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They Honor Me With Their Lips

25 May

Jesus was talking to the teachers of the law and the Pharisees.

Mark 7:6-8 – 6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
   “‘These people honor me with their lips,
   but their hearts are far from me.
7 They worship me in vain;
   their teachings are but rules taught by men.’
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.

Traditions by men are worthless even if they are sacrificial and the person doing them is sincere.

Why is that?

It’s because Jesus doesn’t want sincerity first, He wants a loving relationship sought first.  Once we put Him first and seek Him to know Him better, the more the truth is revealed.

Their hearts are far from Him.

You see this life is full of people who want to put on a good show.  It’s very important to them to come across as being nice and caring.  However, the fruits will shine forth when an individual is observed closely.  It’s not about being good, because outside of God no one is good.

Mark 10:18 – 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

It’s amazing in our society that just being a genuine nice caring person will have some people referring to that person as a Christian.  That doesn’t make a Christian.  A Christian is someone who accepts the Son’s sacrifice on the cross as their own death and now begins a new life with Christ as Lord.

We’re all sinners.  We all have a bad sin gene we inherited.  The only way to combat that gene is to live less of ourselves and live more of Him. 

Just examine everyone around you.  The more one cares about themselves first, the bigger the problems in those people’s lives.  You might not see it right away, but eventually you will.

The Word of God is all about warnings of selfish desires and actions.  The remedy is to come and follow Him and leave the temporary unfulfilling things behind.  We can slant it anyway we want but in the end it only ends up hurting ourselves.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration

 

Why do the Jews have nonstop annihilation attempts against them?

24 May

One simple answer.

Satan knows that Christ is coming back to rule the Jews at His second coming.  Satan knew that Christ was going to be born through the lineage.  Satan knew that his defeat comes when all things are fulfilled and so if he can annihilate Israel then Jesus isn’t going to be able to come back and rule from David’s throne.  Pretty important stuff to say the least if you’re Satan.

So the attempts have never stopped.  All the way through the Bible and history, Satan has tried to rid the world of the chosen line which Christ came and will rule over in the Millennium.

In Revelation his greatest attempt is to act as their Messiah through the antichrist and sign a peace treaty to lull them to sleep.  Then break the treaty and try to kill them all.

However, Christ will come back and rule and reign.   

To continue on with Zechariah 14 which we spoke of yesterday:

Zechariah 14:6-9 – 6 On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. 7 It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime—a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light.

 8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter.

 9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.

So if you want to know why constantly throughout history the Jews have been a target of anti-Semitism, you don’t have to go any further than Satan himself.

 
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Posted in Bible Prophecy, End Time Prophecies, Reflections

 

Obama Suggested They Go Back To Before The 1967 Borders?

23 May

Wait a minute? 

Who’s the democracy amongst a bunch of countries which have none?

Who’s the country we can all safely visit no matter what religion we are?

Who’s our only true ally in the whole region and has been?

Israel!

Who attacked who back in 1967?  Certainly hasn’t been the Jews starting wars back in “48”, “67”, or “73”.

So here’s the next question.

Since the pre 1967 borders don’t include Jerusalem and those borders would be impossible to defend for a small country and has its Muslim neighbors a calling for Israel’s destruction, what sense is there?

By my calculation there is only one answer.  Our President is set on the destruction of Israel.  Certainly not peace!  None of Israel’s neighbors has really made that effort recently accept Egypt.  How did the President reward an ally who’s shown this commitment? 

Basically told him it was time to take a hike, in the name of freedom of course.  Already the new front runners in Egypt are calling for the destruction of Israel.  So much for that ally.  Oh and, so much for freedom also that they are seeking.   There is nothing free about Iran and the future Iraq.

Spiritual blindness!  It’s just like the Bible predicted in the last days.  The whole world is coming together against Israel.  Does the world care?  Of course not.

Is the Bible accurate again?  Like always and we should never be shocked.

Zechariah 14:2-4 – 2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.

 3 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.

Why do the Jews have nonstop annihilation attempts against them?  Let’s reflect on that tomorrow.

 
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Posted in End Time Prophecies, Reflections

 

Quote – A W Tozer

22 May

The church must not be accepted as it is. We must check it with the Word of God to see if it’s the way it should be.
A W Tozer

Kind of staying in the theme of what I wrote on Friday.  We need to search the scriptures.  They are God’s truth.  When someone comes along and goes against scripture, I don’t care what they call themselves, stay clear.  We need to be Bereans and check the scriptures to see if what we are being told is truth.

Chuck Missler is always advising those in his study to do so.

Acts 17:11 – 11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

We wouldn’t be having a great falling away if the church just followed the Word of God.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Quotes, Reflections

 

No One Will Know The Day Or Hour

20 May

Matthew 24:36 – 36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

I thought it was only fitting to remind folks of this since the big hoopla was coming up tomorrow.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 – 1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Luke 12:40 – 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Anyone who sets a date is going against scripture.  When a lot people are expecting him to come it goes against Luke 12:40.

I will tell you what happens when someone tries to date set the rapture however.  It strengthens this scripture more and more.

2 Peter 3:4 – 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

The more this date setting happens the more people are strengthening their belief that he isn’t coming in their lifetime or at all.  The bad thing about all of this is….. we are in the last days.

He will be coming sometime soon, but it won’t be on a day that everyone is expecting him or the scripture is incorrect.  The scriptures are fine and man would bode well to pay close attention to them.

 
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Posted in Inspiration, Rapture, Reflections

 

A Man In Whom Is The Spirit

19 May

Numbers 27:15-18 –  15 Moses said to the LORD, 16 “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

 18 So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him.

Joshua was a man who took God at his word.  Only two of the twelve that went out to survey the Promised Land did believe the Lord.

Numbers 14:6-9 –  6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Joshua was in the spirit.  He listened to God and he believed God.

Today we have the Holy Spirit.  Couple that with someone who knows God’s true Word and doesn’t try changing it, who believes it whole-heartedly and you have man like Joshua.

What did Joshua do?  He led God’s people.

What does a man do who believes God fully at his Word who’s filled with the spirit?  He leads God’s people.

Study the Word of God, seek the Holy Spirit, and obey the Lord.  You don’t have to lead the whole Israelite community.  Even if one leads a Bible Study or one’s own family is a leader.  Today hear his voice and obey Him.  One brick at a time leads to stronger more sturdy life in Him.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Reflections

 

How Should We Be Living Today? Part 2

18 May

Yesterday we spoke on the parable which says it is good for those who keep watch for Him and live that way.  Today we will read what Paul has to say in 1 Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-8-  1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

Two messages here from Paul.  First, if you’re paying attention, you won’t be caught off guard like those in the darkness.  Second, we don’t live like those who are in the darkness.  Then he reminds us about the armor of God.

We are supposed to be looking for Jesus’ return. 

2 Timothy 4:8 –  8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Rewards from the Lord aren’t cheap.  A crown will be given for all those who were looking for Him in the past before they died, as well as for those who will be when He comes. 

Important?

It really is too bad, because I have talked to many people that their answer is something like this, “When He comes, He comes.  Since I can’t control that I will not let that affect me on how I live my life.”

If you knew He was coming in a month, how would you live your life?  If the Master comes back and finds His servants doing His work and will, it will be good.  If He comes back and they are out in the crowd going berserk like Moses had some of the Israelites doing when he came back to the camp after receiving the Ten Commandments, it won’t be so good for those people.  At least not from what I read.

We need to be children of the Light.

 
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Posted in Inspiration, Motivation

 

How Should We Be Living Today? Part 1

17 May

It’s possible I have written on this topic in this past, but I’m sure it won’t be the last time.

Let’s say you knew Jesus was coming back tomorrow.  How would you act?

Let’s say you knew Jesus was coming back a month from now?  How would you act?

There is a good reason for asking that, because His imminent return is supposed to keep us living in the right direction.

Luke 12:35-40- 35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Keep Watch!  The Bible is always encouraging us to keep watch and be ready.  This isn’t idleness.  On the contrary we are supposed to be trying to share the gospel and live for Jesus.

Too many people will answer like this, “I just don’t worry about it.  It will happen when it happens.”

Is that what it says on how were supposed to be living? 

Here are the warning just two verses further.

Luke 12:42-48- 42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

   47 “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

The warning I see here is the believer that mixes himself in with the other believers to the point that you would never pick them out of the crowd by looking into it.  You wouldn’t pick them out even after talking to all of them.

Some will say, “Well I’m supposed to inner mingle with others that don’t believe.”  True to a point, however, you are supposed to be a light in the darkness.  The light you bring allows them to see.

Tomorrow we will finish up this post.

 
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Posted in Inspiration, Motivation

 

Who’s Responsible For The Death Of Jesus?

16 May

Was it the Romans?

Was it the Jews?

Ultimately both are incorrect.

Man, as a sinful lost soul doomed for hell is responsible for Christ coming and dying on the cross.

Romans 5:12-18-12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

 18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.

We’re talking about God in the flesh.  He didn’t have to die, but chose to.  No one could have put Jesus to death had the Lord not allowed it to happen.

What an evil pathetic thing anti-Semitism is towards the Jews from the church. 

Think about this:

If Christ was not crucified and rose from the dead, we are still unsaved and doomed for hell.  So what is up with a man who claims that Jesus is his Savior and yet wants to hate the Jews for putting Him on the cross?

It makes no sense.  However, evil makes no sense.  All things evil have one thing in common; they are actions or thoughts contrary to how God is.  That’s the gauge of good and evil.

Who’s responsible for Jesus dying on the cross?  We are!  Thank you Lord, for loving us enough to die for us.

 
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Posted in Reflections

 

Quote – Augustine

14 May

He was created of a mother whom He created. He was carried by hands that He formed. He cried in the manger in wordless infancy, He the Word, without whom all human eloquence is mute.
Augustine

Ah yes.  Jesus the Word of God helped create us all with the Father.

John 1:1-3 – 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.  3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Genesis 1:26 – 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Whose blood is sufficient to cover your sins?  That’s right, God’s blood.

 
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Posted in Quotes, Reflections

 
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