A Personal Story To Lift One's Spirit!

[Hat tip for graphic:  Network 54.com]


Christians are to emulate [meaning follow] Jesus.  Just as He was "not of this world," (meaning not being of the earthly "kingdoms" set up by man and avoiding the pitfalls of evil that surround us), so too are we to not be of this world system.  We are to work within the world,  for the specific and ultimate purpose of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is certainly a rewarding mission!  Yet, the distractions of this world can get any one's heart downtrodden and sad.

Recall the Scriptures, especially in Psalms, where the sons of Korah (temple assistants) ask the question, "Why are you cast down O my soul?"

One example:

Psa 43:5     Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Notice the answer in all three separate Scriptures at that link:

 "Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God."

These days, the turmoil and chaos happening in the Middle East,  and looming threat of  America getting involved in another war in Syria certainly highlight the truth of the prophecies that tell us "there will be wars and rumors of war" the closer we get to the end times.  While reading the following posts, I could not help but feel depressed!

Walid Shoebat

Conspiracy and Truth are upside down

 

 

Now The End Begins

Russia Sends Warships, Obama Blinks

 

 

Sultan Knish

How Obama Hugged the Brotherhood to Death

 

 

The Strata-Sphere

What Does Egypt’s Unrest Signal?

 

 

INFILTRATED NATION

Does Obama Know He’s Fighting on al-Qa’ida’s Side?

 

 

Klein Online

Iran, North Korea ‘running operations room in Syria.’ Russia also ‘aiding’ Damascus ahead of likely U.S., Western strikes

 

And, if those posts haven't confused you enough, read this one:

 

Answering Muslims

A Short Guide to the Middle East

 

*******

 However, the uplifting experience that I had last night makes such depression "blow to dust and fall away*."
 

You see, when I come back to Scripture, prayer, and worship songs,  I am gladly reminded that God's truth (see 1 John 2:27) provides the right path to follow, and God's light (see 1 John 1:5) provides the clear vision to follow it.  If you feel surrounded by darkness and uncertainty, follow God's light and truth!  He will guide you!
 

 Now, a brief recap of my uplifting experience last night.
 

The early evening began when I met a great friend for dinner. We chatted about some good news within our own families, but then we also got on the topics of the bad news going on in this world.  The threat of war in Syria, the terrible "Common Core" indoctrination into socialism that is happening in public schools, the fact that all the scandals happening are increasing and no one is being held accountable...you get the picture! 
 

My friend asked me if I would hold a Bible study in my home again like I did several years ago.  Great idea! Or, perhaps we could find an evening study to attend.


Staying in the Word of God helps alleviate the depression, fear, disgust, and anger at what is becoming of America and what is happening around the world!  No matter what...God wins in the end and our Savior and Lord - Jesus Christ - is totally victorious!
 

When I got back from having dinner and completing a quick run to the grocery store, it was already getting dark.  I wanted to walk my two dogs.  So with a flashlight in my pocket I started up the street.  My neighbor was outside, staring into the sky at the last remnants of a beautiful sunset.  She waved at me and yelled that she was praying.  I told her, "nothing like a gorgeous sunset and prayers being sent up to God to lift up one's spirit!"



You see, were are MEANT to worship God ANYWHERE!  In a car, listening to a great praise song.  And, even at the sight of a gorgeous sunset near the end of a neighbor's driveway!

 

I was SO  blessed last night!!!  Why?  Because two simple signs of Christ's Presence with me came shining through!  While driving home, a favorite song came on from the Christian music station called, "The Message."  It was the Newsboy's song entitled, "It Is You."  Seeing my neighbor "coming to this place" [lyrics from the music video below] at the end of her driveway;  worshipping God and praying at the sight of His wondrous creation and beauty of a sunset, gave me Holy Spirit chills of joy!!


Yes, Jesus!  It IS YOU!  It's all about You!


Enjoy a great worship song, "It Is You" by the Newsboys!


In Christ,

~  Christine

 

 

 

As we lift up our hands
Will You meet us here?
As we call on Your name
Will You meet us here?
We have come to this place
To worship You
God of mercy and grace

It is You
We adore
It is You
Praises are for
Only You
The heavens declare
It is You
It is You

And holy, holy is our God Almighty
And holy, holy is His name alone, yeah
And holy, holy is our God Almighty
And holy, holy is His name alone

It is You
We adore
It is You
Only You

As we lift up our hands
As we call on Your name
Will You visit this place
By Your mercy and grace?

 

*******

 

 

*A lyric from Jars of Clay: World's Apart

Hat tips to all links.

1Jo 2:27

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will [fn] abide in Him.

(2:27) NU-Text reads you abide.

1Jo 1:5

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

No Longer A Slave to Sin

Two obvious things that can keep people from finding forgiveness and in slavery to sin (if never confessed and repented of ) and separated from our Redeemer, Jesus Christ,  are:

1.  Our own self-centered desires.

2.  Our own stubborn pride. 

Agree or disagree? 

Why?

Are You A Good Person?

I have been dismayed regarding the hate filled rhetoric often spewed against Christians in various social media networks.   It was one big reason why I left Face Book.  Recently, I have found that certain individuals over at the TEA Party Community object to Christians sharing their faith and Bible verses there.  What's up with that?  Personally, I think that the trolls of liberalism (including any other "ism" you can think of;  plus secularists, atheists, and agnostics etc.) cannot stand to read the truth and then just politely disagree about it.  They have been so indoctrinated that they not only reject Christian faith, they need to go much further.  They can't resist the urge to mock it, disparage it, hate it and verbally abuse those who genuinely love God, His Living Word - Jesus Christ, and His written Word - the Bible.

I believe that the problems that exist between those who say that they believe in God, but reject Christ as the only way to be reconciled back unto God is because of individual perception of sin(s) and what to do about them.  It is ultimately a matter of the heart, soul, mind and spirit. 

Other religions and denominational arguments aside, I would like to invite everyone to take "The Good Test." 

Next, tell us what you think afterwards.

 It's very humbling...to say the least!

http://www.livingwaters.com/good/001.shtml

AM I GOOD ENOUGH TO GET TO HEAVEN? 

ARE YOU GOOD ENOUGH TO GET TO HEAVEN?

TAKE THIS TEST AND SEE!!


The Good Test   [Click on link]

Comparisons Between Isaac and Jesus Christ

In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed because thou hast obeyed my voice.  Genesis 22:18

Jhn 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

So much of the Old Testament points towards Jesus Christ that upon discovery of this fact, believers and non-believers alike should find it astounding!  In this post, I am going to share just one story.  However, it is a very important factual story that begins with Abraham's obedience to God.  Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son; "his only son" as it is recorded in Scripture.  It is a huge test of Abraham's faith, but also a foreshadowing of God's Son, "His only Son," -  Jesus Christ -  and His willingness to be sacrificed for our sins on the cross!

This fantastic message is based on the book of Hebrews.  You can view the entire sermon online at the following link:

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television_player.aspx?id=

[Note:  There is also an outline of the Scriptures used in the video message at
this link:  http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/uploadedfiles/080413_Abraham.pdf]

If readers are pressed for time, I recommend watching the introduction (about 2 minutes into the video) and then push the cursor at the bottom of the video over to about 15:30 to start the beginning of the message.

What hit me most was the comparisons shared near the end of the video message.   Pastor Jeremiah shares a list of the comparisons between Isaac and Jesus Christ.  He states that we can look back at this through our "New Testament eyes" and find the ultimate purpose of this story as it is recorded in Genesis.

1.    Both Isaac and Jesus Christ were miraculously born.  [Recall that Abraham was over 100 years old and Sarah his wife in her 90's!]

2.    Both Isaac and Christ brought joy to their Father.

3.    Both Isaac and Christ were born at a set time.

4.    Both Isaac and Christ were persecuted by their brothers.  [Ishmael who was born of the maidservant Hagar, and Christ's half brothers...like James (who later became a believer after Christ's resurrection from the dead)  who later wrote the book of James in the NT.]

5.    Both Isaac and Christ were obedient unto death.

6.    Two young men went with Isaac; Christ was crucified between two thieves.

7.    Isaac carried the wood, Christ carried the cross.

8.    Isaac questioned his father [by asking where is the sacrificial ram?] and Christ said, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"

9.    Christ was obedient unto death; Isaac was raised from death in a figure.  [This means that a sacrificial ram was caught in the thicket to take Isaac's place for the sacrifice.]

10.   Abraham returns but Isaac is not heard from (in the Bible) until he is introduced to his bride; and that is exactly the way it is with the Lord Jesus Christ himself!  The Bible tells us that Christ will return for His Bride (all believers) and the dead shall rise first, then all who are alive in Christ shall
meet the Lord in the air.

We can ask, are these all just a bunch of coincidences? 

Answer:  No! 

Every story of the Old Testament is somehow related to THE story of the New Testament - that being the gospel of Jesus Christ!

This is the greatest picture of the love of the Father that you will ever find in the Bible! 

One last point.  Romans 8:32 tells us of one difference between father Abraham and Father God.


Rom 8:32

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?


Almighty God allowed Abraham to spare his son from death.  But God the Father loved us SO MUCH that he would not spare His own Son, Jesus, from taking the penalty for all of humanity's sins.  Father God delivered Him up to save us from our sins, and raised him up via the Resurrection to life in order for us to be reconciled back unto God.  If Jesus didn't do this, he would have re-entered heaven alone.

The wages of sin is death and the wages have to be paid.  If we tried to pay those wages, we could never be with God.  And so God sent His Son, Jesus Christ into this world.  And the story of Isaac is very much like it until you get to the very end. 

That's how much God loves you.  That's how much God loves me.  For even His own Son was not too high a price to pay that you and I might be saved from our sins, be forgiven, and go to heaven.

[Previous paragraphs paraphrased from end of sermon.]

Isn't this realization absolutely fascinating?

I hope that readers here have found it to be as encouraging and enlightening as it was for me!

~  Christine

Why Did God Allow Obama to be Re-elected?

A Christian writer over at News In Faith asks, and then answers the question, "why did God allow Obama to be re-elected?"

Excerpt:

Most conservatives have been scratching their heads over this question since  the November elections. Christians have wondered why God would allow such a  traitorous and tyrannical administration to continue. I, myself, have put a lot  of thought into this and asked “why” so many times. Here are some of the answers  I have come up with.

When one looks at history we can see how God has turned rebellious nations  and people over to the enemy to chastise. In the Old Testament we see how after  Israel rebelled against God and began worshipping false gods they were captured  by the Babylonians. There are many examples like this in the Bible.

Now in America we see Christians being persecuted through various means.  Christian businesses are forced to either go against their consciences to buy  insurance that pays for abortificants or be fined. So they face either complying  with evil or risk their businesses. Recently we have discovered the IRS has  targeted Christian, Jewish, and conservative groups and businesses to either  audit them or make it extremely difficult for them to apply for or receive 501C  tax exempt forms. It has resulted in many of them being unable to raise enough  money to help Conservative candidates run effective campaigns. Many believe this  may have been the reason for our losses in the 2012 elections. Whether this is  the case or not, it isn’t difficult to see that we have been in a huge battle  for our nation. So what am I saying here?

Sometimes God allows things to get so bad that people start to seek the  truth. Would they have discovered it had Romney been elected and the Republicans  taken over the Senate? I sincerely doubt it and this is why I say that. If you  put a frog in cold water and gradually turn up the heat it will cook to death. I  believe this is what has been happening all along even when the Republicans  controlled the White House and Congress. Did they solve the problems we faced  back then? I have to say a resounding “NO” to that question. The only difference  is that things didn’t digress as rapidly then. This is why I believe God is  working in a way that will cause people to wake up and see that the government  isn’t the answer to their problems. He wants them to see that He is the only  solution to everything.

Because of people’s blindness, God did the only thing He could to wake people  up. He allowed Obama to get re-elected. He knew that this administration’s  radical attempts to change the nation would begin to shock people. You see,  people’s basic desires, whether conservative or liberal, is to maintain their  liberties. The way it was before nobody even noticed that they were losing their  freedoms because it was so gradual. Then suddenly things began to happen. People  began to see huge hikes in their health insurance because of Obamacare. The  Catholic Church and Christian businesses were being threatened with massive  fines if they didn’t buy health insurance that paid for abortificants. They saw  people being harassed and threatened by the IRS. Even liberals hate threats to  liberty even when it is happening to conservatives. There is an intrinsic  built-in mechanism in every person’s nature that causes them to feel intimidated  when they see people’s freedoms being taken away. They begin to fear that they  will be next. This is why we are seeing these three things starting to take  place today.

Read it all HERE

*******

I found this article via the TEA Party Community.

My comment:

Just think about all of the places (public schools, most colleges and universities, public buildings, media, government, military etc.) where progressive/socialist/communist radicals achieved kicking God out of the culture.  Next,  add in the liberal apostate churches that kicked Jesus (and Him crucified as the Gospel truth) out of their messages and replaced it with moral relativism that advocates abortion and homosexuality as "normal, natural and desirable"; and we shall realize just how easy it was for them to eliminate Him and His absolute truth, wisdom, knowledge, morals,  and values; thus taking out the grace and mercy for salvation through Jesus Christ from the public square. 

Of course, that is what they THINK they have done.  God is still in control!   However in this life, we reap what we sow.

Hsa 4:6

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
 Because you have rejected knowledge,
 I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
 Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
 I also will forget your children.

Jesus wins in the end!

Jhn 16:33

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[fn] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”


And so do the faithful!


1Jo 5:4

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our[fn] faith.

Hat tip:

News In Faith

What Do You See?

We always know that the attacks against Jesus Christ and Christian faith will surface the closer we get to Christmas or Easter. Note the latest attempt of a group who call themselves "American Atheists."

Isn't it funny how they NEVER DARE to place a photo of Islam's Mohammad in their ads of ridicule?

 I wonder why?

 Oh yeah...that's right...they would probably be tracked down and get their heads cut off. Well...maybe not. The Islamists usually only target Christian believers for such bloody, evil, disgusting, dirty, and horrendous deeds. 

However, there must be another reason why atheists do not target Islam.  Perhaps it has something to do with their untruthful agreement on just who Jesus Christ really is?  But that's a subject for another post.

Back to the myths poster.

Doesn't it make you wonder why an image of Christ, a cross, a nativity scene, or any other Christian symbol infuriates atheists and makes them either lash out or mock the Savior of the world? 


The book of Jude tells us about the mockers:

Jud 1:17   But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Jud 1:18   How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

Jud 1:19   These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Why the need to target Jesus Christ?

In the words of Jesus, the Bible informs us through Scripture:

Jhn 15:18   "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before [it hated] you.


Jhn 15:24   "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.


Jhn 15:25   "But [this happened] that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'

Psalm 69:4  Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head, many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me.

It is by no accident that Psalm 69 is one of the most quoted in the New Testament, and it is often applied to the ministry and suffering of Jesus.  Verse 4, like John 15:25, speaks of Jesus' many enemies.  The experience of being scorned by his brothers (69:8) is expressed in John 7:5.  Verse 9 portrays David's zeal for God; Christ showed great zeal when he threw the money changers out of the temple (John 2:14-17).  There is much more.  See Matthew Henry's commentary.

The theme of Psalm 69 shares David's cry of distress in a sea of trouble. We may have to suffer severely for our devotion to God, but that should cause us to look forward with joy to the day when evil and injustice will be gone forever.


Tts 3:10   Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,

Tts 3:11   knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

Those who reject salvation through Christ's cross are self-condemned because they have rejected the only way to be saved from their sins and reunited with Holy and Righteous God. It is no wonder, then that we read in the book of Revelation:

Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

Rev 6:11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both [the number of] their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they [were], was completed.

Rev 6:12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, [fn] there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon [fn] became like blood.

Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.

Rev 6:14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, [fn] the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,

Rev 6:16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

Rev 6:17 "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

You see, the haters of Christ refuse to repent - even to the bitter end - and would rather have the mountains and rocks fall on them to hide them from the face of Him (God the Father) who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb (Jesus).

When Jesus began his 3 year ministry he first called for repentance of sin.

Mat 4:17

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Repentance is not popular in today's world. It is the age of everyone "doing as they see fit;" and ignoring the admonitions of God's Word. However, some can be saved "out of the fire." It is for these that we continue to preach the Gospel of repentance.

Jude 1:22  And of some have compassion, making a difference:

Jude 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Luk 17:3

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Acts 26 informs us that there will be those who may be "almost convinced" (as in the case of King Agrippa in Paul's day), but will refuse the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul shared his experience (from persecution of Christians to an apostle of Christ) on the Road to Damascus with King Agrippa:


Act 26:11 "And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled [them] to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted [them] even to foreign cities.

Act 26:12 "While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

Act 26:13 "at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.

Act 26:14 "And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? [It is] hard for you to kick against the goads.'

Act 26:15 "So I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Act 26:16 'But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

Act 26:17 'I will deliver you from the [Jewish] people, as well as [from] the Gentiles, to whom I now [fn] send you,

Act 26:18 'to open their eyes, [in order] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'

And what was the first thing Paul needed to share:  REPENTANCE!

Act 26:19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

Act 26:20 "but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

King Agrippa's sad choice:

Act 26:27 "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe."

Act 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."

The question, dear reader, is... what do you see?


Hat tip: Blue Letter Bible

Praying For That New Day In America

Election Day 2012 is finally here!  Been praying a lot for God's mercy to shine down from heaven upon America as we hope for a new day that rejects the last four terrible years under the likes of "vote for revenge" Obama and brings us into a new era of "LOVE OF COUNTRY" through the election of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan!

Yesterday, my blogging friend Steve had an important point that he shared in a recent comment here:

He wrote:

" I pray all our efforts woke some people up. I admire your determination and your obedience to Christ.

How does that go? Right now we don't know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow."

So true and I concur!!

A portion of my response:

I agree that we know Who holds the future! So, no matter what:

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,


Rom 8:39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thank YOU Steve, for all of your hard work at your blog to awaken people from the stupor of evil that many, unfortunately, have been under.  I pray that the scales be dropped from their eyes so that they can clearly see and recognize TRUTH! 

This election is crucial regarding the direction that this country will take over the next four plus years!  The future of our children and grandchildren will be highly affected by the outcome of the election today. 

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have the solutions that will repair what is broken in our nation politically, economically, militarily, internationally, and especially regarding homeland security.  Even more important is that they stand for the ideals, principles, virtues,  and godly values that America was founded upon!  We so badly need to return to such an atmosphere for the preservation of life, liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness once and for all that was originally penned by our godly (and mostly Christian!) Founding Fathers in both the Declaration of Independence and our U.S. Constitution!

I pray for forgiveness from God to heal our nation.  I pray that this day will be the beginning of a brand new era of goodness, mercy, grace, and truth in America! And I ask all of this through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Amen.



Hat Tip:

Steve at Cry and Howl

The Chick-fil-A Controversy Is A Spiritual Battle

The blogosphere is filled with posts, photos, and commentary about the support that many Americans gave to the Christian-based company, Chick-fil-A for their support of traditional marriage.  A majority of Americans  believe that God's original definition of marriage should still stand.   After all, it was His idea and invention in the first place!


Good for Chick-fil-A!!  Good for their supporters!!  Huge turnouts at Chick-fil-A restaurants today  because conservative, Christian, and TEA Party patriots wanted to stand up for the belief that freedom of speech and freedom of religion give all of us the right to proclaim (as God in the Bible has) that marriage is the union of one man and one woman!


Note to all of those who would want to call all of these people "bigots," "haters," "homophobes," "anti-gay," or any other derogatory name "_______________" (you fill in the blank) you could think of - support for traditional marriage does not  equate to "hatred" of gays.  Unfortunately, that is a misnomer being spread by those who want to spread such ridiculous propaganda.

While doing errands today, I was listening to Hannity's radio show.  A man called into the show to tell Sean that he is "a great American."  The caller went on to say that he is "gay" and "wishes that the marriage debate wasn't out there" but he understands that Christians have the right to their beliefs - even if he doesn't necessarily agree.  He also stated that Sean was instrumental in convincing him NOT to vote for Obama in 2008.  For the first time in his life, he voted for the Republican ticket.


Why?


Because he stated that, "Obama's policies scare him."


Now...does that make him "anti-Obama" (the person) or just someone who happens to be against Obama's policies??  Doesn't he have the freedom of speech right to say that?


Unfortunately, most of the radical homosexual activists believe that freedom of speech and freedom of religion should take a back seat to their particular favored ideology.  Actually, the intolerance these days is often so severe that they would do anything to hurt those with whom they disagree.  For them, tolerance is a one way street.  It is not something that they would ever consider offering towards the other side.  Therefore, that man who called into Sean Hannity's radio show is probably a rarity in this day and age.

There once was a time when homosexual activists claimed that they "just wanted tolerance."  Then, they demanded acceptance.  Now, they want to do harm to those with whom they disagree.  The question is...why?

I think that it is a spiritual problem.  Deep down, they know that they are willingly breaking God's laws through their sexual behavior, but they want acceptance more than anything else in this world so they are willing to do anything to get it.  But, just like any other sinner in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ, the more secular "acceptance" they get, the more they demand.  They can't be satisfied with the progress that they perceive they have reached (i.e. gay rights, gays serving openly in the military, civil unions in some states etc.).  Why?  I think that it is because they instinctively know that they will never gain God's approval of the aberrant sexual behavior that they engage in.

Look at it this way.  A heterosexual person who fornicates may want God's acceptance of such a lifestyle too.  But God's Word tells him/her that he/she must repent of such behavior.  I'm sure we all know couples involved in fornication.  Does that mean that we hate them too...just because we tell the truth of the matter??

Radical homosexual activists do NOT want to hear that.  In fact, they HATE Christian believers because they don't want to know about God's Word regarding their behavior.  Homosexual behavior happened in biblical times.  As Solomon so wisely stated, "there is nothing new under the sun."  Dozens of Bible verses state God's views on the matter.


 Jesus told us that non-believers would "hate us" because they "hated Him first."  Telling the truth about evil, sin and death isn't politically correct.  The hatred against Christians and Jews continues to grow.


However, there is even more hatred spewed at former homosexuals who become Christians.  How do I know this?  Because I have heard the stories and experiences of several men and women who have gone through it.

When a sinner (any kind - which includes all of us!) is released from the former bondage to any type of sinful behavior (through the power of the Holy Spirit when they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ) the act of confession and repentance at the foot of the cross of Christ brings them into reconciliation with God.  They receive, instead, the love, mercy and grace given at the moment of conversion!!  This is the greatest gift in the world!  It is the gift of eternal life!   Of course, sanctification is a lifelong process, but once converted, no one can "snatch the believer" out of the hands of Christ!


Non-believers reject Christ.  Therefore, they reject the need to repent and turn to the only Savior that can reconcile them back unto God!  This often infuriates them!  How do I know?  Because I used to be one of them!

In another comment thread, I had a brief discussion with blogger Susan who experienced release from the bondage of lesbian behavior and identity through the power of Jesus Christ.  I will share her comment here:

Christine shared “The Truth Gap” by Bill Muehlenberg:

“They may profess to be believers, but they live, think and act just like pagans . . . That is because they have never learned to think biblically and they have never developed a biblical worldview . . . As such, they are breaking the greatest commandment which Jesus gave: to love God with all your heart, all your strength, and all your mind.”

I lived, thought and acted like a pagan during more than 20 years acting out as a lesbian and more than 30 years acting out as a drunk trying to deal with my inner emotional pain that I did not understand.

I was hurting and did not know I was in pain for many years, because I numbed myself with sex, alcohol and other drugs. There is a better way. It is the truth that sets one free. The truth about myself set me free. It was not the truth about other people.

The Messiah said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). There is a better way to live. We all have a choice to obey the voice we hear. Everyone is a slave to the voice one obeys. One can obey sin that leads to death, or obedience that leads to righteousness (Romans 6:16).

The most amazing thing about the written Word of God is that it is absolutely ONE Truth. Why? There is only ONE Word of God, the Holy ONE of ISRAEL.

Much love to you, Christine and all your readers who hunger for truth and righteousness. They shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). ~ ss

July 31, 2012 1:56:00 PM PDT

My response:

Dear Susan,

The August, 2012 Turning Points devotional focuses on the "scraps of life." Dr. Jeremiah draws an analogy between the scraps of fabric (that are often discarded) and the scraps of our lives that we often wish we could do over. But those scraps can also be used to create a gorgeous quilt! They CAN be useful!

This brief synopsis doesn't do it justice, but one section was quite encouraging.

Despite the fact that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, we can be encouraged by Psalm 51 which recounts David's psalm of repentance and confession following his disastrous episode with Bathsheba and the killing of Uriah.

Dr. Jeremiah writes:

"Have you ever prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (verse 10)? If so, you are praying words that were forged on the anvil of David's guilt and remorse over his choices. We wish he had never made those bad choices, but that time in his life produced words of instruction and encouragement for us.

Psalm 32, another of David's psalms, may have been written in the wake of the same affair. If not the Bathsheba episode, it is David's recounting of how miserable his life became when he concealed some sin from God. And how blessed it became when he made things right."

Dr. Jeremiah goes on to explain that Psalm 139 discusses God's omnipresence and how he sees and knows everything. David realized that God knew about his sin because there is no escaping God's presence!

Dr. J: "In any case, the scraps from David's life have become a comfort and inspiration to millions of people as they look for value in their own wrong turns in life."

Isn't that awesome?? Dr. J goes on to write, "save your scraps for the Master Tailor!" We are to regret and render them useless! There is a "godly sorrow [that] produces repentance" (2 Corinthians 7:10) --which is what we should do: repent or revive and be useful!"

Dr. J: "If we have sinned, we need to repent. If we are discouraged over a foolish mistake or a broken dream, we need to revive. In either case, the scrap we thought represented a wasted moment in our life will become something God can use to make us wiser, more disciplined, and more appreciative of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness--and make us more willing to extend the same to others (Ephesians 4:32).

God the Master Tailor, wants to use every moment in our life for His glory. If you will pick up the pieces and save our scraps for Him, the garment He fashions will be more beautiful than you can imagine."

See Susan? God thinks you are beautiful!! It is a spiritual beauty that can NEVER be taken away from you! And why are you spiritually beautiful? Because you said YES! to Jesus Christ! You chose to shed the sin that leads to death and obey God's Truth that leads to righteousness!!

Why anyone would not want to accept Jesus' gift of salvation is truly a mystery! Like you wrote, Susan, "it is for those who hunger for truth and righteousness. They shall be filled (Matthew 5:6)."

All we can do is continue to spread the seeds of the Gospel. God does the saving! And sharing those "scraps of life" may jolt a person away from the clutches of sin, evil and death so that they are no longer a slave (like you stated) to it!

God bless you today and always Susan! Love you!

In Jesus,
Christine

July 31, 2012 2:27:00 PM PDT

1Jo 4:9

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

*******

Before closing my browser for the night, I ran across a blog post with some really funny cartoons!

Patriot Post: Who Knew Chicken Sandwiches Could Be So Funny?


*******

Good Night and God Bless!!

~ Christine

*******

Bill Muehlenberg's Essay: "On The Colorado Killings"

My blogging friend Bill Muehlenberg has written an essay about the Colorado killings at his Culture Watch blog that I think needs to go viral!  Therefore, I am doing my part today by linking to it and adding my own thoughts about what Bill has written.

First, please visit his blog to read the essay, then return to read my comment and share some thoughts of your own.

CultureWatch

On the Colorado Killings - It is early days yet so only tentative commentary can be offered here. But we do know this much. Last night at a midnight viewing of the latest Batman movie...

My comment:

Dear Bill,

Your essay covered the gamut of feelings and thoughts that developed in my mind after this awful tragedy.  I read what you had written at your blog late last night.  There weren't any comments yet, and I could not write one at that time.  I needed to ponder all that you wrote, think about it all, and then write a comment today.

Back in 2008, I wrote that Heath Ledger was said to have been haunted by the Joker character.  Some people agreed, others claimed that he "loved" playing that character.  I really think that evil affects people drastically, even when they can't admit it.

I didn't see any of the "dark knight" movies.  The description that you provided cements my decision never to view them.  Those who watch such evil movies, or movies with blatant curse words, or movies that disparage God, or movies that display disgusting porn become desensitized by the violence, aberrant sexual sin, hatred/disregard of God, and celebration of evil.
 
Jesus warned us that the closer we get to the end times, it would be "as in the days" of Noah and Lot.  The secular world today celebrates abortion, homosexuality, sexual sin, perversion, lies, evil, sin and death.  No wonder Jesus told us that his kingdom is "not of this world."

Thank you for this post.  I plan to link to it in my next blog post because I think that people desperately need to read the wisdom, knowledge, and excellent analysis that you have provided.  You tell the truth;  as difficult as it may be for people to acknowledge or accept. What is most important is that you also provide the only way out - knowing Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
 
Your last two paragraphs are some of the most compelling that I have ever read!  You have the ability to turn a huge tragedy into an invitation for redemption through Jesus Christ!  That is what the world needs to read.  It is better than any psychologist's words, psychiatrist's words, or any other human effort to try and comfort those who mourn.
 
Only the living God, His living Word and Son Jesus Christ, His written word the Bible, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God can change the human heart from one of stone cold evil into a heart that can be redeemed to live with God forever in eternity.

God bless you this day and always.  It is my prayer that your essay will reach millions who desperately need such words of wisdom today.

Your friend and sister in Christ,
Christine

Hat tip:

Bill Muehlenberg's Culture Watch blog.

The Two Eternal Destinations of Mankind

Over the years, I have developed a habit of reading my favorite Christian books several times. Usually, it's a book that can give fresh insight each time it is read.    Dr. David Jeremiah's "Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven" is the kind of Bible study booklet that teaches the reader more wisdom and knowledge each and every time it is read!

Recently, I was reading a section of the book entitled "Two Principles." Learning about heaven through Scripture can seem like a complex task. But Dr. Jeremiah makes it easy to understand. He backs up facts with Bible verses, and admits when he ventures into suppositions; even when they are based on certain verses.   We will never know it all on this side of heaven, but God has revealed what we need to know in His Word!  In fact, the Bible says that those who read the words of the book of Revelation will be blessed!  Why ignore this important book?

I know.  Many people think that it is just to difficult to discern what was written in that apocalyptic book.  However, if we take the time to research and study, it becomes easier to understand.

The two principles that Dr. Jeremiah discusses in the "Heaven" booklet are located on pages 24 - 26. They include "The Priority of the Presence of Jesus" (in heaven) and The Permanence of Personal Decisions" (regarding salvation through Christ).

When I read the subtitle called "The Priority of the Presence of Jesus," I was reminded of a Bible study course that I took back in June, 2001.   The study was based on a book by Anne Graham Lotz (Billy Graham's daughter) called "The Vision of His Glory:  Finding Hope Through the Revelation of Jesus Christ."

I picked up my study guide today and re-read what I had written back then in the lesson workbook.  What I liked about the study is the fact that Anne concentrated on "the priority of the presence of Jesus" in the book of Revelation.  It was not the typical "end times" kind of study.  It was geared more towards knowing Jesus Christ through the written words of John the Apostle in the book of Revelation, as well as additional Scripture that backs up what is written about Christ in the last book of the Bible.

Here is a brief editorial review:

Review

In The Vision Of His Glory: Finding Hope Through The Revelation Of Jesus Christ, Anne Graham Lotz explains God's faithfulness regardless of circumstance. All who feel depressed, deluded or discouraged can find hope in all life's difficult situations:

When life seems to small and problems seem to great; when personal insignificance outweighs God's significance; when overwhelmed by the ungodly majority; or when facing death or choosing life. With skilled teaching, an inspiring sense of wonder, practical insight, and heart-touching parables, Anne Graham Lotz brings clarity and understanding to the glorious pageantry and awesome imagery of the book of Revelation. Sharing her passion for God's Word, she leads the reader step by step through John's glorious, eyewitness account of God's plan for our future. The Vision Of His Glory brings the reader to a fresh, personal encounter with Jesus Christ revealing the vastness of God's boundless love and enduring mercy, the source of real, life-changing hope. --Midwest Book Review

There are several additional reader reviews at the Amazon site. The following brief review is a good description of what you will learn throughout the study:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not your usual study of Revelation! Really hits where you live., February 10, 2012 By Candace Ellett "Gramma Honey" (MO, USA)


Before sharing the "Two Principles" from Dr. Jeremiah's booklet, I have to share a bit about the lesson that follows it. Lesson 3 is entitled, "Won't Heaven Be Boring?" The outline section tells us:

Some people suggest that heaven is going to be dull, sitting around strumming on harps all day -- forever! Nothing could be farther from the truth. Heaven is the place where every ultimate longing of the human heart and spirit is satisfied, something we've never experienced on earth.

Recall that Jesus told his disciples (just before his ascension into heaven) that he is going to prepare a place for you [us]. This is for the purpose of us being where He is for eternity! You see, heaven isn't just a beautiful place to live forever. It is heaven,  precisely because of the presence of Jesus Christ! The outline section also tells us:

Heaven will not be boring because:

1. God is not boring.

2. You will not be boring.

3. Your friends will not be boring.

4. You work will not be boring.

5. It is the place you've always longed for.

What is ironic (in the booklet) is what appears on the left sided page of the previous chapter.  It is the end of the chapter that discusses "Where Are They Now" - meaning, where are the dead in Christ.  But at the end of the chapter, the last study question appears at the top of the page:

5.  What level of confidence do you have about your eternal destiny?

Interesting question!  It is one that each of us needs to answer at some point during this lifetime.  It matters how each individual answers Jesus' most important question, "Who do you say that I am?"


Next, on the same page there is a "did you know" section that ends the chapter study question page.

Did You Know?

The most consistent Greek word translated "hell" in the New Testament is geenna, rendered Gehennah in English.  Greek geenna derives from Hebrew ge ben Hinnom--valley of the son of Hinnom, mentioned 10 times in the Old Testament (for example, Joshua 15:8).  It was a valley south and southwest of Jerusalem where Israelites participated in pagan idol worship and child sacrifice (Jeremiah 32:30-35).  Jeremiah prophesied it would become a place of God's judgment (Jeremiah 7:30-32; 19:2, 6).  By the first century A.D. it had become a smoldering trash heap where refuse, even dead bodies of criminals, were thrown to burn.  Jesus used it frequently as an appropriate image of God's final judgment--"hell...the fire that shall never be quenched"  (Mark 9:43).

Helluva way to end a chapter, isn't it? Let's go back a few pages to briefly examine the two principles Dr. Jeremiah mentions in his study booklet.

Excerpt:

The Priority of the Presence of Jesus

We can get specific and detailed about the technicalities of heaven, but it boils down to this: Heaven is where Jesus is. The most important thing about heaven is that it's where Jesus Christ is and where He has promised to take us (john 14:1-4). When Jesus spoke to the thief on the cross He said, "Today you will be with Me..." (Luke 23:43). [Christine adds: "in paradise."]  Paul said that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he didn't say he was hard-pressed between wanting to be with the Philippians or going to heaven. He said he was hard-pressed between being with the Philippians and being with Christ (Philippians 1:23-24). The priority is not being in heaven, it's being with Christ. Wherever heaven is, as long as Christ is there, we'll be fine. It wasn't heaven that saved us, it was Jesus. It wasn't heaven that is coming again for us, it's Jesus. So the priority is being with Him. The best summary statement of all is Paul's when he wrote to the Thessalonians: "And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17). It's fine to know that what, why, when, where, and how --but most important is to know the "who," Jesus himself.

Richard Baxter said it this way:

"My knowledge of that life is small,

The eye of faith is dim'

But it's enough that Christ knows all,

And I shall be with Him"3

We live in a world where celebrities, athletes, musicians, singers, actors, and even politicians are revered.   At times, many are even "worshipped" by their fans.  This is always a huge mistake.  There is only One person who ever walked the earth that deserves our worship - Jesus Christ.

But the mesmerized, wide-eyed young girl who dreams of meeting (or even marrying?) a handsome celebrity actor and gets her most fervent desire suddenly sees how much more important it is for her daughter to be brought up in the Christian faith rather than in a cult like Scientology.  God bless her for coming to her senses before it was too late!

We are to love others, but never worship them.  Worship is an act that completely belongs to God.  Period.  However, if you look closely at your own life and the lives of others, you will notice that those who choose not to worship the true God of the Bible will worship someone, or something else.  As the Christian song goes, "every body's worshiping something...I choose You." [meaning, Jesus Christ.]

This leads us right into Dr. Jeremiah's second principle.

The Permanence of Personal Decisions (Luke 16:26)

In Jesus' story of Lazarus and the rich man, Abraham described a "great gulf fixed" between hades and paradise, "so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us"  (Luke 16:26).  The gulf is fixed and is therefore permanent between heaven and hell.

The decision we make about eternity will be made in this life, and there will be no crossing from one side to the other after death.  There is no such place as purgatory where we can earn our way into heaven.  The Bible says, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment"  (Hebrews 9:27).  The only thing that follows death is judgment.  there is no state in which transactions are made allowing one to change his eternal destination.  Whatever decisions are made about eternity will be made in this life.  Paul wrote, "Behold, no is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

[T]he prospect of spending eternity with Christ in heaven is powerful, but it requires a decision on your part.  I hope you make the same decision that I did--that your eternity is secure with Christ in heaven.

Notes:

3.  Quoted by J.I.Packer in "Hell's Final Enigma,"  Christianity Today, April 4, 2002.

Hat tips to all links

Nothing Compares to You - Jesus!

While clearing out a book shelf today, I ran across a typewritten copy of two "letters to the editor" that I wrote back in the late 1990's for the "faith and values" section of our local newspaper.  It was my little "hobby" to write two letters per month for that weekly page.  You see, writers were only allowed two letters per month in order to give other writers a chance to see their letters in print.  This was prior to my Talk Wisdom blogging days (which began back in 2004).

There was a constant battle between the non-believers and Christians on that page.  Many of the non-believers identified themselves as atheists, agnostics, humanists or just plain ole' die-hard evolutionists.  One individual (whom I will identify with the initials "TS") wrote the following question:

"Does one require faith to recognize truth and facts or can common sense prevail?"

Now, isn't that an interesting way to pose a question?  The guy didn't even try to hide his contempt for people of faith.  The question is worded as though common sense and faith cannot exist together!  I recall being tempted to ask him "where did the ability for common sense come from?"  How about a reply that states "from dust we have come and to dust we shall return?" 

Well, since I was limited to 250 words, I wrote:

Yes, faith is required to understand truth. Whether or not real truth is discovered depends on whom or what we put our faith in.  Faith applied only to common sense, facts, and what can be seen prevails for the humanist because this is what he trusts.  For Christians, faith in God is required because we must believe that He exists in order to discover the revealed truth of his written Word, the Bible, and His redemptive plan (the Gospel) for humanity of his living Word, Jesus Christ (see John 5:24).

Hebrews 11:6 tells us, "and without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."  Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

God will not settle for mere acknowledgment of His existence.  He wants a personal, dynamic relationship with you that will transform your life.  That is why he sent his Son, Jesus Christ.  Those who seek Christ will find that they are rewarded with his intimate presence in their lives.  Those who hear the gospel are responsible for what they have heard (see 2 Corinthians 6:1,2).

This same individual, "T.S.", wrote a second letter asking, "Who are true Christians?"

True Christians are believers who have been spiritually born again (see John 3:3) by the power of God's grace through Christ's redemptive work at the cross of Calvary and his subsequent resurrection from the dead (see John 3:16).  They have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives by repenting of their sins, asking Christ into their hearts and by faith, receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (see John 14:15-17) who continually strengthens each believer's faith and guides us towards God's will for our lives. 

In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except by me."  We can either accept or reject Christ (see John 12:48-50).  There is no in-between position to take on this issue.

In Romans 1:16-17, Paul speaks of saving faith and ties it closely to salvation.  Our relationship with God is made right by trusting Christ.  Even though our bodies deteriorate and die, in the promised resurrection, even death will be defeated and Christ's victory will be made complete.  The Book of Revelation unveils Christ's full identity and God's plan for the end of the world, and it focuses on Jesus Christ, his second coming, his victory over evil, and the establishment of his kingdom.  However, the book's main message is the infinite love, power and justice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Humanists desire to "see before they will believe." Christians "believe, and then they will see." I can't even describe all of the times in my life where my belief in the Lord Jesus Christ has enabled me to see so much more than before I was born again!  It is as if God rewards believers with spiritual sight when we trust in Him unconditionally! There is nothing on this earth that compares to the love, hope, mercy and grace afforded to us through the power of believing in Jesus Christ!

Have a blessed Sunday!

~ Christine

The Great Evacuation

Dr. Jeremiah presents "The Great Evacuation" sermon which was taped at a rally in Alabama.  For those Christians who may not understand the difference between The Rapture and The Second Coming of Christ, this is an excellent study that uses lots of Scripture to describe the difference between the two and when each will happen as we head towards the culmination of history.

On this Memorial Day weekend, we all need to spend time and reflect; remembering all of those brave military men and women who sacrificed their own lives throughout the history of our nation for the security of our country, the liberation of those who have been oppressed in other lands, and for the liberty and freedoms we enjoy here in the United States of America.

The crosses in the cemeteries where our fallen soldiers have been laid to rest remind us of all of those who died in relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord.
There is a noticeable difference between those who "die in the Lord" and those who die without knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Everyone grieves when a loved one dies.  Jesus himself wept at the death of Lazarus; despite the fact that he was able to raise him back from the dead!  But Lazarus later died physically, again,  probably of old age.   Knowing our eternal destiny allows us to not "sorrow as others who have no hope" [See 1 Thessalonians 4:13]. 

 Everyone dies (unless you are a Christian who is alive at the time of the Rapture - for then you will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air!) and our destiny is determined according to what a person does regarding answering Jesus' question,  "Who do you say that I am?"
When a loved one dies in Christ, he/she is not lost.  All Christians will be reunited one day at the Rapture.  We will recognize each other and enter into heaven together with Jesus.  What a glorious day THAT will be!!


1Th 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. [fn]

1Th 4:15 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 by no means precede those who are asleep.

  1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

1Th 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.


From the site:

The day is coming when the followers of Christ will leave their earthly residences for a glorious reunion with Christ. Learn more in this special message from Huntsville, Alabama, on the Rapture of the Church.

Outline:

TURNING POINT LIVE

Dr. David Jeremiah

“The Great Evacuation”

Huntsville, Alabama Rally
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

May 27, 2012

John 14:5
John 14:1-3
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

I. The Careful Preview of the Rapture

A. Dispelling the Believer’s Ignorance
1 Thessalonians 4:13

B. Describing the Believer’s Death
1 Thessalonians 4:13
John 11:11
Acts 7:60
Acts 13:36
 Corinthians 15:20

C. Defending the Believer’s Hope
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
1 Thessalonians 4:14

II. The Certain Promise of the Rapture –
1 Thessalonians 4:15

III. The Chronological Program of the Rapture

A. There Will Be a Return
1 Thessalonians 4:16
Acts 1:11
1 Thessalonians 4:16


B. There Will Be a Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:52
1 Corinthians 15:51
Hebrews 11:5
2 Kings 2:11
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
Acts 1:10-11

C. There Will Be a Rapture

D. There Will Be a Reunion
1 Thessalonians 4:17

IV. The Comforting Purpose of the Rapture –
1 Thessalonians 4:18
Hebrews 10:38

V. How Should We Live?

A. We Should Be Looking for the Lord
Titus 2:13
Philippians 3:20
1 Thessalonians 1:10

B. We Should Be Living for the Lord
Titus 2:11-13
John 14:6

Our Shepherd and Overseer of Our Souls

In the past, I have heard haters of Christianity who often happen to be atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and usually on the far-leftist spectrum of ideology use some of the verses of 1 Peter 2:13-25 as a hammer to tell Christians to "submit to civil authorities" of any kind - even if they are evil and dangerous. At the time that this book of the Bible was written, the people of that era (including Peter, a strong disciple of Christ), were under the harsh authority of Nero. They were persecuted and often caused to submit to unjust suffering.

It is believed that Peter was martyred by Nero. He was to be executed just like Christ, but Peter didn't feel worthy to die in the same way as his Lord and Savior. Therefore, he wanted to be crucified upside down.

I see many parallels in today's persecution of Christians around the world. Even in America, we see this current scandal ridden, America destroying, lying and godless administration use their power of authority (and their freedom to choose to do terrible things with such power) as a cover-up for evil. Many at the top levels of our government do absolutely alarming things that don't make sense (unless one realizes that it is by intentional design to destroy our Constitutional Republic and replace it with a globalist Marxist Islamo-Fascist, anti-Christian, anti-Israel dictatorship kind of government) and do not show proper respect towards our people, our allies, and especially our best friend in the Middle East, Israel.

1 Peter 2 shares reasons why we must endure the suffering inflicted by such a government.

1Pe 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

But it also shows that such an evil government does not actually deserve its' people to submit to the current civil authorities because of the evil being inflicted upon its people. Such evil is often caused by the rejection of Christ:

1Pe 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him--

1Pe 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1Pe 2:6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." [fn]

1Pe 2:7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, [fn]" [fn]

  1Pe 2:8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." [fn] They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.

  NIV Footnotes:
  (2:6) Isaiah 28:16 (2:7) Or cornerstone

  Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

  Further down in the 1 Peter 2:13-25 verses, we find that being conscious of God makes it commendable for us to endure it. I think that this is what millions of Christians in America and  around the world are doing today; despite the awful and terrible conditions that they are suffering under due to corrupt and evil governments.

When Christians suffer unjustly, we recall that Jesus Christ suffered for us; which stands as an example on how we can endure it. We should follow in his footsteps.

This is why the majority of TEA Party Patriots, many of whom are Christian Conservatives, protest and work against our unjust governmental practices in peaceful ways.

1Pe 2:15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

  When a governmental authority seems to get away with so much corruption and evil, it is difficult to endure it by human effort alone. That is why we need Christ - as our Cornerstone - in our lives. Many Christians (including me), are continually praying for patience while enduring the knowledge of how outrageously bad this current government here in America really is!

1Pe 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

Jesus told us that in this world we will have many trials, tribulations, and sorrows. But we are to take heart because He has overcome the world!

Jhn 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Admittedly, it is hard to submit to rulers who are evil and unjust. The Bible says that such rulers are ignorant and foolish:

1Pe 2:15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

  And, 1 Peter 1:24-25 helps to put them (and even me) in their place. It shows the reality of the fact that our time on this earth is like a brief breath compared to existence in eternity!

1Pe 1:24 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

1Pe 1:25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." [fn] And this is the word that was preached to you.

  Studying the Bible helps Christians realize that worldly wisdom is only earthly. It is an nonspiritual and demonic type of wisdom.   The desires of such "wisdom" take us away from God's Word, wisdom, and purpose in this life.  That is why the "world" can proudly claim that abortion is O.K. and that "gay" behavior and same-sex marriage isn't wrong.

Studying, applying, and sharing God's wisdom from the Bible brings reasonableness. It is wisdom from the Lord that brings truth, salvation, and peace in the hearts of all believers.

 No matter what transpires on this earth, NO ONE can take away the joy of God's elect!

 Although we are like strangers in the world, we praise God for His mercy, grace and love; and for Him having chosen us "out of the world" according to the foreknowledge of God. Through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, we become more obedient to Christ because of his sacrifice of blood for our sakes and for our salvation.

I often praise God in prayer for the great mercy he has given me via the new birth (See John 3) into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. His historically undisputed  resurrection to life on the third day proves who Jesus really is and the inheritance that he offers his own can never perish, spoil or fade. It is kept in heaven for me by God's power until salvation which is to be revealed in the last days.

As God's children, we are purposed to "be holy, because God is holy."

I recently looked up the definition of "holy" in the dictionary. Most definitions include some version of the following:

 "dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion. Saintly, godly pious, devout. Having a spiritually pure quality. Entitled to worship."

  However, according to the Word Origin and History book, "holy" means:

 "that must be preserved whole or intact, that cannot be transgressed or violated."

That definition explains exactly why Christ came to this earth to die for our sins on the cross at Calvary. That is why God the Father turned away as all of the sins of the world were heaped upon Jesus while on that cross. That is why Jesus, who usually referred to God as his "Father" cried out, "my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It was Jesus in his humanity, who for the first time had to suffer a time of separation away from God the Father as he bore our sin in his body in order to redeem those of us who repent, confess, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!  This affords us the opportunity to be forgiven and reunited with God for all eternity!

As I had stated in my previous post - what could possibly be better?

People these days stumble over Christ. They reject what they do not know or understand.  They often mock, ridicule, disparage, and hate Christ and his followers. They are utterly foolish to reject God's provision for salvation!

Jesus is so precious to those who believe in him!  He is precious to God the Father. However, Psalm 118:22, which was quoted by Christ in Matthew 21:33-42 tells us:

"the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes."

Someone (Jesus) who is so "marvelous in our eyes" was rejected by those who refused to believe that he was (and is!) the long-awaited Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament!

  Paul informs us how to fight against "the weapons of the world." Our weapons are the Bible, prayer, and the Gospel of Christ!

2Cr 10:3  For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

2Cr 10:4  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

2Cr 10:5  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

The truth is, the only hope of the lost - those who do not yet know the Lord Jesus Christ - is the Gospel message.

I love the way Peter ends the second chapter:

1Pe 2:24  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

1Pe 2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.