For Peace Sake: Overcoming Conflicts

Image is from Google.com 

I learned something today, or I should say, came to a better understanding of. It's something that is really important if we are to become more and more like Jesus Christ, if we are to truly be complete in Him. I learned that it is truly important to make ourselves "..live peaceably with all men", as we are told to do in Romans 12:18 and Hebrews 12:14. Even when it seems truly impossible, it is important that we rely in the Holy Spirit to help us to do this. And we can do this through actively disciplining our bodies and bringing them into subjection to obey Christ Jesus, just like Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:27. We know that what is impossible for us is possible for God, and just like Jesus mentioned in John 15:5, we can do nothing without Him. He's the vine and we are the branches, and whoever abides in Him and He in them, will bring forth much fruit. One of the fruits of God Holy Spirit is self-control, it is something that is needed if one is to be able to live peaceably with all men,  if one is to be an obedient servant of God, and if one is able to be angry and not sin. 

Why is it that sometimes it's so difficult to avoid arguments and fights with others even after we have been told that, "A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition..."? 2 Timothy 2:24-25.
Why is it so hard most of the time to be "Swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath....." like we're instructed to do in James  1:19? We're told that the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God, and in Proverbs 14:29, "He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly" Ouch!  That last bit is many of us if we were being truly honest with ourselves.  The truth is, being honest with ourselves, for many of us, is not somethign we do very well.
If we ask ourselves, "Who in our lives so far has told us the most lies?" Many of us would think of another person. The devil has lied to us a huge heap load, that  firstly must be noted, but we have contributed quite a bit to keeping ourselves deceived. Some might say it's to build up self-esteem and confidence, lying to yourself, but a person could have all the self-esteem and confidence in the world and still be considered a fool. 

The Bible is filled with useful instructions, we hear all of it, but find it hard to execute these instructions when we end up in situations which require us to apply these teachings. James urges us to be, "doers of the word and not merely hearers only, deceiving ourselves." 5:22, James clearly shows in that verse that it is possible to deceive yourself. But why is it that we still somehow cannot avoid strife, confrontations, disputes, arguments?

There are several reasons for this that I came to realize today.

1. Selfishness. More often in an argument we are more concerned with our own feelings, with getting our point across, that we make no room to be swift to hear.

2. Pride. Most of the time we take on arguments like it's some school debate that we must win everytime. Like it's all about getting the next person to acknowledge that they're wrong and you're not. "I'm right, you're wrong, and this won't be over until you understand that!" The thing about that is, when the next person is doing the same thing, how will there ever be a sensible resolution? 

3. A feeling of Entitlement. This for me is my biggest issue. I always feel like the person I am speaking to owes me a certain level of respect, I mean don't we all feel that way, and is that so wrong? That a person isn't suppose to talk to us a certain way, to treat us in a way that is not very nice. In this we feel  right, we all want respect, we all deserve it don't we, and we all try to live by those nifty little platitudes like, " If you want respect you have to give it." or "You have to earn my respect first if you want me to respect you." Because of that when we see someone lack respect for us, odds are we might end up in a confrontation with that person and end up behaving carnally. "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food: for until now you were unable to receive it, and even now you are still not able: for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal behaving like mere men?" 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. 

As disciples of Jesus Christ are we really to have this kind of mind, or are we supposed to have within us the same mind that is within Christ Jesus? It is written in Philippians 2:6, that Jesus, "...being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of man."  If we are to be like Christ we ought to be humble like He was. It is also written that Jesus, "will not quarrel or cry out, no one will hear His voice in the streets.." Matthew 12:19. We are told that, "Let nothing be done from strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself" Philippians:2-3. More often, we are quarreling, and usually over the silliest thing. Our voices are heard in the streets, and we are more concerned with our self esteem not esteeming others better than ourselves. 

When we are more concerned about receiving a certain level of respect from a person because we feel we deserve it, we end up  allowing this feeling of entitlement to dictate how we react in a certain situation. Instead of obeying the word of God, obeying the promptings of His Holy Spirit, we willfully forget that we are to be slow when it comes to speaking and slow to wrath, so we end up dealing with situations impulsively based on how we see fit. And the outcome is usually one that is not pleasing to God. Even Jesus Himself who deserves all the Glory, wasn't concerned with getting individuals  respect, or did he get upset because He felt people didn't respect Him. He never allowed the way persons treated Him to be the measuring stick by which he would in turn treat that person, meaning He didn't emulate the negative way people treated Him, He never repaid evil for evil. We are told in Epehesians 5:1-2, "Therefore be imitators of God like dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."

I think about how  many people are in prison or the grave because they did something they felt was justified because somebody disrespected them, or was mean to them. We must abandon this way of thinking, this self serving way of thinking. We must put on the mind of Christ Jesus, we must act as thought we have a renewed mind, not a carnal one. Esteeming others better than ourselves, because this is pleasing to God. We must not react harshly to others because we feel that  we deserve to be treated kindly at all times, that we deserve respect and they're not doing it. Instead we must focus more or giving these things than receiving them. Jesus said we will be hated because of Him. How can we who have a mind that we deserve certain things from people ever be able to really walk humbly with God, if we're so built up with pride? If we can't even bear those who don't respect us, how will we be able to bear those who (will) hate us because we follow Christ?

Today I got really upset. There are many things that happen to me, sometimes daily,  that I feel are just not fair, but I will leave with you  a few scriptures that are helpful for when we feel we are unfairly treated and cannot go on, hopefully these can help you to bear with others for peace sake. 

"For this is commendable, if because of conscience towards God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully." 1 Peter 2:19. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us therefore lay aside every weigh, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,  who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-3. 

Each of us have a cross, let us bear it remembering that, "For the scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will never be put to shame." Romans 10:11. 

Feminism: An anti-God Movement

God's order was quite simple. "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." 1 Corinthians 11:3. KJV

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.....For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh....Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." Ephesians 5:21-33 KJV. Where did it all go wrong?

Feminism by definition is the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Many may be familiar with the Second-wave feminism in the 1960's, the Women Liberation Movement, and some may know of the First-wave feminism movement in the early 1900's targeted primarily towards the suffrage movement. But few know that feminism has become a smoke in mirrors movement. It is presented as simply being a movement of women wanting equal rights with men, but as the smoke clears it is obvious that it is more about women wanting to be men. Part of it's agenda is to remove men from the scene all together. Yes, there are areas of feminism that speak up for injustices women face worldwide but, quite cunningly, by  pushing some of the seemingly more noble ideals like the suffrage movement (women's right to vote), and anti-domestic violence, anti-rape, anti-human trafficking upfront, many are understandably under the impression it's an organization that is fully for women, when in fact this movement has proven to be against women in many areas. How so? A part of what is being promoted by the feminist is the notion that men are superfluous.Women truly do need men and cannot make it without them, and men need us, and anything that serves to invalidate that is against all of mankind, not only females. Most important to note is that deeply woven in much of the feminist ideology is the replacement and ultimately the eradication of the order God set in place which requires the participation of  men as the head women. This movement is against many things, but the primary reason I'm writing on this topic, is because it is against God. It is clearly against life because it advocates pro-choice( the right to have an abortion), one could even say aimed at population control. It's also an exponent of  homosexuality. Many of the women who were at the forefront of the "Homosexual agenda" were feminist's. Several of the women who are at the helm of the feminist movement, and many of their more zealous supporters are lesbians. All believers should be well aware that all sexual immorality is against God. Killing a baby, whether a fetus or not, is also against God. Promoting a self-sufficient lifestyle is against God. Every one of Gods creations need Him.

I think the Jezebel spirit is involved in this movement. It is being taught on a large scale, via film, movies, books, and so on, that female independence is something endearing. This has produced many women who boast in their self-sufficiency, stating that they don't need a man for anything. In reality, many of these women fail to realize that their boasting in such things is direct rebellion against God's perfect order and will. Is it wrong that you do most thing's for yourself? No, nothings wrong with that, because more often it is not always a matter of choice but necessity. But when you boast about not needing a man, which you will at some point in life, you're perpetuating the attitude of men being completely unnecessary, this is also disrespectful to men.

A woman is a liar when she proclaims that she doesn't need a man for anything; and when I say "need a man" I'm not talking about a relationship or somebody to sleep around with. Of course it is godly for a women to prefer to be with a male for a relationship such as marriage as suppose to a women, but that should go without saying. What I am talking about here however is the fact that no women can honestly say that they have not called upon a man to do certain tasks they were unable to do themselves. Tasks like changing a flat, fixing a broken pipe, lifting heavy items, even something like opening a jar that has the lid on too tight, men have been summoned to assist in many of these things and much more. Someone might say, "Well, all of those things many women are able to do on their own". Yes, you're correct, but even those women still need a man's assistance in other capacities. Even Lesbians need a man, they may not like to admit it, but they certainly do. If a lesbian couple wants children, whether by adoption, in vitro fertilization, or artificial insemination, sperm is required, and I'm pretty sure only men produce sperm. But many lesbians and feminist turn a blind eye to all of this.

The feminist movement has gone from being a movement in favor of women simply wanting to be respected by men as individuals who are an invaluable part of society, to women outright hating men. My independent ladies out there, do you still think you "Don't need a man"? Are you still going to proudly sing out the anthem "Who run the world? Girls"? I'll tell you who truly runs the world, God. I remember as a child hearing the phrase, "Girls rule, Boys drool" and in retrospect I see that these feminist platitudes were seeping into even little girl's minds. Many ideals like, women are better than men in everything, which is a lie by the way, are being drummed into the heads of many women, and have created an environment where women compete against men instead of working along with them. Eve was created to be Adams helper, but these days many Eves of the world have abandoned that and decided to explore other avenues, trying to systematically usurp the role of the Adam's of the world, leading many women into rebellion against God, perhaps for some inadvertently, nevertheless, still against God.

I think it would be incomplete to talk about feminism without addressing one of the reasons behind it, some might say the main reason behind it. The catalyst for feminism and all ungodly things is of course sin, and it is sinful and shameful when a man neglects to play the role he has been given by God. When men stopped doing what they're supposed to, everything went south, so to speak. Does this justify feminism? No, it certainly does not. This doesn't make feminism any less a perversion that is has become over the decades against God. This is to show how important a man's role is on earth in general. It's starts in the home. A mother and father are suppose to be in the home, of course that arrangement is hardly in place in many homes across the world and that's a problem. When men stopped playing their role as man, women were left to find a way to make do. When men stopped taking care of their responsibilities, stopped providing for their families, stopped being a God fearing head of the household, many women ended up having to provide for their families. Some by finding another man, a sugar daddy, somebody to help them with certain things for sexual favors in return. "You do this for me and I compensate you with sex", most would say that's tantamount to prostitution, I would say you might just be correct. Are we beginning to see how much society is impacted when the order God created became perverted by mankind's disobedience.

Many men have abused their role as the head of women and treated many women poorly and not with love and respect like they're suppose to do, eventually becoming misogynist.  As Christ Himself said men should love their wives like He loves the church. There indeed are men guilty of abusing their role and taking unfair advantage of women, this is also wrong and something that buffeted the feminism movement into being. Again, does this justify the movement? No, it's all still against God. Feminism is a bi-product of man's disobedience. Men not playing their role left many children to grow up in single parent homes, homes led by women. Without fathers/men playing their assigned role, things really got out of whack. Many children ended up on the streets, some women selling their daughters to pimps so that they could get some money to purchase bare necessities; although many of those women were crack addicts and heroin addicts, there are a number of cases where the girls who were sold into prostitution came from single parent homes with "sober" mothers. Many guys not having a father's guidance end up on the street selling drugs, doing drugs, joining gangs, or committing some kind of crime which causes them to end up entering the penal system from a young age.

When a man fails to adhere to the commands God set in place in the home, many things are affected, not just in the home, but society all together. In the absence of a mans assistance, women end up learning to do things they otherwise never would have had any interest in knowing. Upon learning how to do various things they never would have had to do before, many women come to a realization that they can do anything and that they don't need a man; and there you have feminism.

Of course, these days female independence is normal, because this era is a  product of that feminism movement of the early 1900's and 1960's. Women can now vote, shucks, a woman can run for president of a country or a cooperation if she wants and it wouldn't be considered a ludicrous ambition. Women can work, in many cases making a higher salary than a man. They can apply for job positions that were before only offered to men, and get those positions. Feminism isn't the sole blame for lesbianism, or for  prostitution, well, certainly not for prostitution because that's one of the oldest professions on earth. Neither is feminism solely the blame for the the innumerable amount of broken homes in the world. Sin has produced a combination of things which has resulted in the society we live in today. Feminism and men not playing their respective roles in the home are products of sin, and the order God set in placed being perverted. Feminist have little to no regard to God's way, ultimately removing God from the mind of women and out of the picture all together. Again, I say this is a clear indication that the Jezebel spirit is at work in many women today.

Ladies, we live in a broken world, laced with sin from pillar to post. Because of the brokenness all around, many women are faced with many daunting tasks, things God did not originally have in the plan them. I have uttermost respect for women who are able to juggle career and family life, my mother was also one of those women; but they must know they're not alone. We must remember that God is a, "Father to the fatherless, defender of the widows." Psalm 68:5. It can be very difficult raising children on your own, trying to hold down sometimes more than one job in order to put food on the table, but our allegiance should be to God, not to some movement that promotes things contrary to God's way. We should seek God's council and not the ungodly when faced with hard decisions in life as a woman, as people in general. For those with husbands not playing their role in the home, pray for him, pray that God teaches your husband His ways, and simply be an example in conduct, submitting yourself to your own husband at all times. Let's remember to pray to God for aid, He is our provider, our strong tower. Faith and trusting in God is truly important when faced with trials. None of what I mentioned here is to say it is evil that a woman works or anything like that, we've gotten to a point where for many women it's a necessity, although some women don't have to work they simply choose to. In spite of societies condition we can still be hopeful and remember God is able to make what is crooked straight again. As women  let's desire to be what God would like to see us be and not society and especially not following the dogma presented in the godless feminism movement. Let us aspire to be virtuous women in the sight of God.

Image is From Google

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life....." Proverbs 31:10-12."Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised" Proverbs 31:30. Fear the Lord and keep His commands. 

Another Jesus

"Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me." John 14:16. kjv

Those are the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."Through Whom He created the worlds", Hebrews 1:2 nkjv. This is the One who has been exalted above the heavens and the earth and that which is beneath the earth. "'I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending', saith the Lord, 'which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.'" Revelation 1:8 kjv.
"Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." Hebrews 1:3-4 nkjv. It is by His, (Jesus Christ), stripes we were healed.

Image from Google.com and Funnyjunk.com

As offensive as some will find the above picture, this is how many view Jesus. Their conduct shows that this is the Jesus who was here and is expected to return, but that person in that picture isn't Jesus!


There is only one Jesus, no other. Yet there are people preaching and teaching another Jesus. Preaching and teaching abominable heresies about Jesus being merely a prophet, or that God will let every single human into Heaven regardless of how they have lived their lives, these false teachers deny the power of the true God. Who is this other Jesus? One who is weak, one who is dispensable, one who is willing to let those who have not denied themselves of vices and many works of iniquity and taken up their cross to follow Him, enter into heaven willy-nilly. There are many false teachers out there saying that there are many ways to get to God, but there is only one way to the Father and that way is through Jesus Christ. There are those, "Spiritual Gurus" who teach things like reincarnation and all you need is to trust in yourself and  follow your heart, or one of the most popular ones that's going around, "live your truth". Can truth be found outside of God? No. Still these doctrines are lauded over things like, trust in God, justification by faith, deny yourselves and repentance. We are taught through the Holy Scriptures not to follow our hearts because, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9 kjv.

So many have become accustomed to the prosperity preaching, the gospel of inclusionism, and other doctrines of men, that things like, "take up your cross and follow Jesus", sound practically alien. Many wonder, "Deny myself of what?" For the most part, it's pleasures we refuse to deny ourselves of. Unlawful things, things that we have trying to fill a void, that truly only God is able to fill. Many don't want to let those go, and those that do, don't know how and are confused and end up listening to persons that are teaching  that they can remain as they are and enter into heaven.

It can be quite confusing for a person who is struggling with something to know who is right and wrong if  they do not know Jesus. There are persons who say they are Christians that preach God's grace and mercy and repentance and God's wrath and then there are people who also call themselves Christians that preach about reaping blessings freely without having to make any changes in your life, and they also teach that money is the key to solving  all problems, and that homosexuals won't be punished because they are only loving one another, calling good evil and evil good. Then you have the persons who call themselves Christians who teach about Jesus but their conduct is not worthy of the Gospel. Hot, cold, lukewarm, it's only a matter of which one are you? All the different beliefs among those who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ, no wonder it is very confusing to those who are non-believers. Of course the bulk of their confusion is because of the veil over their eyes, because many exchange the truth of God for a lie, Romans1:25. Although we are called to be of one accord, it seems as though there is more division among the members of the Christian faith, than there is in the many false doctrines out there, that isn't good.

There is a very famous pastor that said gays will get into heaven, just as they are, gay and everything, but this is a lie. Instead of teaching the truth, that God is a God who prefers mercy rather than sacrifice, and that He prefers for you to come clean, i.e. confess your sins; denounce former lusts and follow Him, and only after you have done the will of God you can receive the promise, not after you do what you will, many preach of another God who can fellowship with darkness, who's grace and mercy begins on the Day of Judgement, not today while it is still called today. Many believe they can take things up with God when they see Him face to face, or on the Day of Judgement, God will read off of a really long scroll all that a person has done wrong and give everyone a pardon who has lived their lives however they pleased. The time to receive grace is now, today. When Jesus returns He will be returning to receive those who have thankfully received Gods grace and mercy and the truth. He will be returning for those who have done the will of God, who have served God in Spirit and in truth. The just live by faith. We are justified by faith. If you believe in the things that are contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you're going to receive your portion with the workers of iniquity. Jesus told the disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, Matthew 16:6, meaning to beware of their doctrine. Many have disregarded this warning and decided to satisfy their itching ears with teachings that feed their flesh, while their Spirit becomes malnourished.

It is written that, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world." 1 John 4:1-3. "...and is NOW already in the world", ruminate on that.

It's rare these days to find anyone admonishing and exhorting the bretheren to beware of those who are not of Jesus Christ but appear as though they are. Most are teaching about blessings that one can gain from following Jesus, but perhaps inadvertently or not, forget to mention that one must deny themselves of many things if they want to be a follower of Jesus Christ, if they want to be a child of God, they must have faith. "Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." Matthew 16:24-27 nkjv. Denying yourself anything is hard for many. Denying yourself that piece of cheesecake whilst on a diet is hard, but many cheat on diets, but you cannot cheat in your walk with the Lord.  You won't be in it alone my friend, God is there to provide you with self-control, one of the fruits of His Holy Spirit, which is issued to all those who believe in Jesus Christ, to those who remain in the True Vine, Jesus Christ. "My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness..." 2 Corinthians 12:9 kjv.

It is amazing how easy it is for people to deny the Truth. Many are hastening into the strong delusion we were warned about.  The wool is being pulled over many persons eyes. How? There are people who come as though they represent Jesus, but in fact are agents of the devil, and  many who are unable, even unaware, of the importance of testing spirits, fall into the snares set by the enemy. "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15. We must be careful of those persons who are not teaching of the true Jesus. There are many anti-christ's who are with us now. To protect ourselves during this time, we must arm ourselves with the armor of God. "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..." Ephesians 6:14-18 nkjv.

What Love Looks Like

I was in young adults group the other night and a few of the members were having a conversation about love before the meeting got on the way. One of the members said, "It doesn't exist". I guess we have all hear that one before, right? Another member said, “It's a mirage!" in a very matter of fact way. Later that night throughout our discussion about relationships, we revisited the conversation that occurred earlier. Again the same two members expressed how they felt, and they were fully convinced that what they had come to learn about love was the correct, basically as far as they were considered it's nonexistent and nobody can negate that. I don't know if I should be amazed that there are so many people who have no idea what love is, but what is surprising is how many people who say they're Christians are still unable to identify love, not specifically these two gentlemen, but in general. Many young adults, Christian or not, are still uncertain about love.

There's really only one type of love and that love supersedes whatever other love many have come to learn from the world, and that is the love created by our heavenly Father, Godly love. But there is this other thing masquerading as love but really isn't, most folks don't know the difference and call anything/anyone that gives them a little tingle love. Yes, there is brotherly love, family love and the love between a husband and his wife, but throughout each of them is a common thread, and that is given to us in scripture in 1 Corinthians 13:4. The love created by God, given to us freely, is the same love commanded we give to one another, no matter what our relationship with that person may be.  Don't become confused when you see or hear people mention things like, Phileo, Storge or Eros, which by the way Eros isn't even mentioned in the Bible. Phileo or Philia is mentioned in the Bible as brotherly love. "Brotherly Love" is love between friends or acquaintances and so on. Storge, which some may be unfamiliar with and others may have heard of it, is said to be love between family members. Eros is never mentioned in the Bible at any point, not even alluded to, funnily enough, this seems to be the only one that garners the most attention in movies, music, books and other media.

Eros is said to be intimate love, or in other words, sexual love between two persons, having to do with the erotic. Eros, which is a Greek word,  is a part of Greek mythology, considered to be the son of Aphrodite. A type of  love based on a character in Greek mythology, hmmmmm this type of love is starting to sound more legit by the second, not. Eros love, because of its connection to sex obviously, is really what many of the popular songs and movies promote more often than real love. Agape love is said to be Godly love. The love of God is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, and it is the love we are told to have for one another. I think there is a pretty obvious reason why the Bible does not mention Eros, it is because Godly love is paramount. The love of God is unconditional and perfect, whereas Eros has conditions which are sexual.  In the Biblical definition of love, having sex is never mentioned as  evidence that a person loves you, or for a person to remain loving you. In fact, a person who truly loves you would love you in spite of you not having sex with him/her,  not because you did. We must remember that God says love endures all things, and that includes when it comes to having  to abstain from sex. I don’t know anyone who loved someone genuinely on the bases that they had sex with them. The message taught to many young adults is that, "real love between a couple can only begin once the act of sex has occurred", lies, and if you believe that my friend, you may have just taken a trip through crazytown by way of deceptionville. No need to fret, the truth will lead you out of there, we've all been there at some point. It is not genuine love if sex had to occur in order for the love to be established. Some go around saying, "The only way I will know you love me for real is if you have sex with me", if you ever hear anyone say that, run like the wind, because that person is trouble, either that person has no clue about what love truly is, or that person is trying to pull a wool over your eye. Yet many guys tell girls that lie, and some females do the same, and guess what, there are more who will believe that than the ones who will believe the truth. The love of God takes the backseat, whilst sex masquerading as love takes the drivers seat. The love of God, which is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit, is the love that is most important to God and it should be the same to us as well.

Satan has placed his anti-Christ slogan on the lips of many through different songs. You may wonder why I say anti- Christ, well; there are myriads of songs out there shining a dark light on love, saying love sucks, love hurts, forget love, so on and so forth. If God is the creator of love , which He is, and the entire message of the Bible is Love, then wouldn't it be anti-Christ to speak against love. But of course in many, not all, but many of the popular songs written, love is vilified. This is why I have to say those song’s are not about real love, the love bashing songs, because if they were about real love they wouldn’t be the reason many sink even deeper into depression, possibly suicide or some rage where they kill someone after hearing one of those heart breaking songs about love gone wrong. Remember , the Bible says love isn’t provoked, and love is patient, so wouldn’t that mean a lot of these popular songs are spreading an anti-love message and ultimately anti-Christ when they send people flying off the handle because of some of the lyrics?  It is the work of the devil. And some might say, “Come on, you can’t blame the music Sateigdra, it’s the person because not everyone kills someone after they hear a sad love song”, you're right not every does, but it cannot be denied that music manipulates a persons emotions whether they want to admit it or not and not everyone can keep it together, you may not kill your ex or current partner after hearing "Misty Blue" but somebody may be stirred up by the devil to do so. It doesn't matter if the music you listen to makes you happy, sad or angry or just do really strange random things, music influences everyone in some way emotionally. Look at most hip hop for instance, it influences the way many speak, dress, dance and think,  it's a teacher and many are the its pupils and don't even know what they are subjecting themselves to. We should not be ignorant of the enemies devices, spreading his agenda through certain music is one of his tools, beware. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your minds and be sober.” 1 Peter 1:13. That 1 Peter scripture isn't talking about being sober from alcohol, although that is also something many get drunk on and shouldn't. That scripture is talking about not being drunk in the ways of the world, the pattern of the world, not being drunk on the lies of the enemy, but allowing your minds to be renewed in Jesus Christ and remain there, sober. 

Unfortunately, many cannot discern exactly what love is so they are unable to even display it, and that is a very troubling thing. Truth is, if you are under the impression love isn't real or is some illusion, how will you be able to show it if you can't identify it yourself. Most importantly, if you deny the existence of love you deny one of the key tenets of the Christian faith. It is by the love of God and His mercy any of us are even here today, it is because of His love He gave His only begotten Son, it was because of love, the very same love many are denying the existence of. Some might sigh and say to themselves, “Oh, Sateigdra, you misunderstood the whole thing. You're confusing Godly love with boyfriend and girlfriend love, relationship love, duh!" Well, I'm pretty sure that didn't go over my head. I'm going to draw an example from the relationship between a husband and a wife not two unmarried people, although if an unmarried couple indeed are in love, the correct type of love, marriage should be in the horizon right? Many are under the impression the love between a husband and a wife is vastly different from the love between a mother and her children or two friends, but it's really not, if you think about it, of course taking in account all the things God said love is. If Jesus said that a man ought to love his wife the way Christ loves the church, then the love a husband has for his wife is the same love God has for us His bride, His church.  The only major difference is a husband and wife have sex and people who are not married are not to, after reading this far into this message on love, it should already be understood that sex does not equate to love. God said we ought to love one another just the way He loves us. There are no different degrees of love we are to have for different types of people, we have a standard and that standard is the love God has for us and we are to follow that pattern. Honestly, at first hearing it, it can a bit hard to really grasp, especially when God say's we are to love our enemies. God was quite clear when He said we are to love on another the way He loves us, He never specified a specific group of persons or a specific individual.

"Can't two young people be in love and not be married?" Yes, two persons that aren't married can have love for one another, love isn't something confined solely to the institution of marriage, but don't take that to mean that you should be having sex, because you're "In love". Of course the devil want's us to think that because a husband and a wife have sex, that means if people are “in love” they should have sex. By the biblical definition of love, sex and love are not directly correlated, in fact in  1 Corinthians 13:4, sex isn't mentioned, it isn't even alluded to in any way, so why do so many think that sex and love outside of marriage go hand and hand. Sex is to be between a husband and his wife (male and female), because that’s how God wants it. Now who’s big and bold enough to contend with God on that, or on anything? When a husband and a wife (male and female) are married, "the husband is to render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does, and likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does." 1 Corinthians 7:3-4.  When you fornicate, thus committing sexual immorality, you have done that against your body. "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside his body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 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 were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 nkjv. If you are not married your body should not be given to anyone, no individual has authority over your body if you're not married to them, and hence you should not be having sex, no matter how much anyone claims they love you, if they love you they will be willing to wait for you, even if it meant a hundred years. Love is………patient!

"But I say to the unmarried and to the widows it is good that they remain as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion."  1 Corinthians 7:8-9 nkjv. Paul shares how it would be better for all to remain virgins (unmarried), whilst abstaining from sex, like he was able to, but he shares that if you cannot control yourself, if  certain urges are burning within you then it is better you be married, as supposed to walking around lusting and longing for sex which will ultimately lead you to fornicate. He did not say since you're feeling  aroused, and I'm trying to be G-Rated here, ya'll folks know what I'm talking about though, if you're feeling turned on, Paul did not say run out and have sex or spill you're seed on the floor.  For the ladies I'll just say it plainly, masturbation is not right, nobody should be masturbating, that goes for male and females. But why, it’s not sex right? In order for you to even get aroused to the point where you feel the need to touch yourself you would have to be envisioning something you shouldn't, hence you're lusting which is a no-no as far a God is concerned and no different from having sex, He doesn't want us lusting.  Someone might be wondering,  "if we're not suppose to have sex before we're married, why is it that our bodies are designed in a way where we become aroused?" Your arousal comes from an inner desire brought about from imagining certain scenarios between you and a certain person, a girl you know or a guy you know. When you were conceived there  wasn't some kind of gene that was passed down to you that produces those thoughts, those thoughts come from lust which is a sin, and we were all born sinners. Lust is a fruit of the flesh not of the Spirit. Husbands and wives are aroused by one another is it a sin then? In the confines of marriage it is not a sin to long to be with your wife or your husband, whereas outside of marriage it is wrong and considered sinful. Perhaps it sounds a little confusing but it really isn't. It's another one of the wonderful things about marriage, you can long and desire to be with your wife or husband as much as you want and it will never be considered wrong because you're both married, one flesh in the eyes of the  Almighty.

What does love look like? "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek it's own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4 nkjv. "Love is the bond of perfection." Colossians 3:14 nkjv. "Love never fails..." 1 Corinthians 13:8 nkjv. And nowhere there does it mention love is having sex, only the works of the father of lies would perpetuate such heresies. A horrible lie many young people believe and even teach others. Everyday we are bombarded with what the world says love is, through music, movies, books and may other things, that have many under the impression that love is something that should give us a tingly warm sensation or love and sex you can have as a pair outside of marriage. If there is no physical intimacy involved then it's not love according the doctrine of the enemy. The devil is a liar! The enemy yet again has taken something so wonderful that God has created and has redefined its meaning and have many thinking his way is the only valid way and anything else is some kind of fabrication of ones mind.

Many cannot identify love, perhaps it is because they were never shown love growing up and is unable to pin any type of gesture to love because they have not received it, or because they were hurt so many times by people who claimed they loved them, they eventually lost faith and have little to no trust in anyone anymore. For a person that has never had love, who is unable to receive love, it may seem a bit difficult to love them because they are either bitter often, or they are quick to assume anything you do is based on some ulterior motive you may have. In cases where the person does not know what love is, you should try to be very delicate with them, being aware that person may not be very trusting due to past hurt, and perhaps may have become very jaded over the years because of it. You my have to say you love them a lot more than you would regularly say I love you to someone who you know is aware of what love is. Whenever you do something you may have to say," This is because I love you", and sometimes just go up to them and say, “I just want you to know you are loved, you might be having a rough day but you are loved, you may want to be left alone right now, but I just want you to know that you are loved”. The more you say it along with performing it in different way's whether a hug or a card, kind gesture, still showing kindness to them in spite of how they treat you, and by displaying the things 1 Corinthians 13:4 says love is. Hopefully they will be able to identify love according to the pattern of your behavior towards them. When they go out and see those same actions being displayed towards them by others they will be able to identify that as love, also, pray about it. Pray that God's light may shine upon them and their understanding be opened so they can comprehend and bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit, the most important one, love.  

What love looks like

"Greater love hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

God is to be feared just as much as He is to be loved.

"....Do not be haughty but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either" Romans 11:20-21 nkjv.

Fearing God isn't some kind of antiquated superfluous concept, that we can just decide we won't be bothered with.

What a horrible attitude to have, also a very costly one. Person's who seem to not care about God, or think because they can't see Him with their eyes He's probably not real, hence not worth their time, is walking down a very slippery slope. 

There are a lot of people that claim they love God yet don't keep His commandments, many say they fear God yet it's not evident in their conduct, just a bunch of double talk. A friend of mine told me one day, "Yeah I fear God, but I don't think He's this tyrant you make Him out to be." I was telling her that repentance is important because nobody truly want's to experience the wrath of God. It seems as though whenever a person mentions God's wrath, which is hardly mentioned by the way, but when folks do mention it, people immediately equate that with saying, God is horrible and hates you and will kill you if thing's don't go His way. I thought to myself, too many people think God is a pushover, just rainbows and butterflies & pumpkin spice lattes. Yes He loves us, if we even begin to scratch the surface of understanding how much He loves us our minds would be blown, but He also intends to judge each one according to their works.Revelation 22:12.  Have we been taking God too lightly? We are to, "...work out your salvation in trembling and fear." Philippians 2:12. (TREMBLING & FEAR) who is doing that exactly? The man with the gun is feared, many fear the leaders of their country, folks are afraid of the police, folks are afraid of terrorist's, some are afraid of speaking in public (I'm one of them), but only a few truly fear God. In Mathew 10:28 Jesus said, "And fear not him who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell".  Even Jesus preached about fearing God, this wasn't something Christians came up with to frighten people into salvation or to paint a marred picture of God.

What will it profit me if I fear God?
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth forever." Psalm 111:10

"For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it." Ecclesiastes 7:12

The fear of the Lord should be preached form the mountain tops. Many take each day for granted, arrogantly and foolishly many go about the day never giving a single thought as to how they were able to wake up, how they were able to arrive to work safely, and return home at night without a scratch. A pilot and passengers hop on board a plane and maybe a few would even consider that it is by Gods grace that the plane even enters the sky, and remains. Many hop off the plane and go about their business, how many give God the glory and thank Him for watching over them, not many, if any. Throughout biblical history God's wrath has been displayed in many way's, but today it's like people have forgotten and think He's that god that television shows and movies depict Him to be. He's not some guy sitting in the sky smoking pot wearing a white choir robe, or some guy in the sky with a baritone voice talking to people randomly, or some dude that delegates angles to come out of heaven and carouse with humans, and by the end of the movie the angel is deciding whether to be a human or to drag him/her self back to that insufferable perfect place called heaven. That's not God and  angels don't conduct themselves like that. I'll tell you one thing, (who am I kidding I can never just say one thing, this lengthy blog is an example of that) but I will say this, if you trust Hollywood to teach you all about God, life and death, you will go through life completely misguided.

Many going about life with this very same attitude.

"Keep calm and don't care."

 

Some examples of Gods wrath and judgement as recorded throughout biblical history:

 Genesis 7. God destroyed the entire earth with a flood, only 8 lives were spared. Think about it, out of the many people who lived all over the face of the earth only 8 lives were spared.

Genesis 19. God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Two cities filled with people and only Lot and his family were spared. Not even ten righteous were found in two cities. Many believe those cities were destroyed primarily because of  homosexuality, in fact many don't even say anything beyond that when talking about the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, all they say is that gay people were there and God destroyed them because of that. It's the usual reference many go to when talking about the the rewards of homosexuality if it doesn't cease. God has never destroyed an entire city (Ever) because of a single act of iniquity. In the book of Ezekiel God explained why He destroyed Sodom. Read Ezekiel 16:49-50, you might be surprised at His reasons, and how many of us are guilty of what God truly destroyed them for.
And God's judgement had not ended there, He commanded Lot's family not to look back once they fled the city, but Lot's wife looked back and was turned to a pillar of salt. ouch!

Exodus 12:31 God freed the Hebrews from Egypt, but although they had seen God's power in Egypt, although they had seen the Red Sea part and crossed through it and the Egyptians in hot pursuit perish in it, although they had eaten manna from heaven, although they had been covered by God with a cloud by day and a fire by night they still did not enter into the promise land, because of their disobedience they experienced God's wrath. Deuteronomy 3:23-29 shows that not even Moses entered the land promised. In Joshua 3 the the fourth generation of Hebrews finally enter the land promised as was prophesied in Genesis 15:16, God told Abraham that it would be the fourth generation. Do not take this as to say God did not keep His covenant since the generation that leaved Egypt did not enter, on the contrary He kept His word and the Hebrews did enter, in spite of what the others did, God kept His word to His people.

Numbers 11 The people complained about only eating manna so God sent quail, so much quail that when it came from the sea it was about two cubits above the surface, that's approximately 36 inches. It was all around the camp. "...and the people stayed up all that day, all night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers).." Ten homers is about 12 to 20 bushels in modern day measurements. ".and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was aroused against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague. So he called the name of that place Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had yielded to craving". God had brought those people out of  Egypt, literally their food fell from the sky, they had water, they were no longer in bondage, yet they still we're ungrateful, so they experienced God's wrath.

Numbers 16. The story of  Korah, Dathan and Abiram and the rebellion they orchestrated against Moses and Aaron. These guys were just haters to be honest, their kind of like some people we all can relate to having known at one time or the other, persons that just see everything going good for you or see that you have been given an important position in your company or church or local bowling team and their just  jealous it's not them getting all the attention so they wanna try and mess everything up, by causing everyone to lose trust in you. Thing is, Moses and Aaron weren't seeking glory for themselves, like many who have been given gifts or talents from God tend to do, no Aaron and Moses simply were being obedient and through their obedience and humility they were commended by God and the people listened to them because they knew that God placed them in charge. Oh, let me not forget to mention, Korah were sons of Levi so they had an important position as well, but that wasn't enough they wanted to be the big bosses running the show. Sounds like anyone you guys know? They started disrespecting Moses, he sent for them and they didn't come, long story short, and it is a long story, all the men Korah and their households were swallowed up into the ground and the earth closed over them, all who was with Korah perished that day. "..All who were around them fled at their cry, for they said 'Lest the earth swallow us up also'". Numbers 16:28-34. But God wasn't done yet, "..a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense."" Numbers 16:35. Read Numbers 16 to get the full story, it's really amazing!

Acts 5. The story of Annanias and Sapphira speaks volumes to those who think they can deceive God. Seriously God is everywhere, I don't know why anybody at any point could possibly think there is something they can hide from God. He can read our minds and hearts, He knows all that will be, during our lives and after, He was here from the beginning of time, He's the creator of time. One of my favorite scriptures is in Isaiah 43:13 where God say's, "Yes, before the day was, I am He." It was His Spirit that hovered over the face of  the waters in Genesis 1:2. "For of Him, and through Him and to Him, to Whom be glory forever, amen." Romans 11:36. It would be unwise to think one can deceive God, even Satan that devil know's God cannot be deceived,  guess nobody gave Annanias and Sapphira the heads up. They of all people should know that God watches and know's all things, they were believers after all. They lied to the Holy Spirit when they were asked if they had given all the money they sold their land for. They withheld some and gave the rest as to appear as kind as the others who had property and sold it to help others in need, but God had seen all of it go down, yet Annanias and his wife still lied and were struck dead on the spot, the very second they lied about what they did. When I was a little girl and I was telling my friends something and they perceived it might not be true, they would say by whom do you swear that your telling the truth? And if your lying  you'll be struck down. Of course it would be by that lighten bolt people think will flash and strike somebody dead if they tell a lie. Well, Annanias and Sapphira kind of had that happen to them, minus the theatrics a lightning bolt would bring. They died instantly, the very second the lie left their lips! Don't you want to thank God right now for His grace and mercy, because if that still happened today, I doubt anybody would be alive to be reading this, I doubt I would even be writing this, I doubt the computer or internet would have gotten invented because those guys would have been dead or never even born because their parents would have been struck dead. We've all told a little white lie, or any kind of lie before, yet here we are still alive, Gods mercy and grace is indeed amazing and He is worthy to be praised.

(I just recently added all the info beneath the pic because I wanted to give more examples of God's wrath.)

I could really go on and give you example after example of God's wrath, I might even write a part two to this sometime in the future God willing. The biggest example I can think of to let you understand God's wrath is when He allowed the Chaldeans to take the Israelite's into captivity in Babylon. These were Gods chosen people, but they went astray, they always went astray in their hearts, Hebrews 3:10. God suffered long, He sent prophet after prophet to warn them because of His love, you can read of it in Ezekiel and many other books in the Old Testament, but they still did not listen. He loved His people so much He kept a remnant, He did not destroy all, He gave them a choice to save their lives yet again by telling them to allow the Chaldeans to take them into to captivity, although they would be slaves they would be alive and God promised eventually they would return back to their home as freemen, but many did not listen and were destroyed by famine, pestilence and the sword. It is important to fear and love God, fearing Him is profitable, as suppose to fearing man, which profits you nothing. God has yet again given an opportunity to save our lives, by losing it we save it, meaning if you want to gain what God has in store for those who love Him you must be willing to deny yourselves the things in this life that are keeping you away  from eternal life, Matthew 16:25. God out of His immeasurable love has been suffering long with this world not wanting any to perish, 2 Peter 3:9, but the Day of Judgement  is still ahead, we must take God seriously in His promises (fear and trembling) because it is not to be counted as slack, a thousand years is but a day with Him and a day is a thousand years. 2 Peter 3:9




"For whatever things we're written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4