Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
PROVERBS 15
Every now and again I suffer from moments of very deep emotion (sometimes unbearable) pain. The pain of losing my best friend and pastor, the pain of losing my job, the pain of losing my health insurance, the pain of losing my car, the pain of losing a family member and I need some kind of comfort to get me through my pain. The pain doesn't last long but when it comes, it cuts very, very deep.
June 18th I was in an auto accident that totaled my car. A week later I made the decision to do something to help myself so that the devil will not take advantage of the great pain I've experienced this year. A scripture that I never forgot that I kept to my heart is Gen 4:7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
It was a very strong warning that Cain did not take heed to. It is the wrong attitude that sin is waiting for you to have. The thing I've always notice the most is that God was not angry with Cain. He basically said if you do the right thing, I will accept yours just like I accepted Abels. It's just that simple. But, God knew what was brewing in Cain's heart and addressed a serious problem, his countenance. Once you have kept the wrong attitude, sin will overtake you where you have no control. You have to learn how to control yourself. Temperance.
As a child that scripture scared me. The thought that something evil is waiting for me to mess up so it can mess with me. But I am the one who have to learn self control. When I had my accident, I could feel myself wondering how much more can I take. Than I realize, with God, I can take anything. Without God I can not take it. I said I will not allow Satan to take advantage of my situation. I will start a Christian blog to keep my mind right and focus on Christ always!!! And at the same time I can encourage others also. It is God who is the only one who can heal my pain. The bigger my pain, the bigger God is in my life and the more He shows Himself to me.
So this morning I am in pain at 4am in the morning and the wonderful thing is, I know what to do about it. I go to God. I prayed and ask the Holy Spirit to teach me. I need a word a message a comfort I just need you right now. So the Lord directed me to Proverbs 15. I read it and what popped out was Proverbs 15:32NLV If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.
How many times do we do the wrong thing and we suffer the consequent of our actions and we repent or should I say, we say I'm sorry and than go right back into that mess!!! Each time we do this and not learn from our mistakes, we ruin our life. We are headed in a lifetime of misery and pain and sadness, and disappointments over and over again.
God punishes us so that we can learn from it and because he loves us. The point of the punishment is for correction like when you were young and your parent disciplined you when you do wrong. You didn't understand at first thinking your parents were being mean but later you understood why it was necessary. You understood that the disciplined was done because your parents love you very much and want you to learn. You become wiser as a result but some kids would receive disciplined after disciplined and never learned from it but hated the disciplined and as a result ended up dead/killed or in jail.
A lot of us are living our lives like fools because we refuse to take heed to God's warning and refuse to accept disciplined so you can learn from it. If you are wondering why you are in a mess, read proverbs 15 read Gen 4:7 and than evaluate your life and than make the necessary changes. I know I did and I am still doing it.
08/31/11***I want to make a note because I don't want anyone to maybe get the wrong idea. My message was not based on my situation. In other words, I'm not saying that all these things, mourning, car accident, loss of job etc...happened to me because I am being disciplined.
What had happened was that God was saying this is business as usual. Pick yourself up there is more work to be done and more lessons to be taught and learned (God gave me the strength to carry on). God was just giving me a lesson for the day so that I will not focus on my pain. That is how so good God is!!! After I had finished, I went right to bed and slept like a baby.
I love you and God bless you!
June 18th I was in an auto accident that totaled my car. A week later I made the decision to do something to help myself so that the devil will not take advantage of the great pain I've experienced this year. A scripture that I never forgot that I kept to my heart is Gen 4:7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
It was a very strong warning that Cain did not take heed to. It is the wrong attitude that sin is waiting for you to have. The thing I've always notice the most is that God was not angry with Cain. He basically said if you do the right thing, I will accept yours just like I accepted Abels. It's just that simple. But, God knew what was brewing in Cain's heart and addressed a serious problem, his countenance. Once you have kept the wrong attitude, sin will overtake you where you have no control. You have to learn how to control yourself. Temperance.
As a child that scripture scared me. The thought that something evil is waiting for me to mess up so it can mess with me. But I am the one who have to learn self control. When I had my accident, I could feel myself wondering how much more can I take. Than I realize, with God, I can take anything. Without God I can not take it. I said I will not allow Satan to take advantage of my situation. I will start a Christian blog to keep my mind right and focus on Christ always!!! And at the same time I can encourage others also. It is God who is the only one who can heal my pain. The bigger my pain, the bigger God is in my life and the more He shows Himself to me.
So this morning I am in pain at 4am in the morning and the wonderful thing is, I know what to do about it. I go to God. I prayed and ask the Holy Spirit to teach me. I need a word a message a comfort I just need you right now. So the Lord directed me to Proverbs 15. I read it and what popped out was Proverbs 15:32NLV If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.
How many times do we do the wrong thing and we suffer the consequent of our actions and we repent or should I say, we say I'm sorry and than go right back into that mess!!! Each time we do this and not learn from our mistakes, we ruin our life. We are headed in a lifetime of misery and pain and sadness, and disappointments over and over again.
God punishes us so that we can learn from it and because he loves us. The point of the punishment is for correction like when you were young and your parent disciplined you when you do wrong. You didn't understand at first thinking your parents were being mean but later you understood why it was necessary. You understood that the disciplined was done because your parents love you very much and want you to learn. You become wiser as a result but some kids would receive disciplined after disciplined and never learned from it but hated the disciplined and as a result ended up dead/killed or in jail.
A lot of us are living our lives like fools because we refuse to take heed to God's warning and refuse to accept disciplined so you can learn from it. If you are wondering why you are in a mess, read proverbs 15 read Gen 4:7 and than evaluate your life and than make the necessary changes. I know I did and I am still doing it.
08/31/11***I want to make a note because I don't want anyone to maybe get the wrong idea. My message was not based on my situation. In other words, I'm not saying that all these things, mourning, car accident, loss of job etc...happened to me because I am being disciplined.
What had happened was that God was saying this is business as usual. Pick yourself up there is more work to be done and more lessons to be taught and learned (God gave me the strength to carry on). God was just giving me a lesson for the day so that I will not focus on my pain. That is how so good God is!!! After I had finished, I went right to bed and slept like a baby.
I love you and God bless you!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
THE LORD IS MY HEALER!
I first want to say that we wouldn't know God as our healer unless we experienced being sick. I want to thank everyone for your prayers because I feel so much better. My strength is back! The wonderful thing is, even when I am sick, my spirit is high! I am not worried about it because I know who my healer is. The Lord is my healer. I understand that it's something that we go through in this world but one day, we will be in our new body that will know no pain and no sorry (I meant sorrow but sorry is good too) and no sickness! We can all look forward to that.
I did a short (intro) segment on relationships between man and man and I also did a blog regarding Job. Christians are funny sometimes thinking that they are being a friend when they really are not. Not that they are not a friend, but they don't know how to be a Christian friend. They don't know what to say especially to someone who is not feeling well. Job friends told him that he need to repent because he must have sinned if he is sick and yet God told Satan Job 1:8NLV Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.". People have different gifts of the Spirit and you can tell the ones who do not have the gift of mercy, or compassion or encouragement when someone is in need of it. I remember when my Uncle put up on his facebook that life stinks and people right away jump the gun and said "well I have Christ and life is good" and yada yada yada. My uncle made a joke from a movie but people just started acting Christiany (one of my new words meaning you really don't know huh). At least they think they are and started preaching to him about how wrong he was. Of course they had to pick up their face when he told them that it was just a joke from a movie and that he was at the DMV. Now I know my uncle is a minister so I knew his foundation was solid. I knew what NOT to say. I didn't know what was wrong but all I said is that I will pray for you and hope you feel better.
We are to be there for one another in times of need. There is a difference between helping someone get on the right track that is in sin and trying to tell someone they don't have faith if they are sick. It's ludicrous. Colds are a part of life. Some have a stronger immune system than others. Who knows but it's not the end of the world!!! Relax Christians. I'm sending this message because I didn't have a chance to do the relationship between man and man yet and because I had a cold recently, I wanted to make a statement for those who may think they are saying the right things and doing the right things and they are not.
I also want to make a note that notice that Jesus never condemned the ones who were sick, not even once. He did condemn the ones he gave power to heal the sick and their faith was not strong enough to heal them. Jesus had compassion for those who were sick. As a matter of fact if you look at Matt: 25:40-46 "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'41Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.42For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me a drink.43I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn't give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'44"Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?'45"And he will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'46"And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."
There are times when we as Christians may experience terrible sicknesses and other forms of suffering, such as terminal cancer, a stroke, heart attack, diabetes, fibromyalgia, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, and much more. The worst part about this is when a believer cause their faith to be shaken by such words as if you are sick than you do not have faith, it usually comes from a family member, or a close friend, or spouse, those who are closest to you.
Even Paul advised Timothy to stop drinking water and to drink wine for his stomach issues and other illnesses that he had frequently. 1tim 5:23
He gave some gifts to heal those who are sick. Just remember that not all sickness is a result of sin and leads to death. And, not all sickness is a result of lack of faith. There will be those who will get sick and there will be those who will work in their gifts to heal the sick through the Holy Spirit glorifying God by showing His power.
With all things there are always exceptions but we as Christians have to learn what it means to love your neighbors as yourself and that this is not a suggestion but a commandment. I don't know how we got so off track and I have been guilty of it too from following other bad examples and listen to other "fellow" Christians thinking I have the right understanding, you know being Christiany. I wasn't always innocent but this is why I study. I get the full picture and the Holy Spirit reveals the truth. You can't know the truth if you don't read and study His word.
I never take it personal because it really is a growth thing. The more you know, the more you realize how much more you need to learn and how much others don't know. :) But I do believe that everyone, especially if you are truly saved, have nothing but the best intentions so I never take it personal.
I want to leave this quick message that I picked up because I don't want us to get confused.
Isaiah 53:5, which is then quoted in 1 Peter 2:24, is a key verse on healing, but it is often misunderstood and misapplied. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” The word translated “healed” can mean either spiritual or physical healing. However, the contexts of Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2 make it clear that it is speaking of spiritual healing. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). The verse is talking about sin and righteousness, not sickness and disease. Therefore, being “healed” in both these verses is speaking of being forgiven and saved, not physically healed.
Ultimately, our full physical healing awaits us in heaven. In heaven, there will be no more pain, sickness, disease, suffering, or death (Revelation 21). We all need to be less preoccupied with our physical condition in this world and a lot more concerned with our spiritual condition (Romans 12:1-2). Then we can focus our hearts on heaven where we will no longer have to deal with physical problems. Revelation 21:4 describes the true healing we should all be longing for: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
I also want to add this message from the Bible in case someone who is ill may feel that they have less faith because of being sick.
Phil: 2:25-30NLV Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.26I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill.27And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.28So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you.29Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve.30For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn't do from far away.
***I also want to make a note in case people may be confused about the message is that I am not referring to illness we cause on ourselves like our bad eating habits and lack of exercise and things we self inflect on our bodies that make us ill. And even with that, we must still have compassion for one another and encourage one another to get healthy and fit. Our body is our temple! But I'm sure you already know the difference.***
***And even if the Lord were to take me, my soul will be in His hands. There is no better place I would rather be than to spend eternity with the Lord.***
Praise God! I love you all, God bless you!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
HOLY ONE
I'm not feeling well I've been sick with a cold for about a couple of days. So since this is my resting time, I would like to send a video that will be a blessing to me and you. I love this song and would like to share it with you.
For some reason this video stops after about two bars. You have to replay it again to hear the whole song. It's worth it. God bless you and I love you.
For some reason this video stops after about two bars. You have to replay it again to hear the whole song. It's worth it. God bless you and I love you.
Monday, August 22, 2011
PSALM 119:109
It only takes one small decision without God to lead you to years of sadness, burdens, and pain. Usually when that happens we try to clean it up our way, without God, and end up on the road that leads to destruction. These are things that happen when we go by our own will.
Now if we were to follow the instructions of the Bible, one small decision with God will take you to Joy, protection, and your destiny. When this happens, you will end up straight to your blessings here on earth.
The choice should be easy. If you want to have a life full of promises and blessing and joy, just to name a few, than do not make one iota decision without going to God. And joy doesn't mean everything is going perfect in your life. Some people will have trials and tribulations as a result of following Christ because of persecution from others. But, you can still have joy, because it do not come from man or circumstances, it comes from the Lord and from knowing the Lord. You will also receive your blessings. It comes in different forms and of course, when you follow Christ, you are following your destiny that was set by God.
God bless you and I love you.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
SUPPORTING ISRAEL
In one of my blogs called blessing Israel http://betchert.blogspot.com/2011/08/blessing-israel-romans-1527.html, I made a point about how it is important for us to get involved in helping Israel and being a blessing to them. When we bless Israel we are blessing ourselves too because we are partakers and we are all one family and one body. What is going on with them effects us also. I have found a way to get involved in helping and I wanted to share that with you. Instead of ordering water from Arrowhead or any of those other companies I decided to use my money to help built up Israel. The water is called Genesis Living Waters of Israel. Here is the link to check it out for yourself. http://genesiswaters.com/This is just one of the things that you can do to help build them up.
God Bless you.
Monday, August 15, 2011
BUILDING RELATIONSHIP PART 1
Relationship between God and man
Matt22:37-38 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38This is the first and great commandment.
I first want to say that I thank God that our salvation is not based on how we "show our love" toward God and others because if it was, most of us would not make it. This is another reason why we can't boast about being saved and to keep it humble ALWAYS. Those who truly understand and have the Holy Spirit within them do not have a boastful spirit. Knowing what we know? It's impossible to feel nothing more than grateful!!!
We express our love to God with our lips but like the scripture said, but your heart is far from Me Matt 15:8. Most of us have lived our lives as Christians for years and still haven't figured out how to love God. You can express your love for God with dance, singing, clapping, crying, being thankful, being grateful, praise, worship, prayer, through service (work), reading His word, studying, speaking in tongue, being nice to one another, sacrifice and all that other good stuff that we do. But God told us how to prove your love towards Him and it's not with your mouth or any of the other thing I just mentioned.
I got some good news folks!!!
We don't have to try to guess what it is that God want and we don't have to figure out how to show our love for Him in return. God told us how to show Him that we love Him. John 14:14 If ye love me, keep my commandments. This is how we love the Lord. Once we love the Lord, than He will accept our expression of Love towards Him. Now God already expressed and proven His love for us John 3:16. God did His part and kept His promise so then now it's man's turn.
***I want to make a note because I think that it's important. Those who read the word know that there are many laws written and then there's the 10 commandments. The 10 commandments are separated from the other (Mosaic)laws and that is why you see that I mentioned the commandments and not the laws even though the commandment is a law. The Mosaic laws were necessary for the Jews that also included rituals that were done to prepare them for the Messiah. Today, we have the Holy Spirit, teaching us how to live like Christ and to be obedient making us virgins without blimpish or spot to prepare us for the 2nd coming of Christ. This is why Paul wanted to express to the Jews about all those rituals are no longer necessary because of Jesus.***
It is impossible to have a personal relationship with God and you live in sin! It is not possible! God is holy and therefore there is no sin in Him. If we want to have a relationship with Him than we must have fellowship with Him. Our law is not to live in sin as explained in the books of 1st and 2nd John!
1John 1:16-17 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Here He is explaining how you can tell the difference between someone who have actual fellowship with God. If you see someone living in sin, than clearly, they have not been cleansed with the blood of Jesus. If you see someone walk after Christ, that you will see them in fellowship one with another. ***I call this the brutal truth.***
John 8:12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
1John 1:18 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. This is following the prior verse. He is explaining part B of verse 7, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Jesus will cleanse us and we are deceiving ourselves if we say there is no need for Jesus to do this because I have no sin. It is not saying anything about living in sin or walking in darkness so don't get that confused.
You have the truth already. 1John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
I love this verse because we sometimes struggle with the thought of us being sons of God because we do not look any different on the outer part (body) than we looked before we believed. John is saying that yes, we are son's of God but it will not shown on the outer part until Jesus appear again that we will not only change into our permanent appearance but it is then that we will actually be able to see Him in his full complete glory!!!
Our law 1John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
I encourage you to read all of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John well mainly 1st and 2nd. It is very detailed in how to built a relationship with God.
It's important to know what it means to walk in darkness to make sure we are not doing that because you are not a part of Christ if you are walking in darkness so here are some examples so you can examine for yourself and know what the Holy Spirit is saying. Key scripture on this subject.
1. Walking in darkness will keep us from comprehending God (1 John 1:5)
2. Walking in darkness will blind our spiritual eyes (1 John 2:11)
a)God is light and in Him is no darkness (1 John 1:5)
b)Followers of God will not walk in darkness (1 John 1:6)
c)Walking in the truth of God's Word will keep us from walking in darkness (Psalm 119:105, John 3:21, John 17:17, 1 John 1:6)
3. Walking in darkness will produce the WORKS OF DARKNESS which is the manisfestation of the desires of the flesh. l The works of the flesh = unfruitful works of darkness (John 3:20, Ephesians 5:11)
a)The believers (Bride) are to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12)
WHAT ARE THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS?
1. Romans 13:13
a)rioting
b)drunkenness
c)chambering
d)wantonness
e)strife
f)envying
The unfruitful works of darkness = works of the flesh (psuche) (Romans 3:14)
2. Galatians 5:19-21
a)adultery
b)fornication
c)uncleanness
d)lasciviousness
e)idolatry
f)witchcraft
g)hatred
h)variance
i)emulations
j)wrath
k)strife
l)seditions
m)heresies
n)envyings
o)murders
p)drunknenness
q)revellings
3. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11
a)fornicators
b)covetous
c)extortioners
d)idolators
e)railers
f)drunkards
The Bride of Christ does not walk in darkness which is the desires of the flesh - selfish life (psuche) which includes:
a)fornication
b)covetousness
c)uncleanness (Ephesians 5:3)
4. 2 Corinthians 12:20-21
a)debates
b)envyings
c)wraths
d)strifes
e)backbitings
f)whisperings
g)swellings
h)tumults
i)uncleanness
j)fornication
k)lasciviousness
5. Ephesians 4:17-18
Walking in darkness and the unfruitful works of darkness by living the soulish life (psuche) according to the desires of the flesh = walking in the vanity of your mind (Ephesians 4:17)
Walking in darkness: (Ephesians 4:18)
a)darkens our understanding of God
b)blinds our hearts
c)alienates us from the life (Zoe) of God
The Bride of Christ is not to have the works of darkness manifested in her life (Ephesians 4:19-20)
6. Colossians 3:5-9
a)fornicators
b)uncleanness
c)inordinate affections
d)evil concupiscence
e)covetousness
f)idolatry
g)anger
h)wrath
i)malice
j)blasphemy
k)filthy communication
l)lying
***I always broke it down like this... Wearing a dress does not make me a girl, however, because I am a girl, I wear a dress. I was a girl first than as a result of being a girl, I wear a dress. Same with being a Christian. You can not do good things to become a Christian. You are a Christian first, and than you do good things, produce good fruit, as a result of already being a Christian.***
So you see even with all the things that we may say with our mouth that we love the Lord and have a relationship with the Lord but the Lord is very specific in how you prove that you love Him and who has fellowship with Him. And not only that, if you are doing all those things (expressions of love) and not obeying Him, than God is not receiving them and you are doing them in vain. The relationship that man has with God that God is seeking is a love relationship. To love Him is to follow His commandments. To follow His commandments is to not sin. If you have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of you, than He is teaching you what sin is and also He is explaining in details of the law and purpose of it.
So, even though we do not have the rituals of the law, we must not sin against God which is our law and was the law from the beginning. It's useless to do rituals because the guest of honor had already come. The ritual was preparing them for the guest of Honor Jesus and now we are living sin free as virgin brides to prepare for the Groom, the 2nd coming of Jesus.
Amen.
As always, I write what is in my heart to encourage us to examine ourselves and make changes if need be. Years ago 1st, 2nd and 3rd John changed my life when I read it because it is brutally true and it is the Holy Spirit speaking to me. Anytime I find myself in a situation that is not of Christ and contrary to what I stand for, than I am convicted to repentance. If the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, than you can not stay in your sinful ways.
Thank God for repentance and forgiveness!!! That is what I want for all of us to be completely in line with God, including myself.
Next segment the relationship between man and man.
Note:***This is a Christian blog so we know the history of what happened. I had to edit a lot because I just had too much to say. You know how I get carried away. Also I will start writing article on my blog (separate links) to where I can be free to be as long as I need.***
Matt22:37-38 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38This is the first and great commandment.
I first want to say that I thank God that our salvation is not based on how we "show our love" toward God and others because if it was, most of us would not make it. This is another reason why we can't boast about being saved and to keep it humble ALWAYS. Those who truly understand and have the Holy Spirit within them do not have a boastful spirit. Knowing what we know? It's impossible to feel nothing more than grateful!!!
We express our love to God with our lips but like the scripture said, but your heart is far from Me Matt 15:8. Most of us have lived our lives as Christians for years and still haven't figured out how to love God. You can express your love for God with dance, singing, clapping, crying, being thankful, being grateful, praise, worship, prayer, through service (work), reading His word, studying, speaking in tongue, being nice to one another, sacrifice and all that other good stuff that we do. But God told us how to prove your love towards Him and it's not with your mouth or any of the other thing I just mentioned.
I got some good news folks!!!
We don't have to try to guess what it is that God want and we don't have to figure out how to show our love for Him in return. God told us how to show Him that we love Him. John 14:14 If ye love me, keep my commandments. This is how we love the Lord. Once we love the Lord, than He will accept our expression of Love towards Him. Now God already expressed and proven His love for us John 3:16. God did His part and kept His promise so then now it's man's turn.
***I want to make a note because I think that it's important. Those who read the word know that there are many laws written and then there's the 10 commandments. The 10 commandments are separated from the other (Mosaic)laws and that is why you see that I mentioned the commandments and not the laws even though the commandment is a law. The Mosaic laws were necessary for the Jews that also included rituals that were done to prepare them for the Messiah. Today, we have the Holy Spirit, teaching us how to live like Christ and to be obedient making us virgins without blimpish or spot to prepare us for the 2nd coming of Christ. This is why Paul wanted to express to the Jews about all those rituals are no longer necessary because of Jesus.***
HERE IS THE BRUTAL TRUTH!!!
I am giving you the truth because I love you and I want you to know this! It is impossible to have a personal relationship with God and you live in sin! It is not possible! God is holy and therefore there is no sin in Him. If we want to have a relationship with Him than we must have fellowship with Him. Our law is not to live in sin as explained in the books of 1st and 2nd John!
1John 1:16-17 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Here He is explaining how you can tell the difference between someone who have actual fellowship with God. If you see someone living in sin, than clearly, they have not been cleansed with the blood of Jesus. If you see someone walk after Christ, that you will see them in fellowship one with another. ***I call this the brutal truth.***
John 8:12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
1John 1:18 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. This is following the prior verse. He is explaining part B of verse 7, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Jesus will cleanse us and we are deceiving ourselves if we say there is no need for Jesus to do this because I have no sin. It is not saying anything about living in sin or walking in darkness so don't get that confused.
You have the truth already. 1John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
I love this verse because we sometimes struggle with the thought of us being sons of God because we do not look any different on the outer part (body) than we looked before we believed. John is saying that yes, we are son's of God but it will not shown on the outer part until Jesus appear again that we will not only change into our permanent appearance but it is then that we will actually be able to see Him in his full complete glory!!!
Our law 1John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
I encourage you to read all of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John well mainly 1st and 2nd. It is very detailed in how to built a relationship with God.
It's important to know what it means to walk in darkness to make sure we are not doing that because you are not a part of Christ if you are walking in darkness so here are some examples so you can examine for yourself and know what the Holy Spirit is saying. Key scripture on this subject.
1. Walking in darkness will keep us from comprehending God (1 John 1:5)
2. Walking in darkness will blind our spiritual eyes (1 John 2:11)
a)God is light and in Him is no darkness (1 John 1:5)
b)Followers of God will not walk in darkness (1 John 1:6)
c)Walking in the truth of God's Word will keep us from walking in darkness (Psalm 119:105, John 3:21, John 17:17, 1 John 1:6)
3. Walking in darkness will produce the WORKS OF DARKNESS which is the manisfestation of the desires of the flesh. l The works of the flesh = unfruitful works of darkness (John 3:20, Ephesians 5:11)
a)The believers (Bride) are to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12)
WHAT ARE THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS?
1. Romans 13:13
a)rioting
b)drunkenness
c)chambering
d)wantonness
e)strife
f)envying
The unfruitful works of darkness = works of the flesh (psuche) (Romans 3:14)
2. Galatians 5:19-21
a)adultery
b)fornication
c)uncleanness
d)lasciviousness
e)idolatry
f)witchcraft
g)hatred
h)variance
i)emulations
j)wrath
k)strife
l)seditions
m)heresies
n)envyings
o)murders
p)drunknenness
q)revellings
3. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11
a)fornicators
b)covetous
c)extortioners
d)idolators
e)railers
f)drunkards
The Bride of Christ does not walk in darkness which is the desires of the flesh - selfish life (psuche) which includes:
a)fornication
b)covetousness
c)uncleanness (Ephesians 5:3)
4. 2 Corinthians 12:20-21
a)debates
b)envyings
c)wraths
d)strifes
e)backbitings
f)whisperings
g)swellings
h)tumults
i)uncleanness
j)fornication
k)lasciviousness
5. Ephesians 4:17-18
Walking in darkness and the unfruitful works of darkness by living the soulish life (psuche) according to the desires of the flesh = walking in the vanity of your mind (Ephesians 4:17)
Walking in darkness: (Ephesians 4:18)
a)darkens our understanding of God
b)blinds our hearts
c)alienates us from the life (Zoe) of God
The Bride of Christ is not to have the works of darkness manifested in her life (Ephesians 4:19-20)
6. Colossians 3:5-9
a)fornicators
b)uncleanness
c)inordinate affections
d)evil concupiscence
e)covetousness
f)idolatry
g)anger
h)wrath
i)malice
j)blasphemy
k)filthy communication
l)lying
BELIEVERS WILL WALK IN LIGHT AND DO GOOD WORKS
Christians who walk in light do good works unto God. Doing good works does not save you. We are saved by the grace of God through faith and not by our good works. In Ephesians 2:8-9 it is written:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
However, after we are saved, God requires us to walk in light and perform good works which is our service unto Him. After explaining in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are not saved by good works, it explains in Ephesians 2:10 that after we are saved, we are required by God to do good works of service for the Kingdom of God. In Ephesians 2:10 it is written:
3. By walking in the LIGHT of the life (Zoe), the world will be able to see our GOOD WORKS and give glory to God (Matthew 5:16)Christians who walk in light do good works unto God. Doing good works does not save you. We are saved by the grace of God through faith and not by our good works. In Ephesians 2:8-9 it is written:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
However, after we are saved, God requires us to walk in light and perform good works which is our service unto Him. After explaining in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are not saved by good works, it explains in Ephesians 2:10 that after we are saved, we are required by God to do good works of service for the Kingdom of God. In Ephesians 2:10 it is written:
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
These truths can be see in the following scriptures:
1. Jesus did the GOOD WORKS of God (John 10:32, Acts 10:38)
2. The believers were created before the foundation of the world to do good works (Ephesians 2:10)
4. The believers are commanded by God to do the good works of Jesus (John 14:12, 1 Timothy 6:17-18, 2 Timothy 3:17, Titus 1:16, 2:14, 1 Peter 2:12)These truths can be see in the following scriptures:
1. Jesus did the GOOD WORKS of God (John 10:32, Acts 10:38)
2. The believers were created before the foundation of the world to do good works (Ephesians 2:10)
***I always broke it down like this... Wearing a dress does not make me a girl, however, because I am a girl, I wear a dress. I was a girl first than as a result of being a girl, I wear a dress. Same with being a Christian. You can not do good things to become a Christian. You are a Christian first, and than you do good things, produce good fruit, as a result of already being a Christian.***
So you see even with all the things that we may say with our mouth that we love the Lord and have a relationship with the Lord but the Lord is very specific in how you prove that you love Him and who has fellowship with Him. And not only that, if you are doing all those things (expressions of love) and not obeying Him, than God is not receiving them and you are doing them in vain. The relationship that man has with God that God is seeking is a love relationship. To love Him is to follow His commandments. To follow His commandments is to not sin. If you have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of you, than He is teaching you what sin is and also He is explaining in details of the law and purpose of it.
So, even though we do not have the rituals of the law, we must not sin against God which is our law and was the law from the beginning. It's useless to do rituals because the guest of honor had already come. The ritual was preparing them for the guest of Honor Jesus and now we are living sin free as virgin brides to prepare for the Groom, the 2nd coming of Jesus.
Amen.
As always, I write what is in my heart to encourage us to examine ourselves and make changes if need be. Years ago 1st, 2nd and 3rd John changed my life when I read it because it is brutally true and it is the Holy Spirit speaking to me. Anytime I find myself in a situation that is not of Christ and contrary to what I stand for, than I am convicted to repentance. If the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, than you can not stay in your sinful ways.
Thank God for repentance and forgiveness!!! That is what I want for all of us to be completely in line with God, including myself.
Next segment the relationship between man and man.
Note:***This is a Christian blog so we know the history of what happened. I had to edit a lot because I just had too much to say. You know how I get carried away. Also I will start writing article on my blog (separate links) to where I can be free to be as long as I need.***
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SPIRITUAL GIFTS
I want to share with you a little bit about the importance of sharing our spiritual gifts. I am sharing this because of a dream I had this morning.
It is important to understand that God sets all of us up to do a work that, He may have been working on for could be a day, months , or even years and set us up to be at the right time and the right place to help someone and or build His kingdom. However, not all situations are meant for us to get involved in so it's so important that we are very sensitive to the Holy Spirit and to not allow our human nature/instinct to mix in with what God want us to do. I learned about that in my early years as a Christian when I tried to witness to someone who was demonic possessed(I didn't know it at the time) and I didn't know what to do when he got violent. I also learned early on that there are some things that I might want to do but I am not ready yet to do. I have not reached my full maturity to do that task. But the key is...we are all given a gift and it is expected of us to fulfill it. The Holy Spirit has equipped us. It is also up to us to follow along with God and not get left behind on our task or jump ahead.
For example, when I mentioned maturity, a good example of this would be when we were young and of school age, we would be given assignments based on our age and grade. If you continue through your school years and followed the direction of the teacher, you would have been able to graduate from high school with the appropriate knowledge you needed to either go to college or to start working and living your life as an adult. You could of been an average student, or a failing student or an above average student. It all depended on you and the effort you put in. When it comes to the Spiritual, it also depends on your heart and your openness to allow God to develop you and teach you. There are some who are specially chosen just like those who can be a genius where it doesn't take a lot of efford. But remember, to much is given, much is required. There is no need to envy anyone's gift. All God requires is that you fulfill your gift and do it well.
The teacher is the Holy Spirit:
1John 2:27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true--it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
There are spiritual gifts that were distributed to every believer:
Rom 12:6-8(NLT) In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.7If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.8If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
1cor 12:4-11There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.5There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.6God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.7A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.8To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.9The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.10He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.11It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
1cor 12:28 (NLT)Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.
He also let us know that we do not all share the same exact gifts but each gift is given to help one another and strength one another. So even though we do not see Jesus face to face, He has given us His Spirit as evidence of Him and has generously given us gifts and this is why it is important to use them. With the work of the Holy Spirit the unsaved is drawn to Christ and we edify, comfort, and exhort one another with the gift from the same Spirit.
As always I want to encourage you to continue to read, to study, to draw closer to God.
Note: I will get to the building relationships but since I had this dream today, I made this my post for today.
God bless you and I love you.
It is important to understand that God sets all of us up to do a work that, He may have been working on for could be a day, months , or even years and set us up to be at the right time and the right place to help someone and or build His kingdom. However, not all situations are meant for us to get involved in so it's so important that we are very sensitive to the Holy Spirit and to not allow our human nature/instinct to mix in with what God want us to do. I learned about that in my early years as a Christian when I tried to witness to someone who was demonic possessed(I didn't know it at the time) and I didn't know what to do when he got violent. I also learned early on that there are some things that I might want to do but I am not ready yet to do. I have not reached my full maturity to do that task. But the key is...we are all given a gift and it is expected of us to fulfill it. The Holy Spirit has equipped us. It is also up to us to follow along with God and not get left behind on our task or jump ahead.
For example, when I mentioned maturity, a good example of this would be when we were young and of school age, we would be given assignments based on our age and grade. If you continue through your school years and followed the direction of the teacher, you would have been able to graduate from high school with the appropriate knowledge you needed to either go to college or to start working and living your life as an adult. You could of been an average student, or a failing student or an above average student. It all depended on you and the effort you put in. When it comes to the Spiritual, it also depends on your heart and your openness to allow God to develop you and teach you. There are some who are specially chosen just like those who can be a genius where it doesn't take a lot of efford. But remember, to much is given, much is required. There is no need to envy anyone's gift. All God requires is that you fulfill your gift and do it well.
The teacher is the Holy Spirit:
1John 2:27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true--it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
There are spiritual gifts that were distributed to every believer:
Rom 12:6-8(NLT) In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.7If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.8If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
1cor 12:4-11There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.5There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.6God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.7A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.8To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.9The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.10He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.11It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
1cor 12:28 (NLT)Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.
He also let us know that we do not all share the same exact gifts but each gift is given to help one another and strength one another. So even though we do not see Jesus face to face, He has given us His Spirit as evidence of Him and has generously given us gifts and this is why it is important to use them. With the work of the Holy Spirit the unsaved is drawn to Christ and we edify, comfort, and exhort one another with the gift from the same Spirit.
As always I want to encourage you to continue to read, to study, to draw closer to God.
Note: I will get to the building relationships but since I had this dream today, I made this my post for today.
God bless you and I love you.
Monday, August 8, 2011
INTRO ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS PART 2
Still speaking from my heart only: It has to be said.
Note: when I say speaking from my heart, I don't mean going away from what God says, I mean that I am not using Bible verse references but I am speaking on what the word of God says to do like a counselor. I just wanted to make that clear. But when I get to the actual series on building relationships that it will be the Word of God verse for verse reference.
GOD IS LOVE
If you want to know what love is, you got to know God. Because sin entered into the world due to one mans disobedience, we are all born selfish. Selfish is the opposite of love. The Commandments was given to teach man what love is and how to love Him and each other.
Relationship between God and man: me speaking
When we are disobedient to God, we are ruining our relationship with Him. How can you have a walk with God when you are walking in the wrong direction than where He is walking? He leads us to righteousness and we are walking towards sin. Two opposite directions. When that happens your frequency with the Holy Spirit is off. You have a hard time hearing Him. You cry and pray and say Lord I need an answer from you and I am getting nothing. Well, that is because you don't want to hear the real answer. You can't handle the real answer so you keep asking and you keep praying until you hear the words you want to hear. You want God to approve your sinful relationship. You want God to approve your disobedience. You want God to want what you want instead of you wanting what God want. That is not how this relationship thing works.
This is why it is so important for me to do this. You must hear God and He speaks through His word. Listen to what the Spirit is saying to you.
That was in my heart to say, I just had to point that out because again, what I am going to reveal is all scriptural and you may not like it because you are use to hearing things one way but I am here to tell the truth AMEN. I am here to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, even when it hurts me and it will.
***In case someone read this post earlier, you will see that I did a whole lot of editing with this 2nd one because the things that I put down was so hard and strong, it has to be backed up by the word of God so I am going to wait and add the rest during the actual series on building relationships.***
I love you all, God bless you.
Note: when I say speaking from my heart, I don't mean going away from what God says, I mean that I am not using Bible verse references but I am speaking on what the word of God says to do like a counselor. I just wanted to make that clear. But when I get to the actual series on building relationships that it will be the Word of God verse for verse reference.
GOD IS LOVE
If you want to know what love is, you got to know God. Because sin entered into the world due to one mans disobedience, we are all born selfish. Selfish is the opposite of love. The Commandments was given to teach man what love is and how to love Him and each other.
Relationship between God and man: me speaking
When we are disobedient to God, we are ruining our relationship with Him. How can you have a walk with God when you are walking in the wrong direction than where He is walking? He leads us to righteousness and we are walking towards sin. Two opposite directions. When that happens your frequency with the Holy Spirit is off. You have a hard time hearing Him. You cry and pray and say Lord I need an answer from you and I am getting nothing. Well, that is because you don't want to hear the real answer. You can't handle the real answer so you keep asking and you keep praying until you hear the words you want to hear. You want God to approve your sinful relationship. You want God to approve your disobedience. You want God to want what you want instead of you wanting what God want. That is not how this relationship thing works.
This is why it is so important for me to do this. You must hear God and He speaks through His word. Listen to what the Spirit is saying to you.
That was in my heart to say, I just had to point that out because again, what I am going to reveal is all scriptural and you may not like it because you are use to hearing things one way but I am here to tell the truth AMEN. I am here to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, even when it hurts me and it will.
***In case someone read this post earlier, you will see that I did a whole lot of editing with this 2nd one because the things that I put down was so hard and strong, it has to be backed up by the word of God so I am going to wait and add the rest during the actual series on building relationships.***
I love you all, God bless you.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS INTRODUCTION:
Matt: 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.
This is so important that I am going to have to brake it down into parts. I want to talk about relationships. There are two relationships that Jesus said that are the most important in following God's commandment.Thou shalt love the Lord with all of your heart, soul and might/mind. And, to love thy neighbor as thyself.
I'm going to do like Paul, I don't want us to walk around being ignorant thinking we are pleasing the Lord when we are not. What I just stated before are the two most important things out of all the laws that Jesus Christ Himself pointed out is the greatest of all. The reason for that is...if you focus on the two, all the others will fall in place. If you follow the two commandments, it will be impossible for you to break any of the other commandment because they all fall into the two commandments.
The Commandments consist of relationships. Relationships between man and God and relationships between man and man.
Now notice in both relationships that Love it required. It said nothing about like your neighbor and like God which is what most of us do. So, in the first part of my series of relationships I am going to talk about the difference between Love vs. Like because some of us really think we are showing love towards one another when really, your heart is not in it. Anyone who says this is so easy to do is not doing it.
Because I am not an expert on this subject as far as being the ultimate example of this I am going to rely solely on the word of God. You see, I myself am learning as I am teaching on this subject. God place this subject on my heart and all I am doing is being obedient to what the Lord want me to put out.
I don't know how long this is going to be and who knows, this may be a book. I'm sure you guys have seen by now that I am a long winded writer and I never put down everything that is in me to write because it will be too long. I find myself adding to it but I try not to do that because again, it will be too long to read.
Let me start off by saying that we are sometimes clueless as to how to act towards one another. We become the kings and queens of cliche' with our comments to try to sound so holy and Christiany. Yes I said Christiany. A lot of times we do this because we don't know how to act towards one another. 1st impressions are so important and if I say how are you doing and you say "Oh I am blessed and highly favored" and I think to myself, why do people say that!!! It sounds like it's the right thing to say but really it isn't and I will explain why.
Regarding relationships between man and man, love is not boastful. It would be like if I asked Bill Gates how are you doing and he say, "Well I am rich and have a lot of possessions." Or if I ask Halle Berry how is she doing and she say to me "Oh I am beautiful and rich". Or, if I ask a Jew and they say" Oh being that I am God's most precious possession, I am doing great". You see, that is not building a relationship with one another. That is being boastful or bragging about something that you have no control over because God had given that to you and has allowed that to happen to you. So, if you really want to show love towards me or anyone else, you can simply say "I am very grateful". That way, you are not bragging but you are being humble recognizing that you have received unmerited favor towards God. Plus, you never know what someone maybe going through. They may have lost their home or their job or there loved ones and here you are bragging. We have not reached glorification yet well I haven't met anyone yet who have reached glorification so we must all have a humble spirit. And, if you reached it, (glorification) you would not boast because it is not in your spirit to do that. Regarding relationships between man and God, He said, if you love me, you will follow my commandment. God said that!!! Love is an action word between man and God so these are things that I am going to talk about later on in part 1 of building relationships and it will all be scriptural.
*Side note: Glorification= ultimate and complete conformity to the image of Christ Jesus. Perfection.*
Now not to worry folks, we are all learning and together we can help one another to live the life that is pleasing to the Lord. So what I will talk about is how to build relationships. It's a process and it never, ever ends.
God bless you and I love you.
This is so important that I am going to have to brake it down into parts. I want to talk about relationships. There are two relationships that Jesus said that are the most important in following God's commandment.Thou shalt love the Lord with all of your heart, soul and might/mind. And, to love thy neighbor as thyself.
I'm going to do like Paul, I don't want us to walk around being ignorant thinking we are pleasing the Lord when we are not. What I just stated before are the two most important things out of all the laws that Jesus Christ Himself pointed out is the greatest of all. The reason for that is...if you focus on the two, all the others will fall in place. If you follow the two commandments, it will be impossible for you to break any of the other commandment because they all fall into the two commandments.
The Commandments consist of relationships. Relationships between man and God and relationships between man and man.
Now notice in both relationships that Love it required. It said nothing about like your neighbor and like God which is what most of us do. So, in the first part of my series of relationships I am going to talk about the difference between Love vs. Like because some of us really think we are showing love towards one another when really, your heart is not in it. Anyone who says this is so easy to do is not doing it.
Because I am not an expert on this subject as far as being the ultimate example of this I am going to rely solely on the word of God. You see, I myself am learning as I am teaching on this subject. God place this subject on my heart and all I am doing is being obedient to what the Lord want me to put out.
I don't know how long this is going to be and who knows, this may be a book. I'm sure you guys have seen by now that I am a long winded writer and I never put down everything that is in me to write because it will be too long. I find myself adding to it but I try not to do that because again, it will be too long to read.
Let me start off by saying that we are sometimes clueless as to how to act towards one another. We become the kings and queens of cliche' with our comments to try to sound so holy and Christiany. Yes I said Christiany. A lot of times we do this because we don't know how to act towards one another. 1st impressions are so important and if I say how are you doing and you say "Oh I am blessed and highly favored" and I think to myself, why do people say that!!! It sounds like it's the right thing to say but really it isn't and I will explain why.
Regarding relationships between man and man, love is not boastful. It would be like if I asked Bill Gates how are you doing and he say, "Well I am rich and have a lot of possessions." Or if I ask Halle Berry how is she doing and she say to me "Oh I am beautiful and rich". Or, if I ask a Jew and they say" Oh being that I am God's most precious possession, I am doing great". You see, that is not building a relationship with one another. That is being boastful or bragging about something that you have no control over because God had given that to you and has allowed that to happen to you. So, if you really want to show love towards me or anyone else, you can simply say "I am very grateful". That way, you are not bragging but you are being humble recognizing that you have received unmerited favor towards God. Plus, you never know what someone maybe going through. They may have lost their home or their job or there loved ones and here you are bragging. We have not reached glorification yet well I haven't met anyone yet who have reached glorification so we must all have a humble spirit. And, if you reached it, (glorification) you would not boast because it is not in your spirit to do that. Regarding relationships between man and God, He said, if you love me, you will follow my commandment. God said that!!! Love is an action word between man and God so these are things that I am going to talk about later on in part 1 of building relationships and it will all be scriptural.
*Side note: Glorification= ultimate and complete conformity to the image of Christ Jesus. Perfection.*
Now not to worry folks, we are all learning and together we can help one another to live the life that is pleasing to the Lord. So what I will talk about is how to build relationships. It's a process and it never, ever ends.
God bless you and I love you.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
BLESSING ISRAEL ROMANS 15:27
Rom 15:25-27 NLT 25But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers [fn] there.26For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia[fn] have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.27They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially.
One of the things that I wanted to talk about in my blog are the things that are affecting or concerning Christians today. By living in America and living in our hometowns, we often times do not concern ourselves with things that are going on in the Jewish community or in Israel. We forget that we are partakers. The gospel was given to the Jews first, and than the Gentiles. Not only that, in the early Christian church, they understood that as partakers of the Spiritual gifts that were given to them, they showed their gratitude by being a blessing to them with material gifts.
When we bless Israel, we in return will be blessed. Now I know that it feels different for us because, we did not receive the gospel directly from the Jews like back in the early churches. There is a disconnect because, just speaking for myself, I've never met a Jewish person who shared the gospel with me. As a matter of fact, most of us were taught that the Jews don't even believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah so we continue to live our lives as if we are now the new chosen ones and the Jews are the former chosen ones. I am here to tell you now that this is not only incorrect thinking, but it is not scriptural.
The reason we get confused is because we say we must help to "convert" the Jews to Christianity (our religion). It's not that the Jews were or were not converted, the truth is, the Jews were Christians from the beginning. Now of course there is a change that takes place once anyone, including Jews, accept Christ as their personal savior, and salvation only comes by accepting Christ as your Lord and savior, but they were given little by little the prophecy about the Messiah and the role of keeping the prophecy until it is fulfilled was by the Jews. This is what I mean when I say they were Christians from the beginning. They were the keepers that were entrusted with the Truth "if you will". I will try to give a brief explanation of this. The first gospel message was given in the garden of Eden Gen 3:15And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike [fn] your head, and you will strike his heel." Now this message was the prophecy of what is to happen in the future but Adam and Eve were not Jews because the nation had not been established yet. Later we know that God called out Abraham and separated Abraham from his family and the rest of the world to fulfill this prophecy. Abraham received 3 promises: 1. Great nation (Israel/Jews through his grandson Jacob). 2. Land promise (Jerusalem)and 3. Seed promise (Jesus) that were all fulfilled. So you see the prophecy has been fulfilled so the Jews were not "converted" to Christianity, they were already Christians, so what really happened is, some of the Jews rejected their own faith and started another religion by not accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior and have continued with the law of Moses instead of recognizing that Jesus has fulfilled it all and that the law was a shadow and a tutor of the real thing. In other words, they already had the truth and Jesus fulfilled the prophecy but they did not received it and therefore left their faith for another and call themselves Orthodox Jews. We the Gentiles were the only ones who were converted (to their faith), not the Jews (converting to our faith). Rom 11: 11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.And those Jews who have not accepted, once they receive the gospel and accept it, than they are not converted, but the better word is, they have returned. John 4:22(b) NLT for salvation comes through the Jews. Now those who accept Christ have now been identified as Christians in Acts 11:26. KJVAnd when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Jesus Christ came that the world through him might be saved but again He came to the Jews first being born a Jew and is currently the king of the Jews reigning from heaven sitting on the right hand of the Father. Why would Jesus currently, and in the future, be king of the Jews if the Jews were no longer His people? Now as Gentiles converted into Christianity, we have received and shared in the blessings that were promised to the Jews through Abraham. God also gave this promise to Abraham. Gen 12:2-3 NLT I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.3I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you." This is a promise that still stand today. And, God takes it personally when nations try to harm Israel: Zechariah 2:8 NLT After a period of glory, the LORD of Heaven's Armies sent me against the nations who plundered you. For he said, "Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession.
Now that we know that we are partakers of the covenant and promises given to Israel. 1cr 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Being that we are partakers also means that whatever is going on with Israel we must take personally as if it is happening to us also. Right now the Israel nation is being threaten and need our support.
In a recent New York Times article, Ahmad Tibi, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, called upon the world to boycott Israeli companies. Ahmad is an Arab Israeli, who was elected by other Israelis to sit in the Israeli parliament (Knesset). Israel not only have Israeli's people there but they also have Arabs living there. Israeli Knesset is a democratic governmental body made up of both the Jews and Arabs.
Tibi is the leader of Ta'al the Arab Movement of Renewal. He is putting pressure on other countries to force Israel to end the Israeli occupation and start the right of return for the Palestinian refugees from 1948. Even though other people lived in Israel during that time, we know that Israel was promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Jewish people. Here are other scriptures dealing with the promise: Gen 12:1-3, 13:14-18, 15:1-21, 17:4-8, 22:15-18, 26:1-5 and Psalm 89:28-37.
It was the Jewish people that allowed Arabs to have full rights as citizens with them in 1948, as the Jewish people were given their own Jewish state to call home. As you know after the Holocaust in which half of the world's Jewish population were destroyed by Hitler, the Jewish people returned to Israel, which at the time was under British control. On May 14, 1948, the UN voted that Israel would be the Jewish Homeland.
Believe it or not, today some of the Christian religions around the world are boycotting Israeli companies helping Tabi in his mission to allow Palestinian refugees to return from 1948. The member of their government turning against them. Some of the groups are Dutch Interchurch Organization and the Irish Catholic group Troicare, both funded by the EU government, drive such divestment campains against Israel. This year it's reported that united Church of Canada voted to boycott six companies (Caterpillar, Motorola, Ahava, Veolia, Elbit Systems and Chapter/Indigo). Last year the Methodist Chruch of Britain voted to boycott products manufactured in Judea and Samaria. And now it's rumored that America could be heading in the wrong direction going against Israeli. I am just naming a few. All of this is going totally against the word of God. We know what God promised Abraham and his seed and we know what God promised us as partakers.
As Christians we must stand with Israel and make a difference for eternity! God's Word never changes. He still blesses those who bless Israel. I have joined three groups in support of Israel to #1 keep in touch with what is going on in Israel and #2. To find ways to support Israel. My prayer is that America will continue to be allies and supporters of Israel. We must continue to pray for them and as Christians we can find organizations that support Israel. We can donate our goods being a blessing to those in need and we can even join the local Jewish community in helping to support them. And by doing this, we will be blessed. I hope I have encouraged you to help in the support. If you have any questions feel free to send me an email.
I love you all and God bless you.
One of the things that I wanted to talk about in my blog are the things that are affecting or concerning Christians today. By living in America and living in our hometowns, we often times do not concern ourselves with things that are going on in the Jewish community or in Israel. We forget that we are partakers. The gospel was given to the Jews first, and than the Gentiles. Not only that, in the early Christian church, they understood that as partakers of the Spiritual gifts that were given to them, they showed their gratitude by being a blessing to them with material gifts.
When we bless Israel, we in return will be blessed. Now I know that it feels different for us because, we did not receive the gospel directly from the Jews like back in the early churches. There is a disconnect because, just speaking for myself, I've never met a Jewish person who shared the gospel with me. As a matter of fact, most of us were taught that the Jews don't even believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah so we continue to live our lives as if we are now the new chosen ones and the Jews are the former chosen ones. I am here to tell you now that this is not only incorrect thinking, but it is not scriptural.
The reason we get confused is because we say we must help to "convert" the Jews to Christianity (our religion). It's not that the Jews were or were not converted, the truth is, the Jews were Christians from the beginning. Now of course there is a change that takes place once anyone, including Jews, accept Christ as their personal savior, and salvation only comes by accepting Christ as your Lord and savior, but they were given little by little the prophecy about the Messiah and the role of keeping the prophecy until it is fulfilled was by the Jews. This is what I mean when I say they were Christians from the beginning. They were the keepers that were entrusted with the Truth "if you will". I will try to give a brief explanation of this. The first gospel message was given in the garden of Eden Gen 3:15And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike [fn] your head, and you will strike his heel." Now this message was the prophecy of what is to happen in the future but Adam and Eve were not Jews because the nation had not been established yet. Later we know that God called out Abraham and separated Abraham from his family and the rest of the world to fulfill this prophecy. Abraham received 3 promises: 1. Great nation (Israel/Jews through his grandson Jacob). 2. Land promise (Jerusalem)and 3. Seed promise (Jesus) that were all fulfilled. So you see the prophecy has been fulfilled so the Jews were not "converted" to Christianity, they were already Christians, so what really happened is, some of the Jews rejected their own faith and started another religion by not accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior and have continued with the law of Moses instead of recognizing that Jesus has fulfilled it all and that the law was a shadow and a tutor of the real thing. In other words, they already had the truth and Jesus fulfilled the prophecy but they did not received it and therefore left their faith for another and call themselves Orthodox Jews. We the Gentiles were the only ones who were converted (to their faith), not the Jews (converting to our faith). Rom 11: 11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.And those Jews who have not accepted, once they receive the gospel and accept it, than they are not converted, but the better word is, they have returned. John 4:22(b) NLT for salvation comes through the Jews. Now those who accept Christ have now been identified as Christians in Acts 11:26. KJVAnd when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Jesus Christ came that the world through him might be saved but again He came to the Jews first being born a Jew and is currently the king of the Jews reigning from heaven sitting on the right hand of the Father. Why would Jesus currently, and in the future, be king of the Jews if the Jews were no longer His people? Now as Gentiles converted into Christianity, we have received and shared in the blessings that were promised to the Jews through Abraham. God also gave this promise to Abraham. Gen 12:2-3 NLT I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.3I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you." This is a promise that still stand today. And, God takes it personally when nations try to harm Israel: Zechariah 2:8 NLT After a period of glory, the LORD of Heaven's Armies sent me against the nations who plundered you. For he said, "Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession.
Now that we know that we are partakers of the covenant and promises given to Israel. 1cr 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Being that we are partakers also means that whatever is going on with Israel we must take personally as if it is happening to us also. Right now the Israel nation is being threaten and need our support.
In a recent New York Times article, Ahmad Tibi, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, called upon the world to boycott Israeli companies. Ahmad is an Arab Israeli, who was elected by other Israelis to sit in the Israeli parliament (Knesset). Israel not only have Israeli's people there but they also have Arabs living there. Israeli Knesset is a democratic governmental body made up of both the Jews and Arabs.
Tibi is the leader of Ta'al the Arab Movement of Renewal. He is putting pressure on other countries to force Israel to end the Israeli occupation and start the right of return for the Palestinian refugees from 1948. Even though other people lived in Israel during that time, we know that Israel was promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Jewish people. Here are other scriptures dealing with the promise: Gen 12:1-3, 13:14-18, 15:1-21, 17:4-8, 22:15-18, 26:1-5 and Psalm 89:28-37.
It was the Jewish people that allowed Arabs to have full rights as citizens with them in 1948, as the Jewish people were given their own Jewish state to call home. As you know after the Holocaust in which half of the world's Jewish population were destroyed by Hitler, the Jewish people returned to Israel, which at the time was under British control. On May 14, 1948, the UN voted that Israel would be the Jewish Homeland.
Believe it or not, today some of the Christian religions around the world are boycotting Israeli companies helping Tabi in his mission to allow Palestinian refugees to return from 1948. The member of their government turning against them. Some of the groups are Dutch Interchurch Organization and the Irish Catholic group Troicare, both funded by the EU government, drive such divestment campains against Israel. This year it's reported that united Church of Canada voted to boycott six companies (Caterpillar, Motorola, Ahava, Veolia, Elbit Systems and Chapter/Indigo). Last year the Methodist Chruch of Britain voted to boycott products manufactured in Judea and Samaria. And now it's rumored that America could be heading in the wrong direction going against Israeli. I am just naming a few. All of this is going totally against the word of God. We know what God promised Abraham and his seed and we know what God promised us as partakers.
As Christians we must stand with Israel and make a difference for eternity! God's Word never changes. He still blesses those who bless Israel. I have joined three groups in support of Israel to #1 keep in touch with what is going on in Israel and #2. To find ways to support Israel. My prayer is that America will continue to be allies and supporters of Israel. We must continue to pray for them and as Christians we can find organizations that support Israel. We can donate our goods being a blessing to those in need and we can even join the local Jewish community in helping to support them. And by doing this, we will be blessed. I hope I have encouraged you to help in the support. If you have any questions feel free to send me an email.
I love you all and God bless you.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
WHAT ARE YOU ENTERTAINING?
When I say that as I study and as I read and share, I am really learning myself, it is the truth. We can never exhaust all knowledge of the Bible and we can never stop learning ourselves the things we must do to please God and the things we do that could be displeasing to God. I will give you an example.
One of the things that I like to do is go to the movies. If you read my profile, one of the movies that I had mentioned that I like is Lord of the Rings. It was actually on the top of my list as my favorite movie of all time. What I like about movies like that are the special affects and the story writing. What I have to be careful of is watching movies that have witch craft in it. Even if it is fake. Being a Christian means you love what God love and you hate what God hate and if you are ignorant of certain things, the Holy Spirit will reveal to you the truth and it is up to you to follow and listen to what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to you. As I am studying, I came across witch craft. Sometimes, we as Christian do things and do not realize we are entertaining evil spirits.
I saw the last episode of Harry Potter and when I told my mother she was shocked. She said to me that I can not entertain things like that. We are not strong enough to fight the devils on our own and we never know what we could be inviting in. I listened to what my mother had to say because I learned not to be foolish to ignore wise counsel. I learned not to allow pride to enter in and get offended over wise advice. As long as I am on this earth, I will always need spiritual advice. That is one of the things we are here for, as far as being here for one another. My mother was compelled to tell me to stop watching things like that, even if it appears innocent to me. It's best to stay clear of that stuff. Than I though of my favorite movie Lord of the Rings. I don't know what some of those creatures were uttering in the movie? Who knows what could be drawing me to like things like that. It is best that I stay clear away from it. Like they say it's better to be safe than sorry.
Another thing we like to entertain is horoscopes. Now I for one have stayed clear away from that since my youth because my mother taught me right away to not entertain horoscopes and fortune tellers and Ouija boards. Even talking about signs, my mother taught me early on not to talk about what sign you are because it all is in the same category as horoscope and witchcraft.
Witchcraft is defined as:
wanting to have spiritual powers without submitting to God. It is a desire to be a spiritual free agent without submission to God and without regard for the bible's teaching.
All supernatural power comes, ultimately, from either God or Satan. Satan empowers those who believe a lie. Witchcraft supports Satan's lies. So anyone who opens himself or herself to them and than:
Mixes certain ingredients in a drink
Eats special herbs
arranges candles in a certain configuration
stares into a crystal ball
turns over Tarot cards
"reads" the stars/horoscope
draws certain symbols
all this will encourage evil spiritual forces to come into play. According to James 3:15 such so-called "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
Rebellion against God ranks as the greatest sin we can commit. Divination and witchcraft are often linked to each other in the teaching of the Bible. "For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you" 1 Samuel 15:23 NIV. Here are other verses you can read regarding these things. Deut. 18:10-11; 18:14, Acts 8:9-11, Joshua 13:22, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Jeremiah 14:14; 27:9-10, Micah 5:12, Isaiah 2:6; 8:19
We must be repentant. Like any other sinful activity Christians should repent if they have ever dabbled in or been deeply involved in witchcraft. Acts 19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand of silver.
I wanted to talk about this because one of the things as Christian that we make a mistake at is thinking that somethings are harmless. We are sanctified and separated from this world. Those who rejects the Bible and God's teaching revert to such things thinking they are wise. Stay clear away and teach your children not to entertain these things. You may have a problem with your children that can be easily solved by taking away the things that they are listening to or the people that they are hanging around with that are entertaining these things. And, we must repent immediately once it is brought to our attention because it is the Holy Spirit that is bring it to your attention. God is faithful to forgive. Once you repent, stay away from such things that can be spiritually harmful leading you to idolatry and don't take for granted what you may think is harmless.
God bless you all.
boards.
One of the things that I like to do is go to the movies. If you read my profile, one of the movies that I had mentioned that I like is Lord of the Rings. It was actually on the top of my list as my favorite movie of all time. What I like about movies like that are the special affects and the story writing. What I have to be careful of is watching movies that have witch craft in it. Even if it is fake. Being a Christian means you love what God love and you hate what God hate and if you are ignorant of certain things, the Holy Spirit will reveal to you the truth and it is up to you to follow and listen to what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to you. As I am studying, I came across witch craft. Sometimes, we as Christian do things and do not realize we are entertaining evil spirits.
I saw the last episode of Harry Potter and when I told my mother she was shocked. She said to me that I can not entertain things like that. We are not strong enough to fight the devils on our own and we never know what we could be inviting in. I listened to what my mother had to say because I learned not to be foolish to ignore wise counsel. I learned not to allow pride to enter in and get offended over wise advice. As long as I am on this earth, I will always need spiritual advice. That is one of the things we are here for, as far as being here for one another. My mother was compelled to tell me to stop watching things like that, even if it appears innocent to me. It's best to stay clear of that stuff. Than I though of my favorite movie Lord of the Rings. I don't know what some of those creatures were uttering in the movie? Who knows what could be drawing me to like things like that. It is best that I stay clear away from it. Like they say it's better to be safe than sorry.
Another thing we like to entertain is horoscopes. Now I for one have stayed clear away from that since my youth because my mother taught me right away to not entertain horoscopes and fortune tellers and Ouija boards. Even talking about signs, my mother taught me early on not to talk about what sign you are because it all is in the same category as horoscope and witchcraft.
Witchcraft is defined as:
wanting to have spiritual powers without submitting to God. It is a desire to be a spiritual free agent without submission to God and without regard for the bible's teaching.
All supernatural power comes, ultimately, from either God or Satan. Satan empowers those who believe a lie. Witchcraft supports Satan's lies. So anyone who opens himself or herself to them and than:
Mixes certain ingredients in a drink
Eats special herbs
arranges candles in a certain configuration
stares into a crystal ball
turns over Tarot cards
"reads" the stars/horoscope
draws certain symbols
all this will encourage evil spiritual forces to come into play. According to James 3:15 such so-called "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
Rebellion against God ranks as the greatest sin we can commit. Divination and witchcraft are often linked to each other in the teaching of the Bible. "For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you" 1 Samuel 15:23 NIV. Here are other verses you can read regarding these things. Deut. 18:10-11; 18:14, Acts 8:9-11, Joshua 13:22, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Jeremiah 14:14; 27:9-10, Micah 5:12, Isaiah 2:6; 8:19
We must be repentant. Like any other sinful activity Christians should repent if they have ever dabbled in or been deeply involved in witchcraft. Acts 19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand of silver.
I wanted to talk about this because one of the things as Christian that we make a mistake at is thinking that somethings are harmless. We are sanctified and separated from this world. Those who rejects the Bible and God's teaching revert to such things thinking they are wise. Stay clear away and teach your children not to entertain these things. You may have a problem with your children that can be easily solved by taking away the things that they are listening to or the people that they are hanging around with that are entertaining these things. And, we must repent immediately once it is brought to our attention because it is the Holy Spirit that is bring it to your attention. God is faithful to forgive. Once you repent, stay away from such things that can be spiritually harmful leading you to idolatry and don't take for granted what you may think is harmless.
God bless you all.
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