have not studied the Word of God as they should. But the pharisees knew what they were doing. They made their own rules in addition to the Law of Moses. For years, some people in churches have been doing the same thing the pharisees did.

Because most of us grew up attending or being members of traditional churches, we have been influenced by the by the tradition of men and erroneous doctrines. Because those errors have been ingrained in many people, it is difficult to come out of the erroneous teaching.

On the other hand, many, many new churches, and denominations are raising up and their doctrine may be different, but like the traditional doctrine, it is still in error. They are not operating in the five-fold ministry of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher.

I felt the Spirit say: There is a true church and for us who are waiting for directions during this pandemic, God already has called leaders (five-fold ministry), and they will be revealed.

This is a spiritual principle: When Elijah thought he was the only prophet left, God told him, He had seven-thousand prophets who had not bowed to Baal.

I am not sure as to how this will happen, it could be that some people will go back to having services in homes like it was in the book of Acts with Aquila and Priscilla and other saints.

There is a church that functions in the five-fold ministry offices right here in Greensboro, North Carolina, and others that I do not know about. God has a remnant of people in all places who desire to have an intimate relationship with Him. As you search for places to fellowship, I encourage you to seek God and allow His Spirit to direct you.

I have been praying for a long time for the children of God’s eyes to be open. Please do not give up or lose heart; hold on to what faith you have.

To those of you who are opposing my messages, talk to God about it. The truth is in His book – the Bible (John 8:32, 36).

Next: Whatever the Spirit of God leads me to post- God bless you

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

“The True Church is Established According to God’s Word” 9-19-2020

I see so many churches and denominations and they are continually growing. I see big churches, small churches, storefronts, holes in the walls and so on. You would think with so many churches, there would much deliverance.

One of the reasons no deliverance is taking place, principles are not being taught. One cannot grow without learning the principles or fundamental truths that serves as the foundation of our beliefs according to God’s Word.

The fundamentals can be called the elementary or rudiment, which means to start off on the foundation or basics. This is a step by step process like someone starting at the first grade and advancing from one grade to the other until the person gets the degree of their choice.

Graduating does not mean that one finishes being taught something; we will be learning as long as we are on this earth. In the professional world, whether one is a doctor, lawyer, teacher or etc., it is necessary for them to take certain classes or courses to stay up to par as technology progresses.

An example of technology progressing is a phone. Without having to buy a new one, there are constant upgrades.

The second and the biggest problem is, many of these churches are not established by God. The Word of God says: Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it (Psalm 127:1a). Many of these people went out on their own and said God told them to start a church.

The Word of God also says: Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20-21).

I have been affiliated with several churches and denominations and have been officially in ministry since 2000. All churches are going to have problems, but when their members are bickering among themselves, and there is division in the body, it cannot be blamed on the devil.

When a church is not mature, mainly because of lack of growth, there are unnecessary problems (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

I believe God wants to get His children’s attention during this pandemic and time of social distancing, even during what many do not understand what must take place in these last days (Matthew 24:4-7).

Why is it that so many people are not taking heed to the Word of God, or know what time it is in history? The handwriting is on the wall.

Yet, they are not aware of what is going on according to God’s timetable, they are not listening to and being in tune with the Spirit of God. Many people want to do what they think is right, but do not realize God’s thoughts and ways are so much higher than theirs (Isaiah 55:8-9).

They have not asked for directions as to what church they should be in. Many go by invites from friends who belong to churches or by other ways advertising get to the public.

Many people are in churches for the wrong reasons.

I am calling these places churches, but if God did not build (establish) the church, it is not a true church.

Tomorrow: “How to Know if a Church is Established by God”

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Haggai 9-18-2020

Today we are going to see how Christ was foreshadowed through Haggai’s prophecy. Haggai had a unique style that was plain, and his language was simple. His name meant “Festive” which means a joyous occasion.

God sent His prophet Haggai to help His people get their priorities in line with what they already knew they should be. They were to focus on God rather than personal pursuits or their labor which would be in vain. He told them to stop their busy schedules and evaluate their lives.

God’s people were encouraged to conquer distraction and discouragement (Haggai 1:5-8). They had neglected God’s house, God said twice “consider your ways” (1:5, 7).

My concentration is on the temple and the three aspects of the temple that would bring joy.

1) Solomon’s temple laid in ruins and the Lord gave the elderly encouragement that the latter temple would be greater than the former temple.

Haggai came with a message of encouragement to Zerubbabel, the faithful descendant of King David of whom Christ came through the ancestry of. Zerubbabel was chosen to lead the people to restoring the temple. Zerubbabel was governor of Judah.

The Lord spoke to Zerubbabel through Haggai: “I will make you as a signet, for I have chosen you” (Haggai 2:23). Zerubbabel, a descendant of David was also of the lineage of the great King (Matthew 1:12-13).

Zerubbabel as a signet ring was symbolic of those in authority like kings; he came through royal bloodline and he was a type of Christ. Jesus Christ would sit on the throne in the New Jerusalem as King (Luke 1:32-33).

2) God’s children (the church) are His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 2:19).

3) Haggai was prophesying about the supreme glory of the Messianic reign in the future where Jesus Christ will sit on His throne in the New Jerusalem (greater than the latter temple). He encouraged them with the promise of even greater peace (2:9), prosperity (2:19), divine rulership (2:21-22), and national blessing (2:23) during the millennium, or one-thousand-year reign.

[footnote from John McArthur Study Bible]

This book foreshadows Christ by God dwelling amid (in the midst of) His people. How does God dwell amid His people? It happened by Jesus Christ who is the Word; the Word became flesh and dwelt among men (John 1:14).

The temple was a visible symbol of God dwelling with His people (Exodus 13: 21-22). Christ was the temple: Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up (John 2:19).

It is amazing how God used His prophets to warn, correct and encourage His people throughout the ages. I am overjoyed that God was using the prophets of old to encourage us of our blessed future. I am also thankful that God uses His prophets in this present time to warn, correct and encourage us. It is for our benefit.

Next week: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Zechariah

Tomorrow: The True Church is Established According to God’s Word

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Zephaniah 9-17-2020

All the prophets were sent to warn, correct and encourage the children of Israel according to what they were doing. Nothing has changed, God is still using His prophets today. Zephaniah, whose name meant (“The Lord Has Hidden”) was sent to Judah.

History tells us that Zephaniah painted a darker picture of God’s judgment and a brighter picture of Israel’s future glory. This extreme contrast reflects the divided religious loyalties of the people of Judah. Their worship of the Lord was mixed with pagan practices that were abominable (detestable) to the Lord.

Astral religion (worship of stars and other heavenly bodies); became so popular that Judah’s king Manasseh built altars to worship the heavenly bodies. They also worshiped the mother-goddess of the temple.

No wonder Judah’s judgment was greater! And, no wonder, Zephaniah had a stronger devastating message that came like a searing blast.

They sinned against the Lord; neither their silver nor their gold could save them. Regardless of how much influence these affluent and rich people had, it could not save them.

The unrighteous knew no shame. They did any and everything, there was no shame in their game (Zephaniah 3:5).

God’s judgment on Judah was called the “Day of the Lord” which is mentioned seven times in the book of Zephaniah. It is a foreshadowing of the Lord. While wrath will come on many, a remnant will be saved.

Jesus Christ is the Restorer of the remnant. Although the book of Zephaniah shows much gloom, it ends with joy and deliverance.

Judah is called to repentance before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon them. They are told to seek the Lord, seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you are hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger (Zephaniah 2:1-3).

Remember, Zephaniah’s name meant the “Lord has hidden”. I believe it meant that the Lord was going to protect this prophet from being killed because of his strong warnings to the people of Judah.

The book of Zephaniah gives warnings but also a glimpse of the Messiah ruling in the millennial kingdom when the earth will be filled with peace and righteousness. This should give all the children of God joy as they look forward to the day when there will be total peace.

We will sing “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, forever and ever” (Revelation, chapter 5). O, what a glorious time to look forward to.

In the prophecy, Zephaniah looked forward to the day when all nationalities will come to know the One True God and be grafted into the one people of God. In the church age or dispensation of grace, Christ’s church is comprised of many nationalities.

Despite the imminent “Day of the Lord” there is hope for all who call on the name of the Lord.

Judah had been given the assurance that the King of Israel, the Lord is in your midst (Zephaniah 3:15-17). Just as the Lord was in their midst, He is in our midst. The Lord God is with you/us always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Haggai

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Habakkuk 9-16-2020

As we go to the book of Habakkuk, the prophet/visionary was a man who questioned God, but he also embraced God.

Habakkuk’s name means “Embrace”, either signifying he was “embraced by God”, thus strengthening him for his difficult task, or “embracing others” and encouraging them during a national crisis.

As in all the books, there are principles that we can gain from; one form this book is embracing and being embraced by God our Father in times of a crisis. This helps us to understand that no matter what we go through our God will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Even still, like Habakkuk, I am sure all of us have questioned God at Some point in our lives. Habakkuk’s example: “O Lord, how long will I cry, and You will not hear?”

From a prophetic view, Habakkuk: “Why do You show me sins and cause me to see trouble?”. In my early years of the prophetic walk and intercession, I would ask the Lord, why is this so hard?

Jesus Christ even wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44) and in His humanity, Jesus did not want to go to the cross and suffer the most horrible kind of death (Luke 22:42).

Like Habakkuk, some of us did not want to go through the pain that the prophet had to endure. Going to someone who may not receive what the Spirit of God tells you to say is not easy.

NKJV Spirit Filled Life Bible: The terms used in Habakkuk 3:13 join the idea of salvation with the Lord’s anointed. The Hebrew roots of these words reflect the two names of our Lord: Jesus meaning “Salvation” and Christ meaning “the Anointed One”.

At the end of the prophecy Habakkuk’s name which meant “one who embraces” was appropriate because he learned to embrace God even when he did not understand God’s plan for His people.

This is some of my testimony: “When I did not understand God as much as I do now, there were some material losses that really challenged me. However, as time went on, I progressed in my faith walk and learned that whatever God does, even when I do not understand, my faith kicked in.”

Although my challenges were quite difficult, it was worth everything I went through.

For those of you who who do not understand, let this be of encouragement to you. Learn to embrace God as Habakkuk did, and whatever you go through, it is for a purpose, and it always work for your good (Romans 8:28).

Whatever God has called you to do, your faith will be tested but hold on and, in the end, it will reveal itself (Habakkuk 2:4). Hold on to your faith and do not let go. The just shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:2-4).

Habakkuk learned that the just shall live by his faith and so did the apostle Paul (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38).

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Zephaniah

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Nahum 9-15-2020

This book is about God’s judgment on the city of Nineveh. He sent the prophet Nahum to proclaim judgment and comfort. Nahum's name meant “Comforter” or “Full of Comfort”.

Christ is seen as the Prophet of Comfort; He comforted the people while He was on the earth, but God was going to send another Comforter, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16).

This book is about God’s judgment on the city of Nineveh. In the book of Jonah, God sent Jonah to preach city to the people in that wicked city, and now He was going to destroy Nineveh.

The sin was so apparent that God sent Nahum to pronounce judgment on the wickedness of the people. Yet, the abolishment (end) of sin could only come through Jesus Christ our Messiah (Hebrews 9:25-26).

Now to Nineveh, that wicked city who made war on God’s people, and because of that, they made war against God (Nahum 1:9-11).

Even though Nineveh was destroyed, God protected His people then (Nahum 1:7-11) and He protects us today (Psalm 91, Isaiah 41:10- there are many other scriptures about God’s protection upon us). He can protect us when judgment falls on our ungodly neighbors.

God judged and still judges sin and cannot tolerate it. The only way sin could be taken care of permanently was through Jesus’ death on the cross.

As a matter of fact, Jesus was separated from God momentarily when He took on the sins of the world (Matthew 27:46), or He became sin for us: For He who knew no sin became sin….(2 Corinthians 5:21).

NKJV Spirit Filled Life Bible: God’s greatest demonstration of His goodness was and is revealed in Jesus Christ. Nahum proclaims that God is good, but His goodness was brought to a climax in Christ: When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly…. (Romans 5:6-11).

Even though God does not tolerate sin, His love is so great for mankind that He sent His only Son to die for us (John 3:16). Now that is the greatest LOVE of all. God does not love us according to what we do; that would be conditional love. God loves us because He is Love; that is called unconditional or AGAPE LOVE.

From reading the story about Nineveh and how God sent Jonah to preach the gospel, the city was still wicked, and it had to be destroyed, but like Sodom and Gomorrah, God spared some people.

In my closure, be assured that God will spare us from evil, even if is next door to us. If our lives are not spared, it will be far better to be with the Lord (Philippians 1:23).

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Habakkuk

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Micah 9-14-2020

Today, we are going to take up where we left off with Christ foreshadowed in the book of Micah. The meaning of Micah’s name is: “who is like Jehovah?” As was stated before, the people in the Bible days had names that were meaningful; the names were in conjunction with their call.

Although Micah had a humble origin and he did not seem to be important in Israel, he was chosen by God to prophesy about the birth of Jesus Christ and the place where He would be born (Micah 5:2). The prophecy about Jesus’ birth was fulfilled in fulfilled in Matthew 2:1.

The symbolism of Micah and Jesus is that they both had a humble beginning (Philippians 2:7).

When Micah spoke to the people, he would open his conversation with “hear” (Micah 1:2, 3:1, 6:1). Although God used Micah to pronounce judgment on Israel and Judah, God still had mercy (Micah 7:18).

There were false prophets and kings who were corrupt; judges took bribes, priests taught for pay, lying prophets prophesied to get paid (Micah 4:5).

I keep saying there is nothing new under the sun. Jesus had to address situations like the ones Micah addressed. What about the times we are living in, do we follow corrupt leaders?

Jesus rebuked the pharisees for taking advantage of the widows (Luke 20:47), He talked about false prophets and said: Beware of false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15). Jesus was the perfect role model and example of a good leader; He was the good shepherd (John 10:11).

Israel and Judah had broken their covenant with God, but He was and is merciful and He pardons sins, He does not retain His anger forever (Micah 7:18-20).

Bottom line: God will bring judgment on sinners and blessings on those who repent. This is what is required: God has shown you O man what is good and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

Why was that kind of statement made? Because the people were doing the opposite of what God required.

Micah prophesied the words that Jesus spoke: For son dishonors father, daughter rises against her mother-in-law, a man’s enemies are of a man’s own household (Micah 7:6, Matthew 10:35-36).

After Micah prophesied, he made a statement that every born-again believer should have: Therefore, I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation (Micah 7:7). Thank God for prophets like Micah who prophesied warnings and they also prophesied messages of hope and encouragement to all peoples of all times.

God’s mercy was on a covenant breaking people (Micah 7:7). Not only is the Lord the only source of salvation, He will restore Israel during the millennial kingdom (Micah, chapters 4- 5).

God is faithful and He keeps His promises (2 Corinthians 1:20), despite people being unfaithful to Him.

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Nahum

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Why Some Quotes about Heaven that are not Biblical 9-13-2020

It has been said that many people say they would rather go to Hell than Heaven, because they can keep partying, having sex, doing drugs and so on.

These foolish people came up with this lie because they were influenced by the devil, who is the father of lies (John 8:44). He wants to take everybody he can to Hell: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10).

Who do you think the devil deceived? All those who were not born-again (Revelation 20:10-11).

The devil will not tell you about all the torment that will be experienced throughout eternity and forever without end. Part of torment is your desire for all those things you lusted after in your former life.

Now that you know what will happen to the unsaved, let us go to the born-again believers who do not understand what the eternal realm will be like. Some think Heaven is boring, because of what they have heard like walk around Heaven all day. That would be boring.

With that being so, I will use an example of a song: “Hallelujah Square”- There is no Hallelujah Square in Heaven. The truth is the children of God will not live in heaven; we will live in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-3). The New Jerusalem will have dimensions that you will learn about later.

The new earth (our home) will be similar to this earth, only it will be perfect. We will have glorified (incorruptible) bodies.

It is not good for the children of God to be ignorant of the Word of God, with all the resources available to us today. However, God loves us so much that He has different people to help us get a better understanding of Him and all the incredible things He has prepared for us.

I can understand why many of our forefathers did not understand, they did not have resources we have today. Yet they had a connection with God.

My grandmother did not read or write, but she had a connection with God. She was a praying woman and my grandmother’s light and life influenced me more than anybody I have ever known.

When the messages about the new heaven and the new earth resume in about a couple of months, there will be a repeat of what you read yesterday and today. This is to refresh your memory.

Do not forget to think about questions you have about Heaven and we are going to do whatever possible to provide you with biblical answers.

Contact information: [email protected] or (336) 681-2973

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Micah

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Truth about Heaven/Earth, the Eternal Realm and What it is Going to be Like –
Upcoming Series 9-12-2020

There have been so many questions about heaven and what is going to happen. In the last few weeks, I have been asked questions about what we will be doing in heaven. I believe the Spirit of God allowed this to happen to let us know it is time to share the truth.

After the series “Christ Foreshadowed Throughout the Bible” we are going to share a series about the New Heaven and the New Earth from a biblical perspective, not what some person or people have said and even written songs about heaven.

In other words, what we share is directly from the Word of God.

we are going to share a series about the New Heaven and the New Earth from a biblical perspective, not what some person or people have said and even written songs about heaven. In other words, what we share is directly from the Word of God.

We will share what we will look like and what those who have preceded us look like now?

We will also share what we will be doing in heaven while the seven-year tribulation period is going on in the earth.

These are some quotes and songs I have heard for many years:

I want to see So and So (mother, father, sister, brother), etc.

The streets will be paved with gold

Walk around heaven all day

Tell Him about my troubles and how I made it over

Nothing but sing and shout, nobody will be able to put me out

Every day will be like Sunday

“Just A Rehearsal”- When I get to heaven, we’re going to really sing

Stood on the banks of Jordan-

Jordan River, I’m bound to cross

Hallelujah Square

Lay down my burden down by the riverside-

I Want to be Ready

Burnett Ministries is going to tell you through our posts what the New Heaven and New Earth will be like, and what we will be doing throughout eternity.

You may have questions about something that is not on this list, so here is my contact information:

[email protected]

If you contact by phone, please leave a message. I may not answer because of an unrecognized number:

(336) 681-2973

Tomorrow: Why Some of the Quotes are not Biblical

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Jonah 9-11-2020

The book of Jonah is called by some the outstanding missionary book. Since the word missionary is not in the Bible, I call the book of Jonah an outstanding evangelistic book.

Jonah’s name means “Dove” or “Pigeon”, more than likely because he was strong-willed, fretful, pouty, hasty and clannish (excluding others out of a group).

Like most people who have a call on their lives, they try to run away from it, because it takes them out of their comfort zone.

This was especially true with this Jew who was told to take the Gospel to a wicked nation of people (Ninevites), who were enemies of his people, the Israelites.

How would you feel if God told you to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to your enemies? Well, Christ did; we were once enemies of Him (Romans 5:10).

Jonah was the prophet famously known for running away from his call; got thrown overboard of a ship and landed in the belly of a fish and three days later the fish vomited (spewed) him up on dry land (Jonah 2:10). What took a three-day journey to Nineveh, Jonah did it in one day (Jonah 3:3-4).

Similarity between Jonah and Jesus: As Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17), so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40).

After the Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach, the people of Nineveh believed God …. Then God saw that they turned from their evil way and He relented from the disaster that He said he would bring upon them and He did not do it (Jonah 3:5-10).

God prepared a plant to give Jonah shade, but the next morning a worm damaged the plant and it withered. Jonah was angry because the planted had withered ….. The Lord said “You have more pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow” ….

And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left, and much livestock (Jonah 4:10-11)?

If God had not sent the prophet/evangelist, they would have remained in their wickedness and would have been destroyed.

I am comparing an Old Testament Jew with a New Testament Jew: God told Peter, who was a Jew to go to Cornelius, a Gentile and carry the Gospel (Acts 10:1-8, 24-47).

This situation was like Jonah who was being sent to Nineveh to carry the gospel to the Gentiles. Jonah ran from doing what he was called to do, and Peter just outright said he did not want to go the Gentiles, because he considered them unclean. To make it plain, Gentiles were called dogs, which meant they were unclean (Acts 10:9-16).

Jonah felt angry that God would extend His mercy to the Ninevites (Jonah 4:9-10). Like Peter who called the Gentiles unclean, Jonah thought the Ninevites did nor deserve to be saved (Acts 10:9-16).

Jonah was sent with a message of repentance, but Jonah was not thinking that way. He was saying, why would God have mercy on people who were enemies of the Nation of Israel.

God said that all nations would be blessed through Abraham (Genesis 12:3); that included the Gentiles. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life (John 3:16).

Similarity between Jonah, Jesus Christ: They both had a message of repentance (Jonah 3:1, Matthew 4:19), and so do we (Matthew 28:19-20). We are commissioned to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to whomever and whatever part of the world we are in.

Next week: Christ foreshadowed in the Book of Micah

Tomorrow- Sharing about the Future Series - Heaven/New Earth and What it Will be Like

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Obadiah 9-10-2020

As I continue with the writings of the prophets, five major and twelve minor prophets, which is a total of seventeen books. I do not say major or minor prophets, because using those words would make it seem that the major prophets were greater, and the minor prophets were less important than the major prophets.

If we use that kind of language, it indicates that God shows respect of persons (Romans 2:11); He does not see one more important than the other. It is the same with the gifts, one gift, regardless if it is less visible, it is not of less value, significance or importance.

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, yet it is as important as the other books regardless of the size.

He was known as “Servant/Worshiper of Yahweh” – I consider Obadiah’s prophetic writing as a message of hope.

Obadiah’s prophecy is about the people mourning over the ruins of Jerusalem, and the deaths of their family and friends. He brings a message of encouragement that God had not forgotten about His people.

He assured them that He had not overlooked them and the wickedness of their enemy the Edomites, who would be judged severely. God assured them that they would be restored. Bottom line is this, as Paul the apostle wrote: Be not be deceived,

God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7).

This is what happened many years ago and it still is for today; God does not overlook wrongs done against others. In conjunction with God being their Vindicator (Defender), He put judges over the people. In Hebrew, judges meant “saviors” who executed (carried out or put in effect) justice.

How is Christ foreshadowed? The judges or “saviors” were a type of Christ, the ultimate Savior came to deliver us from sin.

There is a saying: “Save the best for last”! The last verse (21) was and still is certainly encouraging- The saviors shall come to Mt. Zion, to judge the mountains of Esau and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

Footnote from NKJV Spirit Filled Life Bible: The objective is not merely for the exaltation of Israel, nor is it for the destruction of Edom. Rather, the objective is that the world and all mankind come under the dominion of the One True God.

This is a message of hope for us today is, God has not forgotten about us and He will take care of us regardless of the crucial times we are living in and experiencing.

As the songwriter so eloquently wrote: “I will build my hope on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”

Stand tall in the Lord God our Rock! Amen, and again, I say Amen!

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Jonah

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Amos 9-9-2020

As usual, all the prophets were sent by God to be His mouthpiece. That has not changed; the prophets and prophetesses today are God’s mouthpieces. And like Jesus Christ, they were not honored or accepted by many people.

Jesus came to His own and they did not receive Him (John 1:11). Jesus said: A prophet is not honored in his own country (John 4:44).

The prophetic call is not an easy one, just as any call is not easy; especially the five-fold ministry office. However, whatever God has called one to do, He gives the grace (ability) that destroys yokes, which brings deliverance.

Amos was a sheep breeder and he was not thinking about a prophetic call; he just wanted to be a sheep breeder. He was not a prophet, nor was his father a prophet (Amos 7:14). But he had a burden for the people. And God took him out of his comfort zone.

As a matter of fact, his name meant “Burden-Bearer”. His message to Israel was one of continuous judgment which was a heavy burden to him. Jesus is a “Burden-Bearer” – He took all our burdens upon Himself (Psalm 68:19, Matthew 11:28).

History (NKJV- Spirit Filled Life) tells us that Israel and Judah had reached new military heights, but the religious situation was at an all-time low. Idolatry was rampant; the rich were living in luxury while the poor were oppressed; there was widespread immorality; and the judicial system was corrupt. The same thing is going on today.

Last week, I told you that there was no new thing under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9); it seems like history continues to repeat itself. The people interpreted their prosperity as a sign of God’s blessing on them. Doesn’t that seem like the mindset of some people today?

I know it happens among some ministers who are taking advantage of poor and ignorant people to build their ministries and enlarge their bank accounts, and the ones who are being preyed on never get on their feet and some may even lose hope.

Amos’ task (assignment) was to deliver a message that God was displeased with the nation of Israel. God’s patience was exhausted, and punishment was inevitable (it was certain to happen).

The nation would be destroyed unless there was a change of heart. The book of Amos was a book of judgment of the nations- they had broken their covenant with God.

Amos said this many times to the people: “Thus, says the Lord”. He was God’s mouthpiece and like Jesus, he only spoke what was given to Him by His Father: For I have not spoken on My own authority, but the Father who has sent Me gave me a command what I should say and what I should speak (John 12:49-50).

Remember this, Jesus said: He who rejects Me and does not receive My words …. The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day (John 12:48).

Just as Amos went with a message to the people in his day, Jesus went to the religious leaders who were oppressing the poor and taking advantage of them (Mark 12:40).

How is God speaking today? Self-evaluation is important! Do you (God’s children) have the right mindset about others? Do you feel that God has prospered you because you are more special than others? Are you just looking down on others and letting them stay down or looking down on others to pick them up?

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Obadiah

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Joel 9-8-2020

This book was written by the prophet Joel and several scriptures from chapter two are quoted by others, including myself regularly. This scripture is Peter saying what Joel prophesied.

Joel means “Jehovah is God” and some of the book refers to the coming restoration of Israel and the day of the Lord. Some of these scriptures are pertaining to the Nation of Israel being restored.

One of the scriptures that has been quoted many times is:

God will restore the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar and the palmer worm has eaten away (Joel 2:25-27)), this scripture is referring to the Nation of Israel being restored after the tribulation.

This is a prophecy that foreshadowed Jesus Christ restoring Israel to a greater glory.

However, the focus will be about the church age, and is considered the last days, which started on the day of Pentecost and will continue until Christ returns.

On the day of Pentecost, the Spirit fell upon the one hundred and twenty who were waiting to be empowered by the Spirit from on high. People from sixteen nations saw the mighty move of the Spirit and how the people began to speak in tongues, and they thought the people were drunk.

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let it be known to you and take heed to my words. For these are not drunk as you suppose, since it only the third hour of the day.

But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

And it shall come to pass in the last days says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.

And on My menservants and on My maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit and they shall prophesy (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:14-18). This part of the prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost and will continue until Jesus Christ returns.

Where do you see Jesus foreshadowed in this scripture? It is not written, but the Holy Spirit could not have come unless Jesus Christ came first.

Jesus Himself said to the apostles: But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you…….

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight (Acts 1:8-9). Jesus had to leave before the Spirit could come (John 16:7).

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Amos

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Karma and Some of its Laws 9-7-2020

As we continue with the message about Karma, it is a cult because there are so many things they believe and practice. Therefore, it should not be difficult to discern what the Hindus and the Buddhists believe in are a cult.

A cult is a system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies and great veneration of a person, ideal or thing.

Since that is true, it is known that Hindus worship many gods in many forms, and Buddhists follow the teachings of Buddha who was/is considered a holy being and revered as one who was awakened. Hindus and Buddhists are alike in that both groups believe in Karma and reincarnation.

Another way of deception is their quotes are similar to the Word of God; let’s go there:

They say: What goes around, comes back around – You reap what you sow.

The Word of God says: That whatever a man sows, that shall he reap (Galatians 6:7).

They say: According as he acts and according as he behaves, so will he be - He becomes pure by pure deeds, bad by bad deeds.

The Word of God says: As a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). In other words, people act out the condition of their hearts through their deeds.

Karma is made up of all your good and bad deeds from previous lifetimes, as well as the current life. Your actions have determined your path, opened and closed doors and given you ways to improve yourself and the world around you.

The Word of God tells born-again believers to live a life pleasing to God, fulfilling our purpose by operating in the gifts; being faithful determines the level of our rulership with Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:19-23).

As you have read, it is plain to see that the Hindus and Buddhists are twisting the scriptures. Those who are not matured in the Word of God can be deceived.

Do you recall what the devil did to Jesus Christ?

During the time the devil was tempting Jesus, he took Him up into the holy city, sat Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him: “If you are the Son of God throw Yourself down, for it is written He shall give His angels charge over You, and in their hands shall they bear You up, lest You dash Your foot against a stone” (Mathew 4:5-6).

Jesus said to him, it is written; You shall not tempt the Lord Your God (Matthew 4:7). Satan misquoted (twisted) the scripture: For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways; in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone (Psalm 91:11-12).

Did Psalm 91 say anything about jumping off a building? That is why Jesus said, You shall not tempt the Lord Your God. Satan was trying to get Jesus to tempt God by jumping down and He would not get hurt.

A fool should have better sense than to jump off a tall building and think he was not going to be hurt or even die.

Please do not forget that Satan transforms Himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Joel

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Big Difference Between Karma and the Word of God 9-6-2020

There is a mass deception that has crept into the church and many leaders are closing their eyes to it for whatever the reason may be. Maybe the leaders do not know any better themselves, or it could be that they accept the deception.

I am saying that some leaders may accept what their members are doing, because many of the leaders are on Facebook and they see what is being posted. Evidently, they are not addressing these serious issues; if they were, we would not see these people posting all this craziness.

Now I am going to the Hindus and Buddhists belief in Karma which is a cult. How do you prove a movement is a cult? It is a system of religious veneration (to revere) devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.

Hindus believe in many gods who perform various functions. Buddhist show deep reverence to Buddha and his teachings through study, meditation and prayer.

Their sole purpose is to reach the highest state that one can attain which is Nirvana, a place of perfect peace and happiness, like heaven. They believe there is one truth reached by many paths.

Jesus said: I Am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me (John 14:6); there is only ONE Way to eternal life.

The Word of God says: You must be born again to enter into the Kingdom of God (John 3:3-8).

They believe in the path of enlightenment which consists of a threefold training in ethics in concentration (meditation) and in wisdom.

Brother and sisters be careful about those exercise groups that entice you to meditate. It could be a trap; we are told to meditate on God’s Word (Joshua 1:8).

There is so much to Hinduism and Buddhism, but this should certainly be enough to open the eyes of the children of God who are playing a dangerous and deadly game. Plus, the more one reads about this cult, the more complex it becomes; God is not the author of confusion, but He is the God of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Many young people take religious courses in college that are misleading and can put them on a path that is destructive. I met a young lady years ago who practiced yoga while she was in college. She said it felt like a snake was in her spine and it would never come out; it went as far as the throat and that was it.

I learned later that kundalini meditation is part of Kundalini yoga and it is meant to move energy through the body. It is based on the concept that the energy at the base of the spine (also known as the root chakra) needs to be released though seven chakras of the body and then out through the crown chakra of the head.

That is the reason the young lady said that thing would only get as far as her throat. I do not know if she was ever delivered from the torment of that thing in her spine. Wrong awakening of kundalini energy can be dangerous. It may cause nerve problems and other diseases.

Even though meditation is a part of many religions, some are different than others. Born-again believers are told to mediate on the Word of God.

Tomorrow, I plan to share more about the real meaning of Karma and the deception.

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Karma and the Deception 9-5-2020

Yesterday, I challenged the readers to look up KARMA and get the true meaning.

I applaud you who searched out the word and got the true meaning of it. For years many of us just took what we heard and ran with it and passed erroneous information to others. When that happens, there is a continuous cycle of errors being passed on.

This is also referring to how people hear and pass on erroneous quotes without searching out the scriptures for themselves.

And what is worse, some are not open to the truth. That is pride! It also reveals the persons’ true colors; a mature born-again believer would be open to the truth.

The reason I am as far along in my walk today is due to studying, being led by the Holy Spirit and taught by an anointed grace called teacher. Most of all, I became more open to the truth, regardless if what I learned in the past that was erroneous.

One of my friends who is a Romans 12:7 teacher gift said he does not listen to everybody. Adding to what my friend said: “Many of the leaders do not have messages to encourage and strengthen people in their walk with the Lord”.

Also, so many are not called to be the teacher gift. To put it bluntly, they are messed up and they mess everybody else up.

I am going to KARMA and the deception:

Those who practice or believe in KARMA are either into Hinduism or Buddhism, which is totally contrary to Biblical teaching. However, like the devil imitates the Word of God, his followers do also.

These people follow false leaders.

Next: The Big Difference Between Karma and the Word of God

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Labor Day Weekend

Since this is a holi0day weekend, I will start reposting messages on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

The first message next week is a continuation of the series about Christ being foreshadowed throughout the Bible.

The title is “Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Joel”.

Since many of you are not doing much physical labor; maybe barbequing (smile), I encourage you to do a little mental work.

Some friends and I had a conversation last night about people professing to be born-again posting about their KARMA on Facebook.

This is your challenge: Please look up the meaning of the word and see if it is what you should be using.

God bless you; I pray for your safety and that you will use wisdom in whatever your involvement is.

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Hosea (Part 2) 9-3-2020

Yesterday, you read about some history pertaining to Hosea and how God told him to marry a woman of whoredom (harlotry).

Israel was unfaithful to God; she went a whoring after other gods (Hosea 9:1). So, God told Hosea to marry Gomer who was a prostitute or harlot. Hosea was symbolic of God and Gomer was symbolic of unfaithful Israel.

After Hosea rescued Gomer, she was no longer a slave, and neither are we (Romans 6:18). We have gone astray, but God’s mercy does not give us what we deserve, and His grace gives us what we do not deserve.

Although the story about Hosea and his wife Gomer seem to be quite complex, it shows how much God loved His people, the Nation of Israel.

This is an awesome story of a man who had such a love for God, he was willing to be an example to the Nation of Israel as to how much he loved his adulterous, promiscuous, prostituting wife of whoredom. He was willing to be humiliated and bear the shame of the horrible way Gomer treated him. Christ bore the shame of our sins (Mark 15:21-39).

Hosea even accepted the children she gave birth to from outside relationships. This is symbolic of an Israelite having an affair with a Gentile, which meant Gomer had children outside of the covenant with God. The Nation of Israel was not to mix with ungodly nations.

In other words, Gomer (Israel) went outside the covenant with God, by having a relationship outside of her marriage with Gentiles (ungodly nation). Yet, Hosea who was symbolic of God, accepted her children. This was symbolic of God accepting the Gentiles.

The Word of God says there is no difference in slave nor free, there is neither male nor female…. For we are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28).

Although God speaks a lot about judgment, He speaks to the Nation of Israel as a wife (Hosea 11:3-4). He also chastens (disciplines) those He loves (Hebrews 12:5-11). Israel was God’s spouse, just as we are the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7, 9; chapter 21:2, 9).

How does God love us despite our unfaithfulness? Hosea is the best example I know of a human being loving his unfaithful wife, regardless of what she did.

None of us know what we would do if we were put in that kind of situation. However, I believe most of you, like me would say: “I would not have put up with that”!

Christ loves us so much that even when we commit spiritual adultery (sin) against Him, He forgives us, and our fellowship is restored (1 John 1:9).

Hosea had an unfaithful wife who committed adultery…. What about us? Are we faithful to Christ? Are we committing spiritual adultery, like having other gods and idols?

Think about it and do a self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5). How many of us have committed spiritual adultery when it comes to our relationship with Christ?

Examples: Is our job more important than spending time with God? Are material things more important to us than God? Is He our gimme God, and all we think about is what He can do for us?

Are you loyal to your church and work, work to be a people pleaser and to be accepted by others, rather than focusing on the Lord God Almighty who has everything you need? Would we rather seek Him first and let Him add the things (Matthew 6:33)?

Many people say wedding vows to each other; some of the main words spoken during the marriage vows are: “Till death do us part.” This also means that our marriage to Christ is permanent, just as God had a permanent relationship with Israel.

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Joel

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Hosea - History 9-2-2020

Before going to Christ foreshadowed in the book of Hosea, there is some history about the book that I will share with the readers. Hosea’s name means “Salvation” or “Deliverance” and he was chosen by God to marry a woman who would be unfaithful to him.

I thank Father God for writers of the New King James Spirit Filled Life Study Bible who provide such rich biblical history, that I am passing on to others.

This is how whore/s, whoredom is worded in some versions of the Bible: KJV, ESV – a wife of whoredoms; NKJV, Amplified Version – a wife of harlotry; NIV – promiscuous woman (having other sex partners)

As you continue reading the next few lines, you will see that there is no new thing under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). However, as time has gone on, and the closer we get to Jesus Christ’s return, evil will almost get out of hand and the influence of the Gospel seems to be weakening.

Yet, as it was in Hosea’s day, there are people who will stand up for Christ even if it cost them their lives. Some of God’s children, including me, will stand for something (the Gospel) and not fall for anything. No matter how much sin abounds, some of God’s children are still shining in this cold, dark and cruel world (Matthew 5:13-16).

Hosea describes the characteristic social condition of his day: corrupt leaders, unstable family life, widespread immorality, class hatred and poverty. Though people continued a form of worship, idolatry was more and more accepted, and the priests were failing to guide the people into ways of righteousness.

Can you see the comparison when it comes to the children of God and there is no true worship in many churches today; they want to be entertained instead of being taught the principles in the Word of God, so they can have an intimate relationship with Him.

In spite of the darkness of those days, Hosea holds out hope to inspire his people to turn back to God. God still has prophets today to do everything in their power to turn His children back to God.

The problem was how to get this message of God’s love to a people not inclined to listen and not likely to understand if they did listen. Many in the church are not open to the truth; therefore, it is impossible to understand if one is not open to the truth.

Since Hosea’s name meant “Salvation” or “Deliverance”, God’s solution was to let the prophet be his own sermon. Hosea would marry an impure woman (“wife of harlotry”- Hosea 1:2), love her fully and have children by her (Hosea 1:3), go after her and bring her back when she strays (Hosea 3:1). This will be more detailed tomorrow.

Hosea’s strongest witness was his relationship with his wife, and God’s strongest love for His bride, the church of born-again believers was to send His Son Jesus to become our groom through “Salvation” or “Deliverance”.

So far, this is the only book that tells us everything that is happening in most churches today. Remember, the book of Hosea is talking about the Nation of Israel, God’s people, who are symbolic of the church, God’s children. In other words, the Nation of Israel was God’s spouse (bride), just as we are the spouse or bride of Christ.

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Hosea (Part 2)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Foreword of Hosea – (Part 2) Whore, Whoredom 9-1-2020

God told Hosea to marry a woman of whoredom, which is the same as whore and it can be used in a derogatory way (critical, disrespectful attitude).

Some of the children of God have been abusing these words and they have become slang words in the western world.

There are many scriptures pertaining to whore, whoredom/s, go a whoring, harlotry and prostitution. All the words have the same meaning, but some are not as coarse as others.

In the western world, many of the words from the original KJV are used as slang words.

An example of whore in slang which is very degrading: “Your mama is a whore”. Would you like someone to call your mama a whore? Those were fighting words back in the day.

Today they are words that could cause someone to be murdered.

The truth of the matter is, I would not want anyone to call my mother a harlot or prostitute, even if she was one. However, those words are not as coarse as whore.

We must be careful with the language that is used. Example of ass: They brought the ass and the colt (Matthew 21:7) – KJV; NKJV (colt); they brought the donkey and the colt -NIV, ESV, Amplified

That word can also be a derogatory slang word that should not be in our vocabulary. Example: How would you feel if someone told you to kiss their …? Someone would probably kick it, stab it or even shoot it.

This is serious and we take all these words that are innocent and change them to slang, which is demeaning. That is what the devil does, and some people think it is cute or funny. Since we are aware of what the devil is doing in the church, why do we fall into his trap?

The truth is, some people like it, if that were not true, they would not be using slang words. Being a leader, I want to do everything possible to be an example and role model who is following Christ.

I will reemphasize that the old English language was not derogatory, many of us had and still have the wrong mindset. In the modern translations the word whoredom or whore is called harlotry. This word is not as strong, and it does not send the wrong signals.

We need to understand the language and what is proper or improper to use in our vocabulary. I am going to use a couple of scriptures from the Old and New Testaments

Leviticus 29:19 - Do not prostitute thy daughter to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom and the land become full of wickedness – KJV; Do not prostitute your daughter, nor cause her to be a whore…. - NKJV

Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be turned into prostitution and be filled with wickedness – NIV.

Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute…. Lest the land become full of harlotry… Amplified version. Unless the land become full of depravity - ESV

Revelation 17:5 - And upon her forehead was a name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT MOTHER OF HARLOTS - KJV, NKJV. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery Babylon the great mother of prostitutes – ESV

BABYLON THE GREAT MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES - NIV

I wanted to give you this information before getting to Hosea so you will have a better understanding of Hosea and how God told him take a wife of whoredom.

You will see Jesus Christ being foreshadowed in the book of Hosea.

Some of the New versions changed the words to stay within the proper context so that they are edifying. Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but what is good and necessary for edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers (Ephesians 4:29).

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Hosea

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Foreword to the Book of Hosea 8-31-2020

I was studying with someone yesterday pertaining to two words that are in the KJV of the Bible.

One of the words was in the book of Hosea and other parts of the Bible that could be misunderstood.

There are other words that should not come from our mouths, but I am concentrating on piss/pisseth and whore.

I want to talk about the word piss, which is used two times and pisseth is used six times.

These words are not used in the modern translations of the Bible, but they are replaced with words that have the same meaning.

It was not considered slang when the KJV Bible was written; that was the normal language for that time period, which is called the old English language.

Also, you should not think that because those words are in the KJV, we should not read it. I have several versions or translations; however, I always keep the KJV close by me. Reason being some versions or translations either delete some words and others change the entire meaning.

Yesterday while studying, I found out that other translations change the words but not the meaning. The KJV version says piss in the Hebrew; meaning is to urinate (2 Kings 18:27, Isaiah 36:12).

Scripture: Then Rabshakeh said unto them, hath not my master not sent me to thy master and to thee, to speak these words? Hath he not sent me to the men who sit on the wall that they may eat their own dung (excrement) and drink their own piss with you?

NKJ says waste, which means bowel excrement and urine. The Amplified and ESV say eat their own dung and drink their own urine, NIV says eat their own excrement and drink their own urine.

Pisseth in the Hebrew language means to make water or urinate: Him that pisseth against the wall (1 Samuel 25:22, 34; 1 Kings 14:10, 16:11, 21:21; 2 Kings 9:8).

I am going to use one scripture for pisseth:

So and more also shall God do to the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning of light any that pisseth against the wall (1 Samuel 25:22 KJV).

May God do so and more also to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light (1 Samuel 25:22 NKJV, Amplified, NIV, ESV). Do you see something missing?

Today, piss is a slang word, but it was common back in the day. For instance, someone may have asked a child: “Did you piss on yourself?”. I do not how many other people used the word, but in the hood where I grew up, it was common and not considered slang.

Today, piss is used in such a derogatory way, that it should not be in a born-again believer’s vocabulary. I heard this come from a leader’s mouth twice from the podium, first sentence and right behind it came again in his second sentence. He said: “I was pissed off”!

I was shocked and in disbelief. As born-again believers, the Word of God tells us: neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks (Ephesians 5:4). Pissed off is really a slang word, which means to be annoyed or angry.

In some other translations, the word piss or pisseth has been changed to urinate, excrement or waste, and that is the language of the western world.

Tomorrow: Foreword of Hosea - Part 2 Whore, Whoredom

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Bible Study Nuggets about the Five Ministry Offices (Part 2) 8-30-2020

Yesterday, I started sharing about the five-fold ministry office and the order that has been ordained by God. I also shared about deacons and their role in the church.

According to the Word of God, the deacons serve the physical needs of the church, but their service is also spiritual.

This means that deacons as well as all the other children of God have at least one gift; deacon is not a gift. But they can utilize their gifts as they serve others.

Example: A deacon could have the gift of exhortation, which means to encourage and motivate others (Romans 12:8). Although all the children of God are to encourage, comfort and motivate others.

Yet like all the other gifts, the person with the gift of exhortation has a special anointing that gives him or her the grace (ability) to minister in a way that is different from what has been commanded by God for all of us to do.

Yesterday I shared what the apostles in the early church did, which still applies today. They were and are one of the five-fold ministry office gifts that have been given to the church.

Apostles are what some churches call missionaries if they establish churches; mainly it is done on foreign soil. The Word of God calls those who establish churches apostles.

When the apostles complete an assignment of possibly two years to help the church to get off the ground, other five-fold ministry, such as the pastor, prophet, teacher are sent by God to carry on the work of the ministry. Then the apostle is released and goes back to his home church until the next assignment.

Apostles usually team up with others; it could be a husband and wife team along with others. An example of an apostle husband and wife team are Aquila and his wife Priscilla, who had the same occupation as the Apostle Paul and they co-labored in ministry.

Aquila and Priscilla established a ministry in their home(1 Corinthians 16:19), they were tent makers and teamed up with Paul who also had the same trade (Acts 18:1-3), they explained the Word of God more accurately to Apollos (Acts 18:26), Aquila and Priscilla risked their own neck to save Paul’s life (Romans 16:3-4).

Prophets work with the apostles in establishing churches (Ephesians 2:20) and prophets should be close to the pastor because he or she can see what the pastor does not see. For instance, the devil may send someone to cause havoc in the church, it is the prophet who is able to detect this.

Even though the pastor is the lead person, he cannot function alone; all the five-fold ministry leaders are necessary for the children of God to grow into maturity (Ephesians 4:11-16). Therefore, it takes all the ministry offices working together because each office functions differently for the edification of the church.

Also, the pastor is not the evangelist or the teacher. When the evangelist is not outside the church, he or she functions in the church. In one of my former churches, I was over the evangelism team and leader of the evangelism class.

The pastor should be able to teach, but that is different from the five-fold ministry teacher who has the grace call with the anointing, and he or she receives special illumination from the Holy Spirit.

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Hosea

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Bible Study Nuggets about the Five Ministry Offices 8-29-2020

I am sharing what we learned in “An Hour of Bible Sharing with Betty”. It is going very well and all of us are from traditional churches and some are still in those churches.

I do not try to influence the people when it comes to what church or denomination, they should be in. However, I do encourage them to allow the Spirit of God to lead them. All churches have issues, and if a church were perfect, we would not be here.

Plus, the devil and his demons attack the body of Christ; why would he attack the ones who belong to him?

We are learning and understanding that whatever the Word of God says is true. If what was being preached or taught was erroneous, we do not hold on to those doctrines or traditions of men, we accept what the Word God says.

The students are asked not to tell others that they are wrong, because they have learned the truth. Yet, when God opens the door of opportunity to share the truth, they are to take advantage of it.

God does not want them to learn and understand the truth just for themselves; it is also for others to know the truth.

This is what most of us heard in some churches:

The deacons were next to the pastor according to 1 Timothy 3:8-12. The reason I believe they hold this to be a truth is because of what 1 Timothy 3:1-7 is saying about the qualifications of a bishop, holds true for the deacon. That is true if there is an understanding that the bishop is any of the five-fold ministry offices.

Likewise, deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, nor greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these first be tested, then let serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things……. (1 Timothy 3:8-13).

This is the misunderstanding:

In most African American Churches years ago, the pastor had more than one church. Therefore, on the Sundays he was at not one of the churches, the deacons were in charge. First of all, a true pastor shepherds his sheep regularly.

The deacons are not called to lead the congregation. In the book of Acts which was the beginning of the church age, the deacons were assigned to serve the physical needs of the church so the apostles could spend time in the Word of God and lead the church spiritually (Acts 6:1-4).

Sometime after the church age began, the five-fold ministry of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher began to function in the church. We believe and hold to what the Word of God says, even though many do not embrace or accept what has been ordained for the church.

If any churches or ministries are functioning differently than what has been ordained in the Word of God, even though they may be doing good works, they will not maximize their potential.

Christ gave these offices to the church and they are to function until He returns. These Five-Fold Ministry offices are apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. They are also the bishops, the elders, the shepherds and the overseers; all these names are interchangeable.

Tomorrow: Bible Study Nuggets about the Five Ministry Offices (Part 2)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ’s Return in the Book of Daniel (The Advent) 8-28-2020

The advent is when Jesus Christ physically appears on the earth; this is when every eye shall see Him (Revelation 1:7). When Jesus comes for the church, which is prior to His second coming, He will meet the church in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The first time Jesus Christ appeared on the earth was at He was birth.

Now, this is what Daniel says about Jesus Christ's second return or advent that connects with what John said in the book of Revelation:

I was watching in the night visions and behold one like the Son of man coming in the clouds with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days (Jesus Christ) and they brought Him near before Him.

And then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom. That all peoples and nations and languages would serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away. And His kingdom shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14).

You have read bout Jesus Christ appearing in the fiery furnace with the three Hebrew boys (Daniel 3:19-25), and some scholars say that the angel in the lion’s den was Jesus. It seems likely to me if it were Jesus in the fiery furnace, it would be Jesus in the lion’s den.

Whether or not it was Jesus in the lion’s den, it is known from this story that there is symbolism:

Daniel was distinguished above the governors and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king gave it thought to set Daniel over the whole realm. So, the governors and satraps sought ways to find a charge against him (Daniel 6:1-5); the Pharisees sought ways to get rid of Jesus (Matthew 12:14).

Daniel wrote much about the tribulation, but I am only sharing how Jesus Christ was foreshadowed in the book of Daniel.

John and Daniel quoted similar scriptures describing Jesus:

I lifted my eyes and looked and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, His face like the appearance of lightning, His eyes like torches of fire, His arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of His words like the voice of a multitude (Daniel 10:5-6).

And in the midst of the seven lampstands, one was like the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, and white as snow, His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters (Revelation 1:12-15).

Can you believe it? Two men inspired by the Holy Spirit to write such similar verses hundreds of years apart; that is absolutely amazing!

Next Week: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Hosea

Tomorrow: Bible Study Nuggets about the Five Ministry Offices

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Foreseen in the Book of Daniel – The Fiery Furnace (Part 2) 8-26-2020

Today I am sharing how Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and then we are going to the fiery furnace. I encourage you to read the scriptures from this message, because sometimes they are shortened or paraphrased.

King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and none of his wise men were able to interpret it. After Daniel asked his companions, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego to pray with him, he asked God to give him the interpretation so he would not die with the rest of the wise men of Babylon, who could not interpret the dream.

Daniel led the prayer ….. “I thank and praise you O God that You have given me wisdom and might. And have made known to me what we asked of You. For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”

God gave Daniel the interpretation that Nebuchadnezzar would be the ruling king at that time and he had been given great privileges. The king even promoted Daniel (Daniel, chapter 2).

But the king made an image of gold and he sent word for all kind of officials to come to the dedication that he, Nebuchadnezzar had set up and he commanded the people who came from all nations and languages to worship the image, “and whoever does not bow down and worship the image shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

Some of the Chaldeans went and told the king that the Jews did not bow to the image and the king was enraged and he commanded them to bring the three Hebrew boys to him. The king questioned them and asked if it was true that they did not bow to the golden image.

The Hebrew boys said to the king “We have no need to answer this matter”. They went on to say: “the God we serve is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. We do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image that you have set up.

The Hebrew boys were bound fully clothed and were cast into the midst of the fiery furnace. The king was astonished when he saw four men in the fiery furnace. The king said to the counselors, didn’t you cast three men bound into the furnace. They answered yes to the king.

“Look!” he answered: “I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire, and the fourth is like the Son of God.” This was an amazingly incredible miracle. Jesus Christ, the Son of God was revealed or foreshadowed. Our God is amazing!

Yesterday, I wrote about Daniel not compromising and today you see where his companions, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego did not compromise and they came out of that fiery furnace; the fire had no power over their bodies, the hair on their head was not singed, nor were their garments affected and the smell of fire was not on them (Daniel, chapter 3).

I am not quite finished yet, but I want to tell you as I was typing I felt like jumping and shouting and praising God that these young men would not bow to other gods or worship idols. How about you? Do you love the Lord enough to do what is right even if your life is on the line?

For a short period of time, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged and recognized how great God was.

The king went on to say “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him; they chose not to worship any god except their own God.

I made up in my mind a long time ago, that I was “Sold Out”! What about you?

Jesus Christ Foreseen in the Book of Daniel – The Lion’s Den 8-27-2020

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Foreseen in the Book of Daniel – The Lion’s Den (Part 3) 8-27-2020

Before going to Daniel being cast into the lion’s den, King Nebuchadnezzar had another dream and this one was not good.

Daniel gave the interpretation, and this is what befell the king: His kingdom was taken. At the end of twelve months, a voice from heaven fell saying: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken, the kingdom has departed from you!”

And they shall drive you from men and your dwelling place shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass and seven times (seven years) shall pass over you until you know that the Most-High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He chooses.

That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar and he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds claws.

At the end of the time of being humiliated, this is what he said: Now I, Nebuchadnezzar extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride, He is able to put down (Daniel, chapter 4).

I use Nebuchadnezzar many times as an example of how God does not share His glory with anyone (Isaiah 42:8, 48:11). So, if you think anyone, whether it is pastors, other leaders, or even the president of the United States; those who think they are above God, He will pull them down.

Now I am going to a new king, Belshazzar who was having a feast with many others and they drank wine and praised the god of silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. In the same hour, the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand… and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Now, whose Hand do you think that was?

This shook the king up so bad that his countenance changed, his thoughts were troubled, the joints of his hips were loosened, and his knees knocked against each other. This man was scared out of his wits. God does not play!

The king’s wise men came but they could not read the handwriting on the wall, and the king said whoever was able to read the handwriting, he would clothe them in purple, put a gold chain around his neck and they would be the third in the kingdom.

The king was told about Daniel who had the Spirit of God; it was shared how Daniel had interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel was brought before the king and he gave the interpretation…..That very night Belshazzar was slain and Darius the Mede received the kingdom.

Because Daniel had been elevated in a position, the governors and satraps (governor of a province in Persia) looked for a way to charge him with something wrong. So, they got in real good standings with the king and asked him to set up a decree that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days except for the king, he would be cast into the den of lions.

They knew Daniel was a praying man who prayed three times a day. The king signed the decree that could not be reversed. Now when Daniel found out about this, he went home and prayed, and these men found Daniel praying before his God.

They told the king what was happening about Daniel praying to his God and the king was greatly displeased with himself, but he had to honor the decree.

They brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel: “Your God whom you serve continually, He will deliver you. A stone was placed at the mouth of the den…. The king went to his palace; he fasted, and he could not sleep.

Then the king rose early the next morning and went to the den and he cried with a lamenting voice: “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you serve continually been able to deliver you from the lions?”

Daniel said: My God sent His Angel (Jesus Christ foreshadowed) and shut the lions’ mouths. ….

The king said: I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom, men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel…….So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian (Daniel, chapters 5-6). Won’t God do it?

Next: Jesus Christ's Return in the Book of Daniel (The Advent)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Foreseen in the Book of Daniel (Part 1) 8-25-2020

The book of Daniel has only twelve chapters with a lot packed in them. If there was another way to put it, I would say what we said years ago about a little piece of leather, well put together. God had truly given Daniel much and he did not miss a beat when it came to glorifying God.

This small book has so much in it that it has to be written in more than one part. The book of Daniel has more about current times and the end times than any other book. One cannot properly interpret the book of Revelation with the Daniel connection.

So, as we walk through it together, I believe you will see what times we are in and how close it is to Jesus’ return.

The king of Babylon instructed the master of the eunuchs to bring some of the children of Israel, some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles young men without any blemish, good looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans (Daniel 1:3-4).

Daniel’s name which meant “My God is Judge” is indicative of God being Sovereign or Supreme in everything whether that time period and future world conflicts, Daniel’s God and our God is in control over all events.

Not only that, with all Daniel had been assigned to do, he certainly needed strength to endure for his uncompromising life. And having the Sovereign God as his Judge, nothing or nobody was greater than the Supreme God.

Although Daniel and the Hebrew boys were challenged, they held on to their beliefs and especially the Levitical dietary law.

For instance, they were not to eat from the king’s table of royal rations or delicacies (Daniel 1:8-16), the food was considered unclean according to the Levitical law (Leviticus 11:1-47).

All the young boys had eaten the delicacies from the king’s table except Daniel and the Hebrew boys. Daniel had purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank (Daniel 1:8).

Here is the wisdom of Daniel – He never said we cannot eat unclean meat, Daniel used wisdom in asking to allow them to eat vegetables for a certain length of time and the king would see that their features would be better than those who ate from the king’s table (Daniel 1:8-17).

Daniel knew about the Sovereignty of God; he was filled with wisdom; he knew how to use wisdom in a way that he did not have to eat from the king’s table:

Daniel asked to be tested for ten days by eating only vegetables and he would prove that he and the Hebrew boys’ features would be better at the end of the ten days (Daniel 1:18-20). By the way, this was not considered a fast, because they ate vegetables (Daniel 1:16).

I wonder how many people would go along with something that is contrary to the Word of God.

Example: If you were employed by a company and in order for you to keep the job, you would go along with the underhanded things the others were doing?

God said in His Word that we are to be different than those in the world, and if we do what is right by God, we will always come out a winner. You see what happened to Daniel; God gave him favor with the king, and God blessed Daniel to be able to interpret the king’s dreams.

Next: Jesus Christ Foreseen in the Book of Daniel (Part 2)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Foretold in the Book of Ezekiel 8-24-2020

Ezekiel, along with Jeremiah and Zechariah were priests as well as having been called by God as prophets. Jesus Christ was also a Prophet and Priest and soon He will be our King.

Ezekiel whose name meant “God strengthens” was given many visions that can be difficult to interpret, especially if one is not seeing through spiritual lens. My main interest is to reveal to the readers how important it is to see Jesus Christ our Messiah foreshadowed throughout the Bible.

This will prove to anyone that questions who Jesus Christ is, that it is all about Him: He is The Central Focus of the Word of God.

Ezekiel used the phrase son of man more than ninety times. It emphasizes his humanity in his God-given role. Daniel also uses the phrase Son of man in two chapters of his book. I will share that in the next message.

Jesus called Himself the Son of man, this is just one verse of the eighty-two verses, the Son of man is mentioned: For the Son of man has come to save that which was lost (Matthew 18:11). God sent His Perfect Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to save our souls (Romans 8:3). Man was bound by the law, but Jesus freed us by His grace (Ephesians 2:8).

The difference in Jesus being called the Son of man and Ezekiel being called son of man is, Jesus was born of a woman, He was one hundred per cent human and one hundred per cent divine (God in the flesh). Jesus Christ was the only Perfect One that ever lived, whereas all humans were born in sin (Psalm 51:5).

He was the only sinless One in human perfection who was sent to reconcile (restore) man back to God (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Moving on to Ezekiel and his likeness of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ called Himself the Son of man eighty-two times: thirty-two times in Matthew, fourteen times in Mark, twenty-six times in Luke and ten times in the book of John.

So, with Ezekiel being called son of man ninety-three times, there has to be a Jesus connection.

Why does the Bible refer to Ezekiel being “Son of man” in quotations and using a capital S? God was speaking directly to Ezekiel, yet Ezekiel is still writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God…..(2 Timothy 3:16), and knowing this, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of men, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).

God sent Ezekiel to a rebellious nation to warn them of their sins, and warnings are always sent for people to turn from their sinful ways and turn back to God (Ezekiel, chapter 2).

Both Jesus and Ezekiel were sent by God so the hearts of the people would change. In all the warnings that were given, Ezekiel was limited as a human being in what he could do as a prophet and spokesman for God, when it came to helping to change the hearts of the people.

Therefore, God had to send the perfect Prophet to set the people free from their sins, and His name is Jesus Christ our Redeemer, in other words, Christ purchased (paid for) our sins through His shed blood so we could have eternal life (Romans 3:24).

Next: Jesus Christ Foreseen in the Book of Daniel

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

“Will You be a Good Samaritan?” 8-23-2020

Yesterday, I posted a flyer from the National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) on my Facebook page and on my story. Today I am making an appeal by way of a biblical message.

Donald Simmons, better known to many as “Boot” needs a kidney transplant and I believe that the Lord is going to provide a way for Donald to get this transplant so God will be glorified.

I have known Donald for approximately eleven years and he was always there for me as a mechanic, as well as giving me advice so I could save money on repairs of my CRV. And when I was blessed with a new truck, I wanted “Boot” to check it out.

I had a yearning to assist in helping Donald to get the desired amount of funds for the kidney transplant, along with whatever is needed after the transplant, and posting this story is another way to help him.

Today, I am going to share a story about the “Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37).

This story is about a man being robbed, beat up, stripped of his clothes, and the thieves left him half dead. This actually happened in the mid nineteen nineties to a person that a cousin of mine grew up with. He was beaten so bad that it caused him to be a paraplegic. My cousin asked me to go to the hospital to meet him and pray for him.

After seeing this man in a such a terrible condition, I was moved with compassion to do whatever possible to help him. The Spirit of God prompted me to develop a flyer about the “Good Samaritan” and circulate it in the neighborhood and some local churches. None of them responded.

But one of the man’s doctors asked for the flyer and he used it to get help for the injured man and any other person who would fall to the evils of those the devil used to rob a person, even at the point of death.

Here’s my point! Even though the circumstances of the “Good Samaritan” are different, the principle remains the same. Three different people saw the condition the man was in; one was a priest and one was a Levite, both were religious. Both men crossed over on the other side of the road rather than stopping to help the wounded man.

Then, along came a Samaritan (mixed race) whom the Jews considered to be dogs. The “Good Samaritan” went over and beyond to make sure the man was taken care of.

Now which of these are you going to be when it comes to helping Donald Simmons, who needs a kidney transplant that will not only help to prolong his life, but it will also give him a better quality of life.

Visualize yourself being Donald Simmons; would you want someone to help you? No one knows what is going to befall them in this life; it could happen to you.

The “Good Samaritan” was an excellent example of someone who loved his neighbor as he loved himself (Matthew 22:40). Which one of these men do you think was the wounded man’s neighbor?

Your neighbor is not only the person who lives next door to you. It is anyone whom the Lord puts in your path that has a need.

Next: Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Ezekiel

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Jeremiah (Part 2) and Lamentations 8-21-2020

Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet, and certainly it was without doubt he was the author of Lamentations. Although some theologians do not give him credit for writing this book, the word lament which comes from Lamentations means to express grief or sorrow and Jeremiah certainly lamented over the sins of the people.

Jeremiah wept over Jerusalem because of the peoples’ sin (Jeremiah 4:19-6:14).

Jesus wept over Jerusalem because of Israel’s sins (Luke 19:41-44).

Jeremiah was also a man of sorrows like Jesus, both of them were acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3).

Jeremiah spoke words that were later spoken by Jesus Christ:

Has this house which is called by My name become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I have seen it says the Lord. Jeremiah spoke as if the Lord Himself was speaking (Jeremiah 7:11). This was enough for Jeremiah to weep/lament over.

Jesus’ words:

And He said to them, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves (Matthew 21:13). And it certainly was enough for Jesus, the Christ to weep/lament over.

Jeremiah:

“Hear this now O foolish people, without understanding, who have eyes and do not see, and who have ears and do not hear (Jeremiah 5:21). People were not taking heed to what the prophet was saying, this definitely caused him to weep/lament because of their sins.

Jesus Christ:

Having eyes, you do not see? And having ears, you do not hear? And do you not remember (Mark 8:18)? Jesus had told them these things before, but they did not receive because their hearts were hardened (Mark 8:17).

Jeremiah:

Thus, says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see. And ask for the old paths where the good way is. And walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls (Jeremiah 6:16). The prophet wanted to take them back to the time when they were on the right track.

Jesus Christ:

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29). The only true rest is found in Jesus our Messiah.

Jeremiah:

My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray; they have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill. They have forgotten their resting place (Jeremiah 50:6). The shepherds had scattered the sheep because they only cared about themselves.

Jesus Christ:

But rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:6). Jesus’ ministry was primary to the Jews; all Israel had been scattered. Jesus Christ spoke of a true shepherd/pastor in John, chapter 10. Jesus Christ was moved by compassion when He saw the multitudes like having sheep having no shepherd (Matthew 9:36).

I can see why Jeremiah and Jesus were both weeping prophets when it came to the sins of their people. They had a great love for the people, which gives us even more of a reason why they wept.

We should be thankful that we are not consumed by God’s anger because of sins that we fall into. We should be grateful that He is compassionate and His mercies are new every day. Thanks be to God for giving us mercy that we do not deserve. Thank God that He is faithful when we are not faithful (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Weekend Message: Flyer for “Will You be a Good Samaritan?”

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Jeremiah 8-20-2020

Jeremiah was called to be a prophet at an early age, and he thought that he was too young to do what God had called him to do and that he could not speak (Jeremiah 1:6-8).

God told Jeremiah before He formed him in the womb, God had ordained him to be a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). His name meant “Whom Jehovah has appointed”.

Notice, all the names that were given to children had a Biblical meaning. Jeremiah was considered one of the most Christ-like personalities in the Old Testament.

Like Jesus Christ, Jeremiah was not popular with the rulers and often his life was in jeopardy, but the Lord did not allow his enemies to prevail over Jeremiah because the Lord was with Him (Jeremiah 1:13-19).

Jesus was not popular with the religious leaders, and they sought to find a way to kill Him (Matthew 12:14).

Jeremiah was imprisoned for being accused of over-throwing the government (Jeremiah 1:18-23).

Christ was falsely accused (Mark 14:53-59).

Jeremiah was rejected by his own people (Jeremiah 11:18-19).

Jesus Christ was rejected by His own people (John 1:11).

Jeremiah spoke words that were later spoken by Jesus Christ:

Has this house which is called by My name become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I have seen it says the Lord. Jeremiah spoke as if the Lord Himself was speaking (Jeremiah 7:11).

Jesus’ words:

And He said to them, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13).

Jeremiah’s words:

Thus, says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see. And ask for the old paths where the good way is. And walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls (Jeremiah 6:16).

The Lord wanted the Israelites to walk in the right way as they had done in the past. Walking on the right path was the only way the people could find rest for their souls.

Jesus Christ:

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29).

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Jeremiah and Lamentations

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Foretold in the Book of Isaiah – His Birth, Suffering, Death, Burial, and Reign
8-19-2020

Yesterday, I shared how Paul (New Testament) and Isaiah (Old Testament) were the two people as examples of my biblical role-models.

Today I am going to start with Isaiah’s prophecy about Jesus and go in chronological order of the life of Jesus from His birth to His reign. By the way, the fulfilling of the prophecy of Jesus Christ is another way of telling others how the Bible is true.

Judah was given hope in the midst of adversity through Isaiah’s prophecy that a virgin was going to bring forth a Son, whose name was called Immanuel, meaning “God with us”. This was comforting to know that God was with them and His Son was going to deliver them from their enemies.

In many of my messages, it was posted that the Word of God supports, relates, connects, and confirms. The connection started in Genesis when God prophesied about Christ’s birth to a virgin, His death, and His resurrection, which was the Gospel or Good News of Jesus Christ (Genesis 3:15).

Isaiah prophesied about Christ being born to a virgin and He would deliver people from bondage (Isaiah 61:1). The birth of Jesus Christ and His reign were prophesied and the government would be on His shoulder; He will be head over everybody.

Just look at all His wonderful names: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to His government; He will sit on the throne of David (Isaiah 9:6-7).

First prophecy fulfilled: Jesus Christ was born of a virgin at the end of the Old Testament (Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:7).

Suffering Servant: Prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 53:2-7). Jesus told His disciples how He would suffer (Mark 8:31-33).

Death on the cross and His burial, prophesied by Isaiah: He was taken to the judgment hall and did not open His mouth. Christ our Messiah was cut off from the land of the living… and they made His grave with the wicked (Isaiah 53:8-12).

Prophecy fulfilled: Jesus Christ was crucified and His body was buried in a borrowed tomb (Matthew, chapter 27).

Christ rose from the dead: He is not here, for He is risen (Matthew, chapter 28).

Although the resurrection of Christ is not recorded in the book of Isaiah, Jesus Christ certainly rose from the dead, because Isaiah himself said the His government would have no end and that Christ will sit on David’s throne. So how could all this take place if Jesus Christ had not risen from the dead?

Prophecy not fulfilled:

Jesus will reign as our King forever (Exodus 15:18, Luke 1:32-33)

Next: Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Jeremiah

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Foretold in the Book of Isaiah ~ Introduction 8-18-2020

No other book in the Bible gives prophecy from a prophet about the coming of Christ, His birth, His suffering, His death, and His reign, than the book of Isaiah.

Our God is always amazing! When I started searching the scriptures from the book of Isaiah, it never dawned on me in all these years why I used: “Send me Lord, I’ll Go” as my motto. I did not have a full understanding that Isaiah was doing the work of an evangelist as well as being a prophet, until recently.

After Isaiah’s encounter with the Lord; he was enlightened, cleansed, and ready for the prophetic ministry and the work of evangelist: And I also heard the voice of the Lord saying: Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?

Then I said, “Here I am, send me”. And He said, go and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand, keep on hearing but do not perceive. Then I said: Lord, how long? And He answered, until I say stop…..(Isaiah 6:8-11).

This is why the more one studies, more is revealed; it takes a lifetime of learning and understanding, and because the Word of God is so exhaustive, we will never get it all on this side of eternity.

However, studying causes us to be able to share the Word of God effectively.

For instance, I said “Send me Lord, I’ll Go”. What does it mean to me? Until recently, it meant wherever the Lord sends me, I will go. I did not fully understand that He was sending me as a prophetess and evangelist similar to how He sent Isaiah.

I am sharing this story because I consider myself more like Paul the apostle (a female version - Pauline). I never had the vaguest idea of thinking about the prophet Isaiah as someone I would like to be compared to; yet I am nowhere being close to what this man was.

This is what I mean in the sense of having someone God calls to do a similar work. We should see someone in the Bible that we can relate to our ministry being similar to their ministry.

Although Isaiah was given a prophetic call for future events that would be revealed hundreds of years later, there are no more futuristic occurrences that will take place other than what is written in the Word of God. Whatever God has planned in His book is all we need, anybody coming up with extra-biblical visions and etc., is a false prophet.

However, the person with the prophetic call can tell others what will happen in their future; this comes directly from the Spirit of God. My prophetic call (office) is for me to mainly take a word to leaders (warnings and corrections), which end up edifying the church.

Example: If the leaders are out of sync, the person with the prophetic call helps them to get on track; this also helps to build the church. It takes all the gifts working together to make the church complete.

It is so sad that many leaders do not accept being corrected. The reason is because they are operating out of the flesh, which means they are carnal. Also, they may not be open to, or embrace the fact that the five ministry offices are still God’s plan for the church until Jesus returns.

There are many large ministries that do not embrace the five-fold ministry offices; I love some of these ministries, but they limit themselves to where they can go spiritually.

I felt it would be edifying and encouraging to my readership audience to give you a better understanding of my call of evangelist and prophetess, especially with Isaiah being a prophet and doing the work of the evangelist. Isaiah’s name meant “Salvation” which goes right in line with the evangelist call.

Next: Jesus Christ Foretold in the Book of Isaiah – His Birth, Suffering, Burial, and His Reign

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Song of Solomon 8-17-2020

As I pick up from where I left off pertaining to Seeing Jesus Christ in every book of the Bible, this book was really a difficult one for me to understand.

My teacher and I discussed it and as usual there were some intense personal study. I went as far as seeing what some “Quote” on “Quote” theologians were saying about The Song of Solomon.

From my knowledge, The Song of Solomon has been highly misunderstood. And from what I have seen others post about the book of Revelation, leads me to know that book is also misunderstood.

I will share it later, but for your information, Revelation is not unfolding. If that were true, why are we still here? There are only three chapters that are dealing with the church. Chapter four, verse one, we are caught up to be with Christ, then all hell breaks loose.

Now to The Song of Solomon and seeing Jesus Christ foreshadowed. Remember this, Solomon wrote two books (Proverbs and Ecclesiastes) on how he learned from his experiences.

Now, when he writes about The Song of Solomon or The Song of Songs, there is ONE woman that had captured his heart, after having had a past with one thousand women (1 Kings 11:3).

This book has been highly misunderstood because some people think it is about a relationship with two lovers. God would never have anything written in His Word alluding to sex unless it is between a husband and wife.

In reading with spiritual eyes, it is also saying that Solomon and his nameless wife the Shulamite, did not have sex until their wedding night.

The scripture says this three times:

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the deer - bucks (male deer) and the doe (female deer) of the field, do not stir up or waken love until it pleases (until its time) - (Song of Solomon 2:7, 3:5, 8:4).

They do not mate before their time; the female deer (doe) will run from the buck if it is not time for them to mate. Solomon wrote about times, seasons, and a purpose for everything under the heavens; this include marriage (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

The language (poetry/song) is different, but it means to stay pure until the wedding night; don’t do anything that will stir up passions.

Solomon even wrote in Proverbs that a man who finds a wife finds a good thing and he gains favor with the Lord (Proverbs 18:22). This lets us know that the man did not do this on his own; he was allowing the Lord to show him who the woman was.

Abraham, who was symbolic of God sent his servant to get a bride for his son Isaac who was symbolic of Christ. The servant was symbolic of the Holy Spirit who went to Rebekah who was symbolic of the bride of Christ (Genesis, chapter 24).

This is what the Word of God says: What God has joined together, let no one tear apart (Matthew 19:6).

The same is so with the body of Christ being Christ’s bride (Revelation 19:7; 21:9), we have been joined to Him and nothing can separate us (Romans 8:31-39). The seal on a marriage certificate is similar to us having been permanently sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).

From searching out history, most Jewish people view this as an allegorical interpretation of God’s love for Israel. Most Christians believe that it is an allegory (hidden meaning) of love between Christ and His church, which makes sense since the church is Christ’s bride.

How does The Song of Solomon relate to the church? Like Solomon and his bride, our love should be so intimate with Christ that our number one focus should be on Jesus who is the lover of our souls (Song of Solomon 6:3).

Next: Jesus Christ Foretold in the Book of Isaiah

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Witnessing Effectively – Plain and Simple 8-16-2020

It is all about God’s love for us (John 3:16) and the price that Jesus Christ paid through His death, burial, and resurrection for us to be born-again (saved).

How to Witness: Be prepared, some churches have evangelism classes to train the members to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some even have role-playing to make them feel comfortable enough to witness effectively.

When witnessing, I usually start off with a general conversation like: “Isn’t it a beautiful day?” And the way a person responds could be negative or positive, depending on the mood they are in.

Always look for opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the Holy Spirit needs to be involved by you allowing Him to lead and guide you concerning what is to be done.

Once the door is open and the person is engaged in the conversation, ask if they are born-again. In my experiences, I have asked some people if they were saved and they said yes; other times I have asked someone if they were a Christian and they said yes.

But, if I ask if they are born-again, they do not know what that means. Some people will give reasons for telling you they are saved or that they are Christians.

For instance, they will say, I have been in church all my life, I treat people right, or I am a good person. The Word of God says there is none good, no not one (Romans 3:10-12).

None of the answers above are correct. That is the reason I ask people if they are born-again. These are some scriptures that I use regularly when I am “witnessing”

Being in church is different from having a relationship with Christ through new birth. Jesus said: You must be born-again (John 3:1-21). It is not wrong to use the word saved, if there is an understanding of what it means.

There are many cults and false religions that have different beliefs about God, but Jesus said: I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by Me (John 14:6). And Jesus Christ is the only mediator (go-between) between God and people (1 Timothy 2:5).

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, which means to be born-again (Acts 4:12).

This is important: Nobody can be saved by their own works, if so, they would brag about it. That is why it takes God grace (undeserved favor) and the faith that He placed in us (Ephesian 2:8-9).

Once the person understands, at this point, they should be asked if they would like to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

When the person says yes, read these verses: That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart one believes and is made righteous, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10).

One must believe by faith that Jesus Christ died for our sins and He was resurrected, if Jesus had not resurrected our faith would be in vain and we would still be in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:12-19); there would be no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

The next step is to pray with them, encourage the person to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead them to the church where they will grow into maturity. Also, let them know that their life as a Christian will not be easy because the devil has lost his hold on them and he is angry. Therefore, the devil will do everything possible to afflict and attack them.

God allows this to happen for their spiritual growth. It is like being in school, sometimes the courses are hard and some people feel as though they will not pass the grade. But they realize how important it is to persevere despite the struggles and they end up being successful.

The Christian life is not always easy, but it is worth all the challenges life brings; there is a reward for being faithful.

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Song of Solomon

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Witnessing – Testimony 8-15-2020

For the last few weeks, I wrote about evangelizing and how every child of God has been commissioned by Christ to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ into whatever part of the world we live in (Matthew 28:19-20). This is called the “Great Commission.”

This was not the way I had intended to write the message for today, yet as I was writing, it seemed as though the Holy Spirit was guiding my hand. Our God is Amazing!

Usually when someone becomes born-again, one of the first things they want to do is, tell others that they are born-again. As for me, I did not have much biblical knowledge, but I knew my life had changed.

Some of the people who were close to me noticed the difference shortly after I was born-again. They knew what I had done in the past and they had no doubt I had changed, because they were around me regularly before and after my new birth.

On the other hand, there was someone else that had been a co-worker and I saw her at a family visitation at a funeral home. We had not seen each other in quite a while, and during our conversation, I told I had gotten saved.

She looked at me and said: “You got saved?” And she started laughing as if it were a joke; she would walked away, came back and looked at me in disbelief.

Finally, I said: “I don’t care what you think, I know I am saved”. The lady laughed because I said and did some terrible things while we worked together. Some of the things I tell people about my previous life, is hard for them to believe.

That is why I tell people if they had known me prior to my born-again experience, then they would certainly realize that God was doing a work in this “piece of work.” That is the way we say it, but God does not call us a piece of work, He calls us His masterpieces (Ephesians 2:10).

In being God’s masterpieces, He expects us to grow to maturity through His Word and by being taught, so we can witness effectively.

Finally, but by the grace of God, I am what I am and His grace toward me was not in vain……….. (1 Corinthians 15:10).

This is why I am so willing, able, and ready to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

And when others hear how bad I was, it gives them hope. Some people say: “If God changed me, He can change anybody”

My Motto:

Send me Lord, I’ll Go (Isaiah 6:8)

Next: Witnessing Scriptures – Plain and Simple

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Ecclesiastes 8-14-2020

Two verses in this book were so serious and meaningful that they were repeated at the beginning and near the end of the book: Vanity of vanities says the preacher, all is vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12:8).

Some people do not see the Jesus connection however, He is in this book. The word Ecclesiastes (ekklesia) in the Greek is a New Testament word for the church. We are the called-out ones, and Jesus Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:18). Solomon is referred to as the preacher in this book.

For this book to have only twelve chapters there is so much in it; I am only going to touch on some key things.

There is much in this book pertaining to life and how we should live. Many words were spoken by Jesus as to how we are to conduct our lives and you will read about the similarities between Solomon’s words and Jesus Christ’s words.

Jesus said: I Am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). A life without Christ is vanity (empty). Solomon always said God in Ecclesiastes, but this is in relation to Christ when you read the comparison between Solomon’s words and the words of Christ.

Although Solomon was an Old Testament saint who was anointed by God, he allowed many women from other nations turn his heart from God (1 Kings 11:1-13).

In the end, Solomon learned from his bad choices and he wrote two books to help us learn how to walk in wisdom and those of us who are called by God should follow His commands (instructions).

What would it profit a person to gain the whole world and lose their soul ….. (Matthew 16:26)?

Solomon understood what it meant to gain the whole world and end up with nothing. Even though I believe Solomon was an Old Testament saint, his writings lined up with what Jesus said.

To have everything in this life and not have Jesus Christ is vanity, because wealth, prestige and position will be left behind. There is a saying: “You can’t take it with you”.

Solomon knew what it meant to seek the kingdom of God first and all things would be added (Matthew 6:33), but he chose to follow the ways of the ungodly nations and women were his first priority (1 Kings, chapter 11).

Solomon wrote about being generous by casting your bread upon the water and you shall find it after many days and the rewards that resulted from generosity (Ecclesiastes 11:1).

Jesus said: Give and it shall be given to you, good measure pressed down and running over shall men give to you; for what you give out shall come back (Luke 6:38).

Solomon wrote about people needing each other – two are better than one and a three-fold cord cannot be broken Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). This could refer to a husband and wife, but we also have a need for each other because each of us gets weak and the stronger person can help the weaker one up. And with Jesus in our lives the cord is not easily broken.

It is the same way with the gifts; it takes the whole body functioning together to make the body of Christ whole or complete (1 Corinthians 12:12). Additionally, Jesus Christ prayed to the Father that we would be one, even as He and the Father are one (John 17:21).

Solomon wrote about the seasons of life; a time to live and a time to die …. (Ecclesiastes, chapter 3). He even said that no one could hold death back, no one has control or power over death (Ecclesiastes 8:8); it is appointed to man once to die after that the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

Therefore, we should live a life pleasing to God. We can enjoy life and not sin, even so, God will bring every work into judgment whether good or bad (Ecclesiastes 12:14, 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Hear the conclusion of matter, the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commands (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Next week: Song of Solomon

Tomorrow: Witnessing Effectively

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Our Messiah in the Book of Proverbs 8-13-2020

You may be wondering how Jesus is foreshadowed in the book of Proverbs.

A little history:

King Solomon wrote the book which means wise sayings. After Solomon was anointed King, the Lord spoke him in a dream and asked him to tell Him what he wanted. Solomon did not ask for riches, but he asked for wisdom to judge God’s people; he got that and more (1 Kings, chapter 3). Solomon was the richest and wisest man and he surpassed all the kings of the earth (1 Kings 10:23).

However, the Lord told Solomon not to marry foreign women because they would turn his heart from God. And that is exactly what Solomon did! (1 Kings 11:1-13)

Because of His bad choices, he learned through those experiences what it really meant to make wise choices; he knew that if God gave him wisdom, then wisdom had to come from the only wise God, our Savior (Jude 25).

He wrote the book of Proverbs because of his experiences, which should also help us to walk in wisdom and make wise decisions. Everybody has had experiences that can be used to help someone else.

Some of these scriptures have a description of what Christ said. I am going to compare some of Solomon’s wise words with Christ’s words of wisdom.

Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud (Proverbs 16:19).

Scripture confirmed by Christ: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). These people recognize that they are in spiritual poverty and they need God.

The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh (Proverbs 11:17).

Scripture confirmed by Christ: Blessed are the merciful, for the shall obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7).

He who has purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend (Proverbs 22:11).

Scripture confirmed by Christ: Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8). These people are not perfect, but they have a love for God and they have a desire to live a life that is pleasing to God, despite their imperfections.

But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines even brighter unto a perfect day (Proverbs 4:18).

Scripture confirmed by Christ: You are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14, 16).

A fool’s lips enter into contention and his mouth calls for blows (Proverbs 18:6).

Scripture confirmed by Christ: But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother Raca! (empty head), shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says “you fool” shall be in danger of hell fire (Matthew 5:22).

Words cannot be taken back, so we need to be careful what comes out of our mouths. The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity….it is unruly, evil, and full of deadly poison (James 3:6-8).

Next: Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Ecclesiastes

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Psalms (Part 3) 8-12-2020

I did not realize how many scriptures were going to be used connecting the Psalms foreshadowing Christ. However, this shows us how relevant the Old Testament and the New Testament connection is.

I will continue with the message:

Jesus Christ’s suffering: My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me? And from the words of My groanings? (Psalm 22:1)

Scripture confirmed: And from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness all over the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, that is; My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Scripture explained: When Jesus cried out, and asked God why had He forsaken Him, at that moment Jesus was separated from God because He took on the sins of the world or He became sin for us. Sin causes people to be separated from God - we were alienated (Colossians 1:21); a step further, we were His enemies (Romans 5:10).

This is different than the scripture that says: Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35). Although this scripture is relating to born-again believers, God loves everybody (John 3:16, Romans 5:8).

Another scripture about Christ’s suffering: For Christ also suffered once for sins, for the just and the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18).

Christ’s triumphant resurrection: You will not leave My soul in Sheol, You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption (Psalm 16:10).

Scriptures to confirm: For You will not leave My soul in Hades (same as Sheol- both mean an underground place of the dead), nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption (Acts 2:27). He is not here, He has risen Matthew 28:6, Jesus Christ was buried and raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4).

Jesus Christ’s ascension: You have ascended on high. You have led captivity captive. You have received gifts among men (Psalm 68:18).

Scripture confirmed: Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight… (Acts 1:9-11).

Therefore, He says: When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive……He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens that He might fill all things. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelist and some pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:8-11).

Christ will reign: You have made Him to have dominion over the works of Your hand. You have put all things under His feet (Psalm 8:6).

Scripture confirmed: For He has put all things under His feet. But when He says all things are put under Him, it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted (1 Corinthians 15:27). All governments and everything will be subject to Christ our King!

After the one-thousand- year reign, Christ will hand all things back to God, that God may be over all. Christ reigns but He is subject to the Father, just as we are subject to Christ.

Christ will continue to rule because His reign is eternal. He is King of kings and Lord of lords….., and to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen (1 Timothy 6:16).

To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:25)

Next: Jesus Christ Our Messiah in the Book of Proverbs

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Psalms (Part 2) 8-11-2020

Yesterday, you read about Jesus Christ our Redeemer being foreshadowed in the book of Psalms (Part 1).

Today’s message is a continuation from yesterday.

Jesus Christ said: These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24:44).

Christ’s zeal: Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me (Psalm 69:9). David had such a great love for God that whenever God was dishonored, he felt the pain. This Psalm, as well as the others in these messages are prophetic.

Scripture confirmed: For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me (Romans 15:3). This connects to the cleansing of the temple.

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money-changers doing business.

When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple with the sheep and the oxen and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves: “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”

Then His disciples remembered that it was written; “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

My brothers and my sisters; God feels the same way about our temples (bodies). We cannot abuse our bodies, they are holy and since God owns us, we should not do what is unholy with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Jesus betrayed by Judas: Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted; he ate My bread. He lifted up his heel against Me (Psalm 41:9).

Scripture confirmed: “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen, that the scripture may be fulfilled. He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me (John 13:18).

Christ was rejected: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone (Psalm 118:22).

Scripture confirmed: Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, the Stone that the builders rejected has become the Chief Cornerstone (1 Peter 2:7). The church was founded on the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Himself being the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).

The more you learn and understand about Jesus Christ being the center of the entire bible, the more you will appreciate Him. And the deeper your love for Him grows.

Next: Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Psalms (Part 3)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Psalms (Part 1) 8-10-2020

When I started searching out the foreshadowing of Jesus Christ in the book of Psalms, I was amazed at the connection. God blessed me with a New King James version of the Spirit filled life Study Bible in the 1990’s and it has been a blessing. It gives key words, history, talks about the author of each book, personal application and more.

However, from the time I was led to write about seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah being foreshadowed through types and figures, this particular Bible has been helpful, especially when it comes to Christ being revealed, which is my number one focus.

I am going to share the Words of Jesus after He rose from the dead, which is the beginning of the New Testament. It has a total connection with the Old Testament; these are the words that Jesus Himself spoke to His disciples after His resurrection (Luke 24:44-49):

The He said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all these things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.

And He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the scriptures. Then He said to them: “Thus it is written and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And you are witnesses of these things. Behold I send the Promise of My Father upon you, but wait in Jerusalem until you are endued (clothed) with power from on high.

I will give scriptures that relate, connect, support, and foreshadow Christ our Redeemer, starting with the Psalms that connect with other scriptures.

Psalm 2:7 speaks of Jesus’ birth – I will declare the decree; the Lord said to Me, You are My Son. Today I have begotten You. How did this happen? A body was prepared for Jesus to come and live among humans, minister, die and resurrect so that many would come into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Scripture to confirm: God has fulfilled this for us their children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm: “You are My Son, today I have begotten you”- Acts 13:33 .

Psalm 78:2 speaks about Jesus Christ teaching parables – I will open My mouth in a parable, I will utter dark things of old which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

Scripture confirmed: All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them (parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning) – Matthew 13:34-35

Psalm 110:4 says the Lord has sworn and will not relent; You are a Priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek .

Scripture confirmed: So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest….. but it was also said in another place “You are a High Priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek (a type of Christ).

Many people read the Psalms on a regular basis. I wonder how many see the Jesus connection in Psalms. It is important to see Jesus Christ throughout the Bible.

Oops, my time is up, come back tomorrow.

Next: Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Psalms (Part 2)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Gospel of Jesus Christ Preached by God 8-9-2020

Yesterday I wrote about sin and how it came into the world and Adam’s disobedience (sin) brought sin on everybody (Romans 5:12).

You read how all the evil started and today you will learn and understand that God provided a way for man to be rescued (delivered) from sin. This came with a price that was extremely costly.

Now that you know the root of the sin problem, I am moving on to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are called the four Gospels. The plan of salvation (The Good News) started in the book of Genesis.

God told the serpent that Satan had possessed that because of what he did (deceived Eve), he was cursed more than all cattle, he would crawl on his belly and he would eat the dust of the ground the rest of his life (Genesis 3:14). The serpent that Satan possessed was a snake.

The serpent (snake) had been standing upright and he was beautiful. I believe he deceived Eve through his beauty and charm. In other words, he presented himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

God preached or prophesied the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Breakdown: Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity (hatred) between you and the woman. Who was this woman? The woman was Mary, the mother of Jesus.

And between your seed and her Seed.

Who is Satan’s seed and who is the woman’s seed? Satan’s seed are those who do not receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. The woman’s seed is Jesus. It is not the woman’s seed that produces a child, it is the man’s sperm and with that being so, God was saying that a virgin would carry the Seed in her womb, who was Jesus Christ.

God goes on to say that the woman’s Seed will crush Satan’s head. Since head means authority, Jesus was going to take the authority from Satan. Satan is not slithering on the ground; he is a spirit, remember at the beginning of the message Satan possessed the serpent (snake). Satan possessed the snake so he could deceive Eve.

When did this happen? When the Jews and the Romans crucified Jesus (Matthew, chapter 27), He rose the third day with all authority (Matthew 28:6, 18). Even though Jesus was crucified, He gave up His life willingly (John 10:18).

How did Satan get this authority? When Adam sinned, he handed the dominion that God had given him over to Satan. And Satan became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4).

As God continued, He told the serpent that he was going to bruise Jesus’ heel. This meant that the serpent only had a slight hold on Jesus that only lasted until Jesus rose from the dead.

This is the Good News or Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It also stands to reason why God’s children should know that the Word of God is centered around Jesus Christ, and the only way to witness effectively is to see Him throughout the Old Testament and later you will learn how Jesus brought in a new and better covenant after He rose from the dead (Hebrews 8:6).

Jesus Christ has always been and He will always be, He is eternal (Revelation 1:8).

Even though He was born of a virgin, it was supernatural. the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and Jesus became 100% human, He was already 100% God.

Next: Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Psalms

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Evangelism Scriptures - What the Children of God Need to Know 8-8-2020

You will come in contact with people who blame God for what they are going through. Some will ask: “How can a loving God let all these bad things happen?” Others ask: “Why are there wars and innocent children are dying?”

This information will be very helpful when it comes to witnessing.

It takes more than someone saying this or that person needs Jesus. They need to know why they need a Savior. When questions like these are asked, God’s children should have an answer.

I am going to the beginning and share with you how sin came into the world. You will learn and understand why sin caused us to live in a fallen world or a cursed environment.

God told Adam that in the day he ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil he would surely die (Genesis 2:15-17). Once God said what He did to Adam, He could not change it (Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8).

Adam disobeyed God and he ended up dying, both physically and spiritually. This is how sin came into the world; because of one man’s sin, sin came upon all people (Romans 5:12).

Genesis 3:1-14, 21 is pertaining to salvation; it connects with and relate to being saved by God’s grace through your faith, not by any works you have done, if that were the case you would be bragging about what you did (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Let’s get started: The serpent deceived Eve, she took the fruit, gave it to Adam and they both ate it. Before they ate the forbidden fruit, they were innocent. After they partook of the fruit their eyes came open to both good and evil.

Their disobedience caused them to be sinful, which led to shame. They sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves and they hid from God. At least Adam and Eve thought they were hiding from God; we know that God is everywhere at the same time and He knows everything.

So, the Lord God had a conversation with them and He told Adam and Eve how they were cursed because of their sin and the Lord God also expelled them from the garden. I am going to skip a few verses and get back to them later.

The Lord made tunics from animal skin and clothed them. This meant that God killed an animal and covered Adam and Eve with the animal skin; the animal died for the blood to be shed. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

This was a temporary covering in the Old Testament until Jesus Christ came into the world physically. He lived, died, and was resurrected from the dead so many could be saved (born-again) to have eternal life, which means to live with Jesus Christ our Lord forever. The temporary covering changed to a permanent cleansing of sins after Jesus was raised from the dead.

Adam and Eve thought that by covering themselves, they could fix things. However, this was not the case, God had to kill an animal to take care of their sins. This is why the Word of God says: Salvation does not come by works, if that were true people would think they could get saved or born-again through their own works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Many people think they can lose their salvation. For instance, if they fall into a sin, they feel it is necessary to go back to the altar and get saved all over again.

That is why it took God cleansing our sins through His Son Jesus Christ. Once you are cleansed by the blood of Jesus, that takes care of sin permanently.

Tomorrow: The Gospel of Jesus Christ Preached by God

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Job 8-7-2020

Job is quite an interesting book that tells about the suffering of a perfect and upright man who loved the Lord and the Lord was well pleased with him. Job is also a foreshadowing of Christ in some ways such as his suffering through the trials, tribulations and persecutions.

Job was a rich man, but he lost everything (Job 1:1, Job 1:13-22).

Jesus gave up all His riches in glory (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Job was falsely accused by his friends, but they could find no fault (Job, chapters 4-23).

Jesus was wrongly accused but they could not find any fault with Him (Luke 23:4).

Job suffered more than anyone in biblical history, other than Jesus Christ. His suffering was for God’s glory’ just as Jesus’ suffered for God’s glory.

Jesus gave up all His riches in glory (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Job was faithful to God despite losing his family and everything else he owned. His latter days were greater than his former days. Job had twice as much as he lost (Job 42:12).

Jesus Christ – His sufferings caused us to have a new life. Despite His suffering, Christ considered us worthy to be suffered for because of His love for us (1 John 4:19).

Some people quote this:

“God is going to give me double for my trouble”. That is not a doctrinal principle. Regardless of how much suffering any of us go through, I do not believe we will suffer as much as Job did, and we certainly will not suffer as much as Jesus Christ did.

Being a child of God, trials, tribulations, persecutions, obstacles, and challenges come; this happens to build our faith (James 1:2-4). The Word of God tells that those who live godly will suffer (2 Timothy 3:12).

The Word also says that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but God delivers us out of them all (Psalm 55:22).

Now that you see how Job was a type of Christ, think about how incredible it is for Jesus Christ to be revealed to us in the Old Testament.

If we leave Jesus out of being foreshadowed in the Old Testament, then we have boxed Him in and Christ cannot be boxed in because of our small thinking. He is much, much greater than that.

Next week: Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Psalms

Tomorrow: Evangelism Scriptures

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Esther 8-6-2020

This message will probably shock some people when it comes to Esther, another female as a type of Christ. There also was a woman judge named Deborah who typified Christ.

I pray that all those who have thought that women were of a lower status (inferior) will accept what God does through whomever He chooses. In the Jewish customs, women are still considered inferior.

You will not see God’s name anywhere in the book of Esther, but He was all up in there. You will see as the story continues.

Esther, whose Jewish name was Hadassah, but was changed to a Persian name. Known as Queen Esther, this is a story of a woman who loved her people so much that she was willing to die for them (Esther 4:16).

We have read in John 3:16, how God so loved the world that He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins. Jesus willingly gave up His life for us and we should be thankful for the exchange (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Another way Esther is a type of Christ is, she married a pagan king (Esther 1:1-2:18).

Jesus Christ went to His own, the Jews and they did not receive Him; the Gentile race received Him (John 1:11-12).

Short story of Esther and her cousin Mordecai

There were Jews who chose to be in Persia, a foreign place to them. A man named Haman was one of the king’s chief advisors, but power went to his head. When everyone kneeled to bow, Haman noticed that Mordecai did not bow (Esther 3:5).

Being a Jew, Mordecai knew God’s command about bowing to anyone but the Lord (Exodus 20:4-5). This upset Haman and he went to the king with an evil plan that would destroy Mordecai and the entire Jewish race. The king did not know Haman’s motives (Esther 3:8-15).

When Mordecai found out about Haman’s plot, he sent word to Esther. She was fearful of going to the king without being summoned (one could die without being summoned by the king) , but she drew strength from Mordecai’s words and said: “I will go to the king although it is against the law, and if I perish I perish” and she asked all the Jewish exiles to fast for her for three days (Esther 4:16-17).

Queen Esther requested a meeting with the king and he was delighted with the invitation. At the second banquet the king asked his beautiful wife what she wanted, even up to half of his kingdom (Esther 7:2).

Esther told the king of Haman’s evil plot to destroy her people (Esther 7:6) and that Haman had built gallows for Mordecai to be hung on and after the second banquet the king’s eyes were opened to Haman’s evil plot (Esther 7:8).

Haman was hung on the very gallows he had planned for Mordecai to be hung on (Esther 5:14, 7:9-10). This is like digging a pit for someone else and you fall into it (Proverbs 26:27).

I also see that whatever a person sows, whether good or bad, they will reap (Galatians 6:7).

I said earlier that Esther was willing to die to save her people. And Esther was a type of Christ who delivered us (His people) from death and hell; He will also deliver the Nation of Israel when He returns after the tribulation period (Isaiah 11:12, Matthew 24:31).

I pray that as you continue to see Jesus our Messiah in the Old Testament that you will know Him in a way you have never known Him before.

Next: Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Job

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Nehemiah 8-5-2020

Learning about Jesus Christ our Messiah and how He was foreshadowed in the Old Testament, and how God used different ways to foreshadow Him through types and figures is awesome!

God used animals and humans, but none could be the perfect sacrifice that was necessary to take on the sins of the world. The Old Testament sacrifices were a temporary covering of sins, until Jesus Christ our Savior would permanently cleanse us from our sins.

Nehemiah foreshadowed as a type of Christ

Ezra was the one God had to rebuild the temple, but Nehemiah was the one to build the walls of Jerusalem. God gave Nehemiah favor with a pagan king to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

Nehemiah was a type of Christ in that he wept over Jerusalem: And as it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven (Nehemiah 1:4).

The children of Israel had sinned against God. They had acted corruptly and had not obeyed God’s commands (Nehemiah, chapter 1).

Jesus Christ wept over Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stone those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Matthew 23:37).

Nehemiah typified Christ in cleaning the temple: Nehemiah obtained a leave from the king to go to Jerusalem, and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil Eliashib had done for Tobiah in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.

And it grieved me bitterly therefore I threw out all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. Then I commanded them to clean the room and I brought back to them the articles of the house of God (Nehemiah 13:4-9).

The Levites were not getting their portion; they were being cheated out of what belonged to them.

Jesus Christ cleaned the temple: Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who had bought and sold in the temple and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and seats of those who sold doves.

Jesus said, it is written My house shall be called the house of prayer for all people, but you have made it a den of thieves (Matthew 21:12-13). They were cheating those who came to buy from them.

Nehemiah called his people to rise and build with him (Nehemiah 2:18).

Jesus Christ called the disciples to follow Him and build God’s Kingdom through the church (Matthew 4:19, Matthew 16:18, the beginning of the church age -Acts 2:1-4).

We have been called to build God’s Kingdom. It can be done more effectively when one understands that the entire Word of God is centered around Jesus Christ our Messiah.

Next: Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Esther

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Ezra 8-4-2020

I was going to share a combined message about Ezra and Nehemiah, but once I started writing and getting more information, the message had to be written in two parts, Ezra first and then Nehemiah.

Ezra and Nehemiah were types of Christ our Messiah, but I want to share some history about these two men.

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one book and it was decided later that they would be two separate books. Even though these books are similar, there is something different about these two men.

One was to rebuild the temple that had been destroyed and the other was to build the walls of Jerusalem.

Now to Ezra being a type of Christ

After seventy years that the children of Israel were held captive in Babylon, King Cyrus allowed the them to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple that had been destroyed by the Babylonians.

God moved on the hearts of two pagan kings; one initiated the project and the other king paid for it.

Foreshadows of other people being released from bondage:

God sent Moses to deliver the Israelites from being in bondage to a pagan king who agreed to release them (Exodus 13:17).

Jesus was sent to a world ruled by the devil to set us free from being enslaved to sin (Isaiah 61:1).

It has been said that it took three years for the temple to be rebuilt. This reminds me of Jesus saying: Destroy this Temple and I will raise it in three days (John 2:19). This is symbolic of Jesus being crucified and buried and on the third day he rose from the dead (Matthew 28:6).

Ezra was not only instrumental in rebuilding the temple, he was a man who loved the Word and prayer. Ezra was a priest who read to the people the law of Moses and he interceded on behalf of the people because of their sinful acts (Ezra, chapter 9).

Jesus Christ is our High Priest who forever makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).

Ezra was a priest devoted to God and teaching the law of Moses (Ezra 7:10).

Jesus was devoted to God, yet He was greater than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6).

Ezra read the law to the assembly and everybody listened. He stood before them on a platform. Ezra opened the book in the sight of the people, for he was standing above the people and when he opened the book all the people stood up.

And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered “Amen. Amen! While lifting their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground (Nehemiah 8:1-6).

Jesus came to Nazareth where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and He stood up to read from the book of Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor, He sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:16-19, Isaiah 61:1-2).

He closed the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all of those in the synagogue were fixed on Him (Luke 4:20).

Fix your eyes on Jesus Christ and continue to see Him foreshadowed in the Old Testament.

Amen! Amen!

Next: Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Nehemiah

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Books of Chronicles – The Temple 8-3-2020

The last message about Jesus Christ being foreshadowed in the books of Kings and how David was a type of Christ because Christ will reign on King David’s throne forever (1 Chronicles 17:14).

Today’s message is about the Temple and its significance. David could not build the temple because he had blood on his hand for having Uriah the Hittite killed; David had committed adultery with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba.

After David and Bathsheba were married, their son Solomon was to be the king who would build the temple, where the ark of the covenant would be. The ark of the covenant or the mercy seat was where the presence of God was in the Old Testament.

Here is some brief history on the temple and the significance of the Ark of the Covenant. The ark was symbolic of God’s presence and it was kept in a specific place in the tabernacle, called the holy of holies. The priest was the only person allowed to go into the holy of holies.

He was the mediator between God and man who took the sins of the people before the Lord. The priest could have no sin on himself or he would die.

As the children of Israel traveled the ark of the covenant went with them and it was carried on staves; nobody could touch it because the Ark of the Covenant was sacred. It also had an angel at each end of it (Exodus 25:18-20).

When the temple was built by Solomon the ark of the covenant was placed in it. This was symbolic of the children of God being the temple and the ark (Spirit of God) living/dwelling in us. Therefore, we do not need a physical ark, we are the temple.

When I understood the significance of the ark of the covenant, I was blown by it. This took me to a whole new level of understanding what it means to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said: Tear this temple down and I will raise it in three days (John 2:19). Jesus was crucified and buried; on the third day He rose with all power in his hands (Matthew 28:18).

The mercy seat where the angels (cherubims) were on each end in the Old Testament (Exodus 25:16-20, Hebrews 9:1-5) is symbolic of an angel being on each end of the slab where Jesus laid after His crucifixion (John 20:12).

This is another reason the children of God need to see Jesus Christ our Messiah throughout the Bible, and we need to understand that without the resurrection, the would not be any mercy. In other words, we would be most miserable people (1 Corinthians 15:19).

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Since our temples are so significant to God, we should be serious when it comes to our bodies (temples) and what we do with them; they are holy.

Now that you learned more about your temple (body) and how significant it is, this should behoove you to do everything possible to please God our Father.

Next: Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Witnessing Scriptures for Evangelism – The Importance of Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Part 2) 8-2-2020

I am posting some scriptures about how important it is to share the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ.

Although Paul is saying that his heart’s desire and prayer is for Israel that they may be saved in Romans 10:1, it is relating to the born-again believer witnessing to other lost people.

And this is the reason:

For the scripture says, whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. For, there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For, whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:11-13).

Woah! So, does this mean that no matter what race, creed, or color; all who call on the name of the Lord are accepted by God? (Romans 10:13)

What did the Word of God say in Romans 10:9-10? Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved (born-again).

How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe on Him in whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent?

The Word of God tells us that all of God’s children are sent to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have our own personal pulpits, whether they are on the job, in a store, or wherever we are at any given time. There are no exceptions, when it comes to the “Great Commission”

How can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel of peace (Romans 10:14-15, Ephesians 6:15). We should always be ready to take the Gospel peacefully, and in love (1 Peter 4:8).

Misconception: I heard some pastors say that the preacher in these verses are the pastors. That is not true, because every child of God is commissioned to take the Gospel. With that being so, every child God is the preacher in this context.

I was traveling with a leader and we visited someone; at the end of his conversation and prayer, the leader said: “You ought to come to church Sunday and get saved”.

I was appalled! Once we started traveling to our destination, I asked him: “Why does someone need to come to church to get saved (born-again), when the Gospel should have been extended to them while we were there?”

Evidently the person I was traveling with did not understand what it meant to share the Gospel, wherever one is.

Maybe one of the reasons many pew sitters do not spread the Gospel is because when people come to church, that is where the “Quote on Quote” Altar call is given for people to come and give their lives to Christ.

It is awesome how an Old Testament prophet Isaiah connected the New Testament scripture pertaining to salvation: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation (Isaiah 52:7).

And, that is not all, the prophet Daniel wrote this:

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:3). There are five crowns that the children of God will be rewarded with according to their faithfulness; this one is called the Soul Winner’s crown.

As I said before that every child of God is commissioned to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Next week: Evangelism Scriptures

Monday: Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Chronicles – The Temple

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Witnessing Scriptures for Evangelism 8-1-2020

Before getting into the scriptures that will be used today pertaining to what scriptures to use, I would like to bring to your awareness and perhaps more clarity to evangelizing there is something that needs to be explained.

Last week I said the messages will continue as long as the Holy Spirit leads me. As I was writing, there was a prompting by the Holy Spirit to do a series.

There will be many scriptures used for you to be able to give answers when the devil uses someone to challenge you. Always remember that the Word of God has the Highest and Final Authority!

Every child of God has been called to evangelize (Matthew 28:19-20). However, every child of God does not have the office of evangelist (Ephesians 4:11).

The difference with the office of evangelist is this, not only is the person anointed; there are supernatural manifestations of the grace call with the anointing to destroy yokes that many have been burdened down with.

The reason this is being addressed is because books are in print that say evangelizing is a gift, it is not. However, we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to take the Gospel (Good News) wherever our world is.

Moving forward, over the years many born-again believers have used the Romans Road. The scriptures are taken from the book of Romans and if that is what you are comfortable with, continue to use those scriptures.

I am going to share the scriptures that have captured my attention therefore, these scriptures will be explained briefly and used as additional witnessing tools that you may or may not have:

John 3:16 is the pinnacle of the entire Bible - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus at night. It has been said that Nicodemus came to Jesus at night because being a teacher of the law, he could have been fearful of losing his reputation.

One thing to remember is the Pharisees had no dealings with Jesus. Apparently, Nicodemus saw something in Jesus that really gained his interest.

Nicodemus knew that Jesus was from God, and during the conversation, Jesus told him that unless a man is born-again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus went on to say: How can a person be born after he is old, can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?

Jesus was telling that this new birth is spiritual and unless one is born of the Spirit, there is no way possible to be born-again. It is the Holy Spirit who causes people to be born again, and without His ministry, no one can be born-again.

The Word of God says the only thing that keeps a person from being born-again is to reject the Holy Spirit. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of man (Jesus), he will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven neither in this age or the age to come- this is call blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:32).

Tomorrow: Witnessing Scriptures for Evangelism – The Importance of Sharing the Gospel (Good News) 8-2-2020

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Books of Kings – 7-31-2020

You read about King David, how he foreshadowed Christ and that Christ will reign on David’s throne. Regardless of David’s bad choices as king of Israel and the consequences he suffered, God loved David and He used him.

David went about a year without repenting of his sins and God sent Nathan the prophet to him and the prophet exposed David’s sin to him (2 Samuel 12:1-14).

It is written in Psalm 51 about David’s repentance. Also, in yesterday’s message you read about the consequences of David’s sins and how his house was affected; the sword never left his house (2 Samuel 12:10).

And the first child he fathered with Bathsheba did not live (2 Samuel 12:13-23); at that time, he had committed an act of adultery. David and Bathsheba married and their son Solomon was born (2 Samuel 12:24).

God had told David that he would not build the temple because blood was on his hand; he had an innocent man killed (1 Chronicles 28:3).

I am sharing about this great King Solomon who was the wealthiest of all kings (2 Chronicles 9:1-28). The Word of God said he was the wisest man that ever lived (1 Kings 4:30-32).

During Solomon’s reign there were no wars and it was peaceful (1 Kings 4:25), his name meant peace.

The Lord told Solomon not to marry women from outside nations, but Solomon married many women, he had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3). Solomon’s heart was away turned from God to many women, which led to idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-13).

Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs (wise sayings), Ecclesiastes (the preacher)- Solomon closed this book with: Let us conclude with this matter; fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.

For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing whether good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). The last book was Song of Solomon (a love song), all three books related to his experiences.

Solomon and all his glory were not arrayed like one of these lilies; the fine clothes he wore were not compared to the beauty of the lilies of the field. (Matthew 6:29).

As you can see, no human being could compare to being the Prophet, Priest and King like our Messiah. Since Christ was the Only Perfect One, only He could be the Greatest Prophet.

Only He could be the Superior High-Priest (Hebrews 7:22-27) and only Jesus Christ was affirmed the King of the Jews (Matthew 27:11) and He was greater than Solomon (Matthew 12:42).

Solomon’s reign was temporary but Christ will reign on the throne of David forever (1 Chronicles 17:14). For He is “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16); therefore, Jesus Christ is our King eternal (1 Timothy 1:17).

So far, you have read about Christ our Messiah being foreshadowed, and you can also see that as great a people they were, they could not compare to Christ our soon-coming King.

Next week: Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Books of Chronicles -The Temple

Tomorrow: Witnessing Scriptures for Evangelism

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Books of Samuel – King David (Part 2) 7-30-2020

Today, I am continuing in the book of Samuel and share with the readers how Jesus Christ our Messiah was foreshadowed through David, the second king of Israel.

Samuel, a prophet, and priest who also foreshadowed Jesus Christ and he was used by God to anoint the first and second kings of Israel.

God did not want Israel to have a king other than Himself, but Israel demanded a king because the nations surrounding them had kings. God granted the children of Israel their wish.

The Lord told Samuel to tell the nation of Israel what the consequences would be for having a king; that they would suffer at the hand of a king.

After the children of Israel refused to take heed to what Samuel told them, the Lord told Samuel to listen to them and anoint a king (1 Samuel, chapter 8).

Saul was chosen to be the first king of Israel. However, after a certain time, he turned his back on God and was rejected as king. David the son of Jesse was anointed to be Israel’s next king.

The foreshadowing, type and figure and similarities between David and Jesus Christ:

David and his reign look to the coming of Christ our Messiah. David’s throne was the same throne Jesus Christ will reign on in Jerusalem (Isaiah 9:7, Revelation 21:2).

Why does the Word of God say that Jesus will sit on the throne of His father David (Luke 1:32)? Christ came through the ancestry line of David: Obed begot (gave birth to) Jesse and Jesse begot David the king (Matthew 1:6).

David was a prophet (Acts 2:29-31) and king; he was a forerunner of Jesus Christ who was the Root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:11).

The Messianic prophecy traces backed to 2 Samuel 7:12-16. Your house and Your kingdom will endure forever…. Isaiah spoke of the promise of a Messianic King who would be born of David’s family line.

You have read how David was a type of Christ and David had a great love for God. Yet, after becoming king he committed adultery and had the woman’s husband killed to cover up his sin (2 Samuel, chapter 11).

The sword never left David’s house because of his sinful acts. He had problems with his children. One son had sex with his own sister (David’s daughter) and he hated her after the act was over and Absalom, another son of David murdered his brother for his sinful sexual act against their sister (2 Samuel, chapter 13).

Absalom tried to take David’s kingdom and he tried to kill David (2 Samuel, chapter 15-19). One day while riding on a donkey, Absalom’s hair got caught in a tree.

The donkey kept going and Absalom was left dangling and David’s servant Joab took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart and Absalom died. David mourned deeply over Absalom’s death, for he loved his son dearly (2 Samuel, chapter 18).

I am sure you must be wondering how in the world could God use a man like that. Especially when he was a type of Christ when it comes to being a king and Jesus Christ will be sitting on his throne.

It would seem that God would take his kingdom like He did with Saul. To be honest, I do not understand it, but whether any of us understand it, that is God’s business.

No one can throw rocks at anybody else’s sin; many of us have done the same things (John 8:7). It is by the grace of God that any of us are what we are (1 Corinthians 15:10). The truth is many people have done worse things than David.

You may say, I did not kill anybody or commit adultery. What about killing someone’s character (James 4:11)? What about lusting after a person (Matthew 5:27-28)?

Next: Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Books of Kings

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Books of Samuel (Part 1) 7-29-2020

The books of Samuel are the first books of the kings. Actually, Kings is comprised of six books, first and second Samuel, first and second Kings and first and second Chronicles.

In each of these books you will Jesus Christ our Messiah foreshadowed.

As we go to first and second Samuel, you will see the likeness, foreshadowing of our Messiah and a type and figure of Him.

There was a lady named Hannah whose womb had been shut, and in the Bible times a barren woman was considered cursed.

Hannah’s husband Elkanah who loved Hannah dearly, also had another wife who had sons and daughters by him. The other wife Penninah provoked Hannah and made her miserable because she could not have children.

Hannah sought the Lord in anguish and made a vow and said, “O Lord of host, if you will look on the affliction of your maidservant…. And give me a male child, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

In the process of time Hannah conceived and called her son Samuel because she has asked of the Lord. After Hannah had weaned Samuel, she took him to Eli, the priest who trained Samuel and he served in the tabernacle.

Over a period of time, Hannah and Elkanah had three other sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21).

Samuel was a foreshadowing of Christ in that he was a priest and a prophet who devoted himself to the Lord his entire life.

Jesus was totally dedicated and devoted to God His Father.

Samuel was the only son at the time he was born to Hannah and Elkanah.

Jesus Christ was the only Son of God and the first son of the Virgin Mary, she later had other children with her husband Joseph (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3).

Jesus Christ was also a Priest and Prophet; He was greater than Samuel because Jesus Christ was, is, and will be our soon coming King.

Scriptures taken from 1 Samuel, chapters 1 and 2

Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Books of Samuel – King David (Part 2)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Jesus Christ Our Messiah in the Book of Ruth as Our Kinsman/Redeemer 7-28-2020

This is a wonderful story between a mother (widow) and her daughter-in-law who had a great love for each other.

It came to pass when the judges ruled that there was a famine in the land and Elimelech of Bethlehem Judah moved with his family to Moab. Elimelech who was Naomi’s husband died and she was left with her two sons.

Their sons Mahlon and Chilion married two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. They stayed in Moab about ten years and during that time, Mahlon and Chilion also died.

Naomi was left with her two daughters- in -law. Naomi left Moab with her daughters-in -law and headed back to Bethlehem; she told them to go back to their own land. They lifted up their voices and wept again and Orpah kissed Naomi goodbye.

Naomi was trying to get Ruth to go back with Orpah to serve their gods. But Ruth clung to her mother-in-law and said: Please do not make me leave you or turn back from following you, for wherever you go I will go and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God my God.

This was a powerful statement coming from Ruth. She even wanted to die where Naomi died and to be buried where she was buried. Naomi must have had a great influence on Ruth’s life by the godly way she lived.

This is an overview of a marriage between Boaz and Ruth which is symbolic of the children of God being married to Christ our Redeemer (Ephesians 1:7), which makes us His bride (Revelation 19:7).

In the Old Testament it was customary for a widowed woman to marry her dead husband next of kin (Deuteronomy 25:5, Matthew 22:24), and the new husband’s son would carry the dead husband’s name.

While Ruth was gleaning in the fields, she met Boaz, a wealthy man who was a cousin of Elimelech, her dead father-in-law.

Boaz was not the next in line as kinsman redeemer, so he asked the person who was next in line to take Ruth as his bride, he refused to marry her and let their son carry the name of her dead husband.

This was a custom in the former times concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything, one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other and this was confirmation in Israel.

When the other relative refused to marry Ruth, Boaz redeemed her and she became his wife/bride.

Not only did Boaz redeem her, he provided everything that Ruth needed, just as Jesus Christ redeems and provide everything else we need (Philippians 4:19).

For your information, Jesus came through the ancestry of Boaz (Matthew 1:5).

Note: definition of redeem: to buy back a relative’s property, marry his widow. I like to use the word purchase. Boaz purchased all of his relative Elimelech and his sons Mahlon and Chilion’s property from Naomi.

Jesus purchased us with His precious blood (Acts 17:11, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Galatians 3:13-15).

Please read the four short chapters of Ruth.

Next: Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Books of Samuel

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Judges - Samson 7-27-2020

Last week two messages were posted about God using judges to save/deliver the children of Israel from their enemies. The judges were foreshadowing Jesus Christ our Messiah who came to deliver us from death and hell.

As I share about this judge, he is the most well known and quite unique as we all are. This story reveals the weakness of an anointed man who had a stronghold of lusting after women.

I am going back to Samson’s birth and share different things about his life that stands out the most (Judges, chapters 13-16).

The children of Israel continued to do evil in the sight of the Lord and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

An Angel of the Lord appeared to a woman who could not conceive and He told her that she would give birth to a son.

The Angel of the Lord told her to be careful what she ate; she was not to drink wine or anything similar to it and she also was told not to eat anything unclean.

The woman was told that no razor shall be used on his head because the child would be a Nazarite (Numbers 6:1-21) to God from her womb and he would begin to deliver Israel out the hand of the Philistines.

Years later Samson became judge over the children of Israel. Samson was given extraordinary strength when the Spirit of the Lord would come upon him.

But Samson repeatedly violated the Nazarite vow by compromising what he was called to do; that was, to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.

Samson married a Philistine woman that his father and mother did not approve of.

Samson was a man of riddles and during the wedding feast he posed a riddle to the Philistines that if they could solve the riddle within seven days, he would give them thirty garments.

And, if they did not solve the riddle they would give Samson thirty garments. They solved the riddle and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon Samson and he went and killed thirty of their men and he returned to the Philistines to pay off the debt.

Samson went back to his father’s house and his wife had been given to his companion who was his best man. Later Samson married another Philistine woman named Delilah.

After repeatedly trying to get Samson to reveal where his strength was, Samson told her it was in his hair. Samson went to sleep with his head on Delilah’s lap and she called for the Philistines and they came in while he was sleep and cut off Samson’s seven locks of hair.

Samson had lost his strength and the Philistines overtook Samson and put his eyes out and brought him down to Gaza, they bound him with chains and fetters and he became the grinder in the prison.

This is a sad story about Samson who was called as a judge to deliver and shepherd the children of Israel. Because Samson compromised, it caused severe consequences.

Yet, when Samson cried out to the Lord, his hair and strength was restored and he killed more (ten thousand) Philistines in death than he did in his life.

No human being could have ever been a perfect deliverer of God’s people because all humans have sinned. It took the perfect Jesus Christ to permanently cleanse us from our sins and deliver us from the penalty, power and presence of sin and death.

The moral of this story is: If you, as a child of God cry out with a repenting heart, He will restore you back into fellowship with Him (1 John 1:9).

Next: Jesus Christ Our Messiah in the Book of Ruth as Our Kinsman/Redeemer

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Great Commission – Guidelines for Evangelism 7-26-2020

The message is this:

How people perceive you, by what is said, your demeanor and what you wear determines the effectiveness of your witnessing.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple; do not make it complicated by giving someone the whole Bible.

Example: While walking the streets of Camden New Jersey, the Lord would put prostitutes, homosexuals, drug addicts and other unsaved people in my path. Sometimes all I would say was: “Jesus loves you”. Other times after saying Jesus loves you, I would give them a hug.

We never know what God could have been doing through a situation like that. It may be just what was needed at that particular time. This is why it is important to ask the Spirit of God to lead us.

There are specific scriptures that are used to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Always remember that you give what the Word of God says whether the person/s you are witnessing to believe or receive it or not. The Word of God supersedes anything else and God’s Word has final authority.

I am going back to how people perceive you:

1) What you say is very important: You must remember that many unsaved people were brought up in the church and they heard some scriptures. So, if you are not sure of what is being said, they can make you look like a fool.

2) Watch that look on your face: When someone sees a bad, mean or snobbish look, they are turned off, so make sure to have a smile and the kind of look that makes the one/s you are witnessing to feel comfortable. You need to give the impression that you really do have their best interest at heart.

3) The type of clothes that are worn will make a difference in how people will receive from you. Example: A group on the evangelism team from a former church would go out to witness with me.

I was embarrassed at the way the sisters dressed, although there was training and proper attire was part of the training, they did not get it.

When we were at certain places like the bus stop downtown, men were looking at the sisters’ bodies.

Anything that takes away from the Word of God, regardless of where you may be, God is not getting the glory.

When females are exposing too much of their body parts (skimpy clothes) or wearing skin-tight clothes, this can cause a man to look with the wrong intention. This makes it even worse for men who are dealing with lust.

Think about it, who is the Gospel all about, Jesus Christ being glorified or the attention being drawn to you?

Next week: Witnessing Scriptures for Evangelism

Next: Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Judges – Samson (Part 3)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Great Commission 7-25-2020

Jesus said: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you….. (Matthew 28:19-20).

Last weekend, I said that on weekends the sharing would be about effective witnessing. There are certain aspects of witnessing that many of the professed children of God do not understand.

For the next few weekends, or however long the Holy Spirit guides me, the proper way to carry God’s Word will be posted.

What did Jesus Christ mean when He told His disciples to teach what He had taught them in Matthew 28:19?

Jesus taught them how to witness to unsaved (the lost) people. Jesus sent His disciples out two by two after He taught them; the word disciple means to be taught (a learner).

There are scriptures that relate, support, and connect with carrying the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For instance, the Apostle Paul wrote about the Gospel in Romans and Ephesians.

As you study more about what we have been commissioned by Jesus Christ to do, the more effective your witnessing will become.

Although each of us may witness different, we are taking the same Word. What I mean is, it depends on who and where you are in your part of the world; whether it is on your job, in the grocery store, or wherever you are, it has been ordained by God our Father for each of His children to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

No one person can save everybody; God has ordained for each of His children to reach a set number of people.

How we carry the Gospel to the ones we have been ordained to reach will make the difference.

Tomorrow: The Great Commission - Tools for Evangelism

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Judges - Gideon (Part 2) 7-24-2020

Yesterday’s message was about Deborah and Barak, and how the Lord anointed and appointed them to carry out His plan for the children of Israel to be delivered from their enemies.

There were thirteen judges anointed by God at certain intervals to deliver the Israelites from their enemies. All of the judges were important, but we hear more about Deborah, Gideon, and Samson.

Every time one judge was no longer with Israel, they would go right back to their old ways. Because of their wickedness, the Lord allowed their enemies the Midianites to come and destroy everything they had.

As usual, they cried out to the Lord, and the Lord sent a prophet to warn the Israelites of how He had delivered them from the time they were in Egypt. The prophet ended with this: But you have not obeyed My voice.

An Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said: The Lord is with you mighty man of valor.

Why did the Angel of the Lord call him a mighty man of valor, when Gideon was fearful of the enemies who were fierce, powerful and had caused them to be impoverished?

The Angel of the Lord called him a mighty man of valor because Gideon was going to be a mighty man of valor. Valor means great courage in the face of danger, especially in a battle. God does not look at who we are now, He sees us as the complete person.

As I move forward, some of you may wonder why God would use such a weakling as Gideon. The weak Gideon was hiding because he was fearful of the enemy who was furious and powerful.

Well, God does that so He gets the glory. Remember how God told Paul the apostle that in his weakness God was his strength (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Gideon had a problem with believing the Lord would use him to lead and defeat an army and save/deliver the children of Israel from their enemies. Therefore, he put out a fleece to the Lord to confirm if He would save Israel by his hand.

He really put out a fleece two times. And Gideon said to the Lord before the second fleece: Do not be angry with me….but let me test, I pray just one more time with the fleece…and God did it that night….

God was going to save, deliver and give them the victory. However, Gideon did not see himself as an instrument that God was going to use to save His people. But Gideon obeyed the Lord and he got the victory.

It was said in the last message that the judges were considered saviors; the judges were a foreshadowing of Christ.

God called Gideon to defeat an army on behalf of the children of Israel, but He reduced Gideon’s army from thirty-two thousand to 300 measly (few) men.

Why in the world would God do that? As usual it was for God to get the glory. Although Gideon started off as a weak person, if he was allowed to win the war with thirty-two thousand men, he would have gotten big-headed.

Remember this, Jesus Christ humbled Himself and became obedient to the Father; it was all about doing His Father’s will.

It is our Father’s will to learn and understand that His Word is all about Jesus Christ, our Messiah.

Please read Judges, chapters 6-8

Next week: Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Judges - Samson

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Judges (Part 1) 7-23-2020

God promised the children of Israel they would go to the promise land, a land flowing with and honey. After forty-years of wandering through the wilderness due to their unbelief, they finally made it.

Guess what? Just like people throughout history, they started acting crazy; these people were doing whatever they felt like doing. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes, deliberately serving false gods.

Yet, each time they cried out to God He faithfully raised up judges to deliver them. These judges were anointed military and civil leaders.

The judges were types of Christ in that they shepherded or watched/ruled over the children of Israel. Jesus is our Shepherd, we are His sheep and He watches over us (John 10:11, 14).

The judges also went to war on behalf of them. Jesus Christ defeated the devil on our behalf (Colossians 2:15, Revelation 1:18).

God raised up judges to deliver them from their oppressors; the judges were also considered the peoples’ savior. Now we know that this was a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who would deliver people from their sins.

In the Old Testament, another foreshadowing of Jesus Christ was the animal sacrifice, until Jesus Christ was manifested in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4), Jesus was physically revealed to deliver us from sin.

This book depicts the consequences of sin and when the people cried out for help, God would deliver them. God was just and He was a Savior.

I am going to give a brief history of a few of the judges God used on behalf of the Israelites:

When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord again. So, the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan …. the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron and he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel for twenty years.

Sisera was the commander of Jabin’s army. The Lord anointed Deborah a prophetess and judge; she went to battle on behalf of Israel. Barak the commander who accompanied Deborah in battle was afraid to come up against Sisera’s army.

Barak was not trusting God, so Deborah gave a prophetic word: Up! On this the day the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?

So, Barak went down from Mt. Tabor with ten thousand men with him and the Lord routed Sisera with all his chariots and all his army before Barak.

Barak’s enemies fled, but he pursued them and all the army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left. However, Sisera fled and was killed later by someone else and Barak pursued and found out what happened to Sisera. Read Judges 4:17-24

God used Deborah’s prophetic word to motivate Barak to go forward and defeat an army. The judges were considered saviors because they delivered God’s people from their enemies (Judges, chapters 4-5).

It is so important to know how God used judges to deliver/rescue the children of Israel from their enemies; however, the Savior was needed to deliver us from death and hell and give us eternal life.

This Savior I am talking about is Jesus Christ our Messiah. God wants His children to recognize who Jesus is from Genesis to Revelation.

Next: Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Judges - Gideon and Samson (Part 2)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Joshua 7-22-2020

Yesterday, you read about the similarities between Moses and Jesus; today we will go to the book of Joshua, who was Moses’ predecessor.

Joshua was trained by Moses and he was the next leader (Joshua 1:1-5) that was chosen by God to take the children of Israel into the promise land (Joshua, chapters 1-5).

Let us begin with what Joshua’s name meant: “God is my salvation” and Jesus’ Hebrew name is Yehoshua/Jeshua (Joshua).

This is a powerful connection that shows Joshua as a type of Christ. Now you will see the correlation between Joshua and Jesus.

Joshua led his people to defeat their enemies (Joshua, chapter 7).

Jesus defeated our enemies after He rose from the dead with all power in His hand (Matthew 28:18). And He gave us the power to defeat our enemies (Luke 10:19), by giving us the armor to fight against our enemies (Ephesians 6:10-18).

We have everything we need for our victory because the Greater One lives in us (1 John 4:4), which makes us more than conquerors through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37).

Just as Joshua was given specific instructions to win a war when they fought the battle at Jericho (Joshua, chapter 6),

similarly, Jesus came to do His Father’s will and Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing (John 5:19).

Joshua took God’s people into the promise land (Joshua, chapters 1-5).

Our promise land is all the blessings God has for us on this side of glory if we walk in obedience to His Word – Seek first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness and these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).

Example: Joshua had to follow God’s instructions pertaining to the battle of Jericho in order to win the battle (Joshua, chapter 6).

Moving forward, Jesus promised that He was going away to prepare a place for us- in My Father’s house are many mansions (John 14:1-4).

Our promise land is not in heaven like the songs that have been sung for many years; we will live in the New Jerusalem which will come down out of heaven (Revelation 21:2). It was always God’s plan for mankind to dwell on earth and rule over it.

If you can only imagine how much God wants you to see Jesus Christ in types and figures and shadows of things to come (Colossians 2:16-17), all the way through the Bible; it will blow your mind.

When our spiritual eyes become open to how awesome Jesus Christ is, it will help us to have a better appreciation of Jesus Christ and a more intimate relationship with Him.

Jesus Christ is the center of the entire sixty-six books.

Wisdom is the principal thing, but above all get understanding. When God’s children truly understand who Christ is, it will change their mind-set and their walk will be different.

Next: Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Judges

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Deuteronomy 7-21-2020

As we continue to go from book to book and see Jesus Christ throughout the entire Bible, Deuteronomy will be the last of the five books of the law that Moses wrote.

Today I am going to connect Moses and Jesus when it comes to both of them being a prophet.

These are the words spoken by Moses to the children of Israel: The LORD your God shall raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to Him (Deuteronomy 18:15).

What did Moses mean when he said a prophet like me? When Moses said a prophet like me, he meant that there were similarities but Jesus was greater than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6).

Moses was symbolic of or a type of Christ in that he was sent to Egypt (symbolic of the world) to set God’s people free from being in bondage by Pharaoh who was symbolic of the devil.

Christ was sent to this world to set free people from being in bondage or enslaved by sin.

Moses was the prophet (spokesperson) speaking what he had received from the LORD.

Jesus was sent to do the will of the Father (John 6:38); to set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18).

Moses and Jesus were sent to set the people free from being enslaved.

Moses was like Jesus in that he fasted in the desert forty days and forty nights (Moses-Exodus 34:28, Jesus- Matthew 4:1-11).

Moses came down off the high mountain with the Word of God -Ten Commandments (Exodus, chapter 20).

Jesus came from on high (from heaven) as the Word (John 1:1).

All the other prophets God spoke to in dreams and visions, but God spoke to Jesus (John 1:18) and Moses face to face (Exodus 33:11); in other words, He spoke directly to them.

For your information: Even though Moses did not go into the promise land, he went to the top of Mt. Pisgah and the Lord showed him the land that He had sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and He allowed Moses to see it, yet Moses could not go there.

When Moses died, God buried him in the valley of the land of Moab, and nobody knows where his grave is unto this day (Deuteronomy 34:1-6).

Satan and Michael the archangel disputed over Moses’ body because, if people would have known where Moses’ body was, they would have made an idol of him (worshipped him) – (Jude 9).

We are to worship God/Jesus Christ only (Matthew 2:11, Luke 4:8).

Next: Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Joshua

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah as the Rock (Exodus and Numbers) 7-20-2020

In searching out the scriptures there is a connection with Exodus 17:1-8 and Numbers, chapter 20. Both occurrences were referring to, or foreshadowing Jesus Christ.

Strike the rock (Exodus 17:1-8)

I am going to backtrack to Exodus when the Israelites were wandering through the wilderness, they were thirsty for water and they complained to Moses.

The people were angry with Moses and said to him, why did you bring us from Egypt to kill our children and our cattle with thirst?

Moses cried to the Lord and said these people are going to stone me. The Lord told Moses to go before the elders and the people and use the same rod he used when they were crossing the Red Sea.

The Lord told Moses He would stand before him at Mount Horeb, and that Moses was to strike the rock and water would come out of it for the people to drink.

When Moses was told to strike the rock, this was symbolic of our Messiah being stricken, beat and crucified on the cross for the sins of the world (Mark 15:16-39).

Speak to the rock (Numbers 20:1-12)

The Israelites continued traveling through the wilderness and they were thirsty again, just as they were when they were traveling in the book of Exodus. They were upset with Moses and started complaining of being thirsty.

Moses and Aaron went before the Lord again and He told them to gather the congregation together before the rock. It was apparent that by this time Moses had become angry because the people complained against him.

Instead of speaking to the rock as the Lord had instructed him, he said “Hear now you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock"?

Moses lifted up his hand with the rod and struck the rock twice and the water came out abundantly for the people and the animals.

The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and said, because you did not believe Me and sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, you shall not bring this congregation into the Land I have given them.

Why was God so angry with Moses for striking the rock when He told Moses to speak to it? This is symbolic of Christ going to the cross and being crucified all over again. Christ died once for the sins of the world: So, Christ was once offered for the sins of many… (Hebrews 9:28).

When He said: “It is finished” (John 19:30); that took care of sins and now we have access to God through Jesus Christ our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).

Whatever we ask our Father for that is in His will He hears us (1 John 5:14-15). However, no one can go to the God the Father and bypass Jesus Christ; He is our Mediator (Hebrews 9:15).

This is another way of confirming that the Word of God/the Good News is centered around Jesus Christ.

Note: Jesus told Peter that the church would be built, established, or founded on Himself. Jesus Christ is the Rock and Peter was the little rock (Matthew 16:18) and he was one of the apostles who helped to establish the church (Ephesians 2:20). Peter preached the first sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts, chapter 2).

Next: Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Deuteronomy

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Effective Witnessing 7-19-2020

Yesterday, I told you that today’s message would be a testimony to how the Lord used me to witness effectively.

The Gospel has to be shared in a way that the hearer can identify with what is being conveyed. Jesus always talked on terms the people could identify with. For instance, He used the analogy of planting seeds, cultivating the ground, and producing a harvest.

In witnessing to many people, they will tell you that they know God, that we all belong to the same God. In other words, they acknowledge God. However, these people do not know or serve the same God that we belong to.

Even though these people acknowledge God, when it comes to Jesus Christ, it makes a big difference. If they do not acknowledge Jesus, then they are not acknowledging God because they must know Jesus Christ in order to know God (John 8:19).

Many unbelievers are offended when Jesus Christ is mentioned in a conversation. Jesus Christ Himself said that many would be offended because of Him (Matthew 26:31).

A friend was on a door-to-door-walk-a-thon to get people to sponsor a person for the walk-a-thon. He knocked on a door and the couple he was having a conversation with were talking about God seemed to be open and receptive. As soon as he mentioned Jesus, they slammed the door in his face.

Now to those who are using Revelation as a witnessing tool:

First of all, after chapter four verse one, the church will no longer be here. As soon as we leave, the tribulation begins. You will not see the church again until chapter nineteen.

Years ago, while walking on a track at the gym, a person and I had been walking and talking together for months. I would mention God and he said he did not believe that God existed. One day he asked me how did I know the Bible was true?

Right off the bat, I began to tell him how Jesus talked about wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes in different places and killer diseases. I told the person that we were already experiencing everything that Jesus said would happen and he did not question that anymore (Matthew 24:6-7).

For your information: For the last 100 years these things have been constantly increasing; this is what Jesus said when it comes to what is happening in our time period.

I continued my conversation and told the person I was walking with what John wrote in Revelation. Now to an overview of Revelation, chapter 11: two witnesses were sent back to the earth to prophesy three and a half years (this is doing the great tribulation) …..and when they have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them.

And their bodies shall lie in the street of that great city … where our Lord was crucified .... And people all over the world shall see their bodies for three and a half days.

The main emphasis is: “How in the world did John know what this meant when he was writing”? Fifty years ago, one would really have to believe by faith, but since we have satellite TV, you don’t need faith to believe that. And that is another scripture that has full proof that the Bible is true.

Warning: Do not debate or argue over the scriptures, just be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15).

Conclusion: I want to encourage you to continue carrying the Gospel of Jesus Christ whether you see a change in anyone or not. You and I carry the Word of God, but God is the only One who can save souls (1 Corinthians 3:6).

I felt so passionate about posting these messages that I would like to write more about witnessing on weekends.

One more thing: If you do not understand who Jesus Christ is throughout the Bible, then your witness will not be effective.

Next: Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in Leviticus (the feasts) – Part 3

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

“Witnessing the Gospel of Jesus Christ” 7-18-2020

Good morning family and friends!

On the weekends I break away from my regular messages about “Seeing Jesus Christ Throughout the Bible”. But posting messages on a daily basis has been my passion, especially since travels for me are at a standstill due to the coronavirus.

God has a reason for everything and in this season of being still physically, God is doing great and mighty things in the spirit realm. Sometime later, when the Spirit of God directs me, this will be shared.

I have been reading what some people have been posting on Facebook pertaining to the end times and they are using the book of Revelation as a witnessing tool.

I commend each one of you for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, of which all the children of God are commissioned to do (Matthew 28:19-20).

However, being in the office of Evangelist, I have been given a little deeper insight because of the call. With that being so, tomorrow if the Lord wills, I plan to share a testimony for God’s glory and for your encouragement.

There are two major scriptures that I will concentrate on that people who question the Bible being true. From that I feel these scriptures will help you to witness more effectively.

God bless all of your endeavors to do His will as you are letting your light so shine before men that our Father in heaven will be glorified (Matthew 5:13-16).

Tomorrow: Effective Witnessing

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in Leviticus (the feasts) – Part 2 7-17-2020

Yesterday, part one of the message was posted pertaining to the sabbath, the priesthood and three of the seven feasts. Today is a continuation of the feasts, beginning with number four.

The Old Testament feasts were a shadow pointing to Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, the entire Bible is centered around Jesus Christ our Messiah.

With that being so, we should learn everything possible about seeing Jesus through the entire Bible and our understanding will be better. The more we understand Jesus Christ, our relationship becomes more intimate with Him.

Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) pointed to the birth of the church. When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord and in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Then there appeared unto them divided tongues, as of fire and sat upon each one of them. And they all were filled with the Holy Spirit (baptized with the Holy Spirit) and began to speak with other tongues (unknown to their own language) as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).

The people were empowered to carry the Gospel that Jesus Christ told them about before He ascended into heaven: You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be My witness…. to the uttermost parts of the world (Acts 1:8).

The evidence of speaking in tongues is the extra explosive, dynamite kind of power to witness and minister. The Holy Spirit began to live in us from the onset of our salvation, and He will live in us throughout eternity.

What God started at the birth of the church He will continue until Christ comes to meet us in the air to be with Him throughout eternity (Philippians 1:6); until then the gates of hell shall not prevail against the (His) church (Matthew 16:18).

4) Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24); there are three occasions where the trumpets are blown:

a) To call the nation of peoples for assembly – Anytime the nation was to be assembled together, the trumpets were blown (Numbers 10:2-3, 7).

The trumpet shall sound when we meet Jesus Christ in the air; this is called the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Everybody will be caught at the same time, except those who died (asleep); they will go up first.

b) In the Old Testament the trumpets were blown any time there was going be a war (Nehemiah 4:18, 20). The trumpets will be blown when Jesus returns with the saints to war against the antichrist at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16).

c) In the Old Testament, the trumpet was blown when they announced the new king (1 Kings 1:34-35). In the future our King (Jesus Christ) will be announced with the sound of the trumpets when He enters into His Kingdom.

Next: Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in Leviticus (the feasts) Part 3

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in Leviticus (the sabbath, the priesthood and the feasts) – Part 1
7-16-2020

There were three kinds of laws in the Old Testament: the Ten Commandments (moral law), the civil laws and ceremonial laws.

Today, the focus will be on the ceremonial laws pertaining to the high priest as a mediator which points to Jesus and how He is the Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).

Before we get to the feast days, I am going to start with the sabbath, meaning Jesus gave us salvation and we entered into rest from our labors (Matthew 11:28-30), and from trying to produce righteousness on our own (Ephesians 2:8-9).

We are righteous because of Christ; He took on our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Now to the feast days that pointed toward a specific ministry of Christ (Leviticus 23:4).

Feasts and festivals – God’s prophetic calendar

1) The Feast of the Passover (Leviticus 4:5) pointed to the death of Jesus Christ. Therefore purge (clean) out the old leaven that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened.

For indeed Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Paul was telling the church at Corinth and us to get rid of the sin (leaven) in the church because Christ, our Passover Lamb sacrificed His life for us. If we allow sin (leaven) to go unchecked in the church, sin spreads like yeast that rises in the bread.

On July 15, 2020, the history of Passover was posted in my message. For a better understanding of how significant Passover is, please read yesterday’s message on Burnett Ministries blog page.

2) Feast of unleavened bread (Exodus 13:7) pointed to Jesus being buried for our sins. Therefore, we were buried in Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we all should walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4).

Leaven means sin, so when Jesus Christ died, He took the leaven of sin with Him and our sins are buried. We now are living an unleavened or sanctified life and we walk in freedom.

3) Feast of the First Fruits pointed to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep ….. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

Those who die will be resurrected from the dead, never to die again (John 11:24-25). Jesus was not the first person to die, but He was the only One who died, never to die again.

Next: Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in Leviticus (the sabbath, the priesthood and the feasts) – Part 2

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Seeing Jesus Christ Throughout the Bible (Exodus) – The Passover 7-15-2020

We see Jesus throughout the entire Bible because He is the answer to sin and it was decided by the Triune God that Jesus Christ would be the One to pay the price for sin; a body was prepared (Hebrews 10:5) so He could come to the earth and live among us (John 1:14) and eventually Jesus Christ died for our sins (1 Peter 3:18).

In continuing with the messages, we are now going to Exodus, which means to leave or depart from a place. We left from Genesis, the beginning of everything about creation, and prophecy pertaining to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the future coming of our Messiah who would take care of sin once and for all (Hebrews 1:3, 9:28).

It is important to know that all the foreshadowing and types and figures were temporary until Jesus our Messiah came and made salvation permanent. To be able to understand Jesus Christ more fully, it is necessary to understand what and who the Old Testament was talking about, as well as the entire Bible.

The Exodus

The Hebrews had been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years (Genesis 15:13, Acts 7:6). This happened after Joseph died; he was next to the Pharaoh in rank, but later a new Pharaoh (king) began to rule and he was very harsh on the Hebrews because he did not know Joseph (Exodus 1:8).The former Pharaoh was gracious to the people on behalf of Joseph.

The Hebrews were multiplying so fast that Pharaoh was afraid they would outnumber the Egyptians and they would be more powerful than the Egyptians (Exodus 1:9).

God rose up a leader to go and deliver His people from their suffering. Moses, a type of Christ, was chosen by God to go down in Egypt land and tell Pharaoh to let God’s people go (Exodus 9:1).

Pharaoh did not let the Hebrews go, so God sent plagues and after the tenth plague that killed all the first-born, Pharaoh agreed to let the people go (Exodus 12:30-32).

Prior to the Hebrews exodus from Egypt, they were given specific instructions. They were told to kill an unblemished lamb and put blood from the lamb on each side of the doorpost, which is symbolic of salvation. Everyone who had the blood on the doorpost, the destroyer (death) would pass-over them (Exodus 12:21-23).

This was a foreshadowing Jesus Christ, the Perfect Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

This is where Passover originated from and was practiced by the Jews until today; they were commanded by God to keep the Passover.

However, once Jesus died and rose from the dead there has not been a reason to commemorate Passover, because Jesus Christ became the Passover Lamb that was sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7).

All of the feast days and sabbaths were nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:24-22), because Jesus fulfilled them all. The Old Testament pointed to Jesus Christ; in the New Testament, we look back on what He has done and we look forward to what Jesus Christ will do when He returns to make everything perfect.

There is not no need for animal sacrifices; Jesus Christ became the perfect and permanent sacrifice. Therefore, we born-again believers do not celebrate Passover. Plus, we are the living sacrifices who are called to live a holy and uncompromising life (Romans 12:1-2).

Next: Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in Leviticus (the law)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Seeing Jesus Christ Throughout the Bible (Genesis) - Christ Involved in Creation – The Gospel Prophesied (preached) 7-14-2020

The Creative Acts

Christ was involved in creation: For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him (Jesus Christ) (Colossians 1:16),

along with the Holy Spirit: The earth was without form and void and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2).

God said, let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion…. (Genesis 1:26).

For those who have heard the word Trinity, or the Triune God, this helps to broaden or give you a better understanding of its origin, which connects to 1 John 5:7- And there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father the Word (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit and these three are one.

You have learned about Christ and His involvement with creation, now let’s go the prophecy concerning the birth and death of Jesus Christ.

God told Adam that in the day he ate of the forbidden fruit, he would die. After Adam ate the fruit he was separated from God because of the sin of disobedience (Genesis 2:16-17).

God killed an animal (blood was shed), and He clothe Adam and Eve with the animal’s skins (Genesis 3:21). This was symbolic of Christ blood being shed for the sins of the world. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

This question has been asked: “Are Adam and Eve in hell”? According to the Word of God, they are in paradise with God. You will not see this in the Word, but the proof is there because God took care of their sin when He killed the animal and clothe them with the skin, this is symbolic of salvation.

The Gospel

We are moving to Genesis 3:15, where the Gospel of Jesus Christ the coming Messiah, was preached or prophesied: And I will put enmity (hostility, hatred) between you Satan) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed, He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel.

It is the man’s seed that produces children, but God said the seed of the woman, meaning that she would be a virgin (Luke 1:26-38) - Key verse 27

The serpent’s (the devil’s) seed would bruise the heel of the woman’s seed (Jesus), meaning the devil would use the Jews and Romans to kill Jesus, it did not stop there because Jesus Christ rose and had authority over everything (Matthew 28:18), the head represents authority.

Jesus crushed the devil (Satan’s head), meaning He took all the authority from Satan.

Tell me, do you see Jesus with 20/20 vision?

Next: Seeing Jesus Christ Throughout the Bible (Exodus) – The Passover

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Seeing Jesus Christ Throughout the Bible – Introduction 7-13-2020

Last year I started posting messages about seeing Jesus Christ throughout the Bible, but that came to a halt for a season only. The timing was not right because there were other messages that the Holy Spirit directed me to write and post.

I believe the previous messages were necessary for the readers to understand more clearly, and how important it is to see Christ and the awesome role He plays in born-again believers lives.

I will start in the book of Genesis with the beginning of creation and Christ’s involvement. First of all, you need to know that Christ did not begin in Genesis. He has been and He always will be (Revelation 1:8). Jesus Christ had no beginning and He has no end - He is eternal.

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus met two disciples who did not recognize Him. Jesus began to tell them how He was mentioned throughout the Old Testament. Prior to His resurrection, the disciples did not understand what Jesus said about His crucifixion and resurrection (Luke 18:28-34); Key verse is 34.

Jesus said He was talked about by Moses, and the prophets wrote about Him and once He rose from the dead the prophecy was fulfilled (Luke, chapter 24).

Not only did the prophets write about Jesus’ birth (Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9:6), they also wrote about His death (Psalm 22:1), and His resurrection (Psalm 16:10).

Scriptures also told of the necessity of the Messiah’s sufferings (Isaiah 53:3-10).

Jesus Christ was foreshadowed through types and figures. Example: Joseph was sold by his brothers to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:12-32). Judas went to the chief priests and asked them if he could turn Jesus over to them for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16, 27:9).

Moses was a type and figure of Jesus in that he was sent to Egypt to deliver the Hebrews from bondage (Exodus 3:1-15). Egypt was symbolic of the world and Pharaoh was symbolic of the devil, who is the god of this sinful world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Jesus came to set the captives free from being enslaved to sin (Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18).

This is what Moses told the Israelites: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you from your brothers - it is to Him you shall listen (Deuteronomy 18:15).

Now that you know what was said by Jesus Christ Himself, that He was spoken of throughout the Word of God, it should be much easier for you to understand who Jesus Christ really is and when you have the opportunity to minister or witness, it will be more effective.

Next: Seeing Jesus Christ Throughout the Bible (Genesis)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Testimonial resulting from the message: “Manipulating Evangelicals” 7-12-2020

The message was posted on July 7, 2020 and this person had been sowing into a few ministries for years. After posting the message as to how wealthy at least thirty-five of these ministers are, the person searched it out to see if what I wrote was true.

What I wrote was confirmed when she read who the people were and the astronomical figures for herself. This reminds me of the people in the book of Acts who were being taught the Word of God by scholars, yet they searched the scriptures to see if what was being taught was true (Acts 17:11).

Since I too search the scriptures to see what is true, I find it quite commendable that the sister did her own research. From the message she read which was an eye-opener, the sister felt that others needed to know more about these manipulating evangelicals.

The testimony behind this is, once she found out the truth about two of these ministers that she had sowed into for years, she stopped giving away God’s money or wasting it.

I was guilty of sowing into various ministries for almost ten years and I could not afford to send money to them. However, because words were given like something in your life is going to change or God is getting ready to bring so and so blessings in your life.

The problem was I was looking at what I could get rather than getting more intimate with God. Those manipulating liars really played on my emotions and when what they said did not happen, I was crushed.

Yet, I did not stop. Because of my ignorance of the Word, I felt the next person surely would be telling the truth about speaking blessings into my life with conditions; sending money, buying books and so on.

I am overjoyed that my sister wants all the readers eyes to be open to the truth if they are trapped in bondage to these ministries because of ignorance and emotionalism.

She wants the readers to know that she has been set free, and from now on she will sow on good ground.

What is good ground? A ministry that is led by the Spirit of God to convey what is told to their specific audience to set captives free. You may say: “I thought Jesus came to set the captives free”. Is Jesus still physically on the earth?

Of course He’s not. He left us here to set the captives free with the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

The next step is ask God to forgive you for not managing or being a good steward of what He has given you to manage.

Next: Seeing Jesus Christ Throughout the Bible - Introduction

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Encouragement for Today 7-11-2020

Although times are more difficult for many today due to the coronavirus, I just want to share with the readers how my blessings are still flowing in.

It reminds me of the Malachi 3:8-11, about being obedient to God in tithes and offerings and how He will open up the windows of heavens and pour out a blessing that you will not be able to receive it.

The tithes go to the storehouse, whatever local church body or ministry you are connected to. The offerings should go to whomever or whatever ministry you are led to sow into, which will always be on good ground. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).

God goes on to say He will rebuke the devour (devil) for our sake. This means when the devil tries to steal our finances or anything else we have been blessed with, he cannot touch us because the protection and favor of God is on us because of our obedience.

I have heard many people say that Malachi 3:8-11 is an Old Testament scripture and that it is not for today. Well, the principle is the same. In fact, it lines up with, connect, support, and relate to Hebrews, chapter 7, where we tithe to Jesus Christ our King.

In the Old Testament, Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, the king of Salem who was symbolic our soon coming King (Genesis 14:14-24).

Let us continue with our God our Father who is rich in houses and lands; He is the only One who holds the world in His hands. Regardless of money being tight in this world’s system, God still owns everything (Psalm 24:1, Psalm 50:10-11).

For those of you who are in a crunch, I am a living witness that our God shall provide every need according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

For those of you who are weak in the faith, hold on to what little bit of Word you have and get with someone who is further along in their walk with the Lord, so they can help you to grow deeper in your faith walk.

My faith did not start when the coronavirus struck, it has been building up for years, that is why I am not thrown by the present circumstances.

As a matter of fact, I was not overwhelmed by social distancing, because I had already been partially immobilized for three months prior to the pandemic.

I am spending more time with the Lord, writing more passionately. When the Spirit of God spoke to me near the latter part of 2019 and told me to start a conference call Bible study, it was so timely. I had no idea that there was going to be a world-wide pandemic.

However, I was obedient and the social distance for me and many more caused us to be more spiritually connected. You see, God knew what it was going take for His children to spend more time with Him and draw closer to each other.

Even though I am missing family, especially my immediate family in the north, and friends; our God has technology that enables us to see each other face to face through different means.

Finally, I want to reemphasize to you that our God is faithful and His Word is true (Proverbs 30:5). Therefore, my encouragement for you today is keep your eyes on Jesus (Psalm 121), stay focused on Him and set your minds on heavenly things (Colossians 3:2).

Otherwise you will allow your circumstances to dictate to you and you will not walk in victory.

Next: Testimonial resulting from the message: “Manipulating Evangelicals”

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Awesome and Most Incredible Lord God Almighty!

I was engaged in a conversation with someone, and as usual the subject about God came up and all of a sudden, the person asked: “Have you ever thought about God being bigger, vaster than the universe, and He dwells in us?”

I know how great God is, but to be honest, I had not given it that kind of thought. As the conversation continued, I began to see God like never before.

I was awestruck when my eyes really and truly came open to how God came in the flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit who overshadowed Mary and the Holy Spirit amazingly and miraculously placed Jesus, the Son of God or God in the flesh in her womb(Luke 1:35)!

God is so awesome that we cannot fully understand how infinite (unlimited) He is, with our little finite (limited) minds (Isaiah 55:8-9). His awesomeness and incredibleness are far greater than our little minds can conceive.

Some may question this Awesome God; I questioned Him myself, yet He is Sovereign and He is perfect in all His ways (Psalm 18:30), our God is always true; He cannot lie (Romans 3:4), He is merciful (Psalm 100:5, Lamentations 3:22-23), and Our God is gracious(Psalm 116:5).

God has several graces: Saving grace that brings salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9); God’s grace extends beyond any sin we commit (Romans 5:20); God has grace for all the wonderful gifts He bestowed on His children (Romans 12:6-8); The Spirit of God gives the grace gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10); Christ gives grace gifts to the children of God (Ephesians 4:11).

God also has bountiful grace to sustains us in whatever we are going through (2 Corinthians 12:9).

It is mind boggling to know that His Spirit dwells in millions of peoples. This Incredible God hears every prayer at the same time. He is the all-knowing Omniscient God who knows everything (Psalm 139:1-13). David declared that such knowledge God had was too wonderful for Him (verse 6).

The Awesome and Most Incredible Lord God Almighty is RELATIONAL in that we are totally connected to Him because we are born of Him (1 John 5:1, 1 John 2:29). God is more than mere words can say.

He is God who is everywhere at the same time; our God is Omnipresent, ever present and always present; there is not any place one can go, that God is not there (Psalm 139:7-12). This Incredibly Awesome God is the only One who has all power; He is Omnipotent (Psalm 62:11)!

God speaks intimately with me and at the same time He is speaking to millions of others. And we all get His undivided attention at the same time. That is incredible!

If you ever really think about His awesomeness, His incredibleness and how loving He is, you will be awestruck that He loved us so much He made us a part of His family.

Who would not want to serve a God with all His wonderful acts that are so numerous and immeasurable (Psalm 66:5)?

During His creative acts, God said it was good (Genesis 1:25) and when He finished creating everything which included hum

ans, God said it was very good (Genesis 1:31).

I pray that you will see this Awesome and Most Incredible God the way I have learned to see Him!

God bless you!

Starting next week, from Monday – Friday, I will be posting messages about

“Seeing Jesus Christ in Every Book of the Bible”

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

“An Hour of Bible Sharing with Betty” 7-9-2020

Before I get to how Awesome and Incredible the Lord God Almighty is, there is something I want to share pertaining to God’s awesomeness in our Bible Sharing class.

The “Preview” and “Overview” had not been posted for a while, but the Spirit of God is moving powerfully and I get so excited and hyped up from the Word, that it amazes me.

And, I am not the only one who has a great love and hunger for the Word of God, each person on the conference call has a desire to know and understand more about the Word and get closer to the Lord.

One night a student was so enthused at what she had learned that she posted it on social media.

A couple of nights ago, a dear friend contacted me through messenger with the smiley face that had flowing tears. The message was: “Hi Evan. Burnett. Tonight’s lesson was very powerful and I really enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to next week. An hour is not enough”.

I asked him if he would give me permission to post this, and that I would not use his name.

My friend/brother in Christ is eager to hear, learn and understand more truth. He is not a five-fold ministry teacher but he has been a student of the Word for years and he is a Romans 12:7 teacher.

We had another messenger conversation and this brother loves the Lord and His Word so much that we are praying as to what additional day some of us will be on the phone to study and get fed through the luminous insight that the Holy Spirit reveals to the teacher

Another person is not able to join us on Tuesdays, so the Lord has provided a way for us to study at another time during the day when it is convenient for her. I share what was taught and discussed during the Tuesday night hour of sharing the Word of God.

God has certainly provided Burnett Ministries with a five-fold ministry teacher who gets illuminations from the Spirit of God that will blow your mind. I have no doubt that our Incredibly Awesome God Almighty has called this ministry and He is adding the ones He has to be a part of it.

Am I bragging or boasting? I certainly am boasting on the Awesomely Incredible God who made this possible. Paul the apostle wrote: If you want to boast, boast only on the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31).

Burnett Ministries has three five-fold ministry offices functioning in it, praise God!

When you read how awesome and incredible the Lord God Almighty is tomorrow, I pray that it will be a mind-boggling experience that you will never forget!

Next: The Awesome and Most Incredible Lord God Almighty!

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Manipulating Evangelicals 7-7-2020

Last week I took a break from the messages pertaining to “Taking God’s Glory”

Today you will learn and understand how manipulative some evangelicals (ministers/preachers) are and how they prey on people who are ignorant of the Word of God, and most of the people who support these ministries cannot afford it.

For anyone who has been sowing into these ministries and buying books and other reading materials, the Word of God should be your number one source of information.

I am not saying you should not buy any books at all. What I am saying is if you are depending on these peoples book for spiritual growth, you will not get it.

I have and will still purchase help-aids like an exhaustive concordance that has all the original words in the Greek and Hebrew. This helps to me understand the Word of God more clearly.

There are certain help-aids that can be very instrumental in studying and you can get a better understanding of God’s Word. Even with that being so, God has also called the five-ministry offices to help His children to grow into maturity.

If the body of Christ would abide by the Word of God, they would not be manipulated by people who are out to get rich. You may not know this, but I read recently about thirty-five of the wealthiest preachers, who are multimillionaires. And one of them is worth one hundred and seventy million dollars. Most of these people are well known tele-evangelists.

They manipulate others with their charisma or charm, which is the same as witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). Their charm captures peoples’ attention and it is used to play on others’ emotions.

As it was said previously, these people get richer by sucking or milking people dry.

Questions: Have any of the ministries ever sent you money? Are they coming to your house and lay hands on you to be healed? Or will they offer you a prayer cloth? The Word of God tells us to call the elders of the church if any among you are sick (James 5:14).

Some of them will offer their followers something, but they are expecting you to bless their ministries.

Some will have a word for you to build you up to the point of blessing them even more. This is spiritual manipulation.

The truth is, they are speaking to thousands of people at the same time. Do you think you are supposed to be the special one to receive the blessing?

I encourage you to pray for the Spirit of God to direct you to a local church where you will be blessed and you will be a blessing. And I encourage you to pay your tithes (ten percent of your gross income) to your local church.

And it is a blessing to give above the tithe, which is the offering. Offerings are usually given wherever and to whoever has a need, as the Spirit of God directs you.

Next: The Attributes of Godly Leaders

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

The Attributes of Godly Leaders 7-8-2020

The messages pertaining to “Taking God’s Glory” was meant to be an eye opener to the children of God. He said in His Word that He will not give His glory to anyone (Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 48:11).

Many professed ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ have taken God’s glory because it is all about them being lifted up; some are still taking God’s glory in various ways.

However, there are many humble ministers/leaders who have Godly attributes. Today, the concentration will be on these humble servants of the Most-High God and how they exemplify what they are called to do.

You will see what they are versus the those who take God’s glory.

Let us start with the call and the qualifications which come first: The desire comes from God if they feel the call, and they are qualified according to 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7-9. The pastor in these scriptures is called the bishop.

He should not be a novice, which means one who is young in the faith (inexperienced). A pastor should be blameless or above reproach (shame or disgrace).

A pastor should rule his own house well; how can he rule the church if he cannot rule his own house?

A pastor should not be greedy for money, yet the church should make sure he is well taken care of if he is full time, the man of God is worthy of his hire (1 Timothy 5:18). The pastor is called an elder in this scripture.

The pastor knows the people he is leading, he attends to their needs, feeds or teaches them the Word so they can grow.

The pastor does not get his people hyped up on emotions, nor does he try to impress them. His sermons and teaching should center around the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he does not try to build his people through different gimmicks or entertainment as a means to grow in numbers.

He does not give examples unless they line up with the word of God, and they are in conjunction with the message.

The pastor is not only accountable to the people but they are to be accountable because they have been placed in his care.

Leaders should not put baby Christians in positions or have them serving. They should be required to sit under the Word for a certain period of time so they can grow; it should be required for new Christians to go through discipleship training, which includes evangelism.

It is the pastor’s responsibility that the children of God be taught about their gifts, so they can minister to others effectively: And the things you learned, teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).

The pastor or another five-fold minister can counsel the flock. The five-fold ministers are there to assist the pastor in what they are called to function in. The pastor protects his flock from people who may come in and cause problems in the church.

If you have a pastor/leader who lives above reproach (a blameless life), you are blessed. If your pastor/leaders have a Godly standard, you are blessed.

Something to remember: No pastor is perfect, but he is called to live above reproach.

If you are in a church where the leadership is not lining up with the Word of God, you really should be praying to God for directions.

Next: The Awesome and Most Incredible Lord God Almighty!

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Happy Fourth of July – Enjoy Your Freedom!

Our fourth of July goes beyond what is considered freedom when it comes to “My Country Tis of Thee, sweet land of liberty”.

Our true freedom is experienced in Christ which goes beyond a Happy Fourth of July. In Christ we experience the fullness of joy that the world does not give and the world cannot take away.

Our freedom is knowing that, “America, America, God done shed His grace on thee”. If was not for God’s grace, where would any of us be?

For some of us, we did not come over blood sweat and tears as our forefathers did, yet we thank God for them paving the way which motivated us to march on til victory is won.

When will the victory be won? The victory is in Christ Jesus who set us free in our hearts, when He gave us a new life.

The ultimate victory is when we see Jesus Christ face to face in all of His glory with our new glorified bodies.

Can we still experience freedom in the here and now? Of course, we can; true freedom is knowing who we are in Christ (John 8:32) because Christ has made us free indeed (John 8:36).

Walk in freedom and do not fall back into bondage (Galatians 5:1).

Enjoy Your Freedom!

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Taking God’s Glory (Part 5) Take Care of the Man of God 7-3-2020

This story is about a woman’s faith being tested (1 Kings 17:7-16).

There was no rain in the land and the Lord told Elijah to go to Zarephath because He had commanded a widow woman to sustain (feed) Elijah.

When Elijah went where the widow was, he asked her to bring him a little water to drink. As she was going to get the water, Elijah also asked her to bring him a morsel of bread (small amount).

The widow only had a little meal in a barrel and little oil in a cruse (a pot). She was gathering sticks to make it, so she and her son would eat and die.

Elijah told the woman to make the cake for him first and then make one for her and the son. He went on to tell the widow that the barrel would not waste. The widow did what Elijah (the man of God) told her, and the oil nor the meal wasted according to what the Lord had told Elijah.

Howbeit, because it was to test the widow’s faith, it is not to be practiced as a doctrinal belief. There were certain occurrences in Word of God that only happened one time.

Example:

If someone needed to be healed, would you tell them to go and dip in the Jordan river seven times? God was using this situation to humble Naaman; he thought he was too good to dip in the river and be cleansed from leprosy.

Naaman was angry because he thought Elisha the prophet (man of God) would come out to him and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God heal him from the leprosy.

When this did not happen the way Naaman wanted it to, he went and dipped in the river seven times and he was healed. Naaman even wanted to bless the man of God, because he recognized that there was no God in all the earth but the God of Israel. Elisha refused to take the blessing, even after Naaman urged him to (2 Kings 5:1-14).

What I see from the situation with Elisha and Naaman, that no one has to pay to be healed.

I want to backtrack to the widow and Elijah and make some sense out of this phrase: “The Bible says to bless the man of God”. After trying to reason it out, this has to be a way “the man of God” manipulates people into blessing him in various ways.

It takes to me back to a story someone told me that my mother told them. When my mother was a little girl, the preacher would go to different homes for Sunday dinner. My grandmother had eleven mouths to feed, and when it was the preacher’s turn to come their house, he would be the first to eat and would be served the best part of the chicken meal.

This bothered my mother to the point where she said no preacher was coming to her house and get what belonged to her children. Her two daughters would not be slighted.

I believe that was one of the ways the people back in the day thought it was pleasing God to “Take care of the man of God”.

Some people have been manipulated by preachers who say: “The Bible says you are to take care of the man of God!” And because of their ignorance, they will go lacking themselves. This is bondage!

Coming next week: Manipulating Evangelicals

Happy Fourth of July – Enjoy your Freedom!

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Taking God’s Glory (Part 4) Spiritual Pride 7-2-2020

Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm (1 Chronicles 16:22)

In continuing with the messages, spiritual pride is major way of people exalting or lifting themselves up.

These words have come from the pulpit in some churches for many years: The Bible say to “Touch not my anointed neither do my prophets any harm”. First of all, when this scripture was quoted from the Old Testament, it was taken out of context.

The Old Testament prophets were anointed by the Holy Spirit who came upon them for specific assignments/tasks. The Holy Spirit did not permanently live in the people until after Jesus Christ rose from the dead (Romans 8:11).

In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God anointed prophets, kings, and priests for specific assignments.

Since this topic is pertaining to prophets, I will not explain the kings and priests. On that note, who gives a preacher the right to make people believe they are better than some others when they quote “Touch not My anointed, neither do My prophets any harm”?

In the new Testament or the new and better covenant, all those who are born-again are anointed because we have the Spirit of Christ living in us. And we are prophets in the sense that we proclaim the Word of God; we are the spokespersons for God who carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now to doing harm to God’s children. The Word of God says this about any of God’s children who are harmed: Whoever offends one of these little ones who believe in Me, it would be better if a millstone were tied around his neck and for him to be drowned in the depth of the sea (Matthew 18:6).

And, anyone who defiles the temple, meaning the children of God; God will destroy him (1 Corinthians 3:17).

What about all the people who have been defiled throughout history for their Christian beliefs? What about those who have been defiled for defending their faith? What about all those lives that were needlessly defiled because of the color of their skin?

We need to carefully consider what we are doing and if we are harming anyone in any way, whatever it may be.

I want to reemphasize how important all of us are to God, regardless of one’s financial status, those who have more education, one’s standings in the local community whether statewide, nationwide, or world-wide, and especially the color of one’s skin.

Many people are going to be surprised when they see Jesus Christ; He certainly will not be the complexion that so many have been and still are perceiving Him to be. Jesus was not the Aryan, blond hair, blue eyed portrait that hung in many churches and homes for ages.

Question to ponder: How is your perception? Do you feel superior to others, whatever the reason may be?

Next: Taking God’s Glory (Part 4) – Take Care of the Man of God 7-3-2020

The Lord said that He would share His glory with no one ((Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 48:11).

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Taking God’s Glory (Part 3) 7-1 -2020

I AM the Lord and Will Not Give My Glory to Another, Neither My Praise to Graven Images (Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 48:11) – Taking God’s Glory by Using Titles or His Name (Part 3)

As I searched and found the names and titles of God, one writer listed two hundred and nineteen names and titles. However, glancing through the alphabetical list, I never saw this name that belongs to God only, and it is REVEREND.

The Word of God says holy and reverend is His name (Psalm 111:9b). Several of God’s names were listed as Holy, Holy Father, Abba- which means Papa, Daddy, Father. Notice that the Pope who is the bishop of Rome is called Holy Father, that is saying he is equal to God Almighty.

Jesus said to call no man father but our Father in heaven (Matthew 23:9). Of course, we know that he was not talking about our biological fathers. Jesus also addressed and warned the Pharisees about titles (Matthew 23:7-12).

No one has the right to use the name reverend; that is taking God’s glory!

The proper names to use are minister, preacher and the five-fold ministry office of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. Why do you think God said holy and reverend is His name? Do you see anywhere in the Word of God where peoples’ names are called holy and reverend? Reverend means worthy or revered.

History of the name reverend being used for the clergy

Reverend is used by the clergy of many denominations. In the fifteenth century it was used as a general term to respectful address the clergy, but it has been habitually used as a title prefix to the names of ordained clergymen since the seventeenth century.

Some were and may still be addressed as “very reverend”; the “right reverend”, in Roman Catholicism the cardinals are addressed as “most reverend”. The moderator of the church of Scotland is also styled “right reverend”.

The Word of God tells us to give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7). The Word of God also says: Let all the earth fear (high respect) the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him (Psalm 33:8). No human being deserves the same honor as the Almighty God.

Do you see any other name that is to be revered other than Jesus Christ who is given the name above all names (Philippians 2:4-11)? That happened because He did everything that He was sent on this earth to do, and because of that, the name LORD was given to Jesus Christ.

In essence holy and reverend is Jesus Christ who is God!

Who gives any person a right to call himself or someone else reverend, most reverend, very reverend, or right reverend? This is a call for repentance from taking God’s glory (1 John 1:9); to ask the Lord to forgive you and find out what your true call is.

Next: Spiritual Manipulation -Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm (1 Chronicles 16:22)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

Taking God’s Glory (Part 2) 6-30-2020

In continuing with the messages about Taking God’s Glory, it is important for the readers to know that these are not Betty Burnett’s words. These messages are coming straight from the Word of God, rightly divided.

The message

I Am the Lord and Will Not Give My Glory to Another, Neither My Praise to Graven Images (Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 48:11) - The Word of God

Sub-Topic

Taking God’s glory through:

Self - Exaltation versus Servitude: I have heard some pastors say: “Listen to your pastor”, meaning that you are not to listen to anyone else. This is pride when a man makes a statement like that. Even though the pastor has the lead role over the congregation, God has also placed others in the body of Christ to be a blessing.

When any leader thinks it is all about him, he is exalting himself. The Word of God tells us that those who exalt or elevate themselves, God shall abase (humble them or bring them low/down); those who humble themselves will be exalted (Matthew 23:12).

Jesus said we are servants, just as He came to serve/minister (Matthew 20:28). Since every child of God is to serve God and others, who has the right to elevate him or herself above others?

Although each of us is given different assignments/responsibilities/gifts, none are better than the other; we are just positionally different.

The Word of God tells us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, because we all have been given the same measure of faith (Romans 12:3).

In other words, all of us started off on the same level in our new life. Some may have been walking with Christ longer than others and some may have progressed in their faith faster than others, yet no one is better than the other.

It is by God’s grace that we are what we are (1 Corinthians 15:10); therefore, we have nothing of ourselves to boast about (Ephesians 2:9). If there is any glorying, we should be glorying in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31), because it is the Creator God who made us and we are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3).

It was a mark of Paul’s humility that he refused to compare himself with others or to engage in self -promoting. What meant most to Paul was what the Lord thought about him; especially because of the way he persecuted and sent Christians to be executed before he was born-again.

That is why he called himself the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:12-16). The thought of self-boasting was unacceptable and extremely distasteful; Paul boasted only in the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:12-17).

We may not have done what Paul did, yet we all have been in a state of sin. To tell you the truth, some of the things I did were so bad that I would not tell anybody. Therefore, nobody has the right to exalt him or herself.

All of the paragraphs above are taking God’s glory through self-exaltation.

Next: I Am the Lord and Will Not Give My Glory to Another, Neither My Praise to Graven Images (Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 48:11) – Taking God’s Glory using Titles or His Name (Part 3)

Unshackled ~ Betty A. Burnett

A Shift – Moving in Another Direction (Taking God’s Glory) 6-29-2020

Yesterday, I ended the message, stating that the other Five-Fold ministry offices will be posted in a couple of weeks. I thought there was going to be break before going back to the last three ministry offices of evangelist, pastor, and teacher.

Something happened, the Spirit of God prompted me to continue with the prophetic to bring warning and correction, since He had me to write an example of me operating in the prophetic and the example was with a pastor.

It was prophesied to me around 1992 that I would be sent to bring corrections and warnings to leaders. At the time I wrote about one of my experiences in the prophetic, I had no idea that I would be writing to open the eyes of the children of God about certain people in leadership positions and how some have held so many people in bondage due to ignorance of the Word of God.

God wants His children to be free and that only comes through knowing the truth (John 8:32, 36).

Before the next three ministry offices are posted, it is necessary to explain about the office of the pastor, since this position is the one that is heard of more than any other ministry offices.

Some may receive while others may not, some received from Jesus Christ but most did not receive from Him; He came to His own (the Jews) and they did not receive Him (John 1:11). Jesus Christ was not on this earth to please men; He came to do the will of God the Father (John 6:38).

Paul the apostle said: Am I seeking the approval of men or of God. If I please men, I am not a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10).

Jesus came to bring division between those who were saved and those who were not saved (Matthew 10:34-38). Those living godly must be separate from those living ungodly. We are told to be separate from those in the world- doing the same things they are doing (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).

We have been placed here to be lights to those who are in darkness, therefore, we are to be different (Matthew 5:13-16). That is the only way to win them over.

Like Jesus Christ and others such as Paul the apostle came to do the will of God the Father, which can cause offences, I too am doing the will of God my Father. This is what the Spirit of God has prompted/instructed me to write:

I Am the Lord and Will Not Give My Glory to Another, Neither My Praise to Graven Images (Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 48:11) - The Word of God

Sub-Topics:

Taking God’s glory through:

Self - Exaltation versus servitude

Use of titles

Spiritual manipulation: Old Testament – Touch not my prophets

You are supposed to bless the man of God

Wearing robes and collars

In the next few messages, there will be a break-down of these sub-topics.

PS. I write as the Spirit of God leads and my five-fold ministry teacher does any corrections or additions. It gives me great joy in knowing that God gives us others to help in specific areas of our ministries.

Next: I Am the Lo

Receive the Good News of the Lord

Our BlogBurnett MinistriesP.O. Box 20643Greensboro, NC 27420USAPhone: 336-681-2973Email: [email protected]New: "An Hour of Bible Sharing With Betty"Tuesdays8-9 PMPlease connect with us by way of Facebook Messenger, or Conference call: 1-612-746-7362Conference code: 623509

The Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians, Chapter 12) – Part One 10-27-2020

Communion: Purpose and the Danger of Taking It Unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:17-33) 10-26-2020

What Does the Word of God Say About Communicating with the Dead? (Necromancy) 10-25-2020

What Does the Word of God Say About Communicating with the Dead? (Necromancy) Introduction 10-24-2020

Head Coverings (1 Corinthians, Chapter 11) 10-23-2020​

Eating foods offered to idols (1 Corinthians, chapter 8)​ 10-22-2020

Marriage and Divorce (1 Corinthians, chapter 7) – Part 2 10-21-2020

Marriage and Divorce (1 Corinthians, chapter 7) 10-20-2020

The Church at Corinth – Lawsuits and Sexual Immorality (Chapter 6) 10-19-2020

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The Church at Corinth – Sexual Immorality (Chapter 5) 10-16-2020

The Church at Corinth - The Sectarian spirit (Chapters 1-4) 10-15-2020

Jesus Christ in the Book (Letter- Epistle) of First Corinthians 10-14-2020

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Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans – Liberty and Love (Part 4) 10-12-2020

Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans (Part 3) 10-11-2020

Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans (Part 2) 10-10-2020

Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans 10-9-2020

Jesus Christ in the Book of Acts 10-8-2020

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Take me Back! Things Sho Ain’t the Way They Used to Be!!! (Part 2) 10-3-2020

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What about offerings? Sowing on Good Ground 10-1-2020

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The Purpose of Tithing 9-29-2020

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Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Malachi 9-27-2020

Foreword to Malachi 9-26-2020

Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Zechariah 9-25-2020

Does God Accept What is not in His Will? 9-24-2020​

“Go Where You can Grow” 9-23-2020

Recognizing the Call

“The True Church is Established According to God’s Word” 9-19-2020

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Haggai 9-18-2020

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Zephaniah 9-17-2020​

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Habakkuk 9-16-2020

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Nahum 9-15-2020

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Micah 9-14-2020

Why Some Quotes about Heaven that are not Biblical 9-13-2020

The Truth about Heaven/Earth, the Eternal Realm and What it is Going to be Like – Upcoming Series 9-12-2020

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Jonah 9-11-2020

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Obadiah 9-10-2020​

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Amos 9-9-2020

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Joel 9-8-2020

Karma and Some of its Laws 9-7-2020

The Big Difference Between Karma and the Word of God 9-6-2020

Karma and the Deception 9-5-2020

Labor Day Weekend

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Hosea (Part 2) 9-3-2020

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Hosea - History 9-2-2020

Foreword of Hosea – (Part 2) Whore, Whoredom 9-1-2020

Foreword to the Book of Hosea 8-31-2020

Bible Study Nuggets about the Five Ministry Offices (Part 2) 8-30-2020

Bible Study Nuggets about the Five Ministry Offices 8-29-2020

Jesus Christ’s Return in the Book of Daniel (The Advent) 8-28-2020​

Jesus Christ Foreseen in the Book of Daniel – The Fiery Furnace (Part 2) 8-26-2020

Jesus Christ Foreseen in the Book of Daniel – The Lion’s Den (Part 3) 8-27-2020

Jesus Christ Foreseen in the Book of Daniel (Part 1) 8-25-2020

Jesus Christ Foretold in the Book of Ezekiel 8-24-2020

“Will You be a Good Samaritan?” 8-23-2020

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Jeremiah (Part 2) and Lamentations 8-21-2020

Jesus Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Jeremiah 8-20-2020

Jesus Christ Foretold in the Book of Isaiah – His Birth, Suffering, Death, Burial, and Reign 8-19-2020

Jesus Christ Foretold in the Book of Isaiah ~ Introduction 8-18-2020

Christ Foreshadowed in the Song of Solomon 8-17-2020

Witnessing Effectively – Plain and Simple 8-16-2020

Witnessing – Testimony 8-15-2020

Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Ecclesiastes 8-14-2020

Jesus Christ Our Messiah in the Book of Proverbs 8-13-2020

Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Psalms (Part 3) 8-12-2020

Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Psalms (Part 2) 8-11-2020

Jesus Christ our Messiah Foreshadowed in the Book of Psalms (Part 1) 8-10-2020

The Gospel of Jesus Christ Preached by God 8-9-2020

Evangelism Scriptures - What the Children of God Need to Know 8-8-2020

Our Blog
Burnett Ministries
P.O. Box 20643
Greensboro, NC 27420
USA
Phone: 336-681-2973
Email: [email protected]
New: "An Hour of Bible Sharing With Betty"
Tuesdays
8-9 PM
Please connect with us by way of Facebook Messenger, or Conference call: 1-612-746-7362
Conference code: 623509

What Does the Word of God Say About Communicating with the Dead? (Necromancy) Introduction
10-24-2020

Head Coverings (1 Corinthians, Chapter 11) 10-23-2020

Eating foods offered to idols (1 Corinthians, chapter 8) 10-22-2020

The Benefits of Tithing ~ Sowing and Reaping 9-30-2020

Does God Accept What is not in His Will? 9-24-2020

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Zephaniah 9-17-2020

The Truth about Heaven/Earth, the Eternal Realm and What it is Going to be Like –
Upcoming Series 9-12-2020

Christ Foreshadowed in the Book of Obadiah 9-10-2020

Jesus Christ’s Return in the Book of Daniel (The Advent) 8-28-2020

Jesus Christ Foretold in the Book of Isaiah – His Birth, Suffering, Death, Burial, and Reign
8-19-2020

Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in the Book of Judges (Part 1) 7-23-2020

Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in Leviticus (the feasts) – Part 2 7-17-2020

Seeing Jesus Christ our Messiah in Leviticus (the sabbath, the priesthood and the feasts) – Part 1
7-16-2020