Politics of Greed and Envy

You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or ANYTHING that IS your neighbors. Deuteronomy 5:21

Social Justice, Shared Sacrifice and Balanced Approached to Taxation are an unholy Trinity of political concepts that form the most recent basis for a politics of greed and envy that are dominating our discussion of how we will live together under law. That we have now arrived at a point in our national history where almost half the population of our country receive "benefits" from our national Treasury is testimony to the sordid victory of those in the political class who have gained their positions of power by bribing half of our population to vote for them by the promise of a "free lunch." A "lunch" that comes from  menu choices of welfare, medical care, a cushy government job or a college education. The bribe is paid from the national treasury. The funds produced from tax money taken by law from those who are the producers of wealth,  by the printing and distribution of funny money by the Federal Reserve and the continued borrowing of money by the Federal Government.  All these activities of legalized theft are justified by an appeal to the necessity of fairness. These appeals are the double speak that weave the fabric of a cloak for instiable coveteousness. The influence of our current political class is established on a methodology that is itself a violation of the law of God. It cannot end well!

There  is no "free lunch!"

"There is no wisdom, understanding or counsel against the Lord." Proverbs 21:30

The Sad, Vile Realities of Same-sex Marriage

 

However the Supreme Court rules in the matter of the abomination known as same-sex-marriage, it is clear that a large portion of our culture has been given over to the notion that homosexuality is an expression of love. To those who believe gay marriage is a good thing because it is all about Love, hear the Word of the Lord, “This is real love-not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 Jn.4:10)  When one man puts his penis in another man’s rectum, this is not an act of love. Or, when a woman straps on a dildo and penetrates the vagina of another woman, this is not an act of love. The Word of God calls these acts of homosexuality sins. Oh, as an aside, neither is it an act of love, when a married man puts his penis in the vagina of someone else’s wife, mother, sister or daughter. The Word of God calls it an act of adultery; and it is a sin. And not to discriminate, unmarried men and women who “get it on” are guilty of acts of fornication. Yes, these acts of fornication are called sins too.  Clearly those who practice any of these types of sinful acts will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 6:9-11   And yet, SUCH WERE SOME OF US! But He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.

 

I do believe it is time for all Christians in these United States to recognize that the words of Romans 1 have come to pass in our land. “For the wrath of God IS revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, therefore God also GAVE THEM UP to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves….for this reason God GAVE THEM UP to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 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. God GAVE THEM OVER to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” (Rom.1)  The words “God gave them up, and God gave them over” are not words of permission or allowance. These words record God’s active wrath. In His anger, He ceases any effort on His part to restrain the wicked desires of the men and women practicing homosexual acts.  And He actually gives them free reign to live in their lusts without government interference. History tells us that when God acts thus it is the beginning of the end for any given culture!  We now live in a culture that has been GIVEN OVER to the influences of just such a debased world view. That the highest court in our land is even considering the legal status of same-sex marriage, and that the people of several states have already legalized same-sex marriage is sufficient evidence that this is so.

 

So, how then do we live in this decadent culture among those who want our children and grandchildren for their own purposes? We, “…work out our salvation with fear and trembling; and do all things without complaining and disputing, that we may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world, holding fast the Word of life..” (Phil 2:12)  We must unequivocally declare His whole counsel, as revealed in the Bible, to our culture.

 

When you are afraid, discouraged or even depressed by what your eyes witness of the fruits of the powers of darkness, remember that our Savior has promised us a Heavenly Kingdom  in which the thoughts and actions of its citizens will always be the fruit of what is true, honorable, righteous, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and truly worthy of praise. No wonder Abraham and the saints of old “looked for a heavenly country”, a city whose builder and maker is God; and the apostle Paul told us, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when, Christ , who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.  (Col.3:1-4)

 

HE HAS RISEN!

 

   

 

 

 

     

THIS LORD’S DAY - JEHOVAH ROPHE

The Waters of Marah (Bitterness)

Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. ) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”

Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I AM THE LORD, WHO HEALS YOU.” (Jehovah Rophe)(Ex. 15:22-29)

“Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with olive oil………come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” (Isa. 1:5-6; 18-20)

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jer. 17:9)

Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding. (Jer. 3:22)

But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds. (Jer. 30:17)

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, Isa. 61:1

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 4:18)

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. (Mt. 4)

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (Mt. 11)

 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Pet. 2:24)

JESUS IS JEHOVAH ROPHE.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Rev. 22)

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our vile bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

So, on this Lord’s Day, rejoice as you look forward to that Day!

 

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?