Word became Flesh!

I desire the Deep things of God. I am not satisfied with the basics of Biblical Christianity, even though I am compelled to preach the basics, because many of God's children seem to be illiterate and still sucking on the bottle. By this I am stating that many if not most in the Church today cannot even tell a seeker why they are lost, not to mention how they might be Saved. One of the Deep things of God is the Person-hood of Christ. Who is He? Is He Deity? Just a prophet? Just a Spirit filled man? Is He God in the Flesh? Does it really matter what God’s Word says? Does the Bible only speak to the people mentioned in the Bible? Does Jesus ever claim that He is God? Does Jesus ever claim to be the Messiah? These questions were raised and discussed at Bible Study recently and I wanted to share the Scriptures that clearly speak to the Character of Jesus. I have heard many preachers and teachers that deny that Jesus claimed to be the Christ (Messiah) and say that Jesus was not God in the flesh. So I will simply say, what does Jesus say? Let us hear Him speak and the Holy Spirit speak through the prophets and Apostles. We need not the opinions of man, but the opinion of God! So is Jesus God in the flesh? Our very Salvation Depends on the Deity of Jesus Christ! If Jesus is not Divine, we are still lost in our sins because a Holy God requires a Holy Sacrifice to Atone for sins!

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

John 8:51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”
52 At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.
53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.
55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
Exodus 3:13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. {14 Or } This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, {15 The Hebrew for sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for in verse 14.} the God of your fathers– the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob– has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
Revelation 19:13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, {14 Or } who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus indeed existed before the Creation, not just as a thought or plan!
John 17:1 ¶ These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Matthew 26:60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward
61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”
63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
64 “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
66 What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him
68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. (NIV)
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (KJV)

There is but One God and His Name is Jesus! You may ask, how Can God Die? Well very Simple. God is a Spirit. Jesus through the Incarnation, became flesh. John 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.” John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Who is the Word? Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” When He died on the Cross it was only His Flesh that died. 1Pe 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” Jesus is God in the flesh and His flesh died and paid for our sins and He arose by His own Spirit on the third day to secure Eternal Life to all who would Repent of their sins and believe in His Sacrificial Death and Resurrection! Hallelujah! I am sure many will deny the Deity of Jesus Christ and will suffer the consequences. I Trust it will not be you dear reader! Don't Listen to mans opinion about who Jesus is or is not, Read the Inspired Word!
Last exhortation in closing:
Jude 1:3 ¶ Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (KJV)
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. (NIV)
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)
4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. (NIV)

Three question's to ponder.

Three questions that were discussed between three friends. I thought it might be of interest to some who follow this blog!
Question one: Why do you suppose that God sent Jesus at the exact time that He did?
Erick and Glady did a great job. I would simply add this; Daniel 9:26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. {26 Or ; or } The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolation’s have been decreed.” He saw when Christ was coming to Atone for sin. Precise timing of God’s Revelation. Jesus mentions this; Luke 19:41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes.
43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.
44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” Notice Jesus said they did not recognize the timing of His Coming.

Question two: Why not be tolerant of other religions such as Muslim, Buddhist, etc as long as it does not effect how we believe?
Again Erick and Glady speaks volume’s on this issue. My input is this; Did the Prophet Elijah tolerate the Baal worshipers idol? NO. Did Moses tolerate the idolatry of Egypt and the idolatry of Israel? NO! Did Jesus ever teach His disciples to tolerate Pagans religions? NO! Does Jesus state any where that there are other religions that are valid? NO! He said John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Listen to Paul”s teaching in 2 Corinthians 6. 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” We a Bible Christians cannot tolerate what God does not tolerate, PERIOD! Love them and proclaim the Gospel but never tolerate religions offered by the World!

Question three: Do you believe smoking is a sin? if yes or no, what scripture backs your beliefs.
Again Erick and Glady spoke well on this issue. But I do disagree with their personal conviction on this issue. The reason I say this is simple. God defines what sin is and what it is not. The passage used by Paul is 1Corinthians 6:13 “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”– but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” Context is important. Paul is talking about Sexual sin. If we as believers tell people that anything that is bad for our bodies would be a sin against the Temple of God, we would be opening Pandora’s box. Caffeine, sugar, salt, eggs, trans fat, soda, most meat, too much sun….have all been determined to be bad for our bodies. So if we practice this passage we must abstain from all these things as well. Right? If a Christian has a conviction that smoking is a sin, stop smoking. Remember, saints of old thought woman should not wear pants because they thought it was a sin. Sin is well defined by God’s Word, we don’t need to add our own convictions on others. If a person is enslaved by smoking or any other substance not describe as a sin in God’s Word, then they need to ask God to help them.
Great discussion! Peace and Love to all!

Pass through the Transformer!

Consider this passage of Scripture; Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual {1 Or } act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” I am going to bring testimony of the Transforming power of the Holy Spirit! As I had devotions with my sister last night, thoughts flooded my cranium. I started to think about the Holy Spirit’s Presence and how He has brought conviction and Salvation to some family members through the teaching and Preaching of the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ! My dad for instance, used to be full of bitterness and anger, until knowledge of Jesus came to him by the Holy Spirit. My dad has changed so much in recent years. His life is full of joy and peace. His face is happy! His love for others has changed to the point where he is always talking with people about Jesus. This is a testimony of how Jesus can change a persons life from the inside out! The phrase, “in view of God’s Mercy” has a defining place in my dads lie now. He seeks to please God now through offering himself to the Holy Spirit to enable him to live a holy life. To know that the Almighty God has forgiven his offenses fills his lips with gratitude. You know, if you dear reader need a new start, surrender to Jesus. God wants to fill your heart with peace and joy as well. The second part of the verse we are considering brings to mind the mindless folly this world system offers. You can have it if you choose. Paul the Apostle tells us not to conform any longer to the pattern of this world. What does that mean? Glad you asked! 1John 2:15 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world-- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-- comes not from the Father but from the world.
17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” The world system leads to misery, deception, lust and the ultimate destruction of your soul! Everything this world has to offer pulls us away from the Living God! Another reason Paul tells us to not conform to the worlds system is you will become God’s enemy. James 4:4 “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” Now lets look at the rest of Paul”s instruction. Being Transformed by the renewing of your mind can only happen by the Inspired Word of God as taught by the Holy Spirit. To illustrate this concept let us view God’s Word as a plow. Your heart is hard and fallow. Sin and the world system is pounding at your heart daily. For we know Scripture says that sin hardens the heart. The Word of God will soften our hearts and bring nourishment. Listen to an Old Testament Prophet. Hosea 10:12" Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” That is precisely what happened to my dad! That can happen to you as well! Unless of course you continue to reject the Holy Spirit’s conviction and remain a Worldling! Another illustration could be an electric pole. If you go out and touch the wires, your dead! That electricity is powerful and deadly. So is sin! If you ran the wires directly to your house it will burn it down. In fact the electricity must pass first through the transformer then into your home before it can be used in a useful and constructive way. Well the Gospel of Jesus Christ ( death, burial and Resurrection of Christ) as made known by the Holy Spirit is the Transformer! Be like my dad and give your life to Jesus. He will bring a new life and new start. The Holy Spirit will give you understanding beyond that of a thousand Theologians! Just a few thoughts. Peace!

Who is Jesus? Do you even care?

Does it really matter what God’s Word says? Does the Bible only speak to the people mentioned in the Bible? Does Jesus ever claim that He is God? Does Jesus ever claim to be the Messiah? These questions were raised and discussed at Bible Study resently and I wanted to share the Scriptures that clearly speak to the Charactor of Jesus. I have heard many preachers and teachers that deny that Jesus claimed to be the Christ (Messiah) and say that Jesus was not God in the flesh. So I will simply say, what does Jesus say? Let us hear Him speak and the Holy Spirit speak through the prophets and Apostles. We need not the opinions of man, but the opinion of God! So is Jesus God in the flesh?

John 8:51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
52 At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.
53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
54 Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.
55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
57 "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Ex 3:13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"
14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. {14 Or } This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, {15 The Hebrew for sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for in verse 14.} the God of your fathers-- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob-- has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.

Re 19:13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, {14 Or } who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
25 The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
26 Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

Mt 26:60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward
61 and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?"
63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
64 "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
66 What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered.
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him
68 and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"

John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

Pr 30:1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh-- an oracle: This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:
2 "I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man's understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!

Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"?
6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."

Now that the Bible has spoken clearly about the Person of Jesus Christ, what are you going to do with this knowledge? Are you going to continue in unbelief and doubt? Are you going to continue listening to man rather than God? Make your free will choice! Your decision will have Eternal consequences. If you choose to believe the Bible and know who Jesus is according to the Bible then listen to what Jesus says you need to do right now. “Mt 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Who took your Hell?

What a day to be alive! It is such a wonderful thing to Thank God for the manifold Blessings in my life. So many times I fall short of Thanking Him for His Grace and Mercy. Why Jesus came, is breathtaking at times because He took my Hell! He drank Hell fire for my Redemption! His Shed Blood on the Cross is the only focus of my life, for without that I would certainly go to Hell and eventually the Lake of Fire! My concern is the Salvation, or the lack thereof, of all people with whom I come in contact! My Calling is this blog, youtube, Tangle, blogspot, three websites and stickam. They are all focused on who Christ is and what He has done! Is this a boast on my part? No way! Jesus is my life and I am simply trying to obedient to His Calling. He desires that all men be Saved and come to the Knowledge of the Truth! He tell’s you to Repent and believe in my works. Love what I Love and hate what I hate! Cling to me and Find satisfaction for your soul! Come to me and find Peace and rest for your soul! This is what Jesus says and wants for everyone. So what is the problem? A great preacher of old once said, “It is shocking to reflect that a change in the weather has more effect on some men's lives than the dread alternative of heaven or hell.” -Spurgeon This quote is true in my experience as well. Let’s talk weather, sports, work, sex, fishing, relationships and hunting, not Eternal things. I am sure that God will lead many to this blog for His Good Purpose and I also know that no one who reads it will ever say they did not know the Truth about Jesus Christ! What do you spend your time talking about? Where do you spend your money? What or who is the focus of your life? Husband? Wife? Children? Work? You? None of the above took your Hell my friends! None of the above sweat great drops of blood for your sins! None of the above can pay the debt you owe to your Creator! Jesus is the only perfect sacrifice. Jesus alone paid your debt and mine! Give more time, money, energy and love to Him and the rest of your life will benefit greatly! Continue to deny Him and remain in your sins and pay for your own debt when you die! The choice is yours and only yours! The decision you make will have Eternal consequences! Not making a decision, by the way, is a decision! God the Father does not take Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express! He only accepts His own Son’s Sacrifice! Here are some quotes to try and convince you of your need of Jesus; “Hell is paved with good intentions. -Boswell “Don't let scoffers laugh you into hell; they cannot laugh you out of it.” -D.L. Moody “It would be easier to find a man that had not done any one sin that to find a man who had done it only once. Sin multiplies. We must either overcome sin, or it will overcome us.” -D.L. Moody “God hates the sin, but He loves the sinner.” -D.L. Moody “Is sin so luscious that you will burn in hell for it?” -Spurgeon
“There is no sin for which it is worth your while to be damned.” -Spurgeon “Sin may open bright as the morning, but it will end dark as night.” -Talmage

“No sin is small. It is against an infinite God, and may have consequences immeasurable.” --Jeremy Taylor
Do you not see your need of Jesus? I pray you do! Grieve your sinfulness and repent, that Jesus may come and Wash them all away! Remember, Jesus took your Hell!

Study of the Ten Commandments!

Study of the Ten Commandments

First I would like to address the question of validity. Some Christians say we need to get out of the Old Testament and get into the New Testament. Listen to the words of Jesus in the New Testament. Matthew 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." These words indicate that Christians still need the Moral Law of God. Not for salvation purposes but out of Love for Jesus. He said John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. So the Ten Commands are to be obeyed out of love for Jesus. Again Jesus says "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19 If Jesus says we need to obey His Commands, well we need to obey them. It is as simple as that. If we think differently than what the Bible clearly teaches then we need to repent and obey. Proverb 30:5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. Let us look and see if God needs to rebuke us!

Exodus 20:1-17
1 And God spoke all these words:
Notice who is speaking, God. This is His Words so we need to listen.

2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
LORD (self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah) Jehovah is speaking and reminding Israel who He is and what He has done for them through Moses. It is also noteworthy that Jesus delivers us from bondage as well.

First Commandment:
3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
The First Commandment is clear; do not have anything in your life that is more important than Our Creator, our Father and our God! He delivered us and Saves us through Jesus His Son and deserves prominence in our lives. 1Corinthians 6:19 “know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

Second Commandment:
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.”
5 “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
Idolatry, What is it? The Hebrew word translated in the King James version of the Bible is graven image. (to carve, whether wood or stone:--grave, hew). An idol is changing the image of God into our image. Thinking about God in ways other than who He is. To change His image is to worship God in your own image. Notice we are Created in His image, not vice versa. If we have anything in our lives which we hold dear to our hearts more than Him we are worshiping that thing instead of the Creator. What we will not surrender to Him we will ultimately worship! God is jealous? Yes. But the jealousy refers to His zeal or anger. What is He angry at or about? Idolatry, sin, putting other things ahead of Him! God says He will punish the children for the sins of their fathers to the third and forth generations of those who hate Him. Seems unjust or does it? The Hebrew word for visit or punish is as follows; [to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit]. Who suffers when parents are hateful toward God? Is it not the children? Adam Clark describes this portion of Scripture this way; ‘This necessarily implies-IF the children walk in the steps of their fathers; for no man can be condemned by Divine Justice for a crime of which he was never guilty; idolatry is however particularly intended, and visiting sins of this kind refers principally to national judgments’. Verse six shows the love and mercy of God toward those that love God and obeys His commands. Notice the difference between the judgment upon the generations of those who hate God is much less than the mercy or love He shows to those that live in loving obedience.

Third Commandment:
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Because God’s Name is Sacred and Holy any misuse of His name will automatically get God’s attention. To misuse or take His name in vain is to slander or empty God out of our hearts. Notice God says He will not allow a person to escape punishment for calling Him a liar or emptying His Name as useless. Jesus says in Matthew 5:33-37 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Again Jesus speaking concerning words in Matthew 12:36,37 “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Let us therefore watch our words and not use them to slander or for evil speech.

Forth Commandment:
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
The Sabbath is a day of remembrance. One day in seven to rest from our labors and remember our Great Creator! Notice God made it Holy. No Christian is free to disobey what God has Commanded. Most Christians disobey this Command by not remembering and choose to say Sunday is the Sabbath. I challenge you to find in the New Testament where it says this Command is nullified. Also remember what Jesus said; Matthew 12:8 “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." Believing in Jesus and walking in obedience to Him is remembering the Sabbath. Continued study of this topic, one should refer to Hebrews. 4:7-11 “Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.’ 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.”


Fifth Commandment:
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

This is the first Commandment with a promise attached. “That you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Now what does He mean “honor your father and your mother?” The Hebrew word for honor can be translated- to promote. The Etymology Dictionary defines the word honor this way; high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank: to be held in honor. God’s first institution was the family. Father, mother and children. God knows that if children will honor their parents, they will certainly be more apt to honor Him. It is a disgrace to God’s character and love to dishonor our parents!

Sixth Commandment:
13 "You shall not murder.
First off let us realize that the KJV translated the word kill. The Hebrew word means man-slayer, murder. So the word kill does not and is not what we are to obey hear. Murder is different from killing. Listen to other Scriptures define what God is saying in this Command. Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, {21 Exodus 20:13} and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'
22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother {22 Some manuscripts } will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, {22 An Aramaic term of contempt} 'is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
1John 3:15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.”
Proverb 6:16-19 “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” Now we see the difference between murder and killing. The King James translators missed the translation from original Hebrew. “ ratsach” is a primitive root; properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being), especially to murder:--put to death, kill, (man-)slay(-er), murder(-er).
To kill someone or to murder someone is different; to kill someone in self defense or in case of war does not fall into the same category as murder.
Here is an illustration for killing;
1Samuel 15:2 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"
Israel went to war with the Amalekites. They were a wicked and Idolatress people. Israel was acting in self defense under the direction of God.
An illustration of murder is;
Ps 106:34 “They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, 35 but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.
36 They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.
37 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
38 They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.”
You see killing and murdering are two different things. The best illustration of murder today is abortion. The shedding of innocent blood! Soldiers do not commit murder when fighting for our Country.

Seventh Commandment:
14 "You shall not commit adultery.
Adultery covers a multitude of sins pertaining to sex. Most people think that you have to be married in order to commit this sin. Not true! Listen to Jesus; Matthew 5:27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' {27 Exodus 20:14} 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” It is also note worthy to apply this commandment to our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Part of being an obedient Christian if faithfulness. Going to Church, serving and loving others, witnessing, worshiping etc...are all part of what God wants for our lives. If we become unfaithful we have committed spiritual adultery!

Eight Commandment:
15 "You shall not steal.
To the simple minded, this commandment is easy. Do not take anything that does not belong to you or that you have not earned. This is absolutely what this command is saying! But, there is a spiritual aspect to stealing. Listen again to God speak; Malachi 3:8-10 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-- the whole nation of you-- because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” God is a giving God and He wants us to be giving as well. Let us not steal from our neighbors or steal from God what is His!

Ninth Commandment:
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Again, what is hard about this command about lying? If your neighbor is doing well and you are not, the tendency of fallen man is to attack his neighbor’s character. Giving false testimony is a willful and premeditated act! One of the best ways of bringing shame upon yourself is to lie about them in some way. Hear are a few Scripture to give greater understanding about this command; Proverb 6:16-19 “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” Notice two of the seven things detestable to the Lord have to do with false testimonies, lying. Again, listen to Jesus; Matthew 5:33-37 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'
But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne;
or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Proverb has selective passages concerning gossip-which is false testimony: Proverb 11:13 “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.” 16:28 “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.” 18:8 “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.” 20:19 “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.” 26:20 “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” The most stunning and straight forward passage is Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Do not lie or gossip, enough said!

Tenth Commandment:
17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
Let us define covetous; to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others: to covet another's property. The Hebrew word for covet literally means, to delight in. When you see something your neighbor has and you do not have the same thing and you start thinking things like, I wish I had that, I want what they have, I deserve what they have etc... that is coveting! Here again is other Scriptures to define this Commandment; Luke 12:13 “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ 14 Jesus replied, ‘Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’ 15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.
17 He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
18 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Again listen to Paul; Colossians 3:1 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Finally, we reach this verse to bring this Commandment to full understanding. Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’"
Now we have heard the Truth of God’s Commandments. God is enough! He wants you and I to live Free from the bondage of sin! God through His Son Jesus Christ wants us to be filled with Him, through the Holy Spirit. God will bring every man into judgement. The question is not if we have kept all these Commandments, for this is impossible, it is whether we believe in Jesus Christ as the only sin substitute. Jesus fulfilled the entire Law of God where we have broken them all! James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”
Here is a reminder; Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." These words indicate that Christians still need the Moral Law of God. Not for salvation purposes but out of Love for Jesus. He said John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.” So the Ten Commandments are to be obeyed out of love for Jesus! Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The good works Paul is speaking of is obedience to the Law of the Ten Commandments. Jesus died and shed His Blood to wash away our sins, disobeying the Law, and is calling us to a holy life. The only way to live a Holy life is repenting of our sins and believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and then walking and living in obedience to the Holy Law of God! “If you Love me, obey my Commands!” Jesus.

Why does God’s Word have number combinations?

Everyone who has read the Bible for any length of time has come across certain number combinations. For instance the number three, symbolizing the Trinity or the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are clear from Genesis through Revelation. Seven seems to penetrate our minds from time to time as we read the Word. The number twelve certainly should get our attention. Well how about Forty? It is remarkable that Moses, the great lawgiver of the Jews, previously to his receiving the law from God, fasted forty days in the mount (Ex 34:28); that Elijah, the chief of the prophets, fasted also forty days (1Kings 19:8ff); and that Christ, the giver of the New Covenant, should act in the same way. He was tempted by the Great liar and deceiver of our souls in the desert for forty days and forty nights. (Matthew 4:1-11) Was not all this intended to show, that God's kingdom on earth was to be spiritual and Divine? Romans 14:17-18 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” It is also very interesting that Jesus, after His Passion and Resurrection, walked , talked, ate and taught the disciples for Forty days before He was transported to the Right Hand of His Father to make intercession for sinners like us who Trust in Him for Salvation! Is there some deep spiritual, mystical or hidden message behind the number 40? Some might be inclined to spiritualize such things and come up with new teaching or revelation. Would this mean that God is unclear and somewhat schizophrenic? Yes. However, The Triune Godhead is not such a god! He is crystal clear about His plan for the salvation of sinful man. Nothing that God has Revealed about Himself is up to man’s own interpretation. (2Peter 1:20-21) There are other examples of the number forty that have a negative aspect. They show the Judgement of God in increments of forty. Genesis 7:4 Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made." God had enough of the wickedness and rebellion of mankind! Numbers 14:33-34 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. For forty years-- one year for each of the forty days you explored the land-- you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.' The Israelites rebelled and crumbled against God’s plan and we see His Righteous Judgement. So what shall we conclude about the number forty? To answer that I would like to ask a few questions. 1). What was Elijah, Moses and Jesus doing that may give us examples to bring us to maturity in the faith? 2). Am I willing to be used by God for His Purpose? For instance, praying and fasting 40 days. 3). Am I willing to go back and study the references given by the devotion writer? After all we are seeking the Knowledge of the Holy, are we not?

Are you a Notional Christian?

What a day to be alive and walking in the steps of Jesus! As I ponder about the life and teaching of Jesus, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a prophecy Jesus spoke concerning His Return. Matthew 24:10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Unless you are a notional Christian, that means you follow Christ when you take a notion, this Scripture is accurate and hits the heart of the current Church deception! The church is now so worldly and drunk from its own maddening immorality there is no limit to its folly! The Apostle Paul understood what Jesus said concerning the church in the Last days. 2Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” The notional Christian is no Christian at all. They are in love with the concept of Christianity but deny the Power of the Resurrected Christ! So many are so involved with world they only speak of Jesus when they think it is fashionable. True Christians are only concerned about Godliness and living a Holy life for the Glory of Jesus, without caring what others think of their love for the One who died for them and Rose from the dead! Jesus has called us out of this world to be Holy as He is Holy and to Love one another as He Loved us! Not so the worldlings. 2Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” Listen to this quote; "The church today is halted between two opinions. They do not know whether they want to serve the God who sent His Son to save them from their sins, or whether they want to pursue the idolatry and vain manner of living that is typical of American society today. What the Spirit wants to impress upon you this hour is that what passes for Christianity in the churches today is unacceptable to Him." ~Joseph Herrin Remember the beginning Scripture of this devotion? Jesus said “but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” How do we stand firm to the end of this wicked age? Repent of your idolatrous self and turn to Jesus! You have to come to God on His terms not yours! Turn away from your lies, hatred, lust, envy, strife, drunkenness, sexual immorality, stealing and hypocrisy. Turn to Jesus and be washed in His Blood shed on the Cross. Believe that God His Father raised Him from the dead and start fresh. Be Born again in the Spirit of God , so you can live a Holy life for which you were Created! Stop being a notional Christian and end up in Hell because you failed to know Him and Love Him. May everyone reading this be able to join me in Praising the Lord Christ. Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice! He is coming soon! Yes, He is coming soon! Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Good Thursday, not Friday!

Millions of Christians celebrate the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Good Friday and then wake early in the morning on Sunday to celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. I was stunned when I heard an Atheist say, “there are contradictions in the Bible and I can prove it.” To my amazement, he proved his point. He said, “there is no way that Jesus was Crucified on Friday and then Raised from the dead early on the first day of the week, which is Sunday. Jesus said, “Matthew 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” So, if Jesus was Crucified on Friday then there is a contradiction because that would mean Friday night, Saturday, Saturday night and then Sunday .” Here ends his argument. The Atheist was right! We Christians wonder why there is so much corruption and confusion in the Church and why so many in the world say there are problems with Christianity. The Atheist did not like my response and some of you may not either. Jesus did die on the Cross for your sins and was raise from the Dead, so repent of your sins and believe in Jesus. Just because Christians contradict themselves from time to time does not give you an excuse not to believe the Truth! The Christian Church has for generations celebrated the Crucifixion of the Passover Lamb, Jesus, on Friday when it should be celebrated on Thursday. Listen to what Jesus said and count for yourself. “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Christ was crucified for us at the third hour (9 a.m.). Darkness came over the land at the sixth hour (Noon) and lasted until the ninth hour (3 p.m.), when our Lord gave up His spirit. So here is the Truth. Thursday night, Friday, Friday night, Saturday, Saturday night then Sunday. Corruption, ignorance and deceit are manifest in the Church today. We as believers need to always study and obey God’s Word rather than trust in the traditions of the Church. The Atheist did not find contradictions in the Word of God, he found then in the people who go to Church! We must know the Truth and obey, even if doing so causes people to feel uncomfortable in their ignorance. Just because “that’s the way we have always done it” does not make it Right! What do you believe and why do you believe it is more important than just acting out your religion in ignorance. Jesus Rose from the dead early in the morning on the first day of the week (Sunday) and we now know He was Sacrificed on Thursday and not Friday. As I always tell my people “now you’ve heard the Truth, what are you going to do with that Truth? Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Father, thank you for sacrificing you only begotten Son on the Cross to Atone for our sins. Thank you for His Glorious Resurrection. Grant all who reads this the knowledge of their sins and how our sins can be Washed Away by His Blood if they would just Repent and believe! In Jesus Name, Amen

Church of Vomit!

Scripture for consideration. Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm-- neither hot nor cold-- I am about to spit (vomit) you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Remember the Luke-warm church did not realize they were about to be vomited out of the mouth of Jesus because of their self centeredness, self righteousness and their lack of the True Christ centered mission of the Church. Does this sound like your church? Does your Church focus on the Person and Works of Jesus Christ? Is their always discussions about how to attract people to your Church? Christ never said He wanted His Church to be attractive, seeker friendly, comfortable, contemporary, old fashioned, people focused or modern. He gave this command for the Mission of His Church. Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Luke 24:46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. John 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." Ac 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

After the Church received the Holy Spirit to empower them to fulfil His Mission, the book of Acts records the Purpose of the Church. Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Now with the clear Mission and Purpose of the Church clearly manifested by these Scriptures, ask yourself with prayer and honesty; does the Church I go to seek to obey Christ, without compromise, or does it only seem to do its own thing? If your Church is seeking obedience to Christ through its teaching and Preaching, then follow Christ through that local congregation. If not, run as fast as you can away from that church because you may find yourself vomited out of the mouth of Jesus-the Head of the Church! It does not sound good to be vomited out of Christ body, does it?

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

Lies! Lies! Lies! Are you a liar? Do you excuse lies? Do you like it when someone lies to you? Well God doesn’t like lies either! How do I know that you may ask? Simple, just listen to what He says. “Proverb 6:16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” I know that some of you reading this will say that God doesn’t hate? WRONG!!! He HATES a lying tongue and false witness who pours out lies! Notice there are two of the seven in this list that deal with lying! Again God said “Exodus 20:16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Is not God saying DON’T LIE? Yes He is! Some may say, “that’s the Old Testament and doesn’t apply to us today.” Really! Ok, let’s look at the New Testament. Matthew 15:19 Jesus said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Oops, there it is again. False testimony is lying! How about this verse; 1John 2:21 “I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist-- he denies the Father and the Son.” Still think lying is ok? You have lied to yourself if you think lying is ok as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. Liar, liar, pants on fire! Remember that saying? Well according to the Word of the Lord, more than your pants will be on fire. Listen up, Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." The human soul who continues to lie will have their soul on fire! Is this to condemn you? NO! Only to warn you if you about lying, or rather warn you of the consequences of lying. You and I have all lied at one time or another, unless you lie to yourself, then we need to do something about our lying tongue! Here is Good News. 1John 1:8 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive (lie to) ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” Lying is a sin and we need to stop! Look at how lies have destroyed some of our relationships. How about the lies from our Government? Do you like it when they lie to you? Jesus gave us a road map to lead us to the Truth, because He knows people will believe liars easier than the Truth. Here is the way out; John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Jesus died on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sins, including our lies! Turn away from lies ad turn to the Truth and you shall be Free Indeed!!

Easter verses Resurrection!

A close friend ask me a question concerning Easter events at a Church she has been attending; This is what is being planned at Church for this weekend for the children...what do you think of this...that they are having our kids participate in a Jewish tradition? For the sake of teaching them how things were done in those days, I am not offended at that, but to mix Judaism with Christianity is mind boggling to me....not sure what to think...could you clarify? Answer - I have done many studies on the subject and see nothing wrong with sharing the customs of the Hebrews as long as it is used to clarify and point to Jesus as the fulfillment! The Seder dinner is an interesting Passover celebration as long as we understand the bitterness of our bondage to sin and how Jesus become sin for us and delivered us from that bondage on the Cross! The emphasis of Passover was to show God's deliverance and He passed over the people who had the Lambs Blood on their door. We know that God doesn't Passover (cover) our sins, but washes our sins away by the Blood, Lamb of God, Jesus! If they emphasize these points, Old fulfilled by the New, very good Bible lesson. Many people smarter than myself have shared their personal convictions about Easter eggs, Resurrection cookies and Easter egg hunts. I understand the need to reach youngsters with the Gospel Message but I just cannot imagine Jesus doing such things. Many Christians participate in such events but I am not to fond of such none sense. That is my conviction. In case you do not know why I feel so strong about even using the word Easter, I want to share. Here is the only Scripture that uses the word Easter. I am placing King James and New International version together to see the difference in the translations.
Ac 12:1 ¶ Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. {stretched...: or, began} (KJV)
1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. (NIV)
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. (KJV)
2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. (NIV)
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) (KJV)
3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. (NIV)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. {Easter: Gr. Passover} {quaternions: a file of four soldiers} (KJV)
4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. (NIV)
NIV has translated the word properly from the Greek. pascha is the Greek word meaning Passover. the Passover (the meal, the day, the festival or the special sacrifices connected with it). The Hebrew origin- pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only technically of the Jewish Passover (the festival or the victim):--passover (offering). - Easter----Is improperly put for PASSOVER, Ac 12:4; Passover being the name of the ancient Jewish festival here referred to; while Easter, from the Saxon goddess Eostre, is the modern name of a Christian festival, in commemoration of the events of Passover-week, and fixed at the same period of the year. History--The name "Easter" originated with the names of an ancient Goddess and God. The Venerable Bede, (672-735 CE.) a Christian scholar, first asserted in his book De Ratione Temporum that Easter was named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Similarly, the "Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility [was] known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos." 1 Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre." Similar Goddesses were known by other names in ancient cultures around the Mediterranean, and were celebrated in the springtime.
I cannot and will not ever mix the Passover and Resurrection of Jesus Christ with Paganism. Ignorance went a long way but not when God opened my eyes to this perversion! Isn't that partly what is wrong with the Church today? Mixing Sacredness with Paganism? James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. I am of the opinion that we as Christians need to obey God’s Word as written and teach our children from what He says and not use the ways of this world to illustrate what He has said so clearly in His Word! Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual {1 Or } act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” But as always you need to pray and seek God's face concerning how to teach your children. I know it is hard but Jesus always honors humility and our desire to serve Him!

Don’t Judge me!

Don’t judge me! The Bible says we are not to judge! He who is without sin cast the first stone! These statements are Lies! Yes, I said Lies! Many who call themselves Christian have and do continue to believe lies. How, you may ask, do I know this? Because the Bible does not say these things, unless you take the Bible out of context. Read the Bible in context! Here are the examples: Mt 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Jesus does say that and most Christians stop there. But now listen to the context. “Mt 7:3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Context changes everything does it not? Sure it does. The Bible judges when taken in context. Now we know we are to judge ourselves first by recognizing our own sins and shortcomings, then we can help our brother or sister with theirs. Do not judge self-righteously! Romans 2:3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Next, look at this lie. John 8:3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”
6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus did say that, right? Here is the context. John 8:8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Makes a big difference when you finish the context! Most do not like when Jesus says “leave your life of sin!” So if we call ourselves Christian we need to read the Bible in context and then obey what it truly says and not twist the words to justify ourselves! The Bible judges us. Listen to this. “Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are– yet was without sin.
16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
So the next time you find yourself or someone else speaking lies like; Don’t judge me, the Bible says we are not to judge, he who is without sin cast the first stone, we really need to deal with our walk with the Lord Jesus! Something to ponder.