ASHAMED OF GOD

 

One of my childhood friends, commenting on FB concerning Bill Maher’s diatribe in response to the NOAH film, said that he was not an atheist, but he refused to believe that God killed all those people. Do you feel the same way? Is the God who reveals Himself in the pages of the Bible, Old and New Testaments abhorrent or an embarrassment to you? Before you answer too quickly, let’s take a closer look at what GOD reveals about Himself in Scripture.

WHEN WE TAKE HEED TO THE SURE WORDS OF PROPHECY RECORDED IN THE HISTORY OF GOD’S DEALINGS WITH THE CHILDREN OF ADAM; AND ESPECIALLY HIS DEALINGS WITH THE CHILDREN OF ABRHAM, ISSAC AND JACOB. WHAT DO THOSE HISTORIES TELL US ABOUT GOD?

HE SPEAKS AND THE WORLD COMES INTO BEING. Genesis 1, 2

HE REGRETS MAKING MAN, AND FLOODS THE EARTH DESTROYING EVERY LIVING THING, EXCEPTING NOAH AND HIS FAMILY. Genesis 6-9

HE RAINS DOWN FIRE AND BRIMSTONE ON THE STENCH OF SODOM AND GOMMARAH. Genesis 19

HE RAISED UP PHARAOH IN ORDER TO DESTROY HIM PUBLICALLY AS A DEMONSTRATION OF HIS POWER. Exodus 4-15; Rom. 9:17

HE ORDERS JOSHUA AND THE ISRAELITES TO UTTERLY DESTROY EVERY MAN, WOMAN, CHILD AND LIVESTOCK OF THE CITY OF JERICHO. Joshua 6:21

HE DIRECTS FLOODS, HURRICANES, FAMINES, EARTHQUAKES AND DROUGHTS AS INSTRUMENTS OF HIS WRATH REVEALED FROM HEAVEN AGAINST ALL THE UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN. 1 Kings 17; 18

HE SENT HIS ANGEL TO KILL 185,000 ASSYRIAN SOLDIERS IN ONE NIGHT. 2 Kings 19:35

HE DETERMINES THE AFFAIRS OF NATIONS AND MEN; AND WHEN HE WEIGHS THE NATIONS OF MEN IN THE BALANCE, THEY ARE AS LESS THAN NOTHING, AND VANITY-MEANINGLESS, WORTHLESS IN HIS SIGHT. Dan. 4:34-35

HE EXECUTED ANANIAS AND SYPPHIRA FOR LYING TO THE HOLY GHOST. Acts 5

HE WILL JUDGE THE EARTH IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: Acts 17:30-31

So, what do you think?

Last night on “The Good Wife”, the leading character, in her grief over the court room murder of her “soul-mate lover”, delivered the classic cavil, “If God is so good, then why, etc., etc, etc. Obviously she was expressing her unbelief in the concept of a good God by holding Him accountable to her standard of what is “good”. So interesting that without the moral and ethical standards established in our culture by Christian Western Civilization over the last 1500 years the writers in Hollywood would not even have an objective standard to define what is GOOD!

But, I digress.

So, how about you? How about your Pastor? How about the folks in your church? Do you take it for granted that God is good? Do you worship the God that destroyed every living thing in the Genesis Flood except Noah and his family. And, do you worship the God that has announced that He will send His Son to do it again at some time in the future? But more to the point, are you embarrassed to tell your children, your family and the world that HE HAS, AND THAT HE WILL AGAIN, COME IN JUDGMENT?!

Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. Acts 17:30-31

This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might on the day He comes to be glorified in His holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. 2 Thess. 1:9-10

 

 

 

  

“GUN CONTROL”

 

For, though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  2 Cor. 10:3-5

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Heb. 4:12

THE WHOLE BIBLE FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION IS THE GREAT WEAPON OF TRUTH WITH WHICH THE SPIRIT OF GOD BOMBARDS THE GATES OF HELL THAT DOMINATE OUR CULTURE.

We followers of King Jesus are the warriors that wield the spiritual weapon of the written Word of God. Alas, it appears that the most powerful weapon that we possess in our arsenal, the words of the Old and New Testament, has been, for decades, sheathed and silent to the extent that the powers of darkness have taken the high ground of what passes for love, truth and justice in our culture. What is patently evil is called good, and what is patently righteous is called evil.

The enemies of Christ have succeeded in removing the words of God from the:

Boardroom

Schoolroom

Bedroom

Court room

Secularism’s victorious occupation of Wall Street, Academia, Social and Sexual Mores and the Political, Legislative and Judicial Arenas has been possible only because the ministers of the Word of God within the visible Church of Jesus Christ in the USA have for decades voluntarily practiced “GUN CONTROL”! We have registered with the State for tax purposes limiting our “free speech” in the pulpit (501-C3), holstered our weapon in the Public Square and censored ourselves to using the words of Scripture only within the four walls of our churches for less than 20 minutes, one day a week. And even then the Pulpiteers have submitted to the Political Correctness and Effeminacy Agendas of our Culture in hopes of “winning the lost”! These "clouds without rain" purposely ignore the words of the apostle Paul: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction; for the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths, i.e. social justice by government mandate, same-sex marriage as the expression of love, abortion on demand as a woman’s “right” and separation of Church and State in matters of public policy, to name only a few.

That time  of voluntary "spiritual deafness" is NOW!  

So, what’s to be done?

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

The gospel of the Kingdom and of its King, stand or fall on the reliability of the words of the testimony of the Old Testament Prophets as well as the Gospels and the Epistles of the New Testament.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.  1 Pet. 1:10-12

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.  Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.  For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Pet 1:19-21

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. Deut. 11:18-21

Sadly the Israelites paid little heed to the directives of Moses! The days of their children DID NOT enjoy the Promised Land, “as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.”  History records that through their neglect of the Word of God  the Israelites lost their inheritance in the Promised Land, were made captive by their enemies and became the “tail and not the head”.

 We must fire salvos from THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD if we are to demolish the gates of hell for our King and Christ, and truly set the people free!

    

THE HOUSE OF MOURNING

 

Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart. Eccl 7:2

Christian, do you think about your death often? You should!

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Psalm 116:15

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Mt 16:27

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2Cor 5:10

The Apostle Paul speaking to this reality said, “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Cor3:18

God will repay each person according to what they have done. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,.. Rom. 2:6-8

Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor 15:49, 53-58

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Pet. 4

“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your Master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let Him in the moment He arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, He himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever He comes, He will reward the servants who are ready.

“Understand this: if a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”

And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?  The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.

“And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Luke 12

Unexpected or not  - death will have you!

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24-25

 

Be patient, keep working, never, never give up! Continue daily to fight the good fight of faith!

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea Hab. 2:14

HE IS WAITING TO WELCOME YOU HOME!     

Look forward to the day when you hear the Lord Himself say to you, “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy lord?” Mt 25:23

 

THE SIN UNTO DEATH   

APOSTASY - defection, to depart.

It is an abandonment of what one has professed; a total desertion, or departure from one's faith or religion.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.  Heb.6:4-8

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.  Anyone who rejected the Law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, AND WHO HAS INSULTED THE SPIRIT OF GRACE? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb. 10: 26-31

Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” Mark 3:28

If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. THERE IS A SIN THAT LEADS TO DEATH.  I am not saying that you should pray about that.  All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. 1 Jn. 5:16-17

They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 1 Jn. 2:19-22

I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Acts 20:29-31

Rene Descartes – Roman Catholic

John Locke – Puritan, Protestant

Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Calvinist, Protestant

Jeremy Bentham – Anglican, Protestant

Ralph Waldo Emerson – Congregationalist, Protestant

Charles Darwin – Anglican, Protestant

Friedrich Nietzsche – Lutheran, Protestant

Karl Marx – Lutheran, Protestant

John Dewey – Congregationalist, Protestant

Jean-Paul Sartre – Roman Catholic and Protestant

Mark Twain – Presbyterian, Protestant

Ernest Hemingway – Baptist, Protestant

Judas Iscariot – one of the Twelve Apostles *

All these men were the public enemies of Christ Jesus.

“THE APOSTATE”

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jn. 12:4-6

Judas -then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Mt. 26:14-16

He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Lk.22:48

When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.  “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

THE RESULT

So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. Mt. 27:3-5

“THE BELIEVER”

But he (Peter) replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Lk.22

THE RESULT

The third time He (Jesus)  said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jn. 21:17

THE REALITY

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Rom. 7:21-25

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.  

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 Jn.2:1-2

*Apostate – Kevin Swanson (www. generationswithvision. com) (xlnt)

A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY  #3

 

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the RENEWAL OF ALL THINGS, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,… everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Mt 19:28-29

Jesus said, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Mt. 10:16-39

The apostle Paul said, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,.” 2 Tim. 3:12

Persecution then:

 

"Nero punished a race of men who were hated for their evil practices. These men were called Christians. He got a number of people to confess. On their evidence a number of Christians were convicted and put to death with dreadful cruelty. Some were covered with the skins of wild beasts and left to be eaten by dogs. Others were nailed to the cross. Many were burned alive and set on fire to serve as torches at night."

Tacitus

Persecution now:

Kim Jong-un calls for execution of 33 Christians
Washington Times-Mar 6, 2014

At some point, ALL of us are tested as to the truth of our faith. 

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

THE REWARDS ARE THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS PROMISE TO ETERNALLY BLESS HIS FAITHFUL WITNESSES

Houses – NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Family-LA FAMILIA

Spouse-INTIMACY

Children-TREASURES

Fields-PROPERTY

 ALL THESE WILL BE RESTORED A HUNDRED FOLD AT THE RENEWAL OF ALL THINGS.

The New Heavens and The New Earth will be a place of safety and comfort where we will serve the Lord in peace on our own parcel of  The Promised Land.  Oh yes, we’ll work; but the work will be without the burdens of the curse. We will have no more “sweat of the brow.”! But rather, what we put our hands to will be work in which we take delight. We will enjoy doing it; and take pleasure in the sense of a job well done, every time. No more boredom, no more frustration. We will rejoice that our service, the fruits of our labor, will overflow in abundance to the benefit of all in the Kingdom. I do think that this life is “on the job training” for what tasks He will have for us in the Kingdom.  Tell me, what do you want to be when you “grow up”? I KNOW WHAT I DREAM ABOUT.

When I make my daily rounds tending my garden (I’m compelled. My grandfather was a field worker in Sicily-it’s in my blood!) I am continually stunned by the intricate design and beauty of the Lord’s handiwork. O my! It’s hard to describe the feelings I get when I lay my eyes upon such wonders as flowering vines, blossoming fruit trees or sprouting tomato plants.  But when I do, my lips praise the Lord; and it is in my heart that when He receives me into the Kingdom of Heaven, that He would make me a “field worker” growing fruits and vegetables for the rest of you! I’d like to build a nice little road side fruit and vegetable stand on the corner of Salvation Way and Glory Road. You can all come and enjoy the bounty of the Lord’s harvest, without money and without price. And I was thinking maybe a little Tuscan style farmhouse where Diana can rattle some pots and pans, and we can all dine together with the Lord over some of her Egg Plant Parmesan.  I know, I know, there is no marriage in heaven. But we can hang together, can’t we? And there I’ll talk to her wherever, whenever and for ever as long as she likes; and she’ll never make me wait, or make me late! Will I get in trouble for writing this?

Think I’m being Carnal Minded?  Maybe, but I doubt it. However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. 1 Cor. 2: 9-10

Hear the terms revealed in the Word of the Lord:

The Promised Land

The New Heaven and The New Earth

Another country, a better one

A heavenly homeland

The Heavenly city

New bodies

Pleasures at His right hand forevermore

Milk and honey (sounds like the ingredients for Ice Cream)

Fig Trees and Grape Vines (sounds like wine and desserts)

Waters of the river of life

The Wedding Feast of the Lamb

Paradise, Eden and the Garden of God

I’M TAKIN’ THE LORD AT HIS WORD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY #2

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him despising the shame endured the cross, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Heb: 12:3

So, “what joy” was “set before Jesus” that would inspire Him, “to despise the shame” that He endured in the physical suffering, as well as the sense of shame that flooded His soul at the moment that His Father, in just repulsion, turned His face away from Him, His own Son because Jesus had taken on His righteous soul the GUILT and FILTH and STENCH of THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE?

Hear the Word of the Lord:

In bringing many sons and daughters to GLORY, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.  For this reason he had to be made, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Heb. 2: 10-18

“And they sang a new song, saying:

‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.’” Rev. 5: 9-10

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us; for the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Rom. 8: 16-25

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, AT THE RENEWAL OF ALL THNGS, everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Mt 27:27-29

“After a long time the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them.  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the  JOY OF THE LORD .” Mt 25:19-21

Evidently the Lord felt it important to promise an abundance of material and personal rewards for those who suffer material and personal loss in this life for His name sake.

Just what will these rewards look like?

We’ll think about that next time.

 

 

A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY

Jehovah commanded Moses, “Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’ Ex. 17: 16-17

The Lord promised the Israelites “a land flowing with milk and honey."  

Did God keep His promise?

The Lord said to Moses, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.  So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.” Num. 13

"The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon’s subjects all his life. During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree." 1 Kings 4:20-25

Jeremiah the Prophet’s history records the fulfillment of the promise. “You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; and gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Jer. 32: 22

God kept His promise.

But the promise was about more than just earthly safety, milk, honey, figs and grapes.

“By faith Abel..; by faith Enoch..; by faith Noah..; by faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.  

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Heb. 11

 That’s our city, too!

“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,  to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,..” Heb. 12; 22-23

Blessed are they that do his commandments so that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city; for without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. Rev 22:14-15

And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Rev. 21:27

The heavenly Jerusalem will indeed be the city of NEW PEACE. The politics of greed and envy will be non-existent. Every soul shall be satisfied. There will be no crime to go unpunished. No corrupt politician to be impeached. No false prophets and heresies to fight. No more anxiety over, “Who can I trust?” No more wealth distribution through taxation. No one beat to death on the side walk will others video the slaughter. No more fear of someone kidnapping your child from your front lawn; or being raped or mugged in the grocery store parking lot. No more carjacking; or fear of terrorist bomb threats. No more sexual perversion. We will all finally fully love our neighbors as we love ourselves; and there will be universal peace in the New Earth.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him despising the shame endured the cross, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Heb: 12:3

“For the joy that was set before Him?”

 We’ll think about that next time.

 

THE TWIN HARPIES OF REMORSE AND REGRET

Isaiah said, “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord. “And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.” Isa. 66:22-24

JESUS said, “And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell. And if thine eye cause thee to stumble, cast it out: it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell; where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43-48

So JESUS uses the words of the Prophet Isaiah’s history to describe the horrors awaiting those of us who stumble and rebel against God. I take it that those of us who are thrown into hell will have a worm that continually eats them and fire that continually burns them. Horrifying! Terrifying! Appalling! So, good reason for JESUS to warn us against stumbling through lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life; and choosing to rebel against God!!!

And for those of us that are tempted to dismiss these warnings of eternal physical punishment as too horrifying to consider as true; or that the language being used is just metaphorical or symbolic and exaggerated for dramatic effect, ask yourself, “Why would JESUS choose to use these particular words of Isaiah to describe hell? Or why did JESUS recommend the discipline of physical dismemberment 3 times as a deterrent to rebellion that leads to being cast into hell unless the suffering in hell was at least, or more abhorrent, than any physical pain or loss suffered in this life?” Remember, the REALITY is ALWAYS GREATER than the metaphor, simile or symbol!

“But, maybe the suffering is not physical, but only psychological, mental anguish,” some might conjecture.

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 cor. 7:10

“And their worm dies not.”

At least two of the elements of “worldly sorrow” are the Twin Harpies of Remorse and Regret that rip and tear at the soul of the guilty, like a consuming worm turning continually in the soul, but never producing peace of mind.

REMORSE is the keen pain or anguish excited by a sense of guilt; compunction of conscience for a crime committed.

CAN YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SOUL REPEATING, “GUILTY, STUPID; GUILTY, STUPID; GUILTY, STUPID!” And “WHY DID I DO IT; WHY DID I DO IT, WHY DID I DO IT?” – FOREVER AND EVER

REGRET is grief; sorrow and pain of mind. We feel regret at the loss of friends, regret for our own misfortunes, or for the misfortunes of others. We feel pain of conscience; as a passionate regret at sin. It is to grieve at; to lament over; and to be sorry for.

CAN YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SOUL REPEATING, “SHOULDA, WOULDA, COULDA; WOULDA, COULDA SHOULDA; COULDA, WOULDA, SHOULDA!” – FOREVER AND EVER

“And the fire is not quenched.” 

JESUS said, “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

THOSE REBELS WHO REJECT MOSES AND THE PROPHETS WILL NOT BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND TRUST HIM FOR THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE THAT HE FREELY OFFERS. THEY WILL DIE IN THEIR REBELLION AND THEN HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE OF FIRE WITHOUT HOPE OF RELIEF, EVER.

CAN’T GET NO SATISFACTION

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines VANITY as: emptiness; want of substance to satisfy desire; uncertainty; inanity. Roget’s Thesaurus identifies the synonyms for VANITY: futility, meaningless and emptiness. The Rolling Stones accurately defined the experience of Vanity in the classic rock song, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction!”

Hear the Word of the Lord:

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

What profit hath a man of all his labor which he takes under the sun?

One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides forever.

The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to his place where he arose.

The wind goes toward the south, and turns about unto the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits.

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, ‘See, this is new?” It has been already of old time, which was before us.

There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. Eccl. 1:1-11

So, what’s the point of living? Where is the meaning of all our effort to survive? We are here today and gone tomorrow! All we experience is “Same ol’, same ol’! And when we are gone we will fade from the memory of the living.

NO SATISFACTION

LIFE SUCKS, AND THEN YOU DIE

LIFE IS MEANINGLESS

And yet, LIFE DOES HAVE MEANING, but ONLY because there is an ETERNAL EXSISTENCE.  An existence experienced in HEAVEN or in THE LAKE OF FIRE.

“God will repay each person according to what they have done.”  To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil:….” Rom. 2:6-9

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

We will ALL spend eternity in the presence of God. The experience will be either as “The Apples of His Eye”, or as “The Objects of His Wrath.”

"Thus says the LORD, 'The corpses of men will fall like dung on the open field, And like the sheaf after the reaper, but no one will gather them.'" Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.…Jer. 9:22-24