Seen on a t-shirt at Towson Univ. Cook Library: "You think you know but you have no idea."
That sort of sums up my thoughts for us as a race, that is: the human race. We think we know…
I have noticed more and more the changing face of the U.S.: so many Latinos, and not a few Asians, South Asians and Africans. I heard a member of a surveyor's crew calling out measurements in an eastern European accent! I would be moved as many are in paranoia, except to remember that they are all human and for the most part all have human aspirations much the same as I do, and you.
From 1986 to 2005 the number of new legal immigrants admitted remained relatively stable at about 400,000 annually (http://www.migrationpolicy.org/) that is: eight million over that 20 years. It is said that there are 12-20 million illegal aliens in the U.S. of A. Why has this happened? Why have 20-30 million foreign born people come to this country to live? Some come for freedom. Some come for educational opportunities. Others are recruited by industry. Each is a story in itself to be sure.
Many U.S. citizens, almost all the sons of immigrants, cry aloud, bemoaning this wave of immigration. The minor holocaust of 9/11 certainly amplified the chorus of nay and doomsayers. But if you ask this writer, we are in part, in large part responsible for this situation. The following has not been received well by those I have spoken it to; nonetheless I think we must consider our complicity in immorally and illegally making room for 20-30 million foreigners in this country.
We will fast approach the infamous distinction of having aborted 50 million. Call them fetuses, babies, unborn, preborn, infants—it hardly matters; what cannot be disputed is that almost half of those aborted would now be 18 years old, and would be English speaking persons at some adult stage of life. Many would be employed. Some would be in college. Some would be in the military and others in Green Peace. Some would be disabled or chronically ill, or in prison. But most would be pulling their weight, and adding to the strength of the nation. In short, they would be human, and as a whole they would be just like the rest of us, but for the fact of their termination, their abortion.
Had they lived, they would be competing in the market place just like we are. And they would be spending their wages and salaries just like we do. In fact there would be far fewer aliens sending U.S. dollars out of country! Our economy, stupid, would enjoy the fruits of the labors of millions (billions?) of dollars that now find there way into other nations economies.
I expect that half of all reading this will blow off my theory as ridiculous. But these are those who find the idea of a fetus being a human being ridiculous. I would not mind being deceived of all I have said. But of this I cannot be deceived: pre born infants are human at conception; their abortion is murder in the sight of God and of some men and women. If the fetus is not a human being, what are those who say it is not a human? And if and since fetuses are human, it is clear that those who have supported abortion have been deceived. And what are the deceived? They are DECEIVED. The deceived know not that they are deceived. Their deception calls all their knowledge and speech into question. If you say it is no crime to abort a human fetus, I cannot even trust you to tell me water is wet.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Cultural Jihad vs Saavy Americans
How far down this road have we gone.....
We live in a free society where the cultural jihad of the Islamic terrorists may be protected by the first amendment. Fed and local authorities might actually be enlisted to advance the speech and freedoms cultural jihadists by protecting their rights under the USA constitution! If Muslims do not repudiate Jihad, Sharia and Islam itself, they may find themselves in a United States which is majority Islam and Sharia governed, even from the houses of Fed., State and local Governments!
Are Americans saavy enough today to understand this? Or are they deceivable enough to become dhimmis or converts? If you don't understand these questions you are not saavy enough.
The Christian faith is very much misunderstood by lukewarm unstudied christians. As G.K. Chesterton said: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” How much more is it misunderstood by Muslims and other religionists?
Muslims and all men ought to "try it."
http://www.anabaptists.org/bh/t2.html
If one allows for human error and Divine Perfection, one ought to see Islam offers no assurance of the forgiveness of sins and requires a completely unknown quantity of good deeds for entrance into paradise forever. To offer a pass to paradise to those who will murder an "infidel" is so clearly a controlling motivator offered by those who would advance world conquest and the Caliphate. Islamic "shahids" ("martyrs") are so evilly taken advantage of and evilly used in this "shahada." This is heartbreaking as well as somewhat maddening to most "infidels.”
We live in a free society where the cultural jihad of the Islamic terrorists may be protected by the first amendment. Fed and local authorities might actually be enlisted to advance the speech and freedoms cultural jihadists by protecting their rights under the USA constitution! If Muslims do not repudiate Jihad, Sharia and Islam itself, they may find themselves in a United States which is majority Islam and Sharia governed, even from the houses of Fed., State and local Governments!
Are Americans saavy enough today to understand this? Or are they deceivable enough to become dhimmis or converts? If you don't understand these questions you are not saavy enough.
The Christian faith is very much misunderstood by lukewarm unstudied christians. As G.K. Chesterton said: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” How much more is it misunderstood by Muslims and other religionists?
Muslims and all men ought to "try it."
http://www.anabaptists.org/bh/t2.html
If one allows for human error and Divine Perfection, one ought to see Islam offers no assurance of the forgiveness of sins and requires a completely unknown quantity of good deeds for entrance into paradise forever. To offer a pass to paradise to those who will murder an "infidel" is so clearly a controlling motivator offered by those who would advance world conquest and the Caliphate. Islamic "shahids" ("martyrs") are so evilly taken advantage of and evilly used in this "shahada." This is heartbreaking as well as somewhat maddening to most "infidels.”
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
If you can't control your loins...
Big flap, Rush Limbaugh, Sandra Fluke, BIRTH CONTROL...
I don't think there is much doubt that most people use birth control to avoid pregnancy. Why would anyone do that? Because they wish to have fewer children. Why would anyone want fewer children? Because they want more freedom from the responsibilities and the expenses of raising them. Why would anyone want that freedom? To have more time, more money and more sex. In or out of wedlock, or adulterous, people love pleasure. They love pleasure more than they love God.
That is what God calls spiritual idolatry and adultery. There is no question that this is the nature of sin. Placing oneself, ones judgments and ones will (for pleasure) above God's will and judgments. When we do this we transgress the moral boundaries that even God obeys and we make ourselves little gods. Having done this we also make gods of wood, stone, metal AND MYTH to serve our need of having gods we can control.
So while Miss Fluke may not charge for sex, and though she may not give it away so freely as to be a slut, the question may be asked, why does she want birth control to be free? Or not free? Why does she or anyone want birth control? What are the motives for blocking conception of human seed? God loves life, Jesus is the Life. Man is life in God's image and likeness. What is wrong with life?
Read your Bible.
I don't think there is much doubt that most people use birth control to avoid pregnancy. Why would anyone do that? Because they wish to have fewer children. Why would anyone want fewer children? Because they want more freedom from the responsibilities and the expenses of raising them. Why would anyone want that freedom? To have more time, more money and more sex. In or out of wedlock, or adulterous, people love pleasure. They love pleasure more than they love God.
That is what God calls spiritual idolatry and adultery. There is no question that this is the nature of sin. Placing oneself, ones judgments and ones will (for pleasure) above God's will and judgments. When we do this we transgress the moral boundaries that even God obeys and we make ourselves little gods. Having done this we also make gods of wood, stone, metal AND MYTH to serve our need of having gods we can control.
So while Miss Fluke may not charge for sex, and though she may not give it away so freely as to be a slut, the question may be asked, why does she want birth control to be free? Or not free? Why does she or anyone want birth control? What are the motives for blocking conception of human seed? God loves life, Jesus is the Life. Man is life in God's image and likeness. What is wrong with life?
Read your Bible.
Friday, March 2, 2012
...and the beat down goes on...
Constitution's biblical background challenged
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=1546880
This article reads in part:
“Commissioners of Carroll County, Maryland, are waiting to see if they will be sued for encouraging a Christian (David Whitney, pastor of Cornerstone Evangelical Fellowship in Pasadena, Maryland, and senior instructor at the Institute on the Constitution) to talk to county employees.”
“…critics [are] accusing the local officials of overstepping the boundary between church and state.”
He (Whitney) explains that the Institute on the Constitution teaches "the founders' view of law and government, the American view of law and government, which is, simply put, there is a Creator God, the God of the Bible. Secondly, our rights come from Him. Thirdly, the sole purpose of human civil government is to protect and secure those God-given rights."
"It raised an enormous storm, with the Americans United for Separation of Church and State writing a threatening letter from their attorney to the county commissioners that they have to shut this course down, demanding a response from them of the actions they take," the pastor (Whitney) reports.
MY TAKE:
There not being enough truly useful things for our governments to spend our taxes on, they continue to indulge these frivolous and even specious accusations of peaceful peoples exercise of their (God given?) liberties.
The US Constitution does not apply to state governments in areas it does not address. It grants states their own rights to law on matters it does not control. The US Constitution's first amendment "establishment clause” applies to Congress, that is, to the U.S. Congress. THEY and they alone are forbidden from making any laws with respect to the establishment of religion or the prohibition of religious exercise. The liberal, atheist and communist hordes have turned this on its head with their false "separation of Church and state" doctrine. It is amazing how clear the language of the 1st amendment is, and how few Americans actually have read it and understand it.
Here it is; you can memorize it in an hour.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”
What does the Maryland state Constitution say? It says:
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
"We, the People of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:"
AND then follows the Constitutions 47 articles. How interesting they are! Notably Articles 36-39! As a Maryland resident I am vey happy to read them!
"The Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland 'began accusing the local officials of overstepping the boundary between church and state.'"
These groups have to make a living somehow, and find it convenient to represent atheists who don't understand these constitutions and who DENY God Almighty and His followers their rights to become the children of God as they choose. No one is coercing Atheists to convert. No one is denying them their rights as citizens their "freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
What these folks seem to want is for christians to be quiet about their faith when they enter public buildings. Why should we be quiet? Why should we not celebrate our faith heritage and i's history?
But if they have their way, and we cannot speak in the public square freely, let us speak in our own homes and churches. This is where the church flags, falters and fails, in our homes and churches. If we knew our Bibles as well as we knew the football scores, or who is winning on Idol, or who is up for an Oscar, then we would begin to know the Lord. That is what Jesus called ETERNAL LIFE!
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017.3&version=KJV
We also read in the letter to the Hebrew Christians:
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=heb%2011.6&version=KJV
Folks, LIFE IS about God in Christ. It flows from Him to us and our governments in the USA because men of faith wrote such as they wrote in the Maryland Constitution:
"We, the People of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:"
"...the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof..." Of what? Of "our civil and religious liberty."
Atheists have their civil liberties. Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other religionists are guaranteed their civil and religious liberties. Is it so much to ask atheists to endure our "foolishness?" If our faith(s) are so untrue, how can they be so offensive? I am not offended by the exercise of Buddhists, even those who chant at the airports.
May these atheistic causes awaken the lukewarm christians from their slumbering.
Psalm 121:4
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121:4&version=KJV
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=1546880
This article reads in part:
“Commissioners of Carroll County, Maryland, are waiting to see if they will be sued for encouraging a Christian (David Whitney, pastor of Cornerstone Evangelical Fellowship in Pasadena, Maryland, and senior instructor at the Institute on the Constitution) to talk to county employees.”
“…critics [are] accusing the local officials of overstepping the boundary between church and state.”
He (Whitney) explains that the Institute on the Constitution teaches "the founders' view of law and government, the American view of law and government, which is, simply put, there is a Creator God, the God of the Bible. Secondly, our rights come from Him. Thirdly, the sole purpose of human civil government is to protect and secure those God-given rights."
"It raised an enormous storm, with the Americans United for Separation of Church and State writing a threatening letter from their attorney to the county commissioners that they have to shut this course down, demanding a response from them of the actions they take," the pastor (Whitney) reports.
MY TAKE:
There not being enough truly useful things for our governments to spend our taxes on, they continue to indulge these frivolous and even specious accusations of peaceful peoples exercise of their (God given?) liberties.
The US Constitution does not apply to state governments in areas it does not address. It grants states their own rights to law on matters it does not control. The US Constitution's first amendment "establishment clause” applies to Congress, that is, to the U.S. Congress. THEY and they alone are forbidden from making any laws with respect to the establishment of religion or the prohibition of religious exercise. The liberal, atheist and communist hordes have turned this on its head with their false "separation of Church and state" doctrine. It is amazing how clear the language of the 1st amendment is, and how few Americans actually have read it and understand it.
Here it is; you can memorize it in an hour.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”
What does the Maryland state Constitution say? It says:
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
"We, the People of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:"
AND then follows the Constitutions 47 articles. How interesting they are! Notably Articles 36-39! As a Maryland resident I am vey happy to read them!
"The Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland 'began accusing the local officials of overstepping the boundary between church and state.'"
These groups have to make a living somehow, and find it convenient to represent atheists who don't understand these constitutions and who DENY God Almighty and His followers their rights to become the children of God as they choose. No one is coercing Atheists to convert. No one is denying them their rights as citizens their "freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
What these folks seem to want is for christians to be quiet about their faith when they enter public buildings. Why should we be quiet? Why should we not celebrate our faith heritage and i's history?
But if they have their way, and we cannot speak in the public square freely, let us speak in our own homes and churches. This is where the church flags, falters and fails, in our homes and churches. If we knew our Bibles as well as we knew the football scores, or who is winning on Idol, or who is up for an Oscar, then we would begin to know the Lord. That is what Jesus called ETERNAL LIFE!
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017.3&version=KJV
We also read in the letter to the Hebrew Christians:
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=heb%2011.6&version=KJV
Folks, LIFE IS about God in Christ. It flows from Him to us and our governments in the USA because men of faith wrote such as they wrote in the Maryland Constitution:
"We, the People of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:"
"...the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof..." Of what? Of "our civil and religious liberty."
Atheists have their civil liberties. Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other religionists are guaranteed their civil and religious liberties. Is it so much to ask atheists to endure our "foolishness?" If our faith(s) are so untrue, how can they be so offensive? I am not offended by the exercise of Buddhists, even those who chant at the airports.
May these atheistic causes awaken the lukewarm christians from their slumbering.
Psalm 121:4
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121:4&version=KJV
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
“…occupy till I come.”
The song below has caused quite a stir. It’s a movement song. You can find an article on it here: http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2012/01/03/va-school-board-defends-8-year-olds-singing-occupy-lyrics/
And another here:
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=1511456
It is a song about covetousness. I’m sure it isn’t intended to be that by whoever wrote/inspired it. But that is what it is about. In the comments page from the second link above one man commented: “This is definitely a Christian song, an update of Matthew 19:24.” Here is my response, but first here are the words to the song named Part of the 99.
Part of the 99
Some people have it all
But they still don’t think they have enough
They want more money
A faster ride
They’re not content
Never satisfied
Yes—they’re the 1 percent
I used to be one of the 1 percent
I worked all the time
Never saw my family
Couldn’t make life rhyme
Then the bubble burst
It really, really hurt
I lost my money
Lost my pride
Lost my home
Now I’m part of the 99
Some people have it all
But they still don’t think they have enough
They want more money
A faster ride
They’re not content
Never satisfied
Yes—they’re the 1 percent
I used to be sad, now I’m satisfied
’Cause I really have enough
Though I lost my yacht and plane
Didn’t need that extra stuff
Could have been much worse
You don’t need to be first
’Cause I’ve got my friends
Here by my side
Don’t need it all
I’m so happy to be part of the 99
Notice the last line: "I’m so happy to be part of the 99.” If you are happy with being one of the 99, why is there an Occupy Wall Street protest at all? If someone on Wall Street has stolen from you they should repay you all they took and perhaps a fine too. But those who have occupied Wall Street and all the other streets: Were they really one percenters? Has Wall Street stolen from them? Frankly I have my doubts. I think many are just poor and poorly educated young people led about by people with hidden agendas. They are “movement” dupes being led by “movement” makers. And Jesus loves them, He will forgive them their sins, and save them if they are lost. But we must be the preachers willing to be sent of God to them. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom%2010:13-17&version=KJV
Many social movements on the left, and undoubtedly some on the right, today lack an understanding of the God of the Bible. One person thinks the song is a Christian song and an update of Matthew 19:24. He should read the whole story from Matthew 19 verse 12 to verse 28. He would see that what he might call the redistribution of wealth took place after the the nobleman returned and received the report from those servants to whom he had given the talents.
Of those who have occupied Wall Street which servant are you? One who invested your talent (or pound) as did the first two servants did? Has your talent brought you a ten fold or a five fold return like theirs did? Or did you bury your talent like the third servant did. Or perhaps you invested your money with the bank (see verse 23). The nobleman says plainly this is an option!
The redistribution of wealth here flowed from the one who buried his talent to those who used their talents successfully and gained wealth! This is the exact opposite of the communist/socialist concept of re-distributing the wealth. In God’s Kingdom the rich do get richer, although not always in this life. But the person who is cowardly, who runs away from the presence of God cannot prosper. He or she will never learn from God what prosperity is, how to gain it and how to keep it.
We really need to read our Bibles prayerfully for with out God's help and answers we will learn nothing aright. Without God one will have to make up some fantasy about what they read for the truth has not freed them from the deception of the great deceiver satan.
If you really think that someone owes you something, take them to law, to court. If you are just angry because someone has more than you do, go get your own. If you really want to be like Jesus, give everything you have for the benefit of sinners. Jesus did that. Or do as many Christians who are rich, poor and in between do: give charitably as little or much as you will.
The deceived cannot know the truth because they ARE DECEIVED.
The deceived DO NOT KNOW they are deceived, why? - because they ARE deceived.
Are you deceived? Experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.
John 8:32-36
The Message (MSG)
If the Son Sets You Free
31-32 Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you."
33 Surprised, they said, "But we're descendants of Abraham. We've never been slaves to anyone. How can you say, 'The truth will free you'?"
34-37 Jesus said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can't come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. I know you are Abraham's descendants. But I also know that you are trying to kill me because my message hasn't yet penetrated your thick skulls. I'm talking about things I have seen while keeping company with the Father…
Sunday, January 1, 2012
“… they are forgiven. “
It is said that children test the boundaries set for them by parents, teachers and elders, and that when parents fail to establish and enforce boundaries children crave them; they want to know when they do wrong. And they also want to and need to know when they do the right thing. I identify with this. I grew up in a home where the boundaries were nebulous and what boundaries there were I easily circumvented when I entered into my teens. I got in a LOT of trouble.
This has had an effect on my life since I was born again in 1976. When I belonged to a church which honored prophetic gifts and prophets from 1988 onward more several prophets spoke the word and the heart of the Lord to me. I cannot remember one word which did not encourage me to a greater or lesser extent. Often I would ask God to give me a word to tell me what I was doing wrong! I wanted correction, I wanted boundaries. Even in this past week I thought to go to a pastor prophet I have known to ask for a word from the Lord: a word that would “really tell me like it is”, that would correct me or even rebuke me, even harshly.
Two days ago I was praying and thinking when the Lord spoke to me in the still small voice. I don’t share this lightly because it is not something that some people believe can happen today. But Jesus is not impotent today. He can still speak. The question is: “Will we believe He can speak to us and will we listen for His voice?”
What God said was this: “You have brought your sins before me, they are forgiven.” I doubt I will soon if ever forget hearing those words! To me their meaning is at once concise and comprehensive. It acknowledged my being a sinner, thus rebuking me albeit ever so gently. At the same time it gave me great courage and joy. I saw that God my Father truly sees only the blood of His Son covering all my sins. It is almost that after believing the Gospel of Christ God ignores the sins I have done and will yet do! I don’t want any to think that I take this as an excuse for sinning even one more time! It is not; there is never an excuse for sin.
Today I called that pastor prophet and shared this testimony with him. As we talked I was able also to see that when a believer sins after his/her salvation, that and every sin carries a new weight of shame previously unknown. For now he/she/I understand what sin is (evil), who it offends (God), and what (my/your) sin required (the bloody death of the Son of God!)! It is understandable that we might desperately want God to rebuke us and correct us severely. And I’m not so sure that He won’t do that in some cases. He did “upbraid” the disciples for “their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.” Mark 16:14 But God is LOVE!
He truly showed me that LOVE in those few words: “You have brought your sins before me, they are forgiven.” I know my own heart as you know yours, yet we can’t know each other’s. We don’t need to. The shame of my sin is enough to humble me, as your sins are enough to humble you. That God forgives such an evil man as me is truly beyond my human comprehension. But by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, by His filling up of my understanding I am able to agree and receive the gift of Christ’s sacrifice and righteousness in exchange for ALL my shameful sins!
It is 35 years since I was born again FROM ABOVE. Many days in that time were lost to sinning. I have had two extended periods of backsliding, and many years of confused faith and living. But God IS FAITHFUL! He that began a good work in me is bringing it to completion! One scripture which seemed so foreign to me in 1976 is absolutely true of me today: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). ! An another I learned somewhat later is burning its way (in a good way!) into my soul: “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12). !
Hallelu Yah! Thank You Jesus. To God be the glory, great things and with me seemingly impossible things He has done.
It is said that children test the boundaries set for them by parents, teachers and elders, and that when parents fail to establish and enforce boundaries children crave them; they want to know when they do wrong. And they also want to and need to know when they do the right thing. I identify with this. I grew up in a home where the boundaries were nebulous and what boundaries there were I easily circumvented when I entered into my teens. I got in a LOT of trouble.
This has had an effect on my life since I was born again in 1976. When I belonged to a church which honored prophetic gifts and prophets from 1988 onward more several prophets spoke the word and the heart of the Lord to me. I cannot remember one word which did not encourage me to a greater or lesser extent. Often I would ask God to give me a word to tell me what I was doing wrong! I wanted correction, I wanted boundaries. Even in this past week I thought to go to a pastor prophet I have known to ask for a word from the Lord: a word that would “really tell me like it is”, that would correct me or even rebuke me, even harshly.
Two days ago I was praying and thinking when the Lord spoke to me in the still small voice. I don’t share this lightly because it is not something that some people believe can happen today. But Jesus is not impotent today. He can still speak. The question is: “Will we believe He can speak to us and will we listen for His voice?”
What God said was this: “You have brought your sins before me, they are forgiven.” I doubt I will soon if ever forget hearing those words! To me their meaning is at once concise and comprehensive. It acknowledged my being a sinner, thus rebuking me albeit ever so gently. At the same time it gave me great courage and joy. I saw that God my Father truly sees only the blood of His Son covering all my sins. It is almost that after believing the Gospel of Christ God ignores the sins I have done and will yet do! I don’t want any to think that I take this as an excuse for sinning even one more time! It is not; there is never an excuse for sin.
Today I called that pastor prophet and shared this testimony with him. As we talked I was able also to see that when a believer sins after his/her salvation, that and every sin carries a new weight of shame previously unknown. For now he/she/I understand what sin is (evil), who it offends (God), and what (my/your) sin required (the bloody death of the Son of God!)! It is understandable that we might desperately want God to rebuke us and correct us severely. And I’m not so sure that He won’t do that in some cases. He did “upbraid” the disciples for “their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.” Mark 16:14 But God is LOVE!
He truly showed me that LOVE in those few words: “You have brought your sins before me, they are forgiven.” I know my own heart as you know yours, yet we can’t know each other’s. We don’t need to. The shame of my sin is enough to humble me, as your sins are enough to humble you. That God forgives such an evil man as me is truly beyond my human comprehension. But by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, by His filling up of my understanding I am able to agree and receive the gift of Christ’s sacrifice and righteousness in exchange for ALL my shameful sins!
It is 35 years since I was born again FROM ABOVE. Many days in that time were lost to sinning. I have had two extended periods of backsliding, and many years of confused faith and living. But God IS FAITHFUL! He that began a good work in me is bringing it to completion! One scripture which seemed so foreign to me in 1976 is absolutely true of me today: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). ! An another I learned somewhat later is burning its way (in a good way!) into my soul: “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12). !
Hallelu Yah! Thank You Jesus. To God be the glory, great things and with me seemingly impossible things He has done.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
At WAR
At WAR
If I don’t get it out, I lose it, so here goes:
2Co 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Too often I wake up and go into the day without remembering I'm at WAR! America has had few wars on her soil. But the church has been at war in the earth for a long long time.
In the past week I have had at least two very strange dreams, perhaps more that I don't remember. I don’t know what they meant specifically, but this morning I was reminded that what our Pastor preached on this last Sunday is true: we are at war. I am at war. As a believer in the Messiah I have an enemy, an adversary, satan. satan, or ha satan in Hebrew means literally "the adversary." I'm persuaded as many believe that satan attacks us through our minds. We are instructed and urged by Paul to be transformed by renewing our minds. We are to no longer be conformed to the world, the world which satan rules, that world of men, women and fallen angels who follow satan in his disobedience to God. Obedience to God challenges us to stop and avoid (at all costs) obeying the adversary satan. It is more motivating to obey God if we see the two clear choices: God or the satan. Our own righteousness is not an option, for it is satan's delight to see us in our filthy rags.
Zecariah 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
We, if we are taken away, are taken by disobedience into iniquity and into conformity to the world, doing the will of satan!
Eph 2:2-3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 5:6-8 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Disobedience to God ultimately is unbelief, unfaithfulness and a lack of trust. It is for those things that men are condemned to hell. They may express this in any and all manner of sins, from gossip to fornication, but if they would believe the Gospel they would be forgiven all. When we believe the Gospel, sin begins to be displaced by true righteousness. Obedience to satan is displaced by obedience to the will, of God, to His Word and His Way: to Jesus. By the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God we are “sanctified” set apart for His service. If we are not changing, that is repenting, and allowing Him to guide, teach and instruct us (instruct: to construct us within) we need to reevaluate our faith.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
It is a serious matter to be a believer, to be saved, to be born again.
If you are like me, you sometimes have strange and evil thoughts in your mind. Until we believed They can be troubling if we don’t understand that satan is still trying to influence us and draw us back into the sin nature. We don’t want to be taken again!
Rom 8:5-8 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
And God has not left us undefended or ill equipped. We are in the Messiah. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, no matter how broken our jar of clay. Nonetheless we are at war with satan. satan desires and works to make the believer ineffective in the will and service of God. Is this to steal us away from God? There is great debate over this. But the misunderstanding is not over satan’s power, or the consequence of disobedience and sin. The question is this: “Am I born again in Christ? If I am, if you are, who has the power to take you away from God?
Consider these words of Paul and of the Master:
Philppians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (30) I and my Father are one.
Consider the Jews response to Jesus:
John 10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
When you think of Christ, when you read the bible, when you see your brother or sister in the church do you want to stone them? Or do you want to love and serve them? How about your neighbor? How about God? How about your (human) enemies? We are called to the Lord to learn and to do the will of God. I think we might say that to do His will is to DO His love. To love God with all we have, our love neighbor as ourselves and our enemies with compassion and grace.
Are unkind or cruel thoughts forming in your mind, thoughts which wish others (even God) harm? These are stones you may or may not pick up to throw at neighbors, at enemies, or even at God.
If you are entertaining sinful thoughts continually, it is time to examine yourself to see if you are in the Messiah. But remember that we are at war. satan who once held us captive was informing our minds, structuring them to think evil and cruel thoughts and selfish thoughts. Selfish thoughts produce indifference to God and all others. They are as dangerous as evil and cruel thoughts. If we believe satan will be seeking to influence us, to keep us where he had us. If he can gain access to our minds to fill and consume us with His anti-Christ, anti-Christian and anti-human thinking he will succeed in his goal. What is the goal of satan? To make the believer and the church ineffective in doing the will of God. Why does satan want accomplish this? Because satan no more men or women to be saved. satan hates men and wants to torture them for all eternity.
2Co 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
What do we do as warriors in God’s army? We pull down strong holds, we cast down imaginations ad high things which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. David Stern has translated this verse in his Complete Jewish Bible as follows:
2Co 10:3-6 For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war in a worldly way; (4) because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God's power for demolishing strongholds. We demolish arguments (5) and every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah. (6) And when you have become completely obedient, then we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience.
2Co 10:3 The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. 4 The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. 5 We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. 6 Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
1. Strongholds strongholds that entire massively corrupt culture
2. Imaginations arguments warped philosophies
3. high thing arrogance barriers
4. thought thought loose thought and emotion and impulse
The “Torah observant” Jew who knows the Law and teachings of the Books of Moses should know what sin is even if he follows the legalistic word of the Pharisees. Paul (Saul) knew and was zealous for the Jews religion.
Act 26:5 They have known me for a long time; and if they are willing, they can testify that I have followed the strictest party in our religion — that is, I have lived as a Parush (a Pharisee).
The Pharisees seems to have come to terms with God’s prohibition of pagan idolatry. Their errors were self-righteousness and legalistic additions to the observance of Mosaic Law. But as Paul shows in his letters he knew what sin was and was not according to the Gospel. Sin is the character of satan as well as the deeds he does and inspires men to do. satan arrogantly argues against God with warped philosophies erecting barriers to Godly thinking if we listen to satan’s thoughts without discernment he will establish strongholds of warped loose thinking, emotion, and impulsiveness. All this is present in satan’s world, and it is this that entirely corrupts the world’s culture. It is a pervasive evil rooted in pride and selfishness which saturates every unbelieving person. It is the darkness from which every believer is delivered and from which every believer must separate him/herself.
If we do not we will be found in one or more of the “errors” listed in the churches of Asia Minor by Jesus in Revelation 2 and 3.
- have lost the love you had at first.
- hold the doctrine of Balaam
- hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes
- continue to tolerate that woman Jezebel
- works are incomplete, imperfect in the sight of my God.
- are neither cold nor hot:
- are lukewarm
- are saying, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;”
- are not aware of being wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
These “errors” are sins. They result from an incomplete imperfect faith and obedience to the gospel. If we know what is sin we must not do it. If we have stopped sinning, what are we doing? It will be God’s will in God’s righteousness. If we are imperfect we will suffer:
1. Strongholds strongholds that entire massively corrupt culture
2. Imaginations arguments warped philosophies
3. high thing arrogance barriers
4. thought thought loose thought and emotion and impulse
These things are like viruses that infest computers. They cause the system to function badly or to crash. We will have troubles, we will sin, we will not enjoy peace, the fruit of the Spirit will be thwarted, the Spirit will be quenched, we will grieve God and be bed stewards of the gift of His grace if we do not pull down, cast down, and take captive all that which satan throws at and into our minds. Jesus says: “it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” To enter God’s Kingdom and follow Jesus is not easy. It is not effortless. To get in and to stay in means to go to war. A soldier obeys his superiors at all times. A warrior does so energetically, eagerly, and zealously because is devoted to his/her leaders and their cause. The Christian is a soldier and/or warrior for God the Father, Son and Spirit and for the cause of Salvation. “For we cannot act against the truth, only for it.” 2Co 13:8
So am I warring against the adversary? Or am I wandering aimlessly in the sight of God? We have a great measure of “peace” in our nation, the United States
Act 19:13-16 Some Jewish men started going around trying to force out evil spirits by using the name of the Lord Jesus. They said to the spirits, "Come out in the name of that same Jesus that Paul preaches about!" (14) Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this, (15) when an evil spirit said to them, "I know Jesus! And I have heard about Paul. But who are you?" (16) Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and beat them up. They ran out of the house, naked and bruised.
My fear is that many in the church do not yet know Jesus very well. If they did they would not do the things they do. They especially would not say they are Christian and act in his name while in ignorance of Him. We must know Jesus the Person of God, the Son of His Father God. We must know the Person of the Father, and the Person of the Holy Spirit. We are persons and we are made in the image and likeness of God. Satan stripped the likeness of God from all mankind in the Garden of Eden. Jesus was born into this world on earth in the flesh a fully human person in the exact likeness of His Father. Jesus came to save us, to redeem us and to RESTORE us into the likeness of God. While we will never be God, we will be like Him in every way!
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Usually this verse is seen to be a reality coming to pass when we enter heaven. But can’t we see Jesus today? Yes we can. He is the same yesterday, TODAY, and forever. His character and the truth of His words in the Gospels are unchanging. If we study His words, we will begin to hear him with our spiritual ear and see Him with the eye of our heart. Blessed are they who are believing Him though not having seen Him with their eyes when He was with the disciples, crucified and risen. Blessed how? Blessed to know Him, to know His divine Person, His character, His Heart.
If we know Him, if we see Jesus, we will be like Him, even TODAY!
Ro 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
1Jn 2:5-6 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1Jn 2:5-6 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Paul wrote: “When the Messiah was executed on the stake (cross) as a criminal, I was too; so that my proud ego no longer lives. But the Messiah lives in me, and the life I now live in my body I live by the same trusting faithfulness that the Son of God had, who loved me and gave himself up for me.” Gal 2:20
And it is in union with him that you have been made full — he is the head of every rule and authority. Also it was in union with him that you were circumcised with a circumcision not done by human hands, but accomplished by stripping away the old nature's control over the body. In this circumcision done by the Messiah, you were buried along with him by being immersed; and in union with him, you were also raised up along with him by God's faithfulness that worked when he raised Yeshua from the dead. Col
And: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” KJV “Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!” AMPLIFIED
Note “old things are passed, the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away.”
Though we have not died bodily, something has died. It is our flesh that has died. What is our “flesh?” The New Testament Greek word is “sarx.” Here is the definition from Strong’s Greek Dictionary:
G4561 σάρξ sarx sarx
Probably from the base of G4563; flesh (as stripped of the skin), that is, (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred, or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specifically) a human being (as such): - carnal (-ly, + -ly minded), flesh ([-ly]).
This is what dies when we are born again. The very thing which separates us from God, the nature that Adam received by sinning, in a very real sense the old man, the flesh which cannot live before God, the dead body (the sarx) - it is this very thing that passes away, that dies, and we are born again anew from above and now live in Christ who lives by the power of an endless life!.
We are : “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Col
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Rom 6:4
This death, burial and resurrection in Christ must come through our trusting God and His giving of life to us.
Eph 2:4-10 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Unless our flesh passes away, all that we do and all that we are in in vain, is frustrated. Unless the old man dies, the new cannot be born from above. But if the old man dies, our souls live! And we will by patient well doing reap the harvest God has ordained for us.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Joh 12:24-25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (25) He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
If we do not die can we live? Can we live in God?
Galatians 2:21a I do not frustrate the grace of God…
1.Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
2.Colossians 3:5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;
2 Corinthians 6
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
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