Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Another Close Look At Jesus Christ Sermon On The Mount

Yes, Jesus said that He didn't come to destroy the law and the prophets BUT to (fulfill). Once something is fulfilled, it is finished. Anybody who understand prophecy knows that. Once prophecy is fulfilled you don't wait around waiting for it to be fulfilled again. It is finished.
People see that Matthew 5:17 scripture and say, "See, He didn't change anything". Many persons who support tithing love to say, "Jesus didn't change the laws". I wonder if they actually read His sermon on the mount, He was changing all kind of things, in specific (things that were once laws).
Jesus said, ""You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'" Law. Jesus went on to say, ""But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell" Matthew 5:21-22
Jesus said, "“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.." Law. Jesus went on to say, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28. He even went on to say in Matthew 5:31-32 "“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery."
Jesus said, "“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’" Law. Jesus went on to say, "But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." Matthew 5:33-37
Jesus said, "“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ Law. Jesus went on to say, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." Matthew 5:38-39
Jesus said, "“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy." Law. Jesus went on to say, "But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48
When somebody referring to the law says that Jesus didn't change anything, remind them of this. These are only a few of the things. Jesus fulfilled the entire law. Now who does the Father say we are to listen to? "Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud said: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!"" Mark 9:7 Notice Jesus always said, "But I say to you". If we are going to call Him Lord we must do what He says. ""Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" Luke 6:46

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

An encouraging word on how to forgive and love like Jesus, especially in times when it's the MOST difficult.

I have never really shared another person's words as a blog post, but this message was so encouraging to me that I just felt compelled to share it in hopes that it will encourage many others  the same way it encourages me when it comes to loving and forgiving like Jesus Christ. This was written by someone on Facebook.

"Here is scriptures to give you to help you on anger and bitterness....

2nd Corinthians 2:10-11,

Apostle Paul said, to HIS ENEMIES!
"Do you think I forgive my ENEMIES in my OWNSELF, NO!!!!
I forgive my ENEMIES through the Son of God IN ME, least Satan gets advantage over me through unforgivness, anger etc. etc....
Apostle Paul forgave his ENEMIES, through JESUS CHRIST IN HIM.....!!!!!

So dear brother when your ENEMIES overcome you, and you fill the SPIRIT OF ANGER.....just say "I feel angry Lord please forgive me, and FORGIVE AND LOVE MY ENEMIES through me!!!!!
Jesus Christ forgave unto death... He said Father Forgive them for they know not what they do?
So brother the whole mystery of the Gospel, is JESUS CHRIST IN YOU, who works mightily in you, says (Colossians 1:27,29)...

JESUS CHRIST IN YOU FORGIVES YOUR ENEMY. THEN YOU LOVE YOUR ENEMY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST IN YOU. And this is who your LOVE IS PERFECTED!
You LOVE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, (1st John 4:9,13, and verse 17)....
For where the Spirit of the LORD is there is LIBERTY!!! As you are changed into the same image of the SON of God from glory to glory transformed IN HIM, (2nd Corinthians 3:18)...

God bless you
Respectfully
Minister Sudegayel Rogers "


Recently, I've been feeling angry often and sad, I think even bitter at times and it begun to really consume almost all of my thoughts and it eventually became overwhelming till I felt I couldn't bear. A message like this, had I remembered, really would have helped to encourage me during that time. I did however pray a lot for God to strengthen me,  and He did.
This message, when I first read it, made me go, "wow! How did I not realize this or remember it?" It's never through our own strength but through God the Father's strength and through His Son Jesus Christ, that we forgive, be loving, show compassion, be gentle, patient, godly, holy, kind, perfect and bear all the fruit of God's Holy Spirit.
Whenever faced with anger or having problems forgiving, please remember we can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us, (Philippians 4:13). Let the enemy know that we, the Children of God,  shall keep the commands of the Lord our God.


Monday, December 14, 2015

How God Saved Us: The Gospel of Jesus Christ

 


Every single human being has been counted as a sinner, Romans 3:23 explains this. Sinners cannot and will not inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:5, explains this. So, if we're all born sinners, and no sinners will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but there will be people who enter heaven, so how do we become one of those people who enter heaven? Firstly, because we're born sinners, we must be born again. How does a person become born again? That is done when we believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, confess our sins, repent of them (turning away from sin), and are baptized and receive the Holy Spirit.

Being born again gives us a clean slate so we can start over, this is also a gift from God. Whatever sins we ever committed are totally forgiven and as far as God is concerned it never happened. Think about that for a minute, really think about it. God is willing to forget ALL of the sins you have ever done in your life, no matter how bad it was, as long as you confess your sins, repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him. Isn't that amazing, plus He himself takes the punishment that we deserved for our past sins, so we don't even have to pay it. He redeems us. It is written in scripture that He is faithful to do this. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. His faithfulness is something we can count on because God keeps His word. All throughout scripture we see where God has kept all of His promises, especially the covenant He made with Abraham.

This is a huge part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of (all) of our sins. Not only that, but with this new clean slate that we have,(this new life that we have), God gives us a helper to help us to resist temptation to sin again and to help us to walk in God's Holy ways, that helper is His Holy Spirit. (Jesus explains this in John 14:16-26 and John 16:7). And if we did sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, which is Jesus Christ the righteous, Apostle John explains this in 1 John 2:1. Isn't God amazing? Not only does He pay the price for us, but He also gives us help in the form of His very own Holy Spirit in order to help us to walk in His ways. This is love.

God's love, grace, mercy, forgiveness of our sins, and Him redeeming us, are the reasons anybody will enter into Heaven at all. God loved us so very much that He made a way for us to be cleansed of our sins so we can be able to enter into heaven. There is a saying that, "God helps those who helps themselves", but that actually is the opposite of what the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches. The Gospel of Jesus Christ shows us that a loving God came in the form of a human being to help those who by no other way possible could help themselves. There was not a single perfect holy human being that could have done what God did, everyone was sold under sin.

How are sins washed away? By the shedding of blood, Hebrews 9:22 explains this. Blood had to be shed, this is one of the reason why God had to become like on one of us, a human being, in order to save us. Blood had to be shed, and it had to be a Holy sacrifice made unto a Holy God. 1 Timothy 3:16 explains how God was manifested in the flesh. He performed many miracles, as mentioned in all four of the accounts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18-25), He was crucified (John 19:15-22, Mark 15:22-34), He died (John 19:28-30), He was buried (John 19:38-42),He was resurrected 3 days later by the power of God (John 20:1-18, 1 Corinthians 15:4), He was seen by many persons (1 Corinthians 15:5-7), He ascend to heaven,(Acts 1:9-11), and from that time He sits on the right hand of God the father until His enemies are made His footstool, as mentioned in Hebrews 10:12-18. All of this was prophesied by the Prophets, and Jesus Christ Himself explained all of this to the disciples as Luke wrote in his account of the Gospel in Luke 24:44.

I just want to take a second to really explain something so AMAZING. God the creator of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1), became a human being. The very same God that created our eyes and nose and hands, our entire bodies, the trees, birds and everything, became an actual human being and was walking right here on earth. Apostle John explains this in John chapter 1:1-14. This is why Jesus would say that the Father was in Him. God the Father was indeed in Jesus Christ, and it was God speaking through Christ, it was God the Father that was the power that was able to allow Jesus to do all that He did, the miracles, resurrecting from the dead, all done by the power of the Father in Jesus Christ. This is why Jesus said to the disciples that if you see Him, you have seen the Father also, as seen in John 14:9. This is why if you deny Christ you deny God the Father, because they are one, Jesus Himself said this very same thing, as seen in John 10:30, John 14:20. This is why the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing with the power unto salvation. This is why we (all) must believe in order to receive eternal life.

All of this is why Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to the Father, as He Himself explains, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me..." John 14:6. It is Christ Jesus that laid down His life for us , no other did, so no one who claims there is another way, is speaking the truth. Only the Son of God is the way to the Father and only through the Son of God can we receive eternal life and enter into the gates of Heaven. This is the testimony God our Father has given us of His Son, as Apostle John explained to us in 1 John 5:11. It is written that, "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Revelation 12:11. This testimony of eternal life only through Jesus Christ, is the testimony by which we hold that will help us to triumph over the enemy. And Jesus Christ is the Lamb Whose blood was shed for us and provides us with power to triumph over the enemy.

Jesus did all of this for us, because of His love for us. All of this was done by the power and love of God the Father through Jesus Christ His Son. This is what we believe and preach and will continue to believe while we await the return of our our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is promised that He will return. I will close with the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:12-17

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

What was the was the purpose of the transfiguration on the Mountain in Matthew 17? And What did Jesus Mean in Matthew 5:17?



Matthew 17:1-13
In Matthew 17 when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain several very important things happened which we must take note of.
1) He took with Him Peter, James and John, (they were to serve as witnesses of what was about to take place).
2)Moses and Elijah appeared on the mountain. (Moses represents the law {the ten commandments which was given to him on Mount Sinai and the rest of the law which was given to him}. Elijah, being the most well known prophet, represents the prophets. Now to re-cap, now on the mountain where Jesus was transfigured we have the Law, Moses representing (The old covenant given on Mt. Sinai, the old Covenant was the Law), and then we have the Prophets, Elijah representing the Prophets. But who does Jesus represent in this picture? He represents the Son of God and the mediator of the New Covenant.
3)Now there is a voice that is heard from the cloud in verse 5 that says something very very important, the voice says "“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”" That voice is God the Father, But why did He say what He did, especially why did He say "Listen to Him" that is, listen to Jesus Christ? Why didn't He say listen to Moses or listen to Elijah?
Well, here we have the voice of God the Father from heaven saying in the presence of not 1, not 2, but 3 witnesses, REMEMBER (by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word is established, Matthew 18:16), that we are to listen to Jesus Christ; and who does Jesus represent again in this scenario? The Son of God and the mediator of the New Covenant. So, what is happening here is the ushering in of the New Covenant, and the Old Covenant although it served a purpose of being our tutor to lead us to Christ. (Galatians 3:24), it is now being made obsolete, and growing old ready to vanish away, (Hebrews 8:13). Why? Because of it's weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect... Hebrews 7:18-19. So what happens now? Well, "there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God." But who is the mediator of that better hope which is the New Covenant? Jesus Christ, Hebrews 9:15.
Okay, back to the transfiguration. Who was on the Mountain again?Moses (Law), Elijah (Prophets,  and Jesus Christ. Again, who does Jesus represent in this very important event? As I just shared He is the mediator of this new Covenant. So what is happening here in Matthew 17? In short, God is letting us know we are now to listen to His Son Jesus Christ, who is greater than Moses and Elijah, we are to now live under the New Covenant and not the old. (For further study read the Book of Romans, Galatians and Hebrews especially).
Matthew 5:17
Another scripture many legalists and persons without understanding have misconceptions about is Matthew 5:17 when Jesus stated, "I did not come to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfill them." Many take this to mean, "See, He didn't come to destroy it so it's still in effect." That misconception comes mostly because of erroneous teaching by the untaught and unstable who twist the scriptures (2 peter 3:16), and that understanding also comes from leaning on your own understanding. Many fail to see that in that scripture two options are presented. Below are the options along with the definitions of what these words mean:
Option (A): To Destroy
destroy (dɪˈstrɔɪ)
vb (mainly tr)
1. to ruin; spoil; render useless
2. to tear down or demolish; break up; raze
3. to put an end to; do away with; extinguish
4. to kill or annihilate
5. to crush, subdue, or defeat
6. (intr) to be destructive or cause destruction
Option (B:) To Fulfill
ful·fill also ful·fil (fl-fl)
tr.v. ful·filled, ful·fill·ing, ful·fills also ful·fils
1. To bring into actuality; effect: fulfilled their promises.
2. To carry out (an order, for example).
3. To measure up to; satisfy. See Synonyms at perform, satisfy.
4. To bring to an end; complete.
Adj. 1. fulfilled - completed to perfection
consummated - brought to completion; "a consummated transaction"
Now which option did Jesus choose? He Chose B. But the both of them have something very important in common, either way both bring whatever there may be to an end. When something is fulfilled it is carried out, it is brought to completion. If a prophecy has been fulfilled, what do you do, sit and wait for it to be fulfilled again? So, Jesus came and fulfilled (carried out) what was written of Him in the Law and the Prophets and in the Psalms, just as He said, "And, He said unto them, these are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the psalms concerning me." Luke 24:44. A greater has come, but still many want to cling onto Moses (the Old Covenant, the Law).
All of this is only hard to understand when a person has gone dull of hearing. Hebrews 5:11.
The conclusion. Why did all of this have to happen? Because God loves us, so He made Jesus the propitiation (atonement) for our sins, through Him we are reconciled to God, through Him we have eternal life, 1 John 5:11-12. Eternal life does not come through the law, righteousness does not come through the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ, Romans 3:22. For those who still choose to remain under bondage by the law but say they have faith, they must know that it is written that the law is not of faith, Galatians 3:12, so either you have the law or you have faith, you can't have both, you can't be both free and in bondage. Also, the promise made by God to Abraham and his (Seed) does not come through the Law (The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. Galatians 3:16), only through Jesus Christ can one obtain the promise. In fact Galatians 4 explains that to us by using Hagar and Sarah, both being symbolic representing both covenants, the Old and the New. Hagar (a bond woman/slave and mother of Ishmael) represented the law given to Moses on Mt. Sinai (which gave birth to bondage),Galatians 4:24; and Sarah ( a free woman and mother of Isaac) represented the New Covenant. All those who remain under the Law remain in bondage like Hagar and are not heirs to the promise. Why? Because "The Bond woman will not be heir with the son of the free woman." Galatians 4:30. But who are we who are under the New Covenant? We are children of the free woman, hence we are heirs. We are free because of Jesus Christ. It is important to understand all of this, because we do not want to fall from grace and be estranged from Christ (Galatians 5:4-6). The law of the New covenant is love, God's perfect and Holy love. We are repeatedly reminded in scripture that Love fulfills the Law. That once we Love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and also love one another the way God loves us, we have fulfilled the law. But yet many choose to remain under the old covenant when a greater and better has come in Jesus Christ. I hope this has helped many to understand the purpose of the new Covenant and I hope this cleared up some misunderstandings about a few other scriptures.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Encouragement for those facing various trials

Some scriptures for encouragement for those who have faced, are facing, and will face various trials. These are to help all of us to get a better understanding of why we who have chosen to deny ourselves take up our cross and follow Jesus are faced with these trials in our lives and why it's so important to endure with patience and faith in order to overcome this world.

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:12-13

"..though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.." 1 Peter 1:6-7

"But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. (For to this you were called), because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
“Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth” 1 Peter 2:20-22

""Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." 1 Peter 5:8-10"

Just wanted to share this to encourage those who have been facing various trials, even to encourage myself, we must all remember, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22
No suffering we experience in this race is in vain and without reward, trust in the Lord, He is faithful. Heaven and earth will pass away but His word endures forever.

Being Made Fruitful In The Knowledge of Jesus Christ

I noticed something when I was reading 2 Peter 1:1-11, kind of a formula I guess. I noticed God told us all that we would need in order to most definitely be fruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Being diligent, we are told to: Add to Faith---->Virtue To Virtue---->Knowledge To Knowledge---->Self Control To Self Control---->Perseverance To Perseverance---->Godliness To Godliness ---->Brotherly Kindness To Brotherly Kindness ---->Love. If we have all these things we will never stumble and an entrance will be supplied to us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10-11.

This is what I noticed about that scripture from looking closer, it's the order in which we grow. God supplies us with faith and with that virtues are produced, then through God's Holy Spirit revealing truth to us through the Word we gain the next part which is knowledge. 



I have noticed that once we have gained knowledge on many things then we are tested on these things, and in our tests (trials) what is an important requirement in order to pass? Self-control. So we add to knowledge self-control, how? Through tests. Now once we have gained self control we have to endure (never giving up), and not giving up in a race requires perseverance. So, now we add to our self control perseverance, much needed qualities in trials; self-control and perseverance, stickability, a no quitting type of attitude. It may seem difficult at times but God is with us working in us and helping us to do what is right, we must obey Him.


Now once we have obtained those things then godliness is to be added. We must imitate Christ by being humble, gentle, merciful and forgiving. Then we add to godliness brotherly kindness, care towards the needs of the saints, the brethren. Then finally add to godliness the greatest gift, a more excellent way, Love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). 


We're all tested and tried in these things if we took a minute to think about the tests and trials we've been through, it's all God's work and He's working these things in us so that we can be neither barren or fruitless (2 Peter 1:8), basically perfected in Jesus Christ. And I noticed these things listed are the similar to the fruit of the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23 "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." 


Isn't it wonderful? God's producing these things in us daily through His Holy Spirit our helper. Let us rejoice and exalt His Holy name. To God belongs all the glory.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Whose standard should I live by?


Image is from google.com


I have never really in the past mentioned too may Pastor's names, and even in this one I wont mention the name of the pastor/speaker who teaches the "Live your best life now" philosophy because I think most people know who I'm referring to, and if you don't, you can always go ahead and Google the phrase. This post isn't about the person who teaches this philosophy, but the philosophy itself. Mostly, this post is about the standards the world has set in place for people to live by and the standards provided in scripture for us to live by.

The problem with the "Live your best life now" philosophy is that it really conditions a person to place their heart here on earth instead of above. We are told in scripture to store up our treasures in heaven, why? Because that's where our best life will be. So it's odd hearing a man who says he is a minister of God, someone preaching the gospel, say that our best lives are to be lived now, here on earth. If one is to live their (best) life now, best being defined as (to the highest degree, top, foremost, unsurpassed, ultimate, optimum, etc etc) all that obviously indicates a person can basically go no higher. So if in this current life we are to reach the peak of a persons entire existence, then what is to be expected in the life to come? That could only mean that after this life things will descend from being at it's best to being horrid, is that what anybody should really want? No.

Image is from Google.com


The entire teaching of living ones best life now is really teaching that there is no eternal life, there is no heaven or hell, there is only now, there is only today, so live it up. All of that is taught under the guise of 'living your best life now' and people don't see it. And that's where living according to the standard set by this world comes in. The world has established a definition of what living your best life is, and being wealthy is at the top of that list, also being popular, a socialite, being trendy, being knowledgeable in the wisdom of the world, having friends in high places, even in some cases being a shark, cutting down whomever to reach to the apex of "success". For many, trying to obtain these things cultivates a heart of covetousness, greed and envy, sadly even in Christians, and that should not be so.

We are taught not to set our minds on high things, but to associate with the humble, Romans 12:6. This isn't to say being rich is evil or even knowing rich people is evil, but this is to establish a heart that is trusting in the Lord and content entirely in the provisions the Lord supplies as He has promised, whilst remaining humble. We are taught in Luke 12:15, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” But according to the world's standard that is exactly what a man's life consists of. But in scripture we are taught that not only the love of money is the root of all evil, but desiring to be rich is also a no-no, 1 Timothy 6:8-12. But everywhere, even in the church today, many have a heart desirous to have all it's lust's fulfilled, why? Because of teachings like live your best life now.

One of the main problems is that the Church is conforming to the pattern of the world instead of Christ's pattern, and that's most definitely one of the major problems in the churches today. No longer are the standards set in scripture regarded any more really as being worthwhile striving for. Because the standards set in scripture is to give us eternal rewards to store up in heaven, and to make us a holy people, while God is providing for us the bare necessities we need here on earth. But people don't care about that, humans care about tangible things, cars, yachts, big houses, huge salaries etc etc, to impress other materialistic people.

Image is from Google.com


 No longer do people care to seek after the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first any more. To the world a person is validated solely based on possessions, whether it be degrees or a persons income. If you don't have some type of degree, you're dropped at the bottom of the totem pole and considered to be a person who does not have a "bright future", because it is the world after all that determines what will occur in any individuals future, right? Nope. If you however have all the worldly credentials along with a few connections to get your foot in the door, because these days even the credentials aren't sufficient, then you are now on the path to "Success". People who have decided to take the Christian standard of living are usually people that many don't consider to be "Successful" or at least reaching their "full potential". Who determines ones full potential? To whom here on earth does a person have to give an account of their "full potential" when or if it is ever met? How is potential even measured, by what standard, God's or this world?

As Christians we aren't to live according to the dictates of the world which relentlessly through the media and whatever else, tries to beat into the poor it's definition of success and it's definition of a failure. The world sculpts this ridiculous spectrum and then tells us where we fit on it. The world is pretty much conditioning people to believe that if you haven't acquired a certain amount of degrees, and other material assets, then you're not successful. It boils down to this is I guess, who's definition of success are we trying to live up to, God's or the world's? As Christians this should be a no-brainer but it isn't for many of us, for me it certainly wasn't for a while.  But it is God's standard set in scripture worth labouring over not this worlds. And God's standard is sufficient, nobody needs to be burdened with extra laws about success created by man for us to live by, much of which is in direct contradiction to what the Bible teaches. There are great expectations the world has placed on us & there are things God expects of us, which is worth labouring over truly? It is the one that provides the eternal rewards.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Snip/Chuck: Abortion is Murder................but God Forgives.

Image is from google.com


"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth." Psalm 127:3-4. 

There was a time when women rejoiced when they found out they were pregnant. These days, for many women, news of being pregnant is greeted with horror. They start thinking how there is so much they still want to do with their life so they can't have a baby. To a large part of the human population, if you can't afford to have a baby, pregnancy is an inconvenience, so abortion makes it a whole lot easier; you can have all the sex you want and not worry about having to take care of a baby if you got pregnant along the way. A salary cut may be considered an inconvenience, no ramps for wheelchair bound patrons outside of  businesses is an inconvenience, someone asking you for help when you're in the middle of something you can't really drop at that moment is an inconvenience,  a pregnancy should not be considered an inconvenience.

For many young girls/women it's the fear of disappointing their parents. Other reasons, "Oh, I just got this new job." "I just got done with my first week on the Insanity Workout and I'm seeing massive results", "Oh, no, I'll get stretch marks!" "Oh, this guy will leave me if I have this baby."  "I'm still in high school." "I'm still in college." "What will my friends think of me?" "What will the people at church think of me?" Really, there are many reasons that can be listed for why women choose to have abortions; but not one of the reasons are unselfish. Many men and women really only think of the outcome of their lives as being of any significance and also possibly ruined if they go through with the pregnancy, but the baby's life is very rarely ever taken into consideration. Why? Because many don't even see what's growing in them as a baby until the child is born,  they just see a fetus, so that makes it pretty much dispensable. The way some people carry on about pregnancies you would think they were talking about a few pounds on their body they wanna lose, so they take the necessary steps to get rid of it.


Image is from google.com


Many people are divided over Pro-life and Pro-Choice. Pro-life supporters oppose the legalization of induced abortions, and believe that a fetus and embryos should be protected. As Christians where should we stand in regards, sadly to what many would consider,  an incendiary topic? Should we even have a stand at all or just let things play out? I don't think I'm the only one who wonders how God feels about abortion. The obvious answer is that He doesn't want us to kill our children. God does not support abortion. He doesn't support the unlawful murder of a child. He greatly disliked how the Moabites and many other groups of  people would sacrifice their children to their  false gods and idols. He even warned His people, the Israelites, not to practice the ways of those people.

The women who are pro-choice think they have full authority over their bodies, that nobody should be allowed to tell them what to do in regards to terminating a pregnancy . It is amazing how things like the rights to kill an unborn child is being argued as a person's civil rights, and anyone who opposses that is trying to obstruct someone from their rights. Many women resent being called murderers when they have an abortion because to them a fetus is not a child so it's not murder when a person aborts that pregnancy. What exactly determines whether your fetus is an actual living human? Is it at the very moment an egg becomes fertilized when it encounters a sperm? Is it  3 months into pregnancy, or six months into pregnancy? The answer is, God is the one who determines when a life begins, it's as simple as that. He's the one who gives life, and He's the one who takes it back when He pleases. When does life begin? According to scripture Leviticus 17:11-12 and Deuteronomy 12:23, the life is found in the blood, it is the life of all flesh, it's blood sustains it's life. A fetus of course contains blood, so biblically a fetus is alive, just as alive and valuable as the little children playing in the park.

Image is from Google.com

Do women really have the choice to decide what to do with their bodies in regards to pregnancies? Well, as humans we have the freedom to choose to do whatever we want, whenever we want; but with each choice we make their are consequences. Can women choose whether to abort their babies? Yes. Men and women can make whatever choices they want, but must be made aware of the consequences of their actions. God has stated that we will be rewarded according to our works. If one does bad works, his reward will not be very pleasant. If one does good works, he will be rewarded with eternal life.

There are persons, even some Christians, who are pro-life but have made certain exceptions when it comes to abortion; these exceptions are for  women who have been raped and high risk pregnancies. At one time I also agreed with that exception to the rule, I thought it was a justifiable reason to terminate a pregnancy; but after studying the Word of God, I had a change of heart. Yes, rape is very horrible, I hate it and I'm sure God hates it too; and for many women, delivering a baby who's father is the rapist that raped them is not a very pleasant thought; but if we think of the child  as no more than a link to a rapist, then we devalue an innocent child's life based on an occurrence that happened which really wasn't that child's fault. A part of that baby, the women who has been raped carries, is not only the rapist's but the victim as well. Her chromosomes and genes are in that baby too, or is that something to disregard because the baby cannot be seen as anything more than a product of rape? All abortions produce the same results; an unborn baby is killed. If you have a child and the father of your child abuses you, would you kill your child? No, you would not. I've heard this once before and I stand by this, you don't kill a child for the sins of the father. Aborting a baby cannot and really should not be justified no matter the circumstances surrounding conception. Terminating your pregnancy because you were raped, really if we look at it from a Christian standpoint, is a crime committed because of a crime.

Image is from google.com


Women, just like men, were wonderfully and fearfully made in the image of God. For women, also just like men, our bodies are programmed a certain way to do certain things at a certain time in our lives. The best way I can describe it is that, the human body has a certain set of sealed instructions within, placed by God, that the body must obey in order to function correctly. Females produce eggs as well as estrogen and progesterone. Pretty much all women have a period, whether it's irregular or regular, it happens; even infertile women have their period. Eventually when a women  hits a certain age, usually between the ages of forty-five to fifty-five these things cease. Hormones begin to shift and the menstruation cycle ends, meaning ovulation comes to a halt. This is the females body way of telling her, no babies are going to be popping out of here any more, unless God wills of course. I say all that to help many come to understanding that, our bodies are designed to tell us when we shouldn't have babies anymore, we aren't to go out and take it upon ourselves to cancel a pregnancy, if that egg has been fertilized that is because God permitted it to happen. Christian women and men should stand against abortion because it is just another way people have decided to rebel against God's will, and it is is murder. We are told to imitate God as good little children, and we know that God doesn't take it lightly when an innocent life is taken, in fact, God hates it when innocent blood is shed, Proverbs 6:16-17, an unborn child is innocent.

When did we become a world where the life of an unborn child has no value, where our opinion takes precedence over Gods precepts. Many people believe a baby's life doesn't begin until after the baby is delivered, but there would be no baby to deliver if there was no life to begin with.


Because of indifference and a lack of knowledge about what happens during an abortion, issues like this aren't addressed the way they should be. Since (most) think the baby isn't even a legit living human, and during the abortion the baby is unaware of what's happening, it's no big deal. Many people must think it's simply the babies being gently put to sleep, then delicately removed from the womb and then are cleaned up and have a nice burial in a cemetery. No, that's not what happens. Sorry to be graphic, but they're either cut up, or the skull crushed, burnt, then tossed out; in short, they are snipped and chucked.  A great deal of indifference that many have towards matters like abortion, and scores of other things, is one of  the reasons behind many of the problems we see in the world today. People think, "Oh, let them do what they want, it doesn't affect me."  If people could be shown how even the seemingly insignificant decisions they make have an affect on a myriad of lives on planet earth; maybe the gross indifference towards these significant matters would be diminished. 


Image is from google.com

As the heading says,  abortion is murder, but just like murder, and all other sins committed against God, it is not something that cannot be forgiven by our merciful and loving Heavenly Father. There is good news for those who have had abortions or considered having one. There is a loving, merciful, living God who prefers mercy rather than sacrifice. If you repent and ask God for His forgiveness, He is faithful and just and will forgive you. Yes, it's not easy for many women who have children, to raise on their own in today's society, and for economical reasons. This is why it's best to to trust in God's way, in His perfect order and to abstain from sexual intercourse until you're married. Yes, this is more easily said than done for many of us, but God not only provides an exit out of temptation, but He also provides us with His Holy Spirit once we are born again, so that we may prove what is His good, acceptable and perfect will. Pray for self-control if you have troubles with lust and avoiding sex. Trust in the Lord at all times. Wait on the Lord at all times. He will guide and strengthen you. :-)


There Is No Such Thing As A "Gay Gene"!!! Here's Proof.

Image from google.com



Gene
/dʒiːn/
noun
Biology
plural noun: genes
1.(in informal use) a unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
2.a part of a cell that controls or influences the appearance, growth, etc., of a living thing.

Different genes are found in human beings, these genes determine if we get our mother's eye colour, or maybe our fathers hair type, or our skin tone, our nose size, etcetera etcetera etcetera.

Who created genes? Being that genes are a part of our dna and cell structure, which are found in us from birth, and being that God created man, not some intergelactic burst in the atmosphere, it's safe to say that the genes which are found in us are a result of God's handiwork, as is the rest of the human body. With that being said, if someone says that there is a "gay gene" they are directly saying that God went ahead and placed in many of His creations a gene that would cause a person to participate in what is Biblically described in the book of Leviticus 18:22-30, Romans 1:26-32, as shameful, unnatural, abominations and perversions. And participating in such acts would make a person ineligble to enter the Kingdom of Heaven as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. All of that would be saying that God went ahead and placed something in humans that would make them do exactly what He commanded us not to do. Also, that would be saying there is unrighteousness or wickedness with God, but there is no unrighteousness with God as explained in Romans 9:14 and Job 34:10-13.

If someone was to relentlessly purport this thing about a "gay gene" existing and being the cause for gay people being gay, how much differnt would that be from saying there is an adultery gene, a fornication gene, a sodomy gene, a gene that causes one to masturbate, a gene that causes one to lust? I doubt many people would take, "it's my adulterous lust gene that made me cheat on you" as an excuse from a spouse. So, why would anyone truly go around affirming or even suggesting it may be possible for there to be a "gay gene"?
All of that would be ridiculous, all of those lies simply are there to take direct attention from what it is that truly causes (all) of those acts, and that is sin.

We must be very careful with the things we go around saying, specifically those who are calling themselves Christians. These damnable heresies are taking many persons captive, who are determined to exhange the truth of God for the lie as mentioned in Romans 1:24-25. 

Monday, December 9, 2013

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. 










Monday, July 22, 2013

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. 

Thursday, May 2, 2013

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.