Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Saved By Grace Through Faith! Not Of Yourself!

What makes you think you are going to heaven? Have you asked yourself that question before? Maybe someone has asked you, or you have asked someone. I have asked people why they think they will be in heaven when they die and received a varity of answers. Some will tell you that it is because they are good people, others because they go to church, others because they tithe to the church, some because their parents were Christians, or they go to confession once a week. I could mention many other reasons, but none of these will get you into heaven. These works done by man.

Now I'm not saying that we don't have to do good works in this life, but what I am saying is that works mean nothing when it comes to your entering heaven. I once heard a pastor say that there will be many good people in hell, and that is true. They tried to get to heaven by their own works, and it doesn't work. If we could have worked our way in, then why would Jesus of had to come down to earth and suffer and die in our place on the cross? Now God knows more than any of us. So He sent Jesus down from heaven to die in our place. This pretty much blows away the idea of working your way in.

We are told that we are saved by grace through faith. So we are given eternal life in heaven, which we don't deserve, through faith in Jesus.
Ephesians;2:8-9(For by grace you have been saved through faith; that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.)
2Timothy;1:8-9(Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,)

Faith first, and then followed by good works because of your faith. If a person is truly a believer in Jesus Christ, then there should be evidence of this faith by the works which follow. James explains it this way.
James;2:14-16(What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled" and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?) So we are told that we are saved by faith. If you say you are saved, then the works that follow your salvation should be proof of your salvation. Now I'm not saying that works save you. But I am saying that saving faith will be followed by good works. James explains it better.
James;2:17-18(Even so faith if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say,"You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.) James is not saying that there is two ways to be saved. We are told that salvation is by faith alone. But what James is saying is that true and genuine salvation will be followed by good works.

We are told all through the Scriptures that our salvation is in Jesus and Him alone. We cannot earn salvation. Paul tells us in the book of Titus,
Titus;3:4-7(But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.)

Do you realize that many of the books of the Bible were written hundreds of years apart, Yet they all tell the same story, that salvation is in Jesus Christ and Him alone. There is no other way!
Acts;4:12("And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.") Jesus is the way.
John;3:16(For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.)

Jesus tells us that we must have faith in Him.
Romans;10:8-10(But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart-that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.)
John;14:6(Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me".)

[Faith Faith Faith]
So we see that we can have all the works in the world, but if we don't have faith in Jesus, we are not going to make it to heaven. I pray that you will put your faith in Jesus for your salvation. Good works will automatically come after faith. Jesus is the author of our salvation.

God Bless You!

Monday, October 30, 2006

Don't Be Ashamed To Witness For Jesus!

Witnessing for Jesus. Have you had trouble doing it? Are you worried about how to start up the conversation or what people might say about you? Sometimes I find it easier to talk with people at work or someone I might know, but we are told to be witnesses for Jesus to the world.

When I was younger I was afraid to bring Jesus up in the conversation, but as I gotten a little older, it has become much easier. Sometimes we just need to be ready when the opportunity presents itself. Maybe someone will just mention how they are sick, or how nice the day is, or how they like their job. It could be anything that would allow you to point them toward Jesus. They could thank Him for their job, or ask for healing and so on. The more you witness the easier it gets.

Of course you may get ridiculed, or they may make fun of you. Jesus tells us that these things will happen. He also tells us that we may get persecuted, but we are to keep on witnessing. You might ask what exactly are we to do or say, or what is witnessing for Jesus.

The dictionary tells us that a witness is (1)attesting to a fact or event, (2) one who gives evidence, (3)One who has personal knowledge of something, (4) something serving as evidence or proof. So there is a number of different ways that we can witness to someone. So you can tell others about what God has done in your life. He has taken you and totally change your life. Jesus has given you eternal life, you have an inheritance in heaven which will put peace in your life. We are a witness of a new life in Him.

Take Paul for example, He was persecuting the believers, and even witnessing their execution. When Jesus changed his life, he became one of the most powerful witnesses of how Jesus can change your life that we read in the Bible. He remained faithful to Jesus to the end. Paul tells us what it is to be persecuted for Jesus:
2Corinthians;11:23-26(Are they servents of Christ? I speak as if insane, I more so; in far more imprisionments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countryman, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers from false brethren;) We see that Paul witness, was in faith in Jesus. He gave him boldness and strength in his times of trouble. We have no excuses, because we probably will never be at risk of death for witnessing for Jesus.

If we truly love Jesus we are to witness. Who do we serve, man or God? We are instructed to go into the world and witness the Word.

[The Great Commission]
Matthew;28:18-20(And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age" Amen.)

[Do Not Be Ashamed]
We are told not to be ashamed of Jesus, and to be bold in our witnessing. We are also warned of the consequenceses of being ashamed of Jesus.
Mark;8:38(For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.)
Whoever rejects the demands of decipleship, prove themselve to be ashamed of Jesus Christ. It would be a terrible thing to have Jesus ashamed of us. Look what he went through because He loved us so much. He died on the cross for our sins. All we have to do is just tell people about Him.
Paul also tells of not to be ashamed.
Romans;1:16-17(For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But The Righteous man Shall Live By Faith.")
2Timothy;1:8(Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in the suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,)
Peter tells us not to be ashamed.
1Peter;4:16(but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.)

We need to guard our witness everyday. You cannot live like the rest of the world and still have a good witness. We are told that we are the light in a dark place, so don't hide your light because you are ashamed.
Matthew;5:13(You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses it flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.)
Matthew;5:16(Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.)

A godly life is convincing testimony of the saving power of Jesus in your life. People see a difference in your life and they cannot deny that God can and will change lives. We have to be careful that we don't jeopardize our witness by the life we lead. Satan would love nothing better than to ruin your testimony. It's hard to tell people about our saving faith in Jesus if we don't live it ourselves. So guard your testimony and be bold and spread the word that salvation is in Him.

God Bless You!

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Idols! Don't Have One!

Do you have an idol or some other god in your life? You might say that you would never have another god in your life, but many people do. You may not think you have any idols, but let me explain the definition of an idol. Websters Dictionary explains an idol as: (1) a representation or symbol of a diety used as an object of worship. (2) a false god (3) any likeness of something, pretender or imposter. (3) an object of passionate devotion. We probably all know someone who has an object of passionate devotion.

For some people money is their god. Others it could be a movie star or rock star, sports figure. The list could go on. Anything you put before God, could be your idol. What does God tell us about having other gods.
Exodus;20:3(You shall have no other gods before me.)
Deuteronomy;6:14(You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the people who surround you.)
Jeremiah;25:6(and do not go after other gods to serve them and to worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands, and I will do you no harm.)

So we are told not to worship anything or person but God Himself. We are instructed not to make idols for ourself. Anything we put before God is in opposition to God. He wants all of our worship.
Exodus;20:4-6(You shall not make for yourself a carved image-any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth, you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.)

[Beware Of Idolatry}
God knows that we like to have something that we can see or touch to worship. All through history man has created his own gods to look at and touch. They are called idols.
Deuteronomy;4:15-16(Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female,)
In Romans Paul tells us that man has exchanged the glory of God and turned to idols.
Romans;1:22-23(Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptable God for an image in the form of corruptable man and of birds and four footed animals and crawling creatures.)

[We Know God Exist]
Romans;1:18-21( For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.)
So we know that all men know that there is a God. We are not going to be able to say we didn't know that He existed.

We need to understand that we all will give accout of ourselves before God. He is not going to allow any excuses for our sins. Jesus has given us a way to heaven through Him, and without Him we are doomed to eternal seperation from God. You don't want to have that happen to you or your family and friends. Make the decision to give your life to Christ today. Our days are running out for us to make that decision. Today could be your last day before you have to give an account to God.

God Bless You!

Friday, October 27, 2006

False Spirits! And The Coming Wrath Of God!

False Religions!
We probably all have had someone come to our door trying to persuade us into believeing they have the only true gospel. I know I have talked to them and they are sure that they have the way, but they don't. In most circles they are referred to as a cult. But God tells us that they are false prophets. God tells us that in the end times they will come and will be teaching false doctrine. So we see that they are here and we need to be discerning. Filter everything through the Scriptures to see if it is true or false.

We need to be like the people of Berea in the Bible. They searched the Scriptures daily looking for the truth of God's Word.
Acts;17:10-11(The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.) So we need to follow their example, and study God's Word.

There is one religion with the claim that an angel appeared to one of their false prophets, claiming to have the truth. We are warned to beware of this sort of thing.
Galatians;1:8(But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!) When anyone comes to you and denies the diety of Jesus, saying that He was not God in the flesh, you are dealing with a false prophet.

Some religions have gone into the Bible and changed the wording so that it fits their teaching. I believe that is called altering God's Word.

[Tampering With God's Word]
God says don't do it. We are warned to not to add too or take away from the Scripture.
Revelation;22:18-19(I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.) Now if this doesn't scare you, I don't know what will.

[Testing The Spirits]
We are told that many false spirits will come forth deceiving people with their lies. We need to test them to find out whether they are from God or not.
1John;4:1(Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether thay are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.)
John is telling us that they are already out there in the world. Peter also warns us that they in the world.
2Peter;2:1(But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.)

You say "well how do you test them?"
1John;4:2-3(By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.) Now you know that many antichrists are already at work in our society.

[Perilous Times]
Jesus tells us that terrible times are ahead.
Matthew;24:15-16("Therefore when you see the ABOMONATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand,) then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.) So we must recognize the signs of the second coming. You might say, "well how bad is it going to be?"
Matthew;24:21-22(For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occured since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.) We know that it is going to be extremely bad in those days.

[Great Signs And Wonders]
Jesus gives us another warning of what to watch out for.
Matthew;24:24-25(For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. "Behold I have told you in advance.") Now we know what to watch out for and what to expect in the end times.

The nice thing about all of this, is that those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our savior will be raptured out of here. You definitely don't want to be left behind and have to go through the tribulations. You can secure your future with Jesus. (1) Confess your a sinner. (2) Ask for forgiveness of your sins. (3) Ask Jesus into your life.
1Thessalonians;4:14-18(For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.)

For those who don't believe, they have no hope.

Don't wait, ask Jesus into your life now. We don't know when He will come. It could be anytime. Today could be your last day on earth. I pray that you will accept the free gift of eternal life in Jesus. Then you can know that you will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord, not eternity in hell.
God Bless You!

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Earthly Goods! Or Heavenly Treasures!

Earning a living. Something we all have to do in life. We don't always want to go to work because we miss out on other things going on with our family and friends. If we don't work, then we can't buy the things we want or need to survive. Some of us make more than others for what ever reason, but money doesn't make the person any better or worse. We just need to remember to keep God first in our life.

We are told in the Scriptures that we can't serve God and money. We will either love the one or love the other, we can't love both. When we work, our wages are due to us. When you work you want to be paid and not have your employer hold them back from you. They should pay you what you have earned.

When John was talking to the tax collectors about baptism, they ask Him what they should do.
Luke;3:12-13(And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher,what shall we do?" And he said to them "Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.")
Some soldiers also ask him.
Luke;3:14(Some soldiers were questioning him, saying "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.")
So here we are instructed to have integrity in our everyday dealings with people and our work.

Many times people think that they can buy their way through life because they have money. They want to buy what isn't for sale. Honor, integrity, good character, a good reputation, health, eternal life. You get the picture, and you may know someone. God tells us who we should love. And He tells us what we shouldn't love.

1Timothy;6:6-8(But Godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.) So here we are shown to be happy with what we have from God, He will take care of us.

[What not to long for in life]
1Timothy;6:9-11(But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.) It doesn't mean that you can't have money, but you are not to have the love of money in your heart.

[Treasures Of The Heart]
Matthew;6:19-21(Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth or rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.)
We are told in the Scriptures that the earth will be burned up with fire, so we need to build treasures in heaven.
2Peter;3:10(But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.) So this tells us where we should be storing up our treasures.

[Can't Serve Two Masters]
Luke;16:13("No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.")
We should be putting our time and efforts into God's work, where we will receive rewards from Him. These will last for ever, not what we put away here on earth. God tells us that He knows what we need here on earth and He will supply it. He also tells us where we should keep our focus.
Matthew;6:33-34(But seek first His kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.)

So our wealth is in heaven, not here on earth. It's easy to fall into the trap of "just a little bit more". We have probably all fallen for it sometime or other in our life. We see other people have all the earthly goods and think they must be happy. But have you ever thought whether they have peace in their life. Earthly goods will not bring happiness. Having Jesus Christ as your Savior, now that is happiness. You don't have to worry about tomorrow, because you have a mansion in heaven waiting for you when you go home to be with the Lord.

So start today to put your treasures where they will last. You still need to work here on earth to survive, but put the importance of God and His will first in your life. We only have so many years allotted to us here on earth, so make the most of them. Worship God and Him only. He will not take second place in our life.

God Bless You!

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

"Marriage"-Two Become One! "Divorce"-One Become Two!

First, I want to make it perfectly clear that I'm not judging anyone or condemning anyone who is divorced or thinking about getting a divorced. I just felt that I needed to blog on this subject. Our divorce rate seems to be skyrocketing out of control. It is just too easy to divorce rather than work out our problems. There doesn't seem to be a commitment to one another in our marriages.

Divorce, we probably all know someone who has been divorced. This is a terrible event in peoples lives. It breaks up whole families. It affects first the married couple, then the children, the parents, grandparents, and their friends. The list goes on from there. It just seems that it is to easy to get a divorce and that is not how God planned it. I know that divorce happens all the time in the world, but whatever happened to the marriage vows. It seems like people go into marriage with the idea that "if I don't like it, I'll just get out of it". Before there was the No Fault Divorce, the couple had to have a good reason to divorce. Just because you were mad at someone, or they did things that you didn't like, this was not a good enough reason to get a divorced.

Many times I feel that people think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Then when they get on the other side, they find out that it is just plain grass. It's not any better. I don't believe that there is a perfect marriage here on earth. There are many storms that blow in and out of marriages. Sometimes they last awhile, but they always seem to blow away. Couples just need to weather the storms. Lets start with the wedding vows. I'm not going to repeat all of them, but you have made a vow before God. Till death do us part.

From Websters Dictionary.
[What is a vow?]
Vow- A solemn promise or assertion, one by which a person binds himself to an act, service, or condition. To bind or consecrate by a vow.
[What is a marriage]
Marriage-The institution whereby men and women are joined in a special kind of social and legal dependence for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family.

Let's start at the beginning. When God created man He said;
Genesis;1:26(Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the seas and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over the whole earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.") After this God decided to give man a helper.
Genesis;2:18(Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him".) So we see that God wanted them to be together. God meant for them to stay together.
Genesis;2:24(For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.) When God said one flesh, that is exactly what He meant.

What About Divorce?
I will tell you what the Scriptures say about divorce. When the Pharisees came to test Jesus, They said;
Matthew;19:3(The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?")
Jesus answers them this way.
Matthew;19:4-6(And He answered and said to them," Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.) They came in with this trap trying to snag him. So then they tried this;
Matthew;19:7(They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?) Jesus answered;
Matthew;19:8-9(He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.") This doesn't mean that you have to divorce the other person because of sexual immorality, but it is permitting divorce only in extreme circumstances.
Jesus also tells us;
Matthew;5:32(But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.)

Now I want to talk about a healthy marriage. First and foremost, you have to put God first in your marriage. If you put Him first, you are on the right track to a successful marriage. You need to be able to forgive and forget. Love remembers no wrongs.
[Love]
1Corinthians;13:4-7(Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not prvoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.) So, if you truly love your husband or wife, you should be willing to overlook any wrong that they have done.

[Instructions To Husbands]
Ephesians;5:25(Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,) So we are to love our wives with sacrifical love.
Colossians;3:19(Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.)
Ephesians;5:28-29(So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.) Your husband or your wife is your other half. You have become one flesh in your marriage. You are not two anymore, you are one.

Jesus gave us an example of how to love. He was willing to give His life for me and you, because He loved us so much. Do not divorce your mate. If at all possible, stay together. You can work through anything with God's help. The storms will blow away and there will be good days ahead. Give God a chance to heal your marriage. He can and He will if you ask Him to save your marriage. Pray together, ask God into your marriage and put Him first in everything. I pray that you will ask for help from Him.

God Bless You!

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Drunk! Drunkard! Drunkenness! Don't Live That Way!

I have known people who are always drinking, drunk or of under the influence of alcohol. We all probably know someone like this, or have been there ourselves. It is an addiction that a person slowly gets themselves into. Alcohol has ruined more lives and marriages than we care to count. That is why we have laws against being drunk in the public, or driving under the influence of alcohol. We have programs to help people who are alcoholics, but for these programs to work, a person must admit that he or she has an alcohol problem. Most people who are alcoholics don't realize they are or if they do realize they are, they won't admit they need help.
How many times have you heard someone tell you that they could quit anytime they want to? But they like to drink and don't plan on quiting. How many times do we read that a family has been killed by a drunk driver? How many young people have died in car accidents when someone has been under the influence of alcohol, or the driver was drunk? How many husbands have come home drunk and beat their wives or children? I could go on with endless tragic occurrences that have affected human life. When you look around at life, we have all seen, or heard, or been involved with or affected by alcohol.
Families are suffering daily because of this intoxicating liquid. The dictinary defines it as: a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid, (C2H5OH) that is the intoxicating agent in fermented and distilled liquors.

[How Alcohol Damages the Body]
Liver disease, the most prominent of the related disorders, is the leading cause of death in alcoholics. Pancreatitis may also develop with alcohol abuse. Degenerative changes in heart and skeletal muscle also can develop with chronic alcohol consumption. Reproductive disorders in men and women are associated with alcohol abuse; alcohol-associated testicular atrophy may contribute significantly to sexual problems in male alcoholics. Both acute and chronic alcohol consumption can alter the chemistry and structure of the brain.

I was going to give you a detailed account of the damage caused by alcohol, but you would probably not read it all. Besides, this is one subject that I feel strongly about and could go on and on. But I want to give you some Scriptures that deal with drunkenness.

First, Paul tells us not to associate with any so called brother who is a drunkard.
1Corinthians;5:9-11:(I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with the idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler-not to even eat with such a one.) Paul tells us not to associate with a brother or sister who has a pattern of consistent sin in his or her life.
1Cotinthians;6:9-10(Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.) Once again, we all sin but these are people who practice these sins as a consistent life style.

Directions on how we should live are given to us in the Bible as well.
Romans;13:13-14(Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the flesh, to fulfill its lust.) Peter also tells us not to continue in the same lifestyle as we lived before Jesus Christ came into our lives.
1Peter;4:3(For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles-when we walked in lewdness, lust, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.) He also tells us what our friends will think of us when our life changes to please Jesus.
1Peter;4:4(In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.) So when you live for Jesus, you will be ridiculed.
2Timothy;3:12(Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.) This doesn't say that you might suffer, it states a fact that you will suffer. So we are instructed not to live our life in drunkenness, or as a drunkard. If we do, we are told that we will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If alcohol has control of your life, you are a slave to alcohol. But there is a way of escape.There is someone who can set you free from bondage or slavery to alcohol. Jesus can set you free from slavery to sin.
Galatians;5:1(Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.)
We are told that by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. PRETTY SOBERING, isn't it? I pray that you will let Jesus help you become free.

God Bless You!

Monday, October 23, 2006

Vengeance Belongs To God!

Vengeance, we all have had times when we wanted vengeance for a wrong done to us. It seems like the wicked get away with every form of evil. They aren't punished as severe as we think they should be. Look around our world, such evil crimes are committed against people and then someone gets a slap on the wrist. They probably get more than a slap on the wrist but the punishment isn't as severe as we would like.

Maybe you have had a wrong done to you and you wanted revenge. I have, and sometimes it's hard not to take things into our own hands. But what does God say about revenge or vengeance.
Romans;12:17-19(Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance Is Mine, I Will Repay," says the Lord.)
So what are we suppose to do then? God tells us in the same chapter.
Romans;12:20(But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.) When you show loving kindness to someone who has done you wrong, it should bring shame on the one who wronged you.

When Jesus was giving the Sermon on the Mount, he tells us in
Matthew;5:44(But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.) That is contrary to what we want to do, and God knows it, so He gives us this instruction. In Luke we are given more instruction on how to deal with our enemies.
Luke;6:27-30(But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Who ever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.) Now it's getting really tough. This would be extremely hard to do. We could only do this with the help of the Holy Spirit.
We are futher instructed to:
Luke;6:30(Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.) You see how hard this will be if you don't have help from God?
Luke;6:31(Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.) Now, that will be easier to do. God doesn't say if we feel like it to treat others this way, He tells us to do it. But you might say "Why"? God tells us what to expect if we obey Him.

[The Reward]
Luke;6:35-38(But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure-pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.") So we are told to be kind in return for evil done to us. Once again we need God's help if we are going to do this.

God tells us to let him deal with people who do us wrong and not to take our own revenge.
Colossians;3:25(For he who has done wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.)
Maybe you are someone who has been doing wrong to people. Stealing from them or just mistreating them. I pray that you will repent and go to that person and ask for forgiveness.
Hebrews;10:30(For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance Is Mine, I Will Repay." And again "The Lord Will Judge His People.") So God will deal with all who do evil.

This next Scripture should get your attention.
Hebrews;10:319(It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.)

Don't wait until it's too late. Ask God into your life. Confess you are a sinner, repent of your sins, and ask Jesus to save you. It's very easy,
Roman;10:9-10(that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.) That's all you have to do!

God Bless You!

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Thank You God For Grace And Mercy!

Have you ever thought about what it is to be shown Grace or Mercy? We recieve these from God every day. No matter how bad our life seems at the moment, we are being given grace and shown mercy. You might say that your life is great at the moment, well you are being shown mercy from God. First I want to give you a definition of what the two mean.

Grace: 1 Unmerited divine assistance given man for his regeneration or sanctification. 2 A state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace. 3 A virtue coming from God.
We are being helped by God.
Mercy: 1 Compassion or forbearance shown to an offender. 2 Clemency.
We are not getting what we deserve.

[Grace]
First I want to talk about the help that all mankind receive from God everyday. We probably don't even realize that we are receiving this protection and guidance from Jesus. We take it for granted. I'm as guilty about this as anyone else. We are told in the Scriptures that we receive this from God, especially believers.
John;1:16(For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.)Talking about Jesus.
To those who will believe, Ephesians;1:5-8(He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight) Here we are receiving help from God in that He chose us. You could be saying that you chose God first. WRONG!
John;6:449("No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.") So you see, we are chosen.
Acts;4:33(And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.) They were receiving favor from those outside the church as well as favor from God. They were sharing all that they owned.
Ephesians;2:8(For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.) So here we are getting help from God for our salvation through Jesus. We would never of had any hope of getting to Heaven, except through Jesus.
We don't deserve any help, but God is showing us grace.

Now I want to talk about mercy. This is not getting what we deserve from God. We should be so thankful to our God that we don't get what we deserve. Our wages would be death in hell.
Romans;6:23(For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord) We are being shown mercy by God, because we deserve to die for our sin, But God sent His Son to die in our place.
When God was talking to Moses, he told Moses that He would have mercy upon whom ever He desired.
Romans;9:15-16(For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.) God has shown us mercy and we need to show others mercy. You don't want to be someone who doesn't show mercy.
James;2:13(For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.) If you show mercy to others, you are demonstrating by this that you realize you have been shown mercy by God.

So what we have learned is that we are shown Mercy and Grace by not having to die for our sins, because Jesus already paid the price for us on the cross. Then being allowed into heaven as children of God.

Grace is getting what you do not deserve. Mercy is not getting what you do deserve.

God Bless You!

Friday, October 20, 2006

Sin, Temptation, And A way Out!

Death, we are never prepared for it even though we know that it is coming. It's so devastating to lose someone that you love. I know that when I lost my parents how much pain I was in. Most of us have lost someone whether it was a grandparent or parent or sibling, and what has to be the worst pain, a child. We can't even imagine the grief that God went through when His Son was crucified on the cross because of our sins. Yet, He was sent to Earth to die for you and me.

I thank God that He was willing to come and die in my place. Sometimes I think we just accept the fact that it was suppose to happen that way. Not the case! When God made man and woman, he planned for us to live forever. In fact we will live forever, either in heaven or hell. But when Eve fell for the temptation and sinned, we all were appointed to death.

God has told us that our wages for our sin is death. Disobedience to God is a sin. When God told Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He warned him that he would die if he disobeyed. Well we all know the story that he did disobey and because of this disobedience, sin entered into the world. You might say that you don't sin, but you just did sin. God tells us that we are all sinners, that none of us are righteous.
Romans;3:23(for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.) When God says all he means me and you. No one is excluded.
Romans;3:10(as it is written, there is none righteous, not even one.)
So you can see that we are all under the curse of sin.

God in His mercy and grace sent us a way to escape the wages of our sin.
John;3:16(For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.) We probably all know this verse by heart, but do we believe it? Do we believe on Jesus?

You might say that we are always being tempted by sin, and you would be right. God knows that and he tells us that we can escape the temptation.
1Corinthians;10:13(No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.) So God loves us and gives us a way out. We have to be wlling to take the way out and not fall into the temptation.

So we know that we are sinners and we are doomed to die because of being sinners. But we have hope, and that hope is in Jesus. So now you have a choice to make. Are you going to take life in Jesus, or die in your sins? I'm taking the free gift of God, and that is life in Jesus. I've accepted Him as my Savior, I pray you'll do the same.

God Bless You!

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Bearing Fruit! Or Being Burned?

I was reading in Genesis today that God had created fruit trees to bear fruit for mankind to eat. When God created these trees he said for them to bear fruit after their own kind. Genesis;1:12(And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.)

Now we also produce fruit according to our kind. You are probably saying that this guy is losing his mind. But what does God's word say about fruit. If you plant a fruit bearing tree, you expect to someday get fruit from that tree. If you sow wheat you expect to harvest wheat. OK, the Bible says in Galatians;6:7-8(Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.)

So now we see that if you set your mind on sowing to your flesh, you are going to reap destruction. The flesh and the Spirit are in opposition to one another. Galatians;5:16-17(But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.)

[Deeds Of The Flesh]
Galatians;5:19-21(Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outburst of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.) Now that is a straight forward warning about the consequences of doing these things.

[Fruit Of The Spirit}
Galatians;5:22-23(But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.) These are the fruits we want to bear. You might say I wish I could have these fruits, but I don't. How do I get them? When you ask Jesus into your life, God give you the Holy Spirit in your life. Then you will start to bear this fruit.
Galatians;5:25(If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.)

[Jesus Is The Vine]
Now fruit grows on a vine or a branch.
John;5:1(I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.)
John;5:5(I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.) So if we want to bear fruit, we have to do his will.
John:5:10(If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.)
John;5:8(My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.)

[Tares among the Wheat]
Matthew;13:37-39(And He said; "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed; these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.)

[Conseqences of not abiding]
John;5:6(If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.) Pretty scary isn't it?
Revelation;20:15(And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.)

So we need to abide in Jesus, and obey His commandments. We need to confess we are a sinner, and ask for forgiveness, and ask Him into our life. It's the only way.
John;14:6(Jesus said to him,"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.) So you aren't going to work your way in, you can't buy your way in and your not going to sneak in. It's Free! It's A Gift From God!
Ephesians;2:8(For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God.)
So if we live our life to please Jesus and do His will, we will abide in Him and He will abide in us, and then we will be able to bear fruit.

God Bless You!

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

The History Of Halloween! And What God Says!

HALLOWEEN. WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT?
I felt that I should write a little bit about the pagan holiday. So I went on Google Search and found this information. I thought you might like to know exactly what this holiday celebrates. I will let you read this and then I will give you some Scripture . I know that this will take a little time, but you need to understand how this pagan holiday started and why.

The history of Halloween and its customs starting with Celtic Ireland in 5 BC.

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.

During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.

Evolution Of A Holiday
As European immigrants came to America, they brought their varied Halloween customs with them. Because of the rigid Protestant belief systems that characterized early New England, celebration of Halloween in colonial times was extremely limited there.

It was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies. As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups, as well as the American Indians, meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included "play parties," public events held to celebrate the harvest, where neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other's fortunes, dance, and sing. Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds. By the middle of the nineteenth century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing Ireland's potato famine of 1846, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally. Taking from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today's "trick-or-treat" tradition. Young women believed that, on Halloween, they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings, or mirrors.

In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers, than about ghosts, pranks, and witchcraft.

At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season, and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything "frightening" or "grotesque" out of Halloween celebrations. Because of their efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.

By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a secular, but community-centered holiday, with parades and town-wide parties as the featured entertainment. Despite the best efforts of many schools and communities, vandalism began to plague Halloween celebrations in many communities during this time. By the 1950s, town leaders had successfully limited vandalism and Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the young. Due to the high numbers of young children during the fifties baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into the classroom or home, where they could be more easily accommodated. Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was also revived. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. A new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country's second largest commercial holiday.

The observance of Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has long been associated with images of witches, ghosts, devils and hobgoblins. In the United States, the first official citywide Halloween celebration occurred in Anoka, Minn., in 1921. Over the years, Halloween customs and rituals have changed dramatically. Today, many of the young and "young-at-heart" take a more light-spirited approach. They don scary disguises or ones that may bring on smiles when they go door-to-door for treats or attend or host a Halloween party.

Sounds pretty innocent or harmless. But what has God said in His Word? Does He think that this is OK?
Leviticus;19:31(DO not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.) A medium is a human who acts as a go between to communicate or contact the spirits of dead.
Leviticus;20:6(As for a person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.) Pretty sobering isn't it?
Leviticus;20;27(Now a man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones, their bloodguiltiness is upon them.)
Deuteronomy;18:10-11(There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft,or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who cast a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.)
1.Sacrificing Children. In the fire to worship the god Molech.
2.Witchcraft: Seeking to determine the will of the gods by examining and interpreting omens.
3.Soothsaying: Attempting to control the future through power given by evil spirits.
4Interpreting omens: Telling the future based on signs.
5.Sorcery: Inducing magical effects by drugs or some other potion.
6.Conjuring spells: Bindibg other people by magical muttering.
7.Being a medium: One who supposedly communicates with the dead, but actually communicates with demons.
8.Being a spiritist; One who has an intimate acquaintance with the demonic,spiritual worlds.
9.Calling up the dead: Investigating and seeking information from the dead.

So God has told us in His Word, not to do these practices. They are a abomination. So I thought you might like to have a little insight on this celebration. Then you decide for yourselves.

God Bless You!

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Equally Or Unequally Yoked?

I have talked to people about being unequally yoked with an unbeliever. But what exactly does unequally yoked together mean? There are a number of meanings for yoke or yoked, but for the purpose of this post, we are talking about a union of a believer with an unbeliever. The dictionary says of yoked; to become joined or linked together.

There are many warnings about this type of union in God's Word. In the Old Testament, God warned His people not to intermarry with the other nations, because the other nations would turn the Israelites away from God to serve their gods which aren't really gods at all.
In Deuteronomy;7:3-4(Futhermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you.)

Paul when speaking to the Corinthians warned against a believer being bound to an unbeliever.
2Corinthians;6:14(Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?) What Paul is talking about is that a Christian is not to join in a union such as an enterprise or business with an unbeliever. This would cause problems along the way. It would be next to impossible to do business in a manner that would bring glory to God.
1Corinthians;15:33(Do not be deceived: "bad company corrupts good morals.") Bad or evil friends have a corrupting influence on the Christian. We are not told to go into isolation and stay away from the nonbeliever. How would we be able to witness to them? Also we need to show an example of Godly living to them.

If you marry an unbeliever, you are just asking for problems in your marriage. You might ask, "how would this be a problem." If you don't believe the same or maybe your mate doesn't believe in God at all, then how will you raise your children? What if your mate doesn't want to go to church or want the children to learn about God. What are you going to be able to do? It will cause problems in your marriage. Your mate might like to watch things on the TV that aren't suitable to children. Is he or she not going to watch it because you don't want too.? As you can see the list could go on and on forever.

God made us and He knows what is best for us. He see the future and knows exactly what problems will arise. This isn't a matter of if they will arise, it is when? Marriage is to be a union of man and woman with God as the center, so that you build your life arround Him. You teach your children about God, and then live your life as an example of a christian marriage. Not only to your children, but to the world.
When you claim to be a born again Christian, the world will watch you live your life. Satan will do everything he can to ruin your testimony. So we must live above reproach. That would be very hard for you to do if you are married to an unbeliever. If you are in a marriage with another Christian, Great! If you are in a marriage with an unbeliever, pray for their salvation.

One believer in a marriage will bring grace on the marriage that the spouse will benifit from. This will also benifit the children. Hopefully this would lead to them being saved. Once again, if you are a believer and single, find another believer to marry so you won't have an unbelieving spouse. Ask God to send you a believer for a mate in life.

God Bless You!

Monday, October 16, 2006

Light-(Life) Or Darkness-(Damnation)

Darkness, we don't like being in the dark. Some are afraid of the dark. It seems like in the world, people do their evil at night under the cover of darkness. Some times people refer to someone as being in the dark. This would refer to someone not knowing what they are doing. We have a lot of uses for the word dark or darkness, but what does God say about it?

[Darkness]
First an explanation of dark or darkness. Webster's Dictionary says: devoid or partially devoid of light, not reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light. Not exactly a delightful place to be, or to be cast into.

[Jesus Is Light Of The World]
Most places in the Scripture when it speak of Light, It is talking about Jesus. John;8:12(Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.") It would be very hard to explain the darkness without explaining the Light Of the world. You will need to know this as we go along.

Darkness is used figuratively as a symbol of ignorance and spiritual blindness. In Isaiah;9:2(The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.) John;1:5(The Light shines in the darkness, and the and the darkness did not comprehend it.)
Darkness is also used as a covering for evil. In John;3:20(For everyone who does evil hates the Light,and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.) The Light of God's Word exposes their deeds.

[The Light]
When Jesus was talking of His coming death on the cross, he told the people in John;12:35-36(So Jesus said to them "For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.) Sons of God!

[Saved or Lost]
1John;1:2-7(This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not pratice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.)
1John;2:9-11(The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.) We can't say that we love God and yet have hate for someone in our hearts.

[We Are Instructed To Love One Another}
1John;3:14(We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.) We are commanded to love each other. 1John;3:23(This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another just as He commanded us.)

So we see that Light is in Jesus Christ. We are to come to the Light. Contrary to that is darkness, "where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." So we have to decide wheather we will love the Light or Darkness. You can't have both. You will do God's will and love Him, or the deeds of darkness and love evil. It's that simple.

[Eternal Life or Eternal Damnation]
Matthew;7:13-14("Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.)
This was taught by Jesus. John;14:6(Jesus said to him "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.) I pray you will choose the narrow road and love the Light.

God Bless You!

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Are We Judging Or Using Discernment?

Judging and Discerning. I am going to try to explain the differences in the two. First I will give you what the dictionary says, and then I will give you what God says about discernment and judging.

Websters Dictionary
Judge: 1: to form an authoritative opinion about 2: to sit in judgment on 3: to determine or pronounce after inquiry and deliberation.
Discern: 1: to detect with the eyes or to detect with other senses than vision. 2: to come to know or recognize mentally 3: to recognize or identify as seperate and distinct.

When it comes to judging and discerning, God give us what He expects from us in His Word. I think that it is easy to go from discernment to judgment and not even know that we have gone there. We need to be careful that we don't put ourself in the judges seat, and to stay away from judging people. God knew that we would have that tendency, so he gave us warning not to go there. Here are a few Scriptures that talk on the subject.

[Do Not]
Matthew;7:1-2(Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.) This is pretty straight forward. We are not to be the judge.

[Who Is The Judge?]
James;4:12(There is only one Lawgiver and judge, the One who is able to save and destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?) We already know that there is only one who can save and that is Jesus.
James;5:9(Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold the judge is standing right at the door.)
1Peter;4:5(but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.) That would be Jesus.

[Discernment]
When Solomon was praying to God he asked for a discerning heart. 1Kings;3:9(So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?)
[God's Response]
1Kings;3:12(behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.)
Hebrews;5:14(But solid food is for the mature who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.)

There are to many Scirpture passages to write down which speak about judging and the use of discernment. It seems pretty clear that we are instructed Not To Judge Others, but we are instructed to use Wisdom and Discernment. How are we suppose to gain wisdom and discernment? Proverbs;9:9-10(Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.)

So if we study God's Word daily and apply it to our lives, we should be able to discern between good and evil, and gain in our knowledge of Him. He tells us how He expects us to live, and what He expects us to do and not do. I pray that we will all Study The Word Daily!

God Bless You!

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Outcome Of Your Faith! Salvation Of Your Soul!

Have you ever had someone come up to you and ask you what faith you are? We all have it and we use it to differing degrees on our daily walk. What I mean is that when you get into your car, you have faith that it will get you to where you are going. When you sit in a chair, you have faith that it will hold you and not collapse. You trust the carpenter who made the chair that he knew how to build it.

Webster's Dictionary explains faith as (allegiance to duty or a person, also belief and trust in and loyalty to God.)
The New Ungers Bible Dictionary explains faith as (Belief or trust-especially in a higher power. The fundamental idea in Scripture is steadfastness and faithfulness.)

When God was speaking to the prophet in the Old Testament book of Habakkuk;2:4 (Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by faith.) So we are going to live our life by faith.

[Miracle of Healing]
When the woman who had been hemorrhageing for twelve years seen Jesus, she touched His cloak saying Matthew;9:21-22(for she was saying to herself, "If I only touch His garment, I will be made well." But Jesus turning and seeing her said, "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well," At once the woman was made well.) So touching Jesus's garment isn't what healed her, it was her faith in Him that made her well. She had faith in Jesus that He could save her.

We want our trust and faith in Jesus to be strong and not wavering. When Jesus was talking ot Peter, He said in Luke;22:31-32("Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.")

[The Word of Faith Brings Salvation]
How are they going to hear these words of faith. Romans;10:15(How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!) So someone has to tell us the Word. Romans;10:17(So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.) So we have Faith that Jesus is who He says He is, and then we have to Believe that he is God and has the power to Save us from our sins.
Hebrews;11:6(And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.)
Ephesians;2:8(For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.) What a great gift we have from God the Father that He would send God the Son down to earth to die in our place for our sins.

[Shield of Faith]
In the book of Ephesians we are told about the Armor of God of which the shield of faith is part. Why do we need it? Ephesians;6:12(For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.) So you better have a strong shield of faith in God.
We are instructed in Ephesians;6:13-17(Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH THE TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.)

So now what is our faith? Hebrews;11:1(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) If you look in Hebrews chapter 11 you will see many illustrations of mens and womens faith.

[Author of Faith]
Who is the author? Hebrews;12:2(fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.) So all our faith has to be in Jesus, and His sacrifice on the cross for our sins. He is the only way to heaven.

[Outcome Of Our Faith]
1Peter;1:9(obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.) It doesn't get explained any better than that. I pray that you have that faith. And if you don't, then ask God to increase your faith so that you have assurance of your salvation. Give your life to Jesus before it is too late.

God Bless You!

Friday, October 13, 2006

Heaven! Or Lake Of Fire! Your Choice!

Today I will talk about the resurrection of the dead. And The Great White Throne Judgment. I will bring in Scripture that proves this doctrine of the christian belief. Most of us believe in the resurrection of the dead, Some are skeptical. Whether you believe or not, God tells us plainly that it will take place, and then there will be judgement of us all.

Webster's Dictionary explains resurrection as "To rise from the dead, to rise again, the rising again to life of all human dead before the final judgement." But what does God tell us in His Word? Will we rise from the dead or not? Well the answer is "YES WE WILL!"

[Matthew]
In Matthew when Jesus was speaking to the Sadducees (who don't believe in the resurrection,) they were asking Jesus about the resurrection of the dead woman. Whose wife she would be in heaven? Now this woman had been married to sevevn brothers. Jesus answers like this. Matthew;22:29-30(But Jesus answered and said to them, You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven." So here God the Son speaks of the resurrection. PROOF! On the third day after the crucifixion of Jesus, Mary Magdaline and the other Mary came to the grave. Matthew;28:5-6(The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come see the place where He was lying.)" MORE PROOF!

[Two Resurrections, Of Life, Of Judgement]
When Jesus was talking to the Jews in John;5:28-29( Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who did evil deeds to a resurrection of judgement.] Jesus was not teaching that you are saved by good works, but that being saved produces good works, the same as not being saved produces evil works. Ephesians;2:8-10(For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourdelves, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.) MORE PROOF!
The resurrection of the righteous Luke;14:14(and you will be blessed, since they do no have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteuos.)

[Order Of Resurrection}
1Corinthians;15:20(But now Christ has been raised form the dead, the first fruit of those who are asleep.) Also in verse 23(But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at his coming)
1Thessalonians;4:16-18(For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.) PROOF that we will be resurrected to be with Christ.

I hope that this has given you some peace that you will be resurrected from the dead. Either to eternal life in heaven with Jesus Christ, or to eternal damnation in the lake of fire This is where all who don't belong to Jesus Christ will go.

[The Great White Throne Judgment]
Revelation;20:11-12(Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.)
Revelation;20:14-15(Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.) What will this be like, continuos, unrelieved torment will be the final state of Satan, fallen angels, and those whose names are not found in the book of life.

I pray that you will give your life to Jesus, before it is to late and you are at the Great White Throne Judgment. You want to spend eternity in Heaven not the lake of fire. I don't mean this to scare you to death, but to scare you to life, and this eternal life is in Jesus Christ.

God Bless You!

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Born Again! Have You Been?

Have you ever had somone come up to you and tell you that they are a born again Christian? You say to yourself, what are thay talking about? "I go to church, and I'm a nice person". Is that what they mean when they say born again? I will give you some Scripture that I hope will help you understand.

[Pharisee named Nicodemus]
Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews. In John;3:2(This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him."Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.)

[Jesus responds]
John;3:3(Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.) Now what is Jesus talking about here? Nicodemus questions Jesus on this. John;3:4(Nicodemus said to Him,"How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born again?)

[Jesus responds]
John;3:5-6(Jesus answered,"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.) Paul tells us in 1Corinthians;15:50(Now I say this, that flesh and blood connot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.)

OK! So what are we talking about here? When you accept Christ as your savior, you are given a new life in him. 2Corinthians;5:17(Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.) We now have the Holy Spirit living in us. We are saved, we are born again into a new life in Christ.

[Holy Spirit is our seal]
2Corinthians;1:21-22(Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.) Another place is in Ephesians;1:13-14(In Him, you also after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.)

So we are a new creation in Christ, we have been born again. So now what? We are to strive to be Christ like in our behavior, and to live the rest of our lives in obedience to him. 1Peter;1:14-16(As obedient children, do not be conformed to your former lust which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.'

When you become born again into God's family, your citizenship is in heaven. You have become part of God's family. 1John;3:13(See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.)

I hope that this has helped explain what it is to be born again.

God Bless You!

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Worry, Or Not To Worry! The Choice Is Yours!

We all do it, but we are not to worry about life. I know that when I was young, my mother would tell me that she worried about me when I would go places with my friends. My responce would be, and I know that we have all have used this, "I can take care of myself." I always felt that I could take care of myself, but did I ever learn that is not always the case. Now I say "Thank You Lord" for protecting them.

First an explanation of worry. Webster's Dictionary says "Worry-is mental distress or agitation resulting from concern."

[Food]
We are told in the Bible not to worry about food and clothing. God knows that we have this ability to worry, and he addresses it. In Matthew;6:25-26(For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?)

[Clothing]
Matthew;6:28-30(And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more cloth you? You of little faith!)

[Life]
Matthew;6:27(And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?) After Jesus has told us not to be concerned with all these things in life, He tells us what we should be concerned with.

[Kingdom Of God]
Matthew;6:33-34(But seek first His kingdom and His rightousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.)

So now we know what is really important in our lives. We need to first seek His kingdom and ask Jesus into our life. Because if we don't have Jesus in our life, nothing else is going to matter when we die. We don't want to go before God and not have our names written in the book of life. And how do you get your name written in the book of life? You confess that you are a sinner, and ask for forgiveness from Jesus, ask Him to come into your life and save you. Tell Him that you are giving your life to Him.

[Discipleship]
Matthew;16:24-25(Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.) So if you are trying to save yourself by your good works, it's not going to happen. But if you give your life to Jesus, you will save it.

[In God's Hands]
Who would your rather have holding onto you? Would you rather have yourself, or God? I want God in control of my life. John;10:27-29("My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.)

I pray that you will not worry, and secure your future by giving your life to Jesus.

God Bless You!

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

The Word! Who Is The Word?

Sometimes we hear things and they go in one ear and out the other. We don't stop to digest what we just heard. When we talk about the Word of God, do we really think about what or who is the Word? The Word is God.

[Diety Of Jesus]
God tells us exactly who the Word is. In John;1;1-2(In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.) The Bible says straight forword "The Word was God". Who's the Word? The Word is Jesus, God the Son. Begotten of the Father, John;1:14(And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.) This explains the Word as being God.

When Jesus was speaking to the Jews He told them John;8:56-58 (Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad. Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.") So here Jesus declares Himself to be God. You might ask well how is He declaring Himself to be God? By using "I AM."

When God was telling Moses to go to the children of Israel in Exodus;3:13-14 (Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they say to me,'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children,'I AM has sent you.') So we see that 'I AM' refers to God.

In Isaiah we are told by God that He is the only God. Isaiah;43:10-11 ("You are My witnesses," Says the Lord, And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after ME. I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior.) In Isaiah;43:25(I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for MY own sake; And I will not remember your sins.) Now, who can forgive our sins but God alone? In Mark;2:5( When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you.") Here again Jesus shows his diety by forgiving sins.

One more Scripture about the Word. In 1John;1:1-2(What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life, and the life was manifested, and we seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us.)

Now we know that Jesus was the Word, and that He was with the Father in the beginning. The proof is all through the Bible. Search the Scriptures daily so that you can learn the truths in God's Word. John;14:6(Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.) So He's the way, He's the truth, He's the life.

God Bless You!

Monday, October 09, 2006

To Much! Or Not Enough?

Have you ever thought about how your Pastor makes his living, and how much you should pay them? Over the years I have heard people say, their Pastors are being paid enough. Really? Are you sure you would be willing to do the same job if you were called to teach the Word for the same pay? You might, but you might find that their job is a 24 hour a day job.

They are called when people are sick, when they are hurting, when they have family problems. Or maybe someone dies and the family needs prayer and they may be asked to do the funeral service. They officiate weddings, answer the phone, prepare the message for Sunday and any other day of the week your church might meet. They teach classes for adults and young people and lead prayer meetings etc.

Most Pastors are teaching the Word because they love God and they are called by God to teach. Some of course do it for private gain. Others are called by God to teach the Word. Ephesians;4:11-12(And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelist, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.)

[Stricter Judgement]
Teachers are told in James;3:1(My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive stricter judgement.) This is not to discourage true teachers, but to warn them of the role's seriousness. So you see, this is a very serious job. We are instructed in Hebrews;13:17(Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.)

[Preaching The Good News]
Those who preach the Word are to make their living by doing the same. 1Corinthians;9:14(Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.) This is where they get their income to support their family. This is directly form God.

So the next time we hear someone say their Pastor is paid too much or not enough, we need to let them know that a Pastor is to make his living by teaching the Word. We all have families to support. Let's make sure that they can do the same.

God Bless You!

Sunday, October 08, 2006

If You Love Your Child! Don't Abuse! Do Discipline!

I was reading our local newspaper today, and there it is on page after page about some violence or vandalism in our country. Sometimes the perpetrator is an older adult, a lot the time it is a teenager or young adult. People say why are we having so much crime in our cities and country. It could be summed up easily by saying our sins and our actions go hand in hand. But that is just part of the problem. You may not like or agree with what I have to say, but I will try to back it up with Scripture.

Let me give you my take on our problems in society. We have as a society tried to take God out of our lives. You might ask how have we taken God out? I will just mention a few of the problems. (1) We don't allow classroom prayer. It might offend somebody. (2) We don't allow the Ten Commandments on public property. It might offend somebody. (3) You can't talk about God to your fellow workers in many of our work places. It might be contrary to what they believe. (4) You can't put up a nativity sceen on public grounds, one or two people might be offended. It's alright if they impose their belief on you, but don't you dare talk about God or show what you believe in public. The list could go on and on. I don't even know all the restrictions that the few have forced on the many. We just sit by and allow these things to happen. We have a few individuals who impose their belief at the expense of the majority of our beliefs.

[Crime]
One solution would be to punish the criminal for the crime. You say we do punish them. Do we really? The punishment should fit the crime. When someone commits willful murder of another person, they should have to pay the price for the crime. Genesis;9:6 (Whoever sheds mans blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.) Pretty severe isn't it? Leviticus;24:17 (Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death.) God tells us that we have to be absolutely positive of their guilt before we can impose the death penalty. Numbers;35:30 (Whoever kills a person,the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty.) So in this way God protects the innocent.

[Disobedience]
With our children! We need to discipline them so that they grow up knowing that there is consequences for their actions. First let me say, I don't mean to beat them without mercy, but you do need to spank them. Now you may say I don't agree with you. Proverbs;19:18-20 (Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death. A man of great anger will bear the penalty, For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again. Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.) And again in Proverbs;23:13-14 (Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you strike him with the rod, he will not die. You shall strike him with the rod and rescue his soul from Sheol.) Quote from John MacArthur" The child will survive the punishment and thus avoid an untimely or premature death due to sinful conduct".

It's not easy to disciline our children, because we love them, and we don't want to inflict pain on them. In Hebrews;12:11(All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of rightousness.) God tells us that He disciplines His children. Hebrews;12:6 (For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.) Again in Revelation;3:19 (Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.)

God disciplines us for His purpose. Hebrews;12:9-10 (Futhermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; Shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits and live. For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.) So you can see that all discipline is good and we need it.

How do you train your children to obey and do what's right, You discipline them when they do wrong. Most of us have been trained by it and we are here reading this blog. This might not be the only cure for our society, but it is a step in the right direction. Pray and ask for God's direction in dealing with discipline. That way you won't be abusive. Maybe you don't need to spank your child everytime their disobedient, but you do need to discipline them.

God Bless You!