Our English translation says: "thou shalt not kill", but the real meaning is "thou shalt not kill innocent human life." Exodus 20:13
Our English translation says: "your desire will be for your husband but your husband will rule over you, but the real meaning is "your desire will be to rule over your husband but he will rule over you." Genesis 3:16
Our English translation says: "you shall have pain in child bearing", but the real meaning is "you shall have pain in rearing your children." Genesis 3:16
Our English translation says: "But he that shall endure unto the end", but the real meaning is "those who endure to the end, is the evidence that they were born again, they will endure to the end."
There are many misunderstandings in our Christian culture because our English translations are not as accurate as they should be. We will and have come to wrong conclusions about important matters, if we do not pray and study. We must be looking up words and praying over what we read to determine truth.
The Holy Spirit is the One Who leads us into all truth, not a particular translation of the Bible, unless it is the original words in the Greek and Hebrew copied onto the scrolls we now have.
The original words are there on the copies even if the first scrolls were not found.
God can clear every thing up that we ask to know about, if we trust the Holy Spirit to tell us, unless He is not ready for us to know, then we must be able to say, "I don't know the answer to that." Then wait on God for His answer.
May the Lord bless each one with the answers they crave, as they inquire of Him.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Our Culture has it all Backwards!!!!
We have children living at home at age 18 after high school, who either don't work or use the money they do earn for pleasure. Even worse than that we have 35 year olds coming home just because they are too lazy to work.
18 year old high school grads should be kicked to the curb to learn about life. If they had been properly trained they would have been working at a job early, being taught to save their money for important things, not frivolous silly play things.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."
My uncle many years ago back in the 1920's left Sweden because of the famine. His mother and some brothers and sisters were living together in their home, but there was little food and some days no food at all.
My uncle was 14 when he left, to come to the united states. He worked his way over on a ship, as a cabin boy.
When he arrived in the United States he couldn't speak English so he had to endure the problem of learning it while attempting to get jobs to make his way.
He did not abandon his mother and siblings, but sent money back every month as he was able, to support them. At age 14 he cared deeply about the welfare of his family. When he left Sweden it was not only for himself, but to be able to make income to support those he left behind.
He saved all the money that he didn't send back home, and was able to start a fishing business on Long Island New York. He eventually married and he and my aunt ran the business there for 40 years.
During all the time he was working the fishing business he was sending money back to his mother. He had not returned home to see her until age 64.
My uncle left home to help support his mother and siblings at age 14 and didn't return to see them until he was an old man of 64. 50 years he worked to help them, he left home a young boy and returned an old man.
Many will say that a 14 year old does not have the maturity to work outside the home, and they would be right. We have managed to make whinny sniveling babies out of our young men. They don't know how to work hard, nor do they appreciate the smallest blessing.
There is a sense of fulfillment and purpose in working hard for someone outside ourselves. All this pleasure seeking and electronic gizzmoes are making mindless selfards out of our men. They do not automatically learn how to be selfless and work hard unless we teach them at a very young age, that life is not about pleasure, but for the honorable man, it is about hard work and self sacrifice.
Please don't anyone come to comment that there are no jobs, it is hard, or they would be on the streets. If we teach our young men to start at the bottom, doing whatever they can get, then they will be satisfied to work their way up over time through diligence. They will take whatever they can get and be happy to get it.
I have heard many times that "we should work at what we like." Poppycock. Most people have to work at any job, we do not all get to have a job we like. We can choose to like the job we get by sheer will to do it as unto the Lord. Whatever we do, will be pleasing to us if we do the best job we can.
Unless we begin teaching the young men to act like men, setting aside their pleasure for what is more noble, we will see a third world country faster than we expect.
A productive nation does not just happen, it is built by the sweat of young men's brows, saving their money and spending it wisely, this creates a great nation.
When men act like men, seeking God for the building of their character, then God will bless. God will not bless laziness, self seeking and arrogance.
Think about it. Has all this pleasure seeking fostered a work ethic? I think not.
18 year old high school grads should be kicked to the curb to learn about life. If they had been properly trained they would have been working at a job early, being taught to save their money for important things, not frivolous silly play things.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."
My uncle many years ago back in the 1920's left Sweden because of the famine. His mother and some brothers and sisters were living together in their home, but there was little food and some days no food at all.
My uncle was 14 when he left, to come to the united states. He worked his way over on a ship, as a cabin boy.
When he arrived in the United States he couldn't speak English so he had to endure the problem of learning it while attempting to get jobs to make his way.
He did not abandon his mother and siblings, but sent money back every month as he was able, to support them. At age 14 he cared deeply about the welfare of his family. When he left Sweden it was not only for himself, but to be able to make income to support those he left behind.
He saved all the money that he didn't send back home, and was able to start a fishing business on Long Island New York. He eventually married and he and my aunt ran the business there for 40 years.
During all the time he was working the fishing business he was sending money back to his mother. He had not returned home to see her until age 64.
My uncle left home to help support his mother and siblings at age 14 and didn't return to see them until he was an old man of 64. 50 years he worked to help them, he left home a young boy and returned an old man.
Many will say that a 14 year old does not have the maturity to work outside the home, and they would be right. We have managed to make whinny sniveling babies out of our young men. They don't know how to work hard, nor do they appreciate the smallest blessing.
There is a sense of fulfillment and purpose in working hard for someone outside ourselves. All this pleasure seeking and electronic gizzmoes are making mindless selfards out of our men. They do not automatically learn how to be selfless and work hard unless we teach them at a very young age, that life is not about pleasure, but for the honorable man, it is about hard work and self sacrifice.
Please don't anyone come to comment that there are no jobs, it is hard, or they would be on the streets. If we teach our young men to start at the bottom, doing whatever they can get, then they will be satisfied to work their way up over time through diligence. They will take whatever they can get and be happy to get it.
I have heard many times that "we should work at what we like." Poppycock. Most people have to work at any job, we do not all get to have a job we like. We can choose to like the job we get by sheer will to do it as unto the Lord. Whatever we do, will be pleasing to us if we do the best job we can.
Unless we begin teaching the young men to act like men, setting aside their pleasure for what is more noble, we will see a third world country faster than we expect.
A productive nation does not just happen, it is built by the sweat of young men's brows, saving their money and spending it wisely, this creates a great nation.
When men act like men, seeking God for the building of their character, then God will bless. God will not bless laziness, self seeking and arrogance.
Think about it. Has all this pleasure seeking fostered a work ethic? I think not.
Monday, February 3, 2014
As Culls Cut Out of the Herd
If the majority of women in America refused to buy the slutty
clothing that we see for sale, the manufacturers would change to the styles
that would sell. But America
loves that stuff or is so mindless that they will call something
"cute" just because it is the style, when their senses say it is
ugly.
The world thinks collectively, they do not do their own
thinking, it is too difficult to stand alone.
Fitting in with the culture gets you friends, family and job
promotions. Sadly, even in churches, those who think for themselves are cut out
of the herd, so to speak as culls, like cattle. The inferior stock are removed
so as not to infect the others, ruining all their fun.
Evaluating matters, get us into trouble. Those who desire to
know the truth over popularity are usually left alone and often ridiculed.
Know that they did this to Christ.
James 1:2-3 Profiting from Trials
"2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces
patience."
Over time as we continue to grow strong, we have no desire
to be counted among the "popular" people who base all they do on the
reactions of their peers. They believe they are free but in fact, they are in
bondage to the opinions of others continually.
Mark 7:13 "Making the word of God of none effect
through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do
ye."
This verse speaks of the traditions of the Jews concerning
the law, however I think it can also apply to modern church traditions, that
undermine the Word of God.
Traditions such as "not judging" or "just
love them." These are mantra's that undermine truth and cause impotency in
the body. There are many more, perhaps you can name some you have heard, they
sound good but have no basis in Scripture.
The believer has the responsibility to reason using the Word
of God, thinking things through, evaluating all things.
We are in the age of apostasy because mankind as a whole has
rejected Christ and His principles.
1 Corinthians 2:15
"But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he
himself is judged of no man."
1 Corinthians 2:16
"16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may
instruct Him?”[a] But we have the mind of Christ."
Proverbs 29:25
"The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in
the LORD will be exalted."
Psalm 118:8
"8 It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put
confidence in man."
Sunday, February 2, 2014
God the Father calls Christ "God"
Hebrews 1:8-12
"8 But to the Son He says:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
10 And:
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain;
And they will all grow old like a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up,
And they will be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not fail.”
"8 But to the Son He says:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
10 And:
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain;
And they will all grow old like a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up,
And they will be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not fail.”
The Commandments Did Not Save Me
I hate all sin because of Christ Who lives in me. Because I
do, when I am tempted I run from sin.
However, sometimes I ponder a wrong attitude a little too
long, which shows me that there is still something in me the Lord needs to work
on.
Notice I said, "it shows me", God already knows my
heart better than I do, but He wants to give me the choice to become more holy,
so He reveals to me my own heart.
Christ is the very essence of His commandments, He lives in
me.
He said "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE."
When I veer to the right or to the left, I don't have to
consciously ponder whether or not to follow the commandments Right from wrong
immediately comes to mind.
If I obey I am blessed, if I disobey I feel the impact of
the pressure of guilt that the Holy Spirit brings upon me until I confess and
forsake. Yet I am still a child of God.
Hebrews 12:6
"FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE
SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
1 John 3:6-10 "No one who abides in him keeps on
sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little
children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous,
as he is righteous. "
"Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil,
for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God
appeared was to destroy the works of the devil."
"No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for
God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been
born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the
children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God,
nor is the one who does not love his brother."
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Are You Born Again?
Had I not done a study on manipulation and intimidation, I might have been tempted to doubt what the Lord has been telling me on many subjects.
God showed me, that much of what rebellious people do, is more based on intimidation and manipulation than it is truth. One of their favorite tactics is to call us names while calling into question our heart.
The very people who love their sin will accuse us of things we are not doing, but they are doing. The devil is very cleaver in this, if a person is not strong in the Lord, they can become impotent at the barrage of attacks leveled against them almost daily.
Mark 13:9
"But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them."
While we are not delivered up to the authorities at this point, as the apostles were, we do undergo continual attacks for speaking what God has commanded us to speak.
The very people who walk among us in the gatherings, will argue with us or even avoid us to cover up the guilt they sense in their hearts over the sin that they love and refuse to reject.
Proverbs 28:13
King James Version (KJV)
"13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."
Some of us have been accused of being unloving for coming against sin. That could not be farther from the truth. Those who will not attempt to rescue their brother and sisters from the jaws of sin, or even defend the evil deeds of friends and family are not loving. It is also not loving to speak only continually flowery words in a time of great apostasy in the gatherings.
Isaiah 30:1-5
"“Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord,
“Who take counsel, but not of Me,
And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit,
That they may add sin to sin;
2 Who walk to go down to Egypt,
And have not asked My advice,
To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh,
And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
3 Therefore the strength of Pharaoh
Shall be your shame,
And trust in the shadow of Egypt
Shall be your humiliation.
4 For his princes were at Zoan,
And his ambassadors came to Hanes.
5 They were all ashamed of a people who could not benefit them,
Or be help or benefit,
But a shame and also a reproach."
Proverbs 29:25
"25 The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."
Proverbs 29:5
"A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet."
Proverbs 1:24-28
New King James Version (NKJV)
24 Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
We are in the last days, this is what those days look like, even in the gatherings.
2 Timothy 3:1-9
"1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was."
If you love your brethren, then you will be warning and admonishing those in the fellowship, even challenging them to ask God if they have ever been born again, because the days are evil and many will not know Christ but think they are saved.
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’"
What a frightening thing to realize that someone can get before God on judgement day, thinking they are going to walk into heaven and being declared wicked, only to have our Lord say to them, "I NEVER KNEW YOU."
What a frightening day that will be for many who have loved their sin, refused to submit to Christ and all the while thought they were going to heaven.
God showed me, that much of what rebellious people do, is more based on intimidation and manipulation than it is truth. One of their favorite tactics is to call us names while calling into question our heart.
The very people who love their sin will accuse us of things we are not doing, but they are doing. The devil is very cleaver in this, if a person is not strong in the Lord, they can become impotent at the barrage of attacks leveled against them almost daily.
Mark 13:9
"But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them."
While we are not delivered up to the authorities at this point, as the apostles were, we do undergo continual attacks for speaking what God has commanded us to speak.
The very people who walk among us in the gatherings, will argue with us or even avoid us to cover up the guilt they sense in their hearts over the sin that they love and refuse to reject.
Proverbs 28:13
King James Version (KJV)
"13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."
Some of us have been accused of being unloving for coming against sin. That could not be farther from the truth. Those who will not attempt to rescue their brother and sisters from the jaws of sin, or even defend the evil deeds of friends and family are not loving. It is also not loving to speak only continually flowery words in a time of great apostasy in the gatherings.
Isaiah 30:1-5
"“Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord,
“Who take counsel, but not of Me,
And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit,
That they may add sin to sin;
2 Who walk to go down to Egypt,
And have not asked My advice,
To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh,
And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
3 Therefore the strength of Pharaoh
Shall be your shame,
And trust in the shadow of Egypt
Shall be your humiliation.
4 For his princes were at Zoan,
And his ambassadors came to Hanes.
5 They were all ashamed of a people who could not benefit them,
Or be help or benefit,
But a shame and also a reproach."
Proverbs 29:25
"25 The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."
Proverbs 29:5
"A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet."
Proverbs 1:24-28
New King James Version (NKJV)
24 Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
We are in the last days, this is what those days look like, even in the gatherings.
2 Timothy 3:1-9
"1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was."
If you love your brethren, then you will be warning and admonishing those in the fellowship, even challenging them to ask God if they have ever been born again, because the days are evil and many will not know Christ but think they are saved.
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’"
What a frightening thing to realize that someone can get before God on judgement day, thinking they are going to walk into heaven and being declared wicked, only to have our Lord say to them, "I NEVER KNEW YOU."
What a frightening day that will be for many who have loved their sin, refused to submit to Christ and all the while thought they were going to heaven.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Marriage is not Made by a Piece of Paper and a Vow
Accepting no disagreements on this subject, it is for contemplation only or confirmation. This is not up for debate here.
The same people who say that a remarried couple is a genuine marriage because of the government requires a piece of paper to acknowledge it and to dissolve it, would say that homosexual marriage was not a valid marriage.
This is a double standard, God spoke as much against the sins of divorce and remarriage as He did against homosexuality.
It won't be long before those who defend remarriages after divorce, will also be claiming that homosexual marriage is legitimate, because if the vow and the piece of paper make a marriage, then why would we exclude same sex marriage.
John 6:60
"Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?"
Even the disciples had a hard time wrapping their mind around the idea that a man was sinning when they divorce and remarriage.
There need be no confusion on this subject, God is clear, but those who do not want to accept God's will, are refusing to go to prayer and ask God what the truth is.
The same people who say that a remarried couple is a genuine marriage because of the government requires a piece of paper to acknowledge it and to dissolve it, would say that homosexual marriage was not a valid marriage.
This is a double standard, God spoke as much against the sins of divorce and remarriage as He did against homosexuality.
It won't be long before those who defend remarriages after divorce, will also be claiming that homosexual marriage is legitimate, because if the vow and the piece of paper make a marriage, then why would we exclude same sex marriage.
John 6:60
"Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?"
Even the disciples had a hard time wrapping their mind around the idea that a man was sinning when they divorce and remarriage.
There need be no confusion on this subject, God is clear, but those who do not want to accept God's will, are refusing to go to prayer and ask God what the truth is.
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