DISQUALIFIED – (Greek, adokimos: not standing the test, rejected)

 

THE PRIZE – the High Calling of Christ Jesus, Glory, the Presence of the Lord, Pleasures at Your right hand forevermore, the New Heavens and the New Earth wherein dwells righteousness, His Rest, the Joy of the Lord, Life Eternal, the Freedom and the Glory of the children of God, The New Jerusalem, the Heavenly City, Zion, The Eternal Kingdom of God.

 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I STRIKE A BLOW TO MY BODY and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself WILL NOT BE DISQUALIFIED for the prize. 1 Cor. 9:24-27 (The Apostle Paul)

…"If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, CUT IT OFF and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. "If your eye causes you to stumble PLUCK IT OUT and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell. Mt. 18:8-9 (Jesus of Nazareth)

However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way (Jesus of Nazareth), which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I STRIVE always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. Acts 24:14-16 (The Apostle Paul)

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of  his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you PUT TO DEATH THE MISDEEDS OF THE BODY, you will live. Romans 8:11-13 (The Apostle Paul)

Lest there be any confusion as to what “deeds of the body” actually are, the apostle Paul lists them: “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. PUT TO DEATH, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Col.3:4-10 (The Apostle Paul)

Hear the Apostle Paul give his own progress report, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I PRESS ON to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind AND STRAINING TOWARD what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

 

All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Philippians 3 (The Apostle Paul)

Do I believe that the Apostle Paul was at all times successful in his quest to control the sinful activities of his own sin nature? Let his own words speak for themselves: “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 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! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” Romans 7

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12)

To the one who is VICTORIOUS, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Rev. 3: 21-22 (The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God – the Glorified Christ Jesus)

TO THOSE WHO BY PERSISTENCE IN DOING GOOD SEEK GLORY, HONOR AND IMMORTALITY, HE WILL GIVE ETERNAL LIFE (Romans 2)

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103)

SO, LET US NEVER, NEVER, NEVER STOP STRIVING, AS WE RUN THE RACE FOR GLORY, HONOR AND IMMORTALITY. AND THEREBY DISQUALIFY OURSELVES FROM OBTAINING THE PRIZE!

 

 

 

 

 

 WHY

 

“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 sustained Him during the cruel brutality, spiteful mocking and physical exposure that He suffered during  His public humiliation, as He bled and died on the Cross of Calvary for 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? Have you given much thought as to the experience you will experience for ALL ETERNITY?

 

 

 

JEHOVAH-JIREH- The Lord will provide

 

 

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”  .

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” Genesis 22

Hundreds of years later-

Solomon began to build the temple (the place of blood sacrifice) of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. 2 Chronicles 3

Hundreds of years later –

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  John 1

When they came to the place called the Skull, (in the region of Moriah) they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.  Luke 23

 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 1 Peter  1

In the heavenly realms-

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” Revelation 5

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” Revelation 6

 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Revelation 14

On this Lord’s Day rejoice that your Heavenly Father gave His Only Son to be The Sacrificial Lamb for your redemption, and look forward to the Eternal Day of the Lord when we will stand in the presence of The Lamb that was slain and yet lives. And along with that great number of the redeemed that cannot be numbered from every kindred, tongue and nation we will glory in His light!

 WHO WILL JESUS DEPORT FROM HIS KINGDOM?

 Jesus said, “…anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” Jn.10

 

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. Rev.22

 

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”  Mt.4:17

The good news that Jesus of Nazareth declared that day begs the question: “What do I have to repent of to gain entrance into the Heavenly Kingdom?”

The Bible is clear as to what needs to be repented of, so that you may be received with joy into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

“…do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 6:9, 10

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. Col. 3

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal: 5:19-21

“… God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love and no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Rom: 1:26-32

“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 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. Rom. 2:5-8

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Rev. 22: 14, 15

CAPISCE? IS IT CLEAR? DO YOU UNDERSTAND? GOT IT? ANY QUESTIONS?

 

EL SHADDAI EL-SHADDAI means GOD ALMIGHTY. EL (God) is a word that declares God to be mighty, all- powerful and actively exerting that strength according to His will.    SHADDAI (Almighty) is a word that is derived from another word meaning breast, which implies that Shaddai signifies One who nourishes, supplies, and satisfies. It is God as El who in His power and might helps us, but it is God as Shaddai who in His fertility and potency abundantly blesses us with all manner of blessings. So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God he created them; MALE and FEMALE he created them. (Genesis 1) Obviously there is, for lack of a better term, “Femaleness” in God. I think that Shaddai is the name He chose to use to reveal that truth concerning Himself. Only God Almighty blesses man and provides in abundance all of mans’ needs.    And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. (Genesis 17:1,2) And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee and kings shall come out of thy loins. (Genesis 35:11) And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people: and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. (Genesis 48:3,4) But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Even by the God of thy father, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lie under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb. (Genesis 49:24-25) Rejoice ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For thus says the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: them shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so will comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 66:10-13) New Heaven and a New Earth 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.” (Revelation 21) So, on this Lord’s Day,  rejoice and be glad that the God you worship is GOD ALMIGHTY Do Not Worry Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Jesus of  Nazareth) THE BEST IS YET TO COME!      .              .

OPEN BORDERS and UNLIMITED IMMIGRATION

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. (Rev. 22)

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Rev. 7)

“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)

There is only ONE border worth crossing. It is the spiritual border that separates the Kingdom of Jesus Christ from the kingdoms of this world. It is the Border that separates the spiritually dead from the spiritually living.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but HAS CROSSED OVER FROM DEATH TO LIFE. (Jesus of Nazareth)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (The Risen Lord Jesus Christ)

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Rev.14)

 The biggest little word in the Bible is "in", as in "in Christ"! HE is the only safe place, country or nation in the universe.

God's gracious love must be understood in light of God’s holy wrath and the Day of Eternal Judgment- the Lake of Fire.    

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. (2 Thessalonians)

Have you “crossed the border” into the Kingdom of Christ? Are you safe?

JEHOVAH – The Existing One Who is, Who was, Who will always be.

Our English word LORD in the Old Testament histories is the word we use to translate the name JEHOVAH.

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord (Jehovah), the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.

“Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord (Jehovah), 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. 3:13-17

God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD (Jehovah). I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.

“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.’ ”

It is as “I Am THAT I AM” that God (Elohim) reveals Himself to His chosen people in bondage as their personal covenant keeping REDEEMER.

 

The LORD Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Jesus of Nazareth


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, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant,…

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,….

So, on this LORD’S Day, let us rejoice and look forward to the Day we will stand on Mt. Zion in the presence of the LORD together.

We are confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

So, let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

 

THE EMPTY WORDS OF SIR ELTON JOHN  

The 67-year-old singer, who is planning to marry his civil partner David Furnish next year, claims the Christian figure would have approved of gay members of the clergy if he was alive today because he was "all about love."

Speaking in an interview with Sky News, he said: "If Jesus Christ was alive today, I cannot see him, as the Christian person that he was and the great person that he was, saying this could not happen.

"He was all about love and compassion and forgiveness and trying to bring people together and that's what the church should be about."

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

So, what are the “Such Things”?

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. Eph. 5

Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Col. 3

Any serious study of God's dealings with the human race recorded in the Bible make it abundantly clear that He uses floods, droughts, hurricanes and other natural calamities as expressions of His wrath. I do believe this truth is one of the main reasons that the reading and preaching of the Old Testament histories is so neglected by Christians and rejected by the general public. We just refuse to believe that God acts in such a manner. That He is directing natural forces of such devastating destruction upon the world of men, women, children and animals. After all, how could we possibly deserve such treatment! These are the Empty Words that have deceived the disobedient from the Garden of Eden to this present moment. And this deception includes you and me at times in our lives.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;…. The Apostle Paul

Sir Elton John is sadly and tragically mistaken. We must see to it that we do not follow in his footsteps!