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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Psalm 73

Bible Questions Answered:
“It seems the wealthy man with all his money has the good life while the christian people I see are a lot of them poor or living very modestly....what about all the blessings...?”
Corrie/ Queens town, New Zealand

Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Psalm 73:1-28 NLT (A psalm of Asaph.)
1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
4 They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.
5 They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.
7 These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!
8 They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.
9 They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.
10 And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.
11 “What does God know?” they ask. “Does The Most High even know what’s happening?”
12 Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
14 I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.
15 If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people.
16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!

17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
19 In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.
20 When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

21 Then I realized that my heart was bitter and I was all torn up inside.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
23 Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.
27 Those who desert Him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you.
28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made The Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Asaph says he almost lost his way, over envy and confusion, concerning the wealthy and their carefree ways. He reflected have I lived a pure and innocent life for nothing?

Asaph, learned the answer when he went to the sanctuary of God, and that is where we will receive our answers too.

17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
19 In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.
20 When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

Matthew 16:24-26 KJV
24 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

II Corinthians 4:15-18 KJV (The Apostle Paul.)
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

As God's people, take heart, whatever we may go through, we go through it with God at our side:

Genesis 28:15 KJV
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest..."

Exodus 33:14 KJV
And He said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Psalm 34:19 KJV
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but The Lord delivereth him out of them all.

Psalm 41:3 NLT
The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.

Psalm 91:15,16 KJV
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation.

Isaiah 43:2 KJV
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Isaiah 58:9 NLT
Then when you call, The Lord will answer.‘Yes, I am here,’ He will quickly reply..."

Matthew 18:20 KJV
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 28:20 KJV
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

John 14:18 KJV
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Romans 8:18 KJV
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

II Timothy 2:10-12 KJV
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us:

Hebrews 13:5 KJV
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

I Peter 4:12,13 KJV
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Revelation 21:4 KJV
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Joseph-Was He Cruel To His Brothers?

Bible Questions Answered:
“...we were debating in class if Joseph wasn't cruel to his brothers, because he did not right away reveal himself to his brothers...”
Tom/ San Diego, California – U.S.A.

Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Genesis 42:5-8 KJV
5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

Nowhere are we told in the Biblical narrative that Joseph ever treated his brothers cruelly or unkindly.
Though his brothers had at one time, the idea to kill him, but were talked out it by Reuben.
Yet they sold their own brother into slavery.

Could Joseph have been revengeful, yes but he was not. Joseph did however wish two things, information about Jacob and Benjamin, and to awaken something in his brothers that certainly they lacked, and that was, conscience.

Up until now in the story, they had no regrets.
7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

They would receive more than food from the hands of God, also they would also receive a contrite heart.

Psalm 51:10,17 KJV
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Hosea 10:12 KJV
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow* ground: for it is time to seek The Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.

*Fallow-Hebrew: Nir (Neer): Ploughing, freshly ploughed land: fallow ground, ploughing tillage.

Hosea 10:12 NLT
I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek The Lord, that He may come and shower righteousness upon you.’

Psalm 34:18 KJV
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Conscience:

Hebrews 9:14 KJV
How much more shall The Blood Of Christ, who through The Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve The Living God?

Acts 24:16 KJV
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offense toward God, and toward men.

Romans 2:14,15 NLT
14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know His law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.
15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.

Romans 9:1 KJV (Apostle Paul.)
I say The Truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in The Holy Ghost,

II Corinthians 1:12 KJV (Paul)
We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.

I Timothy 1:5 KJV (Paul)
The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

I Peter 3:15,16 NLT
15 "...you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

Psalm 139:23,24 KJV
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

See the blog posting: Conscience 

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Tithing #2

Bible Questions Answered:
“I have tithed for the last 5 months but I am no better off....”
Carrie/ Liverpool, England (United Kingdom)

Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Malachi 3:10 KJV
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith The Lord Of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

We cannot dictate to Almighty God, just what He should do for us! But He has promised to bless His faithful children. He does this faithfully in ways we may or may not ever know of.

We do not give to The Lord, because He is a source of financial revenue! What an insult that would be!
We give to The Lord and His church, because He has told us to do so!

Luke 11:42 NLT
What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

Not to tithe, The Lord says is to “rob God!”

Malachi 3:8,9 KJV
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation.

Stop here and read the previous blog posting: Tithing

Our safety, our health, yes our finances, our homes, and friends...what wealth, what blessings, this and more than we will ever know this side of eternity, our Living God, blesses us with every hour!
How extremely thankful we should be!

Psalm 68:19 KJV
Blessed be The Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even The God Of Our Salvation. Selah.
Psalm 103:1-5 KJV
1 Bless The Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless The Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Our treasure, our real treasure is not to be found in money, or transitory earthly things.

A Christians Treasure:

Matthew 6:19-21 KJV
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 19:21 KJV (Rich young ruler.)
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.
Our Giving To The Lord:

Deuteronomy 16:17 KJV
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of The Lord thy God which He hath given thee.

I Chronicles 29:9 KJV
Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to The Lord..."

Proverbs 3:9 KJV
Honor The Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase:

Proverbs 11:25 KJV
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Luke 6:38 KJV
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

I Corinthians 16:2 KJV
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him..."

II Corinthians 9:6,7 KJV
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Galatians 6:9 KJV
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.


Thursday, May 22, 2014

Vision-Where There Is No #2

Bible Questions Answered:
“They say were there are no visions the people perish. In our church no one has visions, though some churches do. How do we encourage this?...”
Sheila/ Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Proverbs 29:18 KJV
Where there is no vision*, the people perish*: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
(Notice that the context of this verse is about "the law-God's Word!")

*Vision-Hebrew: Chazown (Khaw-zone): A sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or oracle:-vision.
(A prophetic revelation that comes from The Word Of God.)

*Perish-Hebrew: Para (Paw-rah): To loosen; to dismiss, go back, perish, refuse (To cast off restraints.)

What is Solomon saying here?
He is saying where people do not heed The Word Of God, they become lawless, casting off all restraints to do the evil they imagine constantly.

Genesis 6:5 KJV
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

I Timothy 1:3-11 NLT (Apostle Paul warns against false teachings.)
3 When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to The Truth.
4 Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.
5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.
7 They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.
8 We know that the law is good when used correctly.
9 For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders.
10 The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching
11 that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.

Psalm 119:11 KJV
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The Apostle Paul, is not here speaking of individuals visions, but having spiritual insight, and revelation of God's Word!

Proverbs 29:18 NLT
When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Proverbs 29:18 ERV (Easy To Read Version)
If a nation is not guided by God, the people will lose self-control, but the nation that obeys God’s law will be happy.

Spiritual Darkness, And Loss Of Vision.


Amos 8:11 KJV
Behold, the days come, saith The Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of The Lord:

Matthew 6:22,23 NLT
22 “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.
23 But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

John 3:17-20 KJV
17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of The Only Begotten Son Of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth The Light, neither cometh to The Light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

John 11:10 KJV
But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no Light in him.

Romans 13:12 KJV
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of Light.

II Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest The Light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

I Thessalonians 5:4 KJV
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Spiritual Light:


Deuteronomy 5:29 KJV
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Psalm 19:8 KJV
The statutes of The Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of The Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psalm 119:105, 130 KJV
105 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path.
130 The entrance of thy words giveth Light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Proverbs 6:23 KJV
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is Light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of Life:

Isaiah 8:20 KJV
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no Light in them.

Luke 1:78-79 KJV
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby The Day Spring from on high hath visited us,
79 To give Light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

John 1:1-5 KJV
1 In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In Him was Life; and The Life was The Light of men.
5 And The Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 3:21 KJV
But he that doeth Truth cometh to The Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 5:39 KJV
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.

John 8:12 KJV
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am The Light Of The World: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have The Light Of Life.

John 12:35,36,46 KJV
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is The Light with you. Walk while ye have The Light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have Light, believe in The Light, that ye may be the children of Light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide Himself from them.
46 I am come a Light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness.

II Corinthians 4:6,17 KJV
6 For God, who commanded The Light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give
The Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:8 KJV
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye Light in The Lord: walk as children of Light:

I Thessalonians 5:5 KJV
Ye are all the children of Light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

II Timothy 1:10 KJV
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought Life and immortality to Light through the gospel:

James 1:25 KJV
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

I Peter 2:9 KJV
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light;

II Peter 1:19 KJV
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and The Day Star arise in your hearts:

I John 1:7 KJV
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.

Revelation 22:14 KJV
Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

 Notice what is promised those who have “vision,”(insight into God's Word).

Proverbs 29:18 KJV
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Nehemiah 8:10 KJV
"...for the joy of The Lord is your strength.

Psalm 16:11 KJV
Thou wilt shew me the path of Life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 132:16 KJV
I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

Isaiah 12:3 KJV
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Isaiah 35:10 KJV
And the ransomed of The Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 61:10 KJV
I will greatly rejoice in The Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh Himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Jeremiah 15:16 KJV
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God Of Hosts.

John 15:11 KJV
These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

John 16:24 KJV
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Romans 14:17 KJV
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

I Peter 1:8 KJV
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:


Proverbs 29:18 ERV (Easy To Read Version)
If a nation is not guided by God (Spiritual Vision), the people will lose self-control, but the nation that obeys God’s law will be happy.


Sunday, May 18, 2014

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's: The Good Shepherd.

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's: The Good Shepherd.

Occasion: Jesus Reveals Spiritual Blindness.

Lessen: Christ The Only One Who Gives Spiritual Sight, And Entrance To Eternal Blessings.

Bible Text:
John 10:1-21 NLT (The Good Shepherd.)
1 “I tell you The Truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through
The Gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!
2 But the one who enters through The Gate is The Shepherd of the sheep.
3 The Gatekeeper opens The Gate for Him, and the sheep recognize His voice and come to Him. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 After He has gathered His own flock, He walks ahead of them, and they follow Him because they know His voice.
5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what He meant,
7 so He explained it to them: “I tell you The Truth, I am The Gate for the sheep.
8 All who came before Me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.
9 Yes, I am The Gate. Those who come in through Me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.
10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 “I am The Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.
12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock.
13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
14 “I am The Good Shepherd; I know My own sheep, and they know Me,
15 just as My Father knows Me and I know The Father. So I sacrifice My life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to My voice, and there will be one flock with one Shepherd.

17 “The Father loves Me because I sacrifice My life so I may take it back again.
18 No one can take My life from Me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what My Father has commanded.”
19 When He said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about Him.
20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of His mind. Why listen to a Man like that?”
21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a Man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

These words in response to the unbelieving Pharisees.

John 9:35-41 NLT (Be sure to take the time and read the whole chapter verses 1-41.)
(Jesus had healed a blind man.)

35 When Jesus heard what had happened, He found the man and asked, “Do you believe in The Son Of Man?”
36 The man answered, “Who is He, sir? I want to believe in Him.”
37 “You have seen Him,” Jesus said, “and He is speaking to you!”
38 “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.
39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard Him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”
41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

Jesus explains to those unbelieving, the blind will see and those who think they see, will be revealed to be the blind ones. The Pharisees, understood that He was speaking to them.

The Good Shepherd:

3 The Gatekeeper opens The Gate for Him, and the sheep recognize His voice and come to Him. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.

The sheep know His voice of love, trust and care.
The Shepherd calls His sheep by name.
The Shepherd leads His sheep.

4 After He has gathered His own flock, He walks ahead of them, and they follow Him because they know His voice.
5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

The Shepherd gathers His flock.
The Shepherd leads them on.
The Shepherd protects His sheep from danger.

11 “I am The Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.
15 just as My Father knows Me and I know The Father. So I sacrifice My life for the sheep.

The Good Shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.

16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to My voice, and there will be one flock with one Shepherd.

Jew & Gentile, from Palestine to around the world, The Good Shepherd will gather all His sheep.

The Good Shepherd:

Psalm 23:1-6 KJV
1 The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in The House Of The Lord for ever.

Isaiah 40:11 KJV
He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Hebrews 13:20,21 KJV
20 Now The God Of Peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd Of The Sheep, through The Blood Of The Everlasting Covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I Peter 2:25 KJV
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto The Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

I Peter 5:4 KJV
And when The Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Jesus , The Good Shepherd, and only Savior:

John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 6:68,69 KJV
68 Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, The Son Of The living God.

John 8:24 KJV
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.

John 14:6 KJV
Jesus saith unto him, I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

Acts 4:10-12 KJV
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead...
11 This is The Stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become The Head Of The Corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

I Corinthians 3:11 KJV
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Psalm 79:13 KJV
"...We thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Friendship With The World

Bible Questions Answered:
“How can we help but be a friend of the world we live in?...”
Raleigh/ Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
James 4:1-10 NLT (James addresses the Jewish Christian congregation.)
1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?
2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that The Spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?
6 But He gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,
God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
10 Humble yourselves before The Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.

God's child is in flesh and spirit, and the two are at constant war with each other.
Our sins have been forgiven, yes, but our fallen human nature, received by and through the fall of Adam, is not rescinded! Human nature and its fallen tendencies must be battled throughout life.

One day this battle will for ever be over, ….
I John 3:2 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
...but not until then.

Friendship with the world.

James 4:5 NLT
What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that The Spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?

God will “not,” take second place in our hearts and lives!

In the Old Testament, He told Israel:

Isaiah 1:18-21 KJV (God's people, unfaithful.)
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith The Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of The Lord hath spoken it.
21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

Jeremiah 3:1-25 KJV (Husband and wife, God and His people.) Also see Hosea chapters 1-3.)
1 They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to Me, saith The Lord.
2 Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.
3 Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.
4 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto Me, My Father, thou art the guide of my youth?
5 Will He reserve His anger for ever? will He keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.
6 The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto Me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto Me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith The Lord.
11 And The Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith
The Lord; and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith The Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever.
13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against The Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith
The Lord.
14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith The Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith The Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of The Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.
17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of The Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
18 In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.
19 But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call Me, My Father; and shalt not turn away from Me.
20 Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith The Lord.
21 A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten The Lord their God.
22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your back slidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art The Lord our God.
23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in The Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.
24 For shame hath devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against
The Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of The Lord our God.

God considered Israel's friendship with the world and its ways, spiritual adultery.
The same theme is seen in the New Testament with Christ and His bride.

II Corinthians 11:2 KJV
For I am jealous over you with Godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Ephesians 5:21-27 KJV l(See also: Revelation chapters 19 and 21.)
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto The Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is The Head Of The Church: and He is
The Savior Of The Body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;
26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by The Word,
27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

“May one have a career and, not considered a friend of the world?”
Yes!

Even the Apostle Paul, had to work to eat...and did not consider it “friendship with the world.”

II Thessalonians 3:8 NLT (Apostle Paul told the Thessalonians...)
We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you.

Acts 18:1-3 NLT
1 Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome.
3 Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tent makers just as he was.

James 4:4 NLT
You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

James here is referring to scriptures such as we have already read such as Isaiah chapter 1, Jeremiah chapter 3, and Hosea chapters 1-3.

Spiritual adultery is as its physical counter part, infidelity to ones vowed mate!
We cannot say we love God, and love and serve the things of the world as well!

Just one example....
Matthew 6:24 KJV
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (money).

In the Old Testament, God would not share Israels love and her love for Baal, as well, one had to go!
And in our day, God will “not,” accept our shared love! Our love and service must be to Him, without exception, or nothing at all. Marriage to our Husband, means total commitment, as He is to us!

James 4:5 NLT
What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that The Spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?

James 4:4-6 MSG (The Message)
4-6 You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and His way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “He’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what He gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”

Here are but a few scriptures of the Apostle Paul's writings concerning, human nature, and our on going war with the world and The Spirit Of God.

Romans 6:19-23 NLT
19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right.
21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom.
22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 7:14-25 NLT (The Constant Struggle With Sin.)
14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.
15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.
16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.
17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Romans 8:1-17 NLT (Living In The Spirit.)
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
2 And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent His own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow The Spirit.
5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by The Holy Spirit think about things that please The Spirit.
6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting The Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.
8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by The Spirit if you have
The Spirit Of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have The Spirit Of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.)
10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, The Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.
11 The Spirit Of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.
13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of The Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.
14 For all who are led by The Spirit Of God are children of God.
15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.”
16 For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
17 And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.

I Corinthians 3:16 KJV
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that The Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Galatians 5:16,17 KJV (Spiritual warfare.)
16 This I say then, Walk in The Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against The Spirit, and The Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

I Peter 2:11 KJV
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;


The Answer:

James 4:8-10 KJV
8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of The Lord, and He shall lift you up.

I Chronicles 4:9,10 NLT
9 There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers...
10 He was the one who prayed to The God Of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.

Psalm 19:12-14 NLT
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 119:11 KJV
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 141:1-4 NLT
1 O Lord, I am calling to you...
2 Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.
3 Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.
4 Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.

Luke 11:4 KJV
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

John 17:14-17 KJV
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy Truth: thy Word is Truth.


Thursday, May 15, 2014

Numbers 25:9/ I Corinthians 10:8 KJV

Bible Questions Answered:
“I see in your (view a list of subjects), you try to answer bible errors. Here is one I've always wondered about. Paul says in I Corinthians 10:8 that 23,000 people died, while in Numbers it says that 24,000 died! How can this be? Did Paul, slip on his information, after all he was only human?...”
Donald/ Bangor, Maine (U.S.A.)

Bible Answer:
Bible Texts:

Numbers 25:9 KJV
And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.

I Corinthians 10:8 KJV
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Israel had fallen into deep sin by having sexual relations with the people of Moab. The people of Moab and Midian were Baal worshipers. As a result of this sin, God pronounced judgment.

Numbers 25:4-9 NLT
4 The Lord issued the following command to Moses: “Seize all the ringleaders and execute them before The Lord in broad daylight, so His fierce anger will turn away from the people of Israel.”
5 So Moses ordered Israel’s judges, “Each of you must put to death the men under your authority who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.”
6 Just then one of the Israelite men brought a Midianite woman into his tent, right before the eyes of Moses and all the people, as everyone was weeping at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the priest saw this, he jumped up and left the assembly. He took a spear
8 and rushed after the man into his tent. Phinehas thrust the spear all the way through the man’s body and into the woman’s stomach. So the plague against the Israelites was stopped,
9 but not before 24,000 people had died.

The answer is actually very simple.
In Number 25:9 KJV the figure Moses gives is an “accumulative figure,” while the Apostle speaks concerning the deaths “ in one day (I Corinthians 10:8 KJV).

Where is it stated that all those guilty, fell under the plaque (Of God's Judgment) all “ in one day” (I Corinthians 10:8 KJV)? Answer: Nowhere.

So could I Corinthians 10:8 KJV the Apostle Paul and Numbers 25:9 KJV Moses, both be right? Yes!
 
The total dead were 24,000, while the amount that died in one day was 23,000.

The Word Of God Stands Sure:

Matthew 5:18 KJV
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

I Thessalonians 2:13 KJV
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received The Word Of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in Truth, The Word Of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe

II Timothy 3:16 KJV
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

II Peter 1:21 KJV
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by The Holy Ghost.
- - - - -- - - -
 Lamentations 3:39-42 NLT
39 "...Why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins?
40 Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to The Lord.
41 Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven and say,
42 “We have sinned and rebelled..."
Isaiah 30:15 KJV
For thus saith The Lord God, The Holy One Of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength..."
Matthew 11:28 KJV
Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.