By PASTOR MATTHEW ALLEN 2SAM.9: 5. Then King David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. HOW wonderful it is was for Mephibosheth to find favour with King David; this favour was the result of the covenant King David established beforehand with Mephibosheth's father (Jonathan). After the death of his grandfather (King Saul) and his father Jonathan, Mephibosheth's life drastically changed. As a child (5 years) fleeing for his life, Mephibosheth fell out of the hands of his nurse/care-taker which left him lame in his feet. Before then he lived in a Palace where he ate the very best of food, wore the finest cloths and there was nothing lacking, nothing missing and nothing broken in his life. Mephibosheth went from living in the King's Palace on Main Street to living in a Roach Motel in Lo-debar (a pasture-less place in the land of the Philistines) a place worse than Israel's lowest ghetto. Today, we've got lots of modern day Mephibosheth who are lame in many areas of their lives; spiritually, physically, financially, emotionally, etc, due to the fact that they're ignorant of their covenant rights through our King of Kings, Yahshua Messiah (a.k.a. Jesus the Christ). The Messiah made a statement that if we ever truly get a hold of, get the revelation of the statement, our lives would also be drastically changed "John.10:10b. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." The word abundantly in the Greek is: Perissos, per-is-sos'; and it has several meanings as follows: (1) superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); (2) excessive; (3) preeminence; (4) exceeding abundantly above, more abundantly; (5) advantage; (6) very highly;and (7) beyond measure. Yahshua came and ransomed us from the Lo-debar lifestyle/mind-set. As he completed His work - the ransoming process from Lo-debar -- He made this declaration: "It is finished (John.19:30)." He paid the ultimate price for us to live the Kingdom life, the prosperous life, the good life; life with an advantage, (Zoe) the God kind of life. Many well meaning Christians are living beneath their God ordained privileges due to a great lack of knowledge and the holding fast to their erroneous religious teachings, beliefs and traditions. Today there's no better example of the New Wine and Old Wine skin concept than that of hearing the religious mind-set talk eloquently about the kingdom; yet they're operating in religion and tradition. Here's one of the erroneous religious beliefs and teachings that's hindering many from living the abundant life. The teaching that the thief Yahshua mentioned in (John.10:10) is the devil/Satan himself, but to the contrary. He was speaking of those wicked religious leaders who came before Him who were robbing and abusing God's people and causing them to live beneath their God ordained privileges. As I've stated time and time again, whenever Yahshua spoke of the devil/Satan, He (Yahshua Messiah) always made it clearly known. Here are few examples: 1. Matt.13: 39. The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 2. Matt.25: 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 3. Lk.8: 12. Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 4. Matt.4: 10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 5. Mk.3: 23. And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? 6. Lk.13: 16. And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 7. Lk.22: 31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: A simple study of the scripture will clearly prove that Yahshua was not referring to the devil in (John.10:10), for here's what He said in John.10: 8. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them." The transition from Lo-debar to your promised land is also predicated upon you acting on the information/revelation you've received. For many this may be very difficult to digest, but the facts are what they are; our Lord and Saviour Yahshua Messiah (a.k.a. Jesus the Christ) called them out as thieves and robbers. And if He has called them out as such, why should I make any apology for doing likewise? There are some thieves and robbers, some Religious Leaders in the pulpits of the church who are masquerading as shepherds of God who are assisting the enemy in one form or another by abusing (spiritually, financially, sexually, etc) the sheepfold. Some of these thieves and robbers look and sound real good; multitudes of itching ears, gullible church-folks gather to hear and praise them for their works and entertainment. But here's what Yahshua said concerning them: MATT.7:21-23 : 21. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. : 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? : 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. If you happen to be like Mephibosheth and find yourself in the state of Lo-debar, I've got some good News for you. It's your time to walk in the FOG (Favour of God); set your heart and mind to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and not the spirit of religion and the tradition of men. Shaw-lome, Shaw-lome. * For questions or comments contact pastormallen@yahoo.com or kmfci@live.com or Ph.441-2021.