Do you remember as a child when you believed all you heard? When our schools taught that we are an evolved species, or that the earth was created by the “Big Bang”, we believed it. As children, we believed in Santa Claus, the Easter bunny and were suspicious of there being werewolves, vampires, ghosts and fairies. We believed in magic. For what purpose? Where does this leave God? At what point does a child leave all the “make-believe” behind and put his faith in the Lord.
The Bible has great stories of miracles that surpass our understanding, yet the world—not just the children-- has fallen in love with wizards and make-believe spiritual realms where PEOPLE have power to overcome evil beings.
The Bible is full of stories of love and romance. Yet the world has fallen in love with the adulterous lifestyle of all types of perversions and glorifies those perversions. Their eyes are not on God, only on fulfilling their lusts.
We live in a world filled with lies. We live in a world where churches have been deceived by the lie. In Jeremiah 23 it is prophesied:
13 “ And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria:
They prophesied by Baal
And caused My people Israel to err.
14 Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem:
They commit adultery and walk in lies;
They also strengthen the hands of evildoers,
So that no one turns back from his wickedness.
All of them are like Sodom to Me,
And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.
So it is in our world. Our nation is accepting abortion as a “medical procedure” and homosexuality as an “alternate lifestyle.” God forbids both. Churches that accept these lies in the name of “God’s love” has only perpetuated the lie. If the members of the church are as one, now, what are you to that sin? If people practicing abominations are welcomed into the church as members in order that they may be healed, what healing is there when the abomination has been embraced and no longer called a sin? Jeremiah 9 warns us of this time:
4 “ Everyone take heed to his neighbor,
And do not trust any brother;
For every brother will utterly supplant,
And every neighbor will walk with slanderers.
5 Everyone will deceive his neighbor,
And will not speak the truth;
They have taught their tongue to speak lies;
They weary themselves to commit iniquity.
6 Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit;
Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” says the LORD.
In Romans 1 Paul declares God’s wrath on homosexuality:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
In 2 Thessalonians Paul further condemns the homosexual lifestyle:
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Homosexuality is just not a perversion of a few – it is being adopted into our culture, into our laws, into our families, into our churches and into our schools. To see the great length our schools have gone to culture the homosexual lifestyle in children, see:
http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/about_us.html#OurDonors
For those who have established abortion as a "choice", God has seen the blood on your hands. Isaiah 59 reads:
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.
3 For your hands are defiled with blood,
And your fingers with iniquity;
Your lips have spoken lies,
Your tongue has muttered perversity.
4 No one calls for justice,
Nor does any plead for truth.
They trust in empty words and speak lies;
They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.
We have all heard the Ten Commandments. They are found in Exodus 20. Verse 13 reads, “You shall not murder.” Yet, by the millions, babies are being killed in the womb. The abortionist and activists cry out that it is only “a blob of tissue” and that it is only a “fetus” and that it is “not viable.” That tissue—that fetus—has a face, a heart and a soul. Of course it isn’t viable, that is what mother’s are for-—to protect and nurture until baby can live on its own breath. What tragedies our children (mothers-to-have-been) are enduring to be deceived by the lie and then to see the truth when a dead baby is delivered!
Abortion is not new. It was around in Biblical times, only then the baby was thrown into the fire as means of sacrifice to receive favor from the “gods.” See http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20America/Abortion%20is%20Murder/sacrifice.htm
To see where our Nation stands now, see: http://www.lifenews.com/
The end to this world, as we know it, is coming soon. The King of Kings and Lord of all is about to return. Let us be ready for that day.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Forgiveness
What a great God have we! He is the God of fairness, truth and justice. We can forgive each other's injustices against each other and know that, also, God will forgive us of our sins.
There is one sin, however, that is not forgiven by God. I remember, as a kid in confirmation, of being so afraid to "blasphemy" the Holy Spirit. I tried to imagine what I could do to cause that. What could possibly be so bad! How could any heart be beyond repentance? You may have run into people with hearts of stone, but whoever you, or I, think may have crossed that line to commit "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" through their actions and words, it is best to leave the judgment to God. Only He knows the true hearts of men.
"Matthew 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
(The Unpardonable Sin) 31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."
Those who have hurt me are forgiven by me; I have put them in my prayers. I cannot walk with God when there is bitterness and unforgiveness in my heart. Our God will be our Deliverer and He will bring true justice. If I, by not forgiving someone, cause that person to lose his or her soul to Satan, then what righteousness have I? All of God's children are precious in His sight. If He forgives their sin, can I do less? If they are not repentant, that is between them and God.
"Matthew 10:27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."
When Jesus sent out the disciples he told them:
"Matthew 10:12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"
May we all be worthy when the Holy Spirit comes to us. The choices we make are for eternity.
God be with us.
There is one sin, however, that is not forgiven by God. I remember, as a kid in confirmation, of being so afraid to "blasphemy" the Holy Spirit. I tried to imagine what I could do to cause that. What could possibly be so bad! How could any heart be beyond repentance? You may have run into people with hearts of stone, but whoever you, or I, think may have crossed that line to commit "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" through their actions and words, it is best to leave the judgment to God. Only He knows the true hearts of men.
"Matthew 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
(The Unpardonable Sin) 31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."
Those who have hurt me are forgiven by me; I have put them in my prayers. I cannot walk with God when there is bitterness and unforgiveness in my heart. Our God will be our Deliverer and He will bring true justice. If I, by not forgiving someone, cause that person to lose his or her soul to Satan, then what righteousness have I? All of God's children are precious in His sight. If He forgives their sin, can I do less? If they are not repentant, that is between them and God.
"Matthew 10:27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."
When Jesus sent out the disciples he told them:
"Matthew 10:12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"
May we all be worthy when the Holy Spirit comes to us. The choices we make are for eternity.
God be with us.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Anger
Did someone accuse you falsely or someone you loved? A year and a half ago someone accused my grandson of causing destruction and then insinuated that I lied when I said that he did not do it. Everytime I see this person, I see red! Its not that I dwell on it, as it is not in my mind until I see him.
Last night I went to a meeting and our accuser was also there. As I sat in the meeting I realized that this anger that I had was poisoning me. There was a hard ball where my heart should be and I did not think I could make myself look kindly. I tried to dismiss it, but could not make it go away.
When the meeting was over, a kindly neighbor lady came and talked to me, and the bitterness in me dissolved to a great degree, and then others joined us. When I left I was able to be remotely kind to the person that falsely accused us. This is where prayer and forgiveness is going to have to take over. What kind of relationship do we have with our God when we can't see beyond our own anger?
We are told in Colossians 3:8
Is it possible to keep ourselves holy? Our God has great confidence that we are able to do so and instructs us to do so in Colossians 3:12
May we all find love for one another. God help us all.
Last night I went to a meeting and our accuser was also there. As I sat in the meeting I realized that this anger that I had was poisoning me. There was a hard ball where my heart should be and I did not think I could make myself look kindly. I tried to dismiss it, but could not make it go away.
When the meeting was over, a kindly neighbor lady came and talked to me, and the bitterness in me dissolved to a great degree, and then others joined us. When I left I was able to be remotely kind to the person that falsely accused us. This is where prayer and forgiveness is going to have to take over. What kind of relationship do we have with our God when we can't see beyond our own anger?
We are told in Colossians 3:8
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Is it possible to keep ourselves holy? Our God has great confidence that we are able to do so and instructs us to do so in Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
May we all find love for one another. God help us all.
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