Sunday, July 30, 2006

Instructions For the True Believer

“Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.” Ezra 9:12

Do not marry an unbeliever. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

Do not seek their peace. What makes the worldlings happy is not what should make you happy. Your happiness is in the things of God and the blessings given by him, i.e., the Holy Ghost, prayer, the Word, a peaceful home, helping others
especially find the way of grace.

Do not seek their wealth. Your treasures are in heaven while theirs are here on
earth. Where your treasure is, that's where your heart will be. They will think it
a big thing to save up for retirement in a big way and some of them will obtain it
but many will not. Those who do, will only have a few felling years of pleasure
only to soon embrace hell.

You will be strong. Your strength will be in God and you will not fear the
constant fear of man. You will have power in the Spirit in order to see
deliverance to others.

You will eat good. You will be blessed and God will satisfy your mouth with good
things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. You will desire the things
of God and the things of his Spirit along with his word.
You will have an inheritance that you will leave to your children. Your children will pass on to their children

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

A Heart Toward israel

While I have already posted this on the blog, I felt it necessary to elaborate a little more regarding the future of Israel.  I also feel that “A Heart Toward Israel” is more appropriate.  

At this writing there is war between Israel and Lebanon.  It may be resolved by the time you read this, but it may not.  At any rate, let’s look at what the church’s  attitude should be toward Israel.  Let’s look at the Bible to get God’s insight on this.  First, we have God speaking to Abraham saying in Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”  Abraham’s son was Isaac and Ishmael as well as others.  Isaac was the father of Esau and Jacob and Jacob was the father of  twelve sons who made up the twelve tribes of Israel.  Through the Jews came the Messiah from the tribe of Judah and our Bible was brought to us by the Jews.  

David said in Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”  He urged those to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all of Israel so shouldn’t we do so today?  While we can’t condone all they have done these past years since they have again become a nation, we must admit that they are a marvel as a people.  What nation can be split apart, driven from their homeland on two occasions, be a desolate land for years, then come back as a powerful nation as we see today.  They suffered two centuries of war from the crusades, and are suffering war and being threatened with losing land even now. What nation commands the world’s attention like Israel whose land mass is less than most of our states?  Jerusalem itself is said to have only a little over 700,000 people.  Doesn’t that make one wonder why the world keeps its attention on such a tiny country and why so many nations would like to see this tiny country pushed into the sea?  

Israel will have its place in the future as Christ will reign from there during the millennial reign.  Before that, however, the world and especially the anti-Christ must be judged.  The anti-Christ will set himself up as God in the temple that will soon be built in Jerusalem.  “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;   Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  It has been said that the materials and pieces of the temple are already in place, waiting to be put together. Judgment of the armies of the world will take place not far from Jerusalem as told in Joel 3:12-14.  “Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

Finally, Christ will reign from Jerusalem where the new temple will be located.  The central world government will be there and all the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.  See Isaiah 11:1-9, Rev 20-4-6 and Ezekiel chapters 40-48.  Scripture after scripture indicates that God has his eye on Israel whose heritage began with God’s special blessing and promise. As Christians, we should pray and have a warm spot for Israel in our hearts.  The city and country of Israel were important to God and us in the past, they are now, and will be in the future.  Again quoting a verse already mentioned, Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”  

Saturday, July 15, 2006

A Heart Toward israel

While I have already posted this on the blog, I felt it necessary to elaborate a little more regarding the future of Israel.  I also feel that “A Heart Toward Israel” is more appropriate.  

At this writing there is war between Israel and Lebanon.  It may be resolved by the time you read this, but it may not.  At any rate, let’s look at what the church’s  attitude should be toward Israel.  Let’s look at the Bible to get God’s insight on this.  First, we have God speaking to Abraham saying in Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”  Abraham’s son was Isaac and Ishmael as well as others.  Isaac was the father of Esau and Jacob and Jacob was the father of  twelve sons who made up the twelve tribes of Israel.  Through the Jews came the Messiah from the tribe of Judah and our Bible was brought to us by the Jews.  

David said in Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”  He urged those to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all of Israel so shouldn’t we do so today?  While we can’t condone all they have done these past years since they have again become a nation, we must admit that they are a marvel as a people.  What nation can be split apart, driven from their homeland on two occasions, be a desolate land for years, then come back as a powerful nation as we see today.  They suffered two centuries of war from the crusades, and are suffering war and being threatened with losing land even now. What nation commands the world’s attention like Israel whose land mass is less than most of our states?  Jerusalem itself is said to have only a little over 700,000 people.  Doesn’t that make one wonder why the world keeps its attention on such a tiny country and why so many nations would like to see this tiny country pushed into the sea?  

Israel will have its place in the future as Christ will reign from there during the millennial reign.  Before that, however, the world and especially the anti-Christ must be judged.  The anti-Christ will set himself up as God in the temple that will soon be built in Jerusalem.  “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;   Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  It has been said that the materials and pieces of the temple are already in place, waiting to be put together. Judgment of the armies of the world will take place not far from Jerusalem as told in Joel 3:12-14.  “Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

Finally, Christ will reign from Jerusalem where the new temple will be located.  The central world government will be there and all the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.  See Isaiah 11:1-9, Rev 20-4-6 and Ezekiel chapters 40-48.  Scripture after scripture indicates that God has his eye on Israel whose heritage began with God’s special blessing and promise. As Christians, we should pray and have a warm spot for Israel in our hearts.  The city and country of Israel were important to God and us in the past, they are now, and will be in the future.  Again quoting a verse already mentioned, Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”  

"De Vinci" or "Da Vinci”


My answer, whatever!  There was no intent to make De Vinci a Spanish name.  The point is this:

  1. The whole “Da Vinci” thing is false and blasphemous.  The church obviously did not care or couldn’t pray enough to keep it out of our country.  

  2. Hollywood will stoop to anything to make money and come across with their godless views.

  3. There is one true God, the God of the Bible.  He’s not someone or something we can create in our own imagination to be what we would like him to be.  His thoughts, intents, plans for the future, desires, and expectations are all in his Word.  There are places in the world where people are risking their lives simply to have this Book.  Will we come to that place in America?

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Why Art Thou Cast Down?

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”  Psalm 43:5

This life can become very depressing.  You may be going through things that have come upon you brought about by no action of your own.  Other things in life come our way due to the result of some of the decisions we have made in life, and this also may be the case with you.  Whatever the reason, there is no reason to live without hope like may others are doing in this world.  

We all have been through trying times and whether you are a Christian or not, you will go through other valleys in your life like the rest of us.  David was going through a great valley when he asked the question, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?” His thoughts were continually surging forward, sometimes in mere depression and sometimes even in anger and bitterness, yet he was a child of God!  But when he came to himself, he realized where his hope lay, in the Creator, Author and Finisher of all things.  

Have you rested in this hope of Christ.  Have you asked him into your heart to become your Savior and Lord, admitting you’re a sinner!  Are you still waling in the light?  “7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” I John 1:7  If you are, you still have hope.  If you haven’t ever really given your heart to Christ or if you just made a “decision” which amounts to a intellectual experience only, then you need to come to the Cross and cast yourself at Jesus’ feet in repentance, seeking his forgivness and excepting him as LORD.  If you have prayed at one time, giving your heart to the LORD, but have slipped back, you need to renew your faith and come back to him like the Prodigal Son came back to the father.  

Please remember the words in Hebrews 10:38  “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”  Saint of God, use your depressed state as a stilt for prayer and fly before the Lord, making your requests known before him.  “20  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” Jude 1:20

Why Art Thou Cast Down

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” Psalm 42:5

At times we become discouraged and cast down in our souls.  This happens to those who believe and trust Christ as well as those who do not.  The difference, however, between the two is that we who trust Him have a refuge and hope for tomorrow.  Sometimes one faces things in life that there seems to be no answer to, and there may not be as far as the rational mind can conceive.  However, we serve the God who created the universe, and has all things under his feet.  He started all of this and he will finish it.  That’s for certain!  The important thing is, what, as man, will we do about this?  Will you continue to go on in your despondency and try to “party” your way out while only making the problem worse or will you fly to the Creator and Savior for help and strength who has all solutions to all problems!  

If you’re down in your soul, you’re not the first.  David was as you can see from the verse at the beginning.  Others were as well but they had a hope in God and could feel it in their souls as they prayed.  Living for Christ is not just an academic experience but an experience of true life and the power of his Spirit.  One can only feel that power when he/she actually gives her heart to him and trusts in him as Savior and Lord.