The Mystery of Godliness

There is a lot of disagreement about the identity of Jesus. Many say He was a good man, but just a man. (This claim obviously falls under its own weight since a good man would not make a false claim) Many others say He never claimed to be God. They may admit He said He was the "Son of God" just as we all are children of God; but, they say, He never claimed to be truly God.

To those who say Jesus never claimed to be God, I will respond with the Word of God, as did Jesus. Jesus told the resurrection denying Sadducees, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God" (Matthew 22:30). Those who deny the Deity of Jesus Christ are also mistaken because they do not truly know the Scriptures. 

The Word of God clearly tells us that Jesus is God. It says in John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and was God." To clarify Who the Word is, it goes on to say in verse 14, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." The word glory comes from the Hebrew word Shekinah. It means the manifest presence of God. John was referring to the Transfiguration when Jesus allowed three of His disciples to see the radiant glory of His heavenly body.

The Word says He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin as it was prophesied by Isaiah (7:14) and restated in Matthew 1:23, "The virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us."  

The prophecies concerning His virgin birth were fulfilled. He grew up in the village of Nazareth and then went to the Jordan to be baptized by John and start His ministry. At his baptism, the Spirit of God descended in the form of a dove and a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16-17 This event displayed the Trinity in action to those with eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand.

True Israelites should have already had some understanding of Yehovah in His Tri-Unity because it had been witnessed since creation. The actions of all three are mentioned throughout the Old Testament and two passages even mention God's "Son." It was also the reason for the Shema prayer of Israel. Why would you need to continually declare your God is One unless it was to establish the unity of the Trinity? The majority of religious leaders had hardened their hearts to that truth and it caused them to reject their Messiah even though Jesus made the truth plain to them.     

Jesus also spoke the truth to Satan but he missed it, as well. When Satan attempted to get Jesus to prove He was the Son of God by throwing Himself off the pinnacle of the Temple and letting angels rescue Him; Jesus responded, "It is written, 'You shall not tempt Yehovah, your God'" Matthew 4:6-7.  Jesus was giving Satan two responses in one. First, Jesus let him know He, Himself, would not sin by attempting to tempt His Father. And, second, Jesus was showing Satan that He, Himself, (as Yehovah in the flesh) was not even tempted by the offer. As James 1:14 tells us, "God cannot be tempted to evil..." He has no sin nature to appeal to... no lust to draw Him to sin.  

Now to get to the actual words of Jesus when He dwelt among men. Let's look at excerpts from John,  chapter 10, verses 24-33. The Jews surrounded Jesus and asked Him if he was the Messiah.  Jesus said, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works I do bear witness of Me... But you do not believe..." He continued with, "I and My Father are One."  "Then the Jews took up stones to stone Him." So, Jesus asked them "...for which of those works do you stone Me?"  The Jews replied, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make yourself God." Yes, they understood that Jesus was claiming to be God.

Continuing in verse 36, Jesus challenged their accusation of blasphemy.  He said, "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, I am the Son of God?" This exchange reveals clearly that Jesus claimed to be God because He is!

In John 11:25, Jesus told Martha, "...I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." Of course, we understand that those who die in Christ will be resurrected, but what does He mean when He says, "whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die"? Is this a hidden reference to those who will be raptured? I believe it is! The bottom line here is that only God has the power to fulfill these statements; therefore, we can rest assured that Jesus is God! 

                                             

Knowing Jesus is God doesn't mean we automatically understand how that works. Paul talked about the dual God/Man nature of Jesus as being a great mystery! There is no argument about the fact that it is complicated!

It helps if you insert the name of Jesus into this passage.

Jesus was manifested in the flesh. Jesus was justified in the Spirit. Jesus was seen of angels. Jesus was preached among the Gentiles. Jesus was believed on in the world. Jesus was received up into glory.

And, all of this is true because Jesus is God.

He was fully God in eternity past and, in agreement with the Father and the Holy Spirit, He chose to take on a flesh, blood and bone body to identify with His creation so He could live among us and die for our sins. He is fully God and fully Man now and for eternity. He wants those who trust Him as their Savior to live with Him forever in glory! Glory to the Godhead in the Highest!

Jesus, the Son of God, died for your sins and rose again.

If you believe He died for your sins, you are being drawn by the Spirit of God.

Confess that you are a sinner and don't want to live that way anymore.

Ask Jesus to take control of your life. He will!

Then tell someone that Jesus has saved you!

Rejoice! Pray! Read the Word of God.

Seek out fellowship.

He is Coming Soon!

Like Water Spilled On The Ground

For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.  II Samuel 14:14 NKJV

Here we are given deep insight into the nature of God and His heart for mankind. It comes to us in an Old Testament story about King David and his favored son Absalom.    Absalom had ordered his servants to murder his older half-brother, Amnon, because Amnon had raped Absalom's full sister, Tamar, and nothing had been done about it.

Following the murder, Absalom had fled to his mother's country of Geshur and dwelt there for three years. King David missed Absalom but he apparently wasn't comfortable with the ramifications for his kingdom if he set the precedent of letting members of the royal family be above the law. He knew justice would not be served by pardoning Absalom, and yet he pined for him.

After three years had passed without a solution, Joab, King David's nephew and the commander of his armies, decided he should intervene to help King David bring Absalom home. 

Joab hired a wise woman from Tekoa (a small town about six miles from Jerusalem) to come before King David with a petition to spare her son from the death penalty for killing his brother. 

Her plea was that her remaining son was the only one left to support her and to carry on the family line. 

King David's compassion was stirred, and he gave her an assurance her son would not be killed.

Once King David made his decision for mercy on her son's behalf, the wise woman pressed him concerning mercy for Absalom. 

She said: "For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again."

This is such a vivid and therefore haunting picture of the hopelessness of death without a Savior. Selah.                               
She reminds King David that we are all sinners without hope, but for the grace and mercy of God. The death penalty is upon us; yet, God does not pursue our death because He "is not willing that any should perish." 

She goes on to say, "God does not take away a life." She tells King David that God "devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him." And thus, she encourages King David to make a way for Absalom to come home.

The problem is that her plea was a call for King David to embrace mercy without satisfying justice.

The wise words of the woman of Tekoa were certainly true concerning our Heavenly Father. He created us to be with Him, but we turned our backs on Him by sinning. Our sin caused spiritual death and banished us from His presence. But God still longed for fellowship with us, so He devised a righteous means to bring us back into eternal relationship with Him.

Unlike King David's action, God's provision satisfied justice. It would violate His nature to do otherwise. For God to be morally consistent within Himself, He must satisfy mercy and justice! 

His means of salvation must pay the penalty for all sins committed by mankind. He could justly provide forgiveness in no other way. 

So He literally provided Himself a sacrifice! He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, to die on a cross in our place. 

Consider the magnitude of that sacrifice!  Being a sinless man qualified Jesus to die for a single sinful man, but being a sinless God/Man qualified Jesus to die for all sinners!

This is good news! Because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary "whosoever will" may come to the Father for forgiveness and eternal life. We are no longer banished and expelled! All is forgiven if we turn away from sin and ask the Father to forgive us because of the price Jesus Christ paid.     
                                                
Don't be like the unrepentant Absalom who perished in a rebellion against his father's kingdom. 

"Today is the day of salvation."

I invite you to return to your Heavenly Father for forgiveness and eternal life!

Put your trust in Jesus and come home!  

Beware of Islam: It Denies the Doctrine of Christ

The Apostle John, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, could have been speaking of Islam when he gave the following admonition.

"Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God."

Many are trying to combine faiths today. Many want to embrace Chrislam. But John’s words apply directly to Islam. Christianity cannot be mixed with the doctrines of demons.

Islam denies the Trinity.
Islam denies that Jesus is the Son of God.
Islam denies the Deity of Christ, the God/Man.
Islam denies that Jesus was Crucified for our sins.
Islam denies the Resurrection of Jesus. 
Islam denies His Second Coming as King of Kings to reign forever from Jerusalem!  

Yes, Islam denies the doctrine of Christ on every level. No repentance from sin. No eternal salvation provided by the blood of Jesus. Islam does not know or serve the true God!

John said, "He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son."

Allah, in the Quran, repeatedly says he has no son. He claims to be a loner with no equal. Allah is clearly not Yahweh, the Great "I AM" of the Bible.

John said, "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds." (II John 1:9-11 NKJV)

A practicing Muslim comes to us not only not bringing the doctrine of Christ, but pro-actively denying the doctrine of Christ and pushing the doctrine of Allah. Our Founding Fathers understood that Islam is an ungodly religion and they did not welcome Islam into our national house. While not forbidding individual Muslims from entering the country, they clearly embraced the teachings of Christ and openly promoted Christian teachings throughout the land through legislation and governmental proclamations. They supported Christian education through churches and schools and Universities. They most certainly would not have promoted mass immigration of the followers of a doctrine which has the stated purpose of destroying everyone who refuses to convert to Islam. If we care about the future of the USA as a freedom loving Christian nation, we must reject an open arm policy toward Islam and its evil deeds.

Repeat: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” II John 1:9-11 NKJV

There are many voices crying out about the immigration issue today. Most of them are deceived and deceiving others. They proclaim that open borders is an American value. They have lost touch with our Christian roots and no longer understand or promote Christianity in our nation. In fact, they openly oppose it. Beware! Do not share in their evil deeds.

Today is the day of salvation! If you don't know Jesus, turn your heart toward Him. Confess your sinfulness and your need of a Savior. Jesus hears your every cry and longs to rescue you.

"if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10 NKJV

God bless you!

Who Wrote The Ten Commandments?

I love to read the Old Testament. There are so many foundational truths shared in its pages. It contains the only accurate story of the Creation of all things! It answers life’s essential questions. It clearly states that all of mankind came from Adam and Eve, which means there is only one race. It notes the barrier God made between species, which precludes the possibility of an evolutionary tree.  It reveals that families, laws, governments and nations (with borders) were ordained of God. It tells how sin and death entered the world and provides the remedy for them. It validates the evidence we can see today of a worldwide flood in the distant past. It tells us where languages came from. It explains why Israel is God’s chosen nation. It proclaims that the Creator God and His Son desire a personal relationship with each one of us. It contains numerous direct quotations of God speaking to individuals and nations. It showcases the lives of many noteworthy historical people, good and bad. It shares multiple accounts of encounters with angels; including Jesus, revealed as the Angel of The Lord, “whose goings forth have been from of old.” (Micah 5:2) It includes over 1200 prophecies, none of which have erred in fulfillment. And, there is so much more in those inspired books, including the answer to our question: Who Wrote the Ten Commandments?

This is a story about the giving of God’s Law to the young nation of Israel. The whole law of God is distilled into Ten Commandments, which were written on tablets of stone by God, Himself. Yes, these are the very same Ten Commandments that ungodly men are working to remove from our society today. They were written by the Creator God and given to us for our good! They were given to preserve and extend our lives, and the lives of our nations. Let’s read the passage. 

Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.” Exodus 24:9-10, 12 NKJV 

This is a jewel of a passage–-literally; a blue sapphire passage! Seventy-four men, still in the flesh, saw God! Yes, I know about the objections people have to this. Many commentators say they saw smoke and fire and heard a voice but did not see God. But, what does the passage say? It says, “they saw the God of Israel.”

In Exodus 33:20 God says, “there shall no man see Me, and live.” This passage is clearly talking about seeing the fullness of the glory of God the Father as He is in Himself. He is too holy for a human body to survive in His presence. Jesus later told His disciples, “And the Father Himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. (John 5:37) And the Apostle John wrote, “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son...He has declared him.” (John 1:18)

Jewish commentators lack an understanding of the Trinity, even though the Father, the Son, and the Spirit of God are revealed in the Old Testament. Their eyes are blinded to this truth as long as they reject Jesus as their Messiah.

Many Christian commentators seem confused here too. As I noted above, Jesus is God and He has engaged in pre-incarnate “goings forth” since the beginning of creation. He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, after personally creating them! He visited with numerous Old Testament characters; such as, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Manoah’s wife first and later Manoah, etc. In New Testament times, Jesus allowed Peter, James and John to see Him in His Divine Glory before He was crucified. This is called the Transfiguration. He allowed hundreds of believers to see Him in His resurrected body between the Resurrection and His Ascension into heaven in the clouds. Jesus is the God of Israel, and also the God of all nations. He and His Father are One. He is the “fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Col 2:9)  Jesus is the only physical representation of God we have ever or will ever see. And these seventy-four men of Israel saw Him.

God, as revealed in Jesus, told Moses to join Him on the top of the mountain so He could give him the Ten Commandments which Jesus, Himself, had written on gemstone tablets for Moses so he could use them to teach the children of Israel God’s “law and commandments.”

Jesus gave the Ten Commandments to Moses to teach the people how to live righteously. (That simply means to teach them to do the right thing.) God’s commandments are powerful. They resonate in our hearts. Individuals who are regularly exposed to God’s commandments live at a higher level than those who are unaware of them. That’s why our culture has been deteriorating since they were taken out of schools and other public places. Only the light of God’s Word can overcome darkness and teach righteousness.  

From this passage in Exodus the Rabbis of Israel teach that God (Yahweh, the Great I Am) inscribed the first copy of the Ten Commandments on sapphire tablets from the floor of His throne room. Since God’s law is foundational to His kingdom, I can believe He would write them on the same type of precious gemstone as He used for the pavements of His throne room floor and I’m impressed! 

I am not impressed; however, that Moses broke those precious tablets inscribed by the finger of God when he came down from the mountain and discovered the idolatry of the children of Israel.  Apparently, Jesus wasn’t too impressed either. He required that the next set of stone tablets for the commandments be prepared by Moses. Then Jesus wrote the Ten Commandments again. After giving that scenario some thought, I told my husband that no woman would have broken the Ten Commandments like Moses did because they would have valued the sapphire stones they were engraved on. Lol  How much more should we value the wisdom and blessings to be gained by keeping them.

The 10 Commandments      Exodus 20:2-17

1.   You shall have no other gods before me.
2.   You shall not make idols.
3.   You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4.   Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5.   Honor your father and your mother.
6.   You shall not murder.
7.   You shall not commit adultery.
8.   You shall not steal
9.   You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

No nation shall long endure if it rejects the Law of God. Sin deceives and enslaves those who embrace it. Righteousness exalts a nation! God’s Ten Commandments are the bedrock of freedom. Let’s remember to obey, defend and promote them. It’s not a good time to be removing them from public spaces. We need them now more than ever before.

Who wrote the 10 Commandments?

 God in Jesus Christ wrote them!

Islam Is Not A Religion Of Peace

With ISIS in the news so frequently now, I decided to repost a portion of a blog I wrote in 2011 called Islam’s Days Are Numbered. So, here it is.

Contrary to all the reassuring voices abroad in the land today, Islam is not a religion of peace. Rather, it is a tool of the devil. Islam will have no peace with any other belief system, religious or otherwise, because Islam demands submission from all to Allah and his requirements. And, since even Muslims differ about what those requirements are, they can’t even make/keep peace among themselves– much less will they ever bring peace to the world. Again, Islam is not a religion of peace.

Islam not only lacks peace, it also lacks the freedom it purports to offer. According to Islam, its followers are freed from all the requirements of other religions and the traditions of men. The catch is, all the world must live under the  Sharia Law of Allah, and those laws are strictly enforced with all the authority of the government.

Yes, Islam is a tyrannical religious/political system. It favors Muslim males. Its laws are especially hard on women and Non-Muslims (second class citizens who are denied basic human rights and only allowed to live as long as they honor and obey Muslim males, and pay the special taxes required of them), but no one is truly safe under such a system. Corrupt officials endanger the lives of all who find themselves subject to Sharia Law and there is no higher authority to appeal to.

Islam not only lacks peace and freedom, it fails to place a high value on human life. Islam is not grounded in moral teachings from a God who values all human life. Rather, it is a religion that glorifies death! Its adherents rejoice when “unbelievers” perish. And, they celebrate the death of their own who die killing others.

Untold millions have already perished globally in the 1400 years since this bloody, tyrannical system arose in the desert land of the Hagarites, known today as Saudi Arabia. How many more will be destroyed before the light finally conquers this malignant force of darkness?

Islamic Jihadists kill without provocation. They kill randomly and they kill based on the clear teachings of the Quran and as the obedient warriors of Allah. They are not Islamic extremists. They are actually Islamic fundamentalists. In fact, imitating their prophet, they kill without compassion or remorse and even rejoice in the name of their god; before, during and after their deadly attacks.

Jihadists actually believe they are blessed for the murders they commit. Those who die in the act of killing are martyrs and are promised they will bypass any suffering in hell and go straight into the arms of 72 virgins prepared especially for them. They also hope to be able to deliver 70 close  relatives from hell, as well. That’s a powerful incentive! (Without Jesus to save them, they have no other hope of avoiding suffering.)

What kind of a god makes promises of such base sensual gratification to his followers for laying down their lives to murder unsuspecting innocents who are given no opportunity to repent? Allah is not a loving God, like Yahweh, of the Holy Bible, Who is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance!” It sounds more like the being described by Jesus when He said, “Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.”

Who but Satan could be behind such a deceptive, destructive religious/political system? Yes, Satan is the god and father of Islam. He, like a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he may devour.

The world will have no peace until Jesus Christ, the Jewish Prince of Peace, comes to conquer the destroyer and beat the swords into plowshares as He rules the world in peace from Jerusalem. That’s why Satan, working through Islam, hates Israel and seeks to destroy it. But don’t worry, Islam's days are numbered and Jesus is coming soon!

The LORD (Jesus) will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. Micah 4:3 NLT

I urge all readers of my blog to seek eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone. He died on the cross of Calvary for the sins of all mankind to set us free from sin’s penalty and to give us abundant life now, and forever!  Please turn to Him. He loves you! Today is the day of salvation!

For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2  NLT

    

JESUS: Creator, Saviour, God in flesh!

It is impossible for a human being to create an accurate physical representation of the Creator God. On Mars Hill the Apostle Paul told the Athenians that "we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man" (Acts 17:29).

In the Genesis creation account we find that, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." He created the heavenly hosts. He created light and darkness, plants, sun, moon, stars, birds, sea creatures and land animals. And, lastly, He created mankind (male and female) in His Image!

The Genesis account tells us God created man for fellowship with Himself. He created us enough like Himself to have a relationship with Him. And, from the very beginning, we have never been alone. We have never been without the knowledge of God. God spent time with Adam and Eve every day until they chose to break off the relationship by sinning against Him.

In Romans 1:20-23, we learn why mankind has lost touch with the truth they originally knew about the Creator God. It says, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,  because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish  hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things."

After mankind rejected the truth they knew about God, they foolishly began to create their own little gods-- images--idols. Later, God forbade the making of graven images in the 10 Commandments given to Moses; but, this sin has persisted.

All of creation daily testifies to the glory of God. "His invisible attributes are clearly seen" by those whose eyes will see! And yet, God wanted us to know Him personally so He sent His Son, Jesus, to dwell among us for a time and die for our sins so we could regain right relationship with Him.

And, this brings us to a profound truth. Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Him (Jesus) dwells (lives) the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (in bodily form). And, 2 Corinthians 5:19 says, “God was in Christ”.  

We will never be able to imagine what God, in Himself, is like, but He has revealed Himself to us through Jesus Christ so we don't need to.

John 1:14 says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." 

John 1:18 says, "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."

All of God's invisible attributes reside in and are manifested through Jesus.

He created all things, He holds all things together. He loves us. He died for our sins! He's soon coming again (in bodily form) to eternally save those who have put their trust in Him.

John 3:16 -18 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

I encourage you to put your faith in Jesus. Everything we need to know about God is revealed to us through Jesus Christ!

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I originally wrote this as a comment on another blog but decided it was worth sharing here.

Jesus Desires Your Affection

 

 

 

Before my husband left for work he brought me a Jonquil from the flower bed. Look at that beautiful flower. It is the flower of March so it bloomed right on time. Its name, Jonquil, means "I desire a return of affection." 

Lovers give this flower to express that sentiment to their loved ones. How much more does that apply to the One Who created the Jonquil for His pleasure and our delight? It reminded me that Jesus really loves us and that He wants our love in return.

Hebrews 12:2 says, "...Jesus...for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame..." 

What was the joy that was set before Him? It was the joy of an eternal loving fellowship with us! He really loves us! He loves us and wants us to love Him. Nobody deserves our love like He does. Our Creator and our Savior!

If you know Him, rejoice in His love today! If you don't know him, today is always the day of salvation for those who believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The end of this age is very near.

May God's Spirit make His love, His grace and His truth real to you.

An Open Door No Man Can Shut

 
 "... I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it..." Rev 3:8 

   But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. Acts 16:25-34
 
1. At midnight:

At a very dark time in your life.

At a time when you’re feeling pained, distressed, lonely, rejected, or physically drained.

At a time when you’re financially devastated, emotionally depleted or spiritually oppressed.

At a time when things are not going the way you had hoped or planned or dreamed.

At a time when things are out of your control. You don’t know which way to turn or what to do.

At a time when you can’t even see your own hands in the darkness, much less help yourself!

Have you noticed things always seem worse at night? This is exactly the kind of situation Paul and Silas found themselves in. They had been beaten and imprisoned without just cause. They were in pain. They came to win souls for God and things weren’t going as they had planned. They had no control over their outward circumstances. It was a midnight of the soul!

So how did they respond? They could have complained until they got themselves into a state of depression. They could have felt deserted by God and despaired of life. But what did they do?

They chose to trust God! They chose to look up and not down or around! They did something that goes against human nature in that kind of setting. Something that’s pleasing to God. Something that’s powerfully effective! They began to pray and sing hymns. Wow!
 
2. Let’s look at prayer first.
Why did they pray? Why should we? What does God’s word have to say about it?

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray... The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Excerpts from Jam 5:13-16 

Paul and Silas were definitely suffering and they needed God’s help. We do too. God was moved by their prayers and He is moved by ours as well. Prayer, as we shall see, does make a difference.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phi 4:6-7  
 
This is a familiar passage but it is so important. When do we need peace as much as when we face great difficulties? God, who is the peace speaker, promises that if we will call on Him with a grateful heart, He will give us a peace that no one can understand.

When Mike and I were in Germany, we went to the hospital to pick up a young man for church. His wife had been hospitalized with a heart problem. They knew she had major problems when they got married but they were young and in love and they just thought everything would be alright. When Mike went in to get him he found out that his wife had just passed away. We didn’t even know him but we hurt for him. The body needed to be prepared to send back to the United States for burial, and there was nothing else he could do at the hospital, so he wanted to go on to church with us. Mike came out and told me what happened so I was expecting to see a broken young man but he got in the car and spoke nothing but the praises of God all the way to church. We could not believe the peace God had given him. At first, I thought he was just in shock. But, he was so anointed by God’s Spirit that he was able to go back to the States and preach his wife’s funeral so effectively that people were saved during the service. God had truly given him a peace that passed human understanding. What a testimony to the truth of God’s word!  

3. Paul and Silas not only prayed, they also sang hymns to God. They weren’t like the Jews during the Babylonian captivity spoken of in Psalms 137, verses 1-4.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it. For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, and those who plundered us requested mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How shall we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land?  

Can you feel their hopelessness, dejection and depression? They focused on their losses rather than focusing on their deliverance and Deliverer! They were alive! They had a future and a hope because God was with them! They were asking the wrong question. How could they not sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? God is worthy of praise no matter where we find ourselves. He’s always worthy of praise! And, singing a song of praise would have lifted their spirits and allowed God to touch the hearts of their captors.
Their example is not one to follow.

Like Paul and Silas, we sing the Lord’s song in every circumstance? He is worthy to be praised! Singing lifts our spirits and encourages our hearts! It builds our faith as we sense God’s presence inhabiting our praises! Nothing comes into our lives but what the Lord allows for our good so faith should keep a song in our heart at all times. And remember, it will not only help us, it will touch others!

4. Others were watching and listening:

Whether we realize it or not, someone who is truly in bondage is always watching our lives, very much aware of what we are up to. Someone in bondage is listening to our talk and watching our walk. Someone in bondage wants to know if our faith is real because they need something real in their own life! They have pressing needs. Often, desperate needs. They want and need to know if our God can help them. So, they are watching to see if we really trust Him to help us when things go wrong in our lives. They are waiting for some Good News that is more than mere words! We are living epistles! As Paul and Silas did, we have a great responsibility to let our lights shine in the darkness.

Let me share with you a short poem of encouragement.

Shine
Whate’re the size your flame,
Shine in Jesus’ name!
Declare His glory. Lift the cross!
Save others from eternal loss!
Don’t be ashamed. His Word proclaim.
Whate’re the size your flame,
Shine in Jesus’ name!  

By our faithfulness, we can turn our troubles into testimonies!

 God responds to the prayers and praises of His people!
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. Can you imagine what that was like? After the initial shock was past it had to have been a prisoner’s dream come true!  

5. All the doors flew open!

Prayer brings results! By God’s grace, it can open all the closed doors in our lives and in the lives of those we are praying for. There are many types of doors that need to be opened. As I read through this partial list I’m sure you will relate to some that you know God has already opened for you and to some you think still need to be opened.

Doors of hard hearts. Doors of difficulty. Doors of defeat. Doors of addictions. Doors of misunderstanding. Doors of failure. Doors of ignorance. Doors of debt. Doors of woundedness. Doors of rejection. Doors of painful memories. Doors of sickness. Doors of possession. Doors of doubt. Doors of poor self-image. Doors of oppression. Doors of unforgiveness. Doors of abuse.

As the saying goes, "Nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors!" Except those who live there, of course. Life can be really hard living behind closed doors! On the other hand:
 
Open doors allow the light of revelation knowledge to enter– the truth that sets free!

Open doors allow the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into seemingly hopeless situations.

Open doors allow all those prisoners that want to, to go free!

If I had the time I could testify about how God has opened at least a dozen of the doors listed above in my own life. I’ll take the time to tell you about just one. The door of debt.

Back in the early 80's, when my husband, Mike, was the pastor of a small church in Mustang, Oklahoma, God miraculously opened the door for us to buy a house with a VA loan. We only lived in it about 18 months when Mike felt led to move to Cleveland, Tennessee, to go to the School of Theology. We agreed to sell the house with our VA loan intact and it sold very quickly. We knew if they defaulted on the loan it would come back to us, but that seemed highly unlikely since the economy was booming and they’d paid $10,000.00 down on it. We moved to Cleveland and didn’t give it much thought. 
Sometime after we moved, the economy in Oklahoma went south and the buyers defaulted on the loan. By the time the VA contacted us in 1989 they wanted us to pay $3000.00 to catch up the missed payments and then to start making the payments. We didn’t have any money. We were in that "descending into greatness" mode at the time– you know, living on next to nothing to serve God. He was taking care of us, but there was no extra cash, so Mike ignored the letter hoping the problem would just go away. That’s not an example to follow!  
 
Since we didn’t respond, the mortgage company sold the house. Supposedly, because the economy was so bad, they sold it for $8000.00 less than the outstanding loan balance and in November of 1989, they sent us a bill for that amount. Since we didn’t have it, they set up a payment schedule of $45.00 a month, ad infinitum! It didn’t seem fair to us, but we managed to make the payments.

Shortly thereafter, God blessed us by opening the door for Mike to go to work in the World Missions Department. Our pay increased significantly and we decided to build a house. I was concerned about qualifying for the building loan with the VA debt on our credit record so I prayed about it. I didn’t tell God what to do. I merely shared my concerns with Him and asked if there was any way He could help us out and told Him we would certainly appreciate it if He could. Well, a week or two later, we got a letter in the mail that said, "Your debt has been reduced by $7830.00." There was no explanation given. I was excited but wondering what happened so I called Mike to tell him and see what he thought about it. He told me to call and get the details. When I called the VA Debt Servicing Center, the man who answered said, "Your debt has been forgiven and the money you’ve already paid will be returned to you with a verification that your debt is cancelled." I was amazed and delighted by his choice of words (it sounded like God to me) but I asked, "Do you know why?" He said, " No. I don’t know. But, if I were you, I’d just accept it." So we did. Is God incredible or what? Be encouraged that prayer makes a difference!  
 
6. The chains of every prisoner fell off!

The chains fell off of the thieves, the slanderers, the liars, the murderers and the rapists. They fell off of those who had been falsely accused as well as those who were rightfully condemned. They fell off of the good old boys and the worst of sinners, the whited sepulchers and the devil worshipers! Everyone’s chains fell off! Why? Because God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) The blood of Jesus paid for all sins to be forgiven! Freedom is available to all whether they take it or not! All prisoners may have new life by faith in Christ! But some don’t know how to get it. 

7. The jailer said, "What must I do to be saved?"

We don’t know what happened to all those prisoners but it’s possible a revival broke out in that prison led by the jailor! We know that he was serious about his need of God. He asked what to do and got the answer. (Are you ready to tell others how to be saved?) Paul and Silas were ready to tell him. They said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household!" So all the members of his household believed. They responded to the truth from heaven, the good news of God’s Word, by faith! They simply believed and they were all saved by God’s grace through the blood of Jesus!  

You can be saved too. Not just from your sins but from a life of doubt, depression, oppression, rejection, obsessions, addictions, failures, etc. The work is already accomplished. ("I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it!") The doors are open! The chains have fallen away! If you are saved but still feel bound, it is only an illusion! Satan is trying to blind you with a false impression! He is a liar! The Father of lies. Don’t listen to him. Don’t believe the lie he has whispered in your ear or placed before your eyes. Defeat is just a wrong perspective! In Christ you are super victorious!

I encourage you to resist the enemy of your soul and always speak in agreement with God’s Word. Satan cannot change the truth. Say,  

"I am God’s child." John 1:12

"I am free from all condemnation." Romans 8:1-2

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" Phil 4:13

"I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me!" Romans 8:37

"He will never leave me or forsake me." Hebrews 13:5

"He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day!" 2Tim 1:12

"No weapon formed against me shall prosper." Isa 54:17 
 
Stand on God’s Word! See through eyes of faith! Appropriate by faith what God has already promised and provided for you and ask in faith, and according to the will of God, for those things you have need of. Notice the following scripture.　

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. I John 5:14-15  
 
This is a scripture we should all memorize and understand. It says we can have whatever we ask for in faith, if it’s within God’s will. God is sovereign and He doesn’t need us to tell Him what to do. We are to ask God to help us as He sees fit. He knows far more than we do. We don’t even know how to pray sometimes but He knows how to answer. And His way is always for our best.

When we need something from our Heavenly Father, we should follow the example of the leper who went to Jesus and said, "Lord, if you are willing you can make me clean." Notice the leper believed Jesus had the power to heal Him but recognized that it must also be His will. Jesus responds to that kind of faith. He said, "I am willing....!" And because the leper believed Him, he cleansed him. (Matthew 8:2) His Word says He wants to forgive us, free us, fill us with His Spirit, provide for us, and save us to the uttermost! His Word also says He wants to save sinners. So if we ask for those things in faith, we will have what we ask for. 

It is time for us to be like Paul and Silas. It is time for us to know who we are in Christ.

"... we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine... but... grow up in ...Christ... working... (so that) every part does its share, (and) causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Eph 4:14-16)   

God wants us to work together like Paul and Silas did so that we can continually go through the doors He has opened for us and so that we can help open doors for others. I trust that God will minister the truth of His Word to your hearts.

Our Father in heaven, I hallow and praise Your Name! Thank You for Your Word, the only source of Truth! Thank You for freedom from sin and peace of mind provided on the cross of Calvary by Jesus Christ, Your only begotten Son. Thank You for creating us for your pleasure and loving us as your children.

I ask, in the name of Jesus, that Your Holy Spirit will comfort Your children in their times of need and that You will bring salvation to those longing for Your forgiveness and deliverance. Nothing is too difficult for You!   

God's Faithfulness Through Trials

Beloved, if the title to this blog has gotten your attention, you are most likely are going through a difficult time or know someone who is. No matter what you are going through today, I'm posting this to tell you God "wants" to help you.

God is a God of miracles.

When I desperately need a miracle I spend time in His Word to see what He reveals to me about my situation. If He gives me a clear Word about something I stand on it. If I don't get a clear Word, I pray, "Your will be done."

Either way, I know if I keep my trust in Jesus, I will end up with God's very best because I know He is my Shepherd and His word says, "He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) That's not talking about a sentimental feeling. It means He protects and provides for His people!

 

The Book of Job has been a mainstay for me through many trials. I don't think any human has endured such losses combined with such betrayal by friends and family. It's clear from the beginning of the book that his children perished when the house they were in collapsed on them (so they couldn't support him). But, where was the rest of his family, and where were his friends and close acquaintances throughout his trial? 

During the worst time of his life, the only friends who showed up allowed themselves to be used by the enemy of his soul. Rather than undergirding him, his "miserable comforters" condemned him and tried to straighten him out theologically. He had no human support during his trial. Those he would have expected to help him finally reappeared when the trial had passed. Job's faith amazes me and God's faithfulness encourages me. Job's trial was meant for good! What would we do without that book?

 

Of course, Jesus suffered more betrayal, injustice and affliction than any human could have borne. Passages like Hebrews 12:2-4 come to mind. (NKJV)

 

"looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin."

 

This passage reminds us to consider what Jesus endured on the cross for our eternal salvation. Meditating on what He willingly went through for us will, in time, strengthen our weary hearts and troubled minds. How could it not?

 

The Psalms! What would we do without the Psalms? "Weeping may endure for the night (a period of time) but joy comes in the morning (at last)!" Psalm 30:5  Wait for it, beloved. Wait in hope. God will never fail you.

The Holy Spirit through Paul says, "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose."   Romans 8:28

 

If the answer to your need seems impossible, remember "with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

No matter what kind of trial you are facing today, I want to encourage you in the Lord. Let me share one more wonderful, faith building passage with you: Psalm 103:1-5. If we would see Him work in our lives we must remember to bless the Lord and meditate on His wonderful benefits!

Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

 

Let's close with prayer.

May our heavenly Father lift up your head.

May He give you peace and comfort your heart.

May He grant you a forgiving spirit.

May He bless you with a wise mind. 

May you experience His unfailing loving kindness.

May He meet your every need and direct your steps.

May He send you human comforters and assistance.

May He restore more than your losses.

May the joy of the Lord be your strength.    

 

May you experience the love of God, the grace of Jesus, and the communion of the Holy Spirit.   AMEN!!!

Pope Should Return To Biblical Truth of Creation

The Earth is Full of the Goodness of the LORD! Psalm 33:5b

Behold, consider and see.
He made the chicken and the egg.
He made the apple and the tree.
He made the grain and the seed.
All we have, and all we need!

He spoke and all came to be.
Land for homes, forests and fields.
Water for springs, rivers and seas.
Skies for birds, rain clouds and breeze.
All we have, and all we need!

Behold the beauty, and see.
He made the sun to rise and set.
He made the waves to crash and beat.
He made the mountain's majesty.
All we have, and all we need!

When His creation was man ready
He planted a garden in Eden of east.
He made mankind of colorful clay.
With breath of life, made them breathe.
All we have, and all we need.

CSJustice

*****************************************************************

Psalm 33: 5b, 6, 8-9

The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD!
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,

And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
Let all the earth fear the LORD;

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
For HE SPOKE, and it WAS DONE;
HE COMMANDED, and it STOOD FAST.

******************************************************************

God’s Word is truth! Genesis tells us God created, out of nothing, all that exists, in six days. It goes on to say, "This is the history of the heavens and the earth..." Gen 2:4

It makes no sense to believe that evolution is compatible with God’s Word. Evolution requires billions of years of mutations guided by blind chance and has no idea where the raw material came from in the first place or how life came from non-living matter. 

Pope Francis recently said, "When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so,"  

Take that statement apart. Is Pope Francis actually implying that reading Genesis could lead people to wrong conclusions about God? Is he really saying God has less power than a magician with a wand? Is he saying God is not able to do everything? If that is really what he thinks, he is serving the wrong God. And, that is so!

It never ceases to amaze me how far afield people can go with their grand concepts which are not scripturally based. To protect yourself from deception: Reread Genesis. Reread Psalm 33. Review the clear statements Jesus made about creation. Make sure what you believe is scriptural.

Creation passages are scattered throughout the Bible. They all proclaim that God is the CREATOR of all things in a short period of time. To say otherwise is to deny the authenticity of the Bible as God's Word.

Doubting and disputing God's Word is what brought SIN into this world.

Why do you suppose intellectuals insist on believing something as baseless and senseless as evolution? Is it because they are truly searching for reality? Or, is it because they refuse to acknowledge the Creator God to whom they are accountable.

Psalm 14:1 says, The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."  It goes on to say, They are corrupt...  They choose to believe in a blind process called evolution because it cannot hold them accountable for their wicked deeds.

Believing God's Word is the only means of salvation.

All men sin. Jesus died for all men so they might be saved. Believe what God's Word says about salvation. Repent (turn away from sin). Trust in Jesus to forgive you and give you a new life. Be baptized in water to proclaim your faith in God. If you do these things, God's Word says you will be born again, filled with the Spirit of God, and empowered to serve Him now and forever!   

The Pope should withdraw his declaration that evolution is not inconsistent with creation. The Catholic Church should return to clearly taught Biblical Truth. 

The Left's Worst Crime in the Middle East

The Left's Worst Crime in the Middle East

The left's worst crime in the Middle East has been its support for the region's Arab-Muslim majority at the expense of its minorities. It has supported the majority's terrorism, atrocities, ethnic cleansing and repression of the region's minorities. Very rarely has it raised a voice in their support, and when it has done so, it was in muted tones completely different from their vigorous defenses of the nationalism of the Arab Muslim majority.

The left backed the Arab Spring which rewarded the ambitions of Arabist and Islamist activists at the expense of Coptic, African and other minorities. Its great regional obsession is statehood for the Arab Muslims of Israel, (better known by their local Palestinian brand), but has little to say about the Kurds in Turkey or the Azeri in Iran. The million Jewish refugees and the vanishing Christians of the region never come up in conversation. They certainly don't get their own lefty protest rallies. 
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http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-lefts-worst-crime-in-middle-east.html