Common Sense Commentary: Before midnight, December 31, Calendar in hand, the Old Man of the Mountain, Rayburn Blair, advises .........
" ORCHESTRATE YOUR FATE !"
"Seven DAYS shalt thou consecrate..... Ex.29:35.
A New Year's Resolution for financial success: If you promise a date to congregate, officiate, celebrate, arbitrate, associate, candidate, congratulate, dedicate. consecrate, cremate, debate, demonstrate, educate, incorporate, indoctrinate, litigate, moderate, negotiate, matriculate, graduate or otherwise participate ....
Then in heaven's name, and in your APPOINTMENT slate, Indicate that Date ! Accommodate your fate, allocate the time and be accurate. Calculate and checkmate that date. Contemplate, coordinate, and, yea, anticipate that set date. Illuminate and stimulate your fate, regulate and situate that date . In other words, locate and predestinate that date ... and don't waaait. Beware to relegate your eternal fate to a "time" apostate or you may have to relocate ... and innovate another failure in that resume "the dog ate".
But, whatever you do .... don't aggravate your mate, deviate your fate and stir up hate, by forgetting that agreed upon BIG date. Don't approximate and be late. Don't alienate your friends and associates, decimate your influence and abdicate your future estate. And please don't unilaterally amputate an important, bloody date. When we equivocate and procrastinate, we thereby complicate, frustrate, violate, invalidate and irritate. In short, we vegetate. Don't be an innate ingrate or a time reprobate which makes one "third rate" and causes friends to separate. Boy, you ain't nothin but turtle bait and your employment will fluctuate when you speculate on a given work date. If you are not punctual, they will punctuate your employment state. Beware to desecrate a committed, promised date. Be an EXECUTIVE PLANNER and don't hesitate or you will never live in an Employer's Estate or eat from an Employer's plate.
That's 80 years of experience talking. Pass it on to your young hopeful or associate before it is too late for them to Orchestrate their fate. In 3 words, be HONEST, HONORABLE, FAITHFUL. RB
Dec 29, 2010
Dec 24, 2010
Pacifism: "Peace At Any Price" is Ridiculous !
Common Sense Commentary: Freedom is not free and neither is public safety or good government.
If, in your mind, you pacifists can conjure up any circumstance in which you would use violence to protect yourself or your family, your anti violence philosophy becomes contradictory and therefore disingenuous. Likewise, if you insist there is no such situation, no matter how fearful, painful or deadly, in which you would lash out at a perpetrator to save yourself or family from death, you are either naive, a coward or a liar. And, if you disapprove of any and all military action in defence of our country, including foreign invasion, then you must also disapprove of any and all police protection from home invasion, murder, rape, theft and reckless driving, if you are to be consistent in your pacifism.
The Pacifist is certain that war is never necessary and peace can always be achieved through arbitration. Enemies can talk out their differences and come to agreement. Nevil Chamberlain believed that and "talked out England's differences" with Adolph Hitler and returned to England waving a mutually agreed upon peace promise from the Nazis. "Peace in our time" he shouted to England as he got off the plane from Germany. The peace lasted only as long as Hitler needed to prepare for war with England. The Soviet Communists had a similar agreement with Hitler. It was also a ruse ... but on both sides. Common sense reality is a foreign language to Pacifists and Liberal Socialists alike. It's like they are from another planet, a different form of life or children in adult bodies.
A realist does not make peace agreements with a hungry lion, a shark, a sociopath, a terrorist, a Charlie Manson, a Hitler or a Stalin. A realist makes this agreement with such animals, habitual criminals and serial killers, " cross this line and I'll break your leg, cross this next line and I'll kill you. Simple, to the point, and in less than ten thousand pages; but you must live up to your promise or it gains nothing except sneers of contempt and even greater danger.
The result of absolute pacifism, if embraced by the majority of citizens, would quickly become chaotic and result in anarchy, where nobody would be safe from the lawless criminals and sociopaths.
God's Word makes provision for Military and Police protection as well as self defence. It is most obvious in the Old Testament but also clearly defined in Romans 13:1-7 . Even Jesus told his disciples, "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one". Luke 22:36. Don't try to explain away His words: He meant exactly what He said.
If I had my choice for neighbors, it would be a policeman next door, a sheriff's deputy on the other side, an FBI agent over the back fence and an NRA member across the street. That is not for protection, I can take care of my own, but I just like that kind of folks. The finest people I have ever met were in church, on the rifle and pistol range, or at a Tea Party Rally.
If you don't like my attitude, I am sick of yours. Most Americans have had it up to here ... my right ear, with lillie livered, yellow bellied, weak kneed, power hungry, Liberal Politicians, both Republican and Democrats.
We have had it up to the other ear with their greedy, government give away, pacifist supporters, who hate business owners and successful employers and don't even pay taxes but want more and more free money from the public trough in place of a job. If they weigh 300 pounds, they are not starving.
If pacifists had their way, we would all be living under the heel hell of the Nazis, Japanese Imperialists or Communists. Even Castro, Chavez, or Mexican drug lords could whip us.
It is high time for the flag waving Patriots, tax paying workers, good old boys and Constitutional Americans to stand up, step forward and be the "Heroes who saved America" for our children and grandchildren. I'm too old to do much (80 today), but expressing myself, obviously comes easy.
Pass it on. RB
If, in your mind, you pacifists can conjure up any circumstance in which you would use violence to protect yourself or your family, your anti violence philosophy becomes contradictory and therefore disingenuous. Likewise, if you insist there is no such situation, no matter how fearful, painful or deadly, in which you would lash out at a perpetrator to save yourself or family from death, you are either naive, a coward or a liar. And, if you disapprove of any and all military action in defence of our country, including foreign invasion, then you must also disapprove of any and all police protection from home invasion, murder, rape, theft and reckless driving, if you are to be consistent in your pacifism.
The Pacifist is certain that war is never necessary and peace can always be achieved through arbitration. Enemies can talk out their differences and come to agreement. Nevil Chamberlain believed that and "talked out England's differences" with Adolph Hitler and returned to England waving a mutually agreed upon peace promise from the Nazis. "Peace in our time" he shouted to England as he got off the plane from Germany. The peace lasted only as long as Hitler needed to prepare for war with England. The Soviet Communists had a similar agreement with Hitler. It was also a ruse ... but on both sides. Common sense reality is a foreign language to Pacifists and Liberal Socialists alike. It's like they are from another planet, a different form of life or children in adult bodies.
A realist does not make peace agreements with a hungry lion, a shark, a sociopath, a terrorist, a Charlie Manson, a Hitler or a Stalin. A realist makes this agreement with such animals, habitual criminals and serial killers, " cross this line and I'll break your leg, cross this next line and I'll kill you. Simple, to the point, and in less than ten thousand pages; but you must live up to your promise or it gains nothing except sneers of contempt and even greater danger.
The result of absolute pacifism, if embraced by the majority of citizens, would quickly become chaotic and result in anarchy, where nobody would be safe from the lawless criminals and sociopaths.
God's Word makes provision for Military and Police protection as well as self defence. It is most obvious in the Old Testament but also clearly defined in Romans 13:1-7 . Even Jesus told his disciples, "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one". Luke 22:36. Don't try to explain away His words: He meant exactly what He said.
If I had my choice for neighbors, it would be a policeman next door, a sheriff's deputy on the other side, an FBI agent over the back fence and an NRA member across the street. That is not for protection, I can take care of my own, but I just like that kind of folks. The finest people I have ever met were in church, on the rifle and pistol range, or at a Tea Party Rally.
If you don't like my attitude, I am sick of yours. Most Americans have had it up to here ... my right ear, with lillie livered, yellow bellied, weak kneed, power hungry, Liberal Politicians, both Republican and Democrats.
We have had it up to the other ear with their greedy, government give away, pacifist supporters, who hate business owners and successful employers and don't even pay taxes but want more and more free money from the public trough in place of a job. If they weigh 300 pounds, they are not starving.
If pacifists had their way, we would all be living under the heel hell of the Nazis, Japanese Imperialists or Communists. Even Castro, Chavez, or Mexican drug lords could whip us.
It is high time for the flag waving Patriots, tax paying workers, good old boys and Constitutional Americans to stand up, step forward and be the "Heroes who saved America" for our children and grandchildren. I'm too old to do much (80 today), but expressing myself, obviously comes easy.
Pass it on. RB
Dec 23, 2010
The Slave Trader who wrote "Amazing Grace". Letter to my son
Common Sense Commentary: Today, my son Rex forwarded to me a letter written in 1778 by John Newton to his friend entitled, "Like Coins From The Same Mint". John Newton, who wrote the beloved song, " Amazing Grace", was a wicked slave trader before his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Saviour and forgiveness of his sins. His letter was reprinted by Grace Gems and sent out to their subscribers. I will first give you, my readers, my reply to my son, Rex, and then John Newton's letter to his friend below that.
Yes, Son, I agree with John Newton and relate to his confession as did the Apostle Paul. Though we be saved, the common, sin nature is still in our flesh pulling and pushing us to yield to the evil lurking there. I am afraid we Christians have been led astray by preachers and other Christians who are still clinging to the false doctrine that somehow, out flesh is different from that of the sinful world; and we must pretend we are exempt from it's presence. That pretension is simply the delusion of self righteousness. It is the inner man, the spiritual man who is "born of God" and thereby "clothed in the Righteousness of Christ" of whom God speaks in 1Jn.3:9. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; (why?) for His (God's) seed remaineth in him; and he CANNOT sin,because he is born of God." This verse clearly states that the inner, spiritual man, which is what is born of God, not only "doth not commit sin", but "he CANNOT SIN". Any honest Christian KNOWS that he or she DOES sin, in the flesh, but hates it. Our "outer", fleshly man does the sinning but our "inner" spiritual man hates it. A truly spiritual life can only be lived by the Christian who yields his fleshly appetites to the Spirit filled, born again, inner, spiritual man who wants to walk "in the Spirit not in the flesh". "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord will not impute sin". Rom.4:8. The Apostle Paul clearly infers that the sin is there but "the Lord will not impute" it to the Born Again Spiritual man or woman because the sin is in their flesh not their soul where God's Holy Spirit lives. Jesus paid for all our sins, past, present and future. Our sins were "crucified with Him" "Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Rom.6:6. Paul also said, in Rom.7:14-25, the same thing John Newton, who wrote "Amazing Grace", said.
Paul's inspired words .... "For we know that the law is spiritual; but I AM carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not; for what I would do, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that is is good (it convicts me of sin). Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, IN MY FLESH), dwelleth no good thing: for TO WILL is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I delight in the law of God after the INWARD man; But I see another law in my members (flesh) warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (flesh). O wretched man that I AM ! (present tense) who shall deliver me from the BODY of this death ? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." "There is therefore NOW no condemnation (painful discipline) to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 7:14 through 8:1. The Apostle Paul spoke it, of himself, in the present tense not the past tense.... Present tense .... while he spoke it. If our "flesh" were saved, born again, it would not betray us constantly, get sick, smell bad, get old, ugly, die and rot. The key is, to stay in God's Word, Pray a lot, and with God's help, walk in the Spirit with Him, not in the flesh, to avoid divine discipline and stay in close Fellowship with our Saviour. Yes, it is a struggle between Spirit and flesh, good and evil, light and darkness. "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." 1Jn.3:2. At the Rapture, these old dying and dead bodies will be resurrected, glorified and "we shall be like Him when we see Him". Until them, I Love you Son. Psm.115:1, Your Dad.
Here is John Newton's 1778 letter to a friend entitled, "Like Coins from the same mint"!
My dear sir, I could write a long note indeed, upon your very great mistake in considering me as a great man. If we could have a personal interview -- I think you would be quickly undeceived ! Ah! how different I am -- from what perhaps I appear to be to others when in the pulpit.
Your mistake, however, has done me good. A whole quire of invective from an enemy could hardly have given me so keen a sense of shame. The Scripture assures us that our hearts by nature, "like coins from the same mint" -- are all alike. I hear my fellow-Christians complain of evils similar to what I feel. Otherwise I would have reason to conclude that there could not be one believer upon earth -- so inconsistent, so evil, so vile beyond expression -- as myself !
Ah, dear sir ! what would you have thought of me -- had you seen me when I lived among the slaves ? The sight of me would have been offensive to your eyes, and my vile speech would have struck you with horror ! I was miserable and despicable in every view -- the common mark of scorn and insult! My whole wretched amusement and pleasure seemed to lie in blaspheming the name and person of Jesus, and in feeding my imagination with schemes of wickedness!
Some of my unhappy companions have perished in their sins-- who have just cause to charge the ruin of their souls to my account! for Satan himself, had he been upon earth in a bodily shape -- could hardly have been more industrious in tempting to infidelity and profligacy than I was !
There is seldom a day of my life, in which my thoughts are not led back to my former state of estrangement from Him, and that pre-eminence of wretchedness into which my sins plunged me !
Yet, it is of grace that my poor story is not much worse. The Lord is my keeper -- therefore I am still preserved. "By the grace of God -- I am what I am!" 1Cor. 15:10/
I am, dear sir, your affectionate friend and servant, John Newton, 1778.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see!
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine !
John Newton.
Reprinted from Grace Gems
Pass it on. RB
Yes, Son, I agree with John Newton and relate to his confession as did the Apostle Paul. Though we be saved, the common, sin nature is still in our flesh pulling and pushing us to yield to the evil lurking there. I am afraid we Christians have been led astray by preachers and other Christians who are still clinging to the false doctrine that somehow, out flesh is different from that of the sinful world; and we must pretend we are exempt from it's presence. That pretension is simply the delusion of self righteousness. It is the inner man, the spiritual man who is "born of God" and thereby "clothed in the Righteousness of Christ" of whom God speaks in 1Jn.3:9. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; (why?) for His (God's) seed remaineth in him; and he CANNOT sin,because he is born of God." This verse clearly states that the inner, spiritual man, which is what is born of God, not only "doth not commit sin", but "he CANNOT SIN". Any honest Christian KNOWS that he or she DOES sin, in the flesh, but hates it. Our "outer", fleshly man does the sinning but our "inner" spiritual man hates it. A truly spiritual life can only be lived by the Christian who yields his fleshly appetites to the Spirit filled, born again, inner, spiritual man who wants to walk "in the Spirit not in the flesh". "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord will not impute sin". Rom.4:8. The Apostle Paul clearly infers that the sin is there but "the Lord will not impute" it to the Born Again Spiritual man or woman because the sin is in their flesh not their soul where God's Holy Spirit lives. Jesus paid for all our sins, past, present and future. Our sins were "crucified with Him" "Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Rom.6:6. Paul also said, in Rom.7:14-25, the same thing John Newton, who wrote "Amazing Grace", said.
Paul's inspired words .... "For we know that the law is spiritual; but I AM carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not; for what I would do, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that is is good (it convicts me of sin). Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, IN MY FLESH), dwelleth no good thing: for TO WILL is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I delight in the law of God after the INWARD man; But I see another law in my members (flesh) warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (flesh). O wretched man that I AM ! (present tense) who shall deliver me from the BODY of this death ? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." "There is therefore NOW no condemnation (painful discipline) to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 7:14 through 8:1. The Apostle Paul spoke it, of himself, in the present tense not the past tense.... Present tense .... while he spoke it. If our "flesh" were saved, born again, it would not betray us constantly, get sick, smell bad, get old, ugly, die and rot. The key is, to stay in God's Word, Pray a lot, and with God's help, walk in the Spirit with Him, not in the flesh, to avoid divine discipline and stay in close Fellowship with our Saviour. Yes, it is a struggle between Spirit and flesh, good and evil, light and darkness. "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." 1Jn.3:2. At the Rapture, these old dying and dead bodies will be resurrected, glorified and "we shall be like Him when we see Him". Until them, I Love you Son. Psm.115:1, Your Dad.
Here is John Newton's 1778 letter to a friend entitled, "Like Coins from the same mint"!
My dear sir, I could write a long note indeed, upon your very great mistake in considering me as a great man. If we could have a personal interview -- I think you would be quickly undeceived ! Ah! how different I am -- from what perhaps I appear to be to others when in the pulpit.
Your mistake, however, has done me good. A whole quire of invective from an enemy could hardly have given me so keen a sense of shame. The Scripture assures us that our hearts by nature, "like coins from the same mint" -- are all alike. I hear my fellow-Christians complain of evils similar to what I feel. Otherwise I would have reason to conclude that there could not be one believer upon earth -- so inconsistent, so evil, so vile beyond expression -- as myself !
Ah, dear sir ! what would you have thought of me -- had you seen me when I lived among the slaves ? The sight of me would have been offensive to your eyes, and my vile speech would have struck you with horror ! I was miserable and despicable in every view -- the common mark of scorn and insult! My whole wretched amusement and pleasure seemed to lie in blaspheming the name and person of Jesus, and in feeding my imagination with schemes of wickedness!
Some of my unhappy companions have perished in their sins-- who have just cause to charge the ruin of their souls to my account! for Satan himself, had he been upon earth in a bodily shape -- could hardly have been more industrious in tempting to infidelity and profligacy than I was !
There is seldom a day of my life, in which my thoughts are not led back to my former state of estrangement from Him, and that pre-eminence of wretchedness into which my sins plunged me !
Yet, it is of grace that my poor story is not much worse. The Lord is my keeper -- therefore I am still preserved. "By the grace of God -- I am what I am!" 1Cor. 15:10/
I am, dear sir, your affectionate friend and servant, John Newton, 1778.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see!
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine !
John Newton.
Reprinted from Grace Gems
Pass it on. RB
Dec 21, 2010
Sins Of The Tongue, Most Numerous & Offensive
Common Sense Commentary: "Let thy words be few " and true. EC.5:2
Preparing a sermon on gossip, sowing discord, and idle talk, I discovered that there are ten times more references, in the Bible, to the sins of the tongue than to all the other forms of sin combined. This was a surprising and revealing fact to me, but it shouldn't have been. I should have known the evil tongue's manifold preponderance, destructiveness and offense to God by simply observing the types of sin one comes in contact with every day. The same percentages hold true in life as in Scripture ... We are exposed to ten times more sins of the tongue than all other sin combined. Similar to a contagious, deadly virus, it is communicable and spreads rapidly to others.
I think it is accurate that most of us are so inundated these days with gossip, idle talk, cursing, criticism, lies, misrepresentations, exaggerations and broken promises that we are almost immune to any reaction to these wicked verbal violations of God's Word. "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell". James 3:6. This verse should scare us into examining every single word we utter.
In today's world, many people think absolutely nothing of promising to do things they have no intention of doing. Character assassination of a third person is passed along to another gossip as "Constructive Criticism" or "For your protection". It more resembles "Destructive Terrorism". Vicious gossip is given and received as eagerly as if it were delectable morsels of nourishment to a starving, emaciated beggar. No one should allow their ear to become
a receptacle for some gossip's verbal vomit.
King David was speaking for the Lord when he warned, "Whoso privily (secretly) slandereth his neighbor, will I cut off .... " Psm.101:5. King Solomon spoke Holy Scripture, in Prov.10:18, when he said, "He that hideth
hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool". He also declared, "An ungodly (person) diggeth up evil ... a froward (person) soweth strife and a whisperer separately chief friends." Prov.16:27-28
Solomon no doubt spoke from experience and revelation when he said, "A fool's mouth is his destruction .... the words of a talebearer are as wounds ...." Prov.18:7-8 . Gossip and idle talk not only wound the target of evil remarks, but shortens the gossip's own life as well. It was wise advice indeed when Solomon counseled, "Whoso keepeth ... his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." Prov.21:23.
Jesus suffered more than any of us at the hands of the backbiters, rumor mongers and hateful gossips. He was so hated by the Devil that false witnesses and liars were constantly recruited, by the Serpent tongues of Satan's crew, in their desire to destroy Him or to neutralize His message. Satan has not changed his methods. He still hates God and God's church and God's people and does all in his evil power to hinder us with his venom. But remember, when he strikes out at you with his verbal, poison darts, it is not for your sake but, Jesus said, "for my sake". Matt.5:11.
Before we say bad things about others, we should first ask ourselves, "Will my words glorify God" ?
I must confess, many of mine have not.
Pass it on. RB
Preparing a sermon on gossip, sowing discord, and idle talk, I discovered that there are ten times more references, in the Bible, to the sins of the tongue than to all the other forms of sin combined. This was a surprising and revealing fact to me, but it shouldn't have been. I should have known the evil tongue's manifold preponderance, destructiveness and offense to God by simply observing the types of sin one comes in contact with every day. The same percentages hold true in life as in Scripture ... We are exposed to ten times more sins of the tongue than all other sin combined. Similar to a contagious, deadly virus, it is communicable and spreads rapidly to others.
I think it is accurate that most of us are so inundated these days with gossip, idle talk, cursing, criticism, lies, misrepresentations, exaggerations and broken promises that we are almost immune to any reaction to these wicked verbal violations of God's Word. "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell". James 3:6. This verse should scare us into examining every single word we utter.
In today's world, many people think absolutely nothing of promising to do things they have no intention of doing. Character assassination of a third person is passed along to another gossip as "Constructive Criticism" or "For your protection". It more resembles "Destructive Terrorism". Vicious gossip is given and received as eagerly as if it were delectable morsels of nourishment to a starving, emaciated beggar. No one should allow their ear to become
a receptacle for some gossip's verbal vomit.
King David was speaking for the Lord when he warned, "Whoso privily (secretly) slandereth his neighbor, will I cut off .... " Psm.101:5. King Solomon spoke Holy Scripture, in Prov.10:18, when he said, "He that hideth
hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool". He also declared, "An ungodly (person) diggeth up evil ... a froward (person) soweth strife and a whisperer separately chief friends." Prov.16:27-28
Solomon no doubt spoke from experience and revelation when he said, "A fool's mouth is his destruction .... the words of a talebearer are as wounds ...." Prov.18:7-8 . Gossip and idle talk not only wound the target of evil remarks, but shortens the gossip's own life as well. It was wise advice indeed when Solomon counseled, "Whoso keepeth ... his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." Prov.21:23.
Jesus suffered more than any of us at the hands of the backbiters, rumor mongers and hateful gossips. He was so hated by the Devil that false witnesses and liars were constantly recruited, by the Serpent tongues of Satan's crew, in their desire to destroy Him or to neutralize His message. Satan has not changed his methods. He still hates God and God's church and God's people and does all in his evil power to hinder us with his venom. But remember, when he strikes out at you with his verbal, poison darts, it is not for your sake but, Jesus said, "for my sake". Matt.5:11.
Before we say bad things about others, we should first ask ourselves, "Will my words glorify God" ?
I must confess, many of mine have not.
Pass it on. RB
Dec 19, 2010
God Promised, Time passed and "It Came to Pass".
Common Sense Commentary:
God's Word says, "To every thing there is a season, and a TIME to every PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN; a TIME to be born and a TIME to die...." Ecc.1:1.
God knows the past, present and future ... each as thoroughly as the other. He plans all the big things, lets nature run on automatic pilot, and leaves our decisions up to us ... but with unseen encouragement to do His will and surrender our lives to His divine guidance. But still leaving us with a free will to yield our will to His perfect will or to rebel. Prophecy proves God's perfect knowledge of the future. What He does not determine, He, nevertheless, knows and could stop it if He chose to, and sometimes does, but still leaves our free will in tact. His Holy Spirit is constantly working in our lives to "guide us into all truth", convict us of sin, convince us of the need for righteousness and certainty of judgement. Jn.16:8 & Jn.16:13
Every plan and purpose of God and His established order of things, shall "come to pass". This little sentence, "It came to pass" is found 457 times in the Bible. Time always passes. Everything that God knows will happen, does happen. It always comes to pass whether it is His plan and purpose or a result of our free will which He gave us and allows us to exercise but also which we must give account for in the day of judgement.
There is what is known as "The Law Of First Mention". This law says that the first mention of any word or phrase in the Bible has special significance to it's meaning. The first mention of "It came to pass" , in God's Word, is in Genesis 4:3 "And in PROCESS OF TIME IT CAME TO PASS ...." The "process of time" is required for anything to "come to pass". Needless to say that God's Word ALWAYS comes to pass. His prophecies always come to pass. His promises always come to pass.
NOAH, in obedience to God, preached and prophesied that a world wide flood was coming and he built an ark in preparation for the certainty of God's Word. Then, Gen.7:10-13 says ...."It came to pass".
BONDAGE may last years or a life time but God promised Israel deliverance ... and chose Moses to lead His people OUT of Egyptian bondage ..."And it came to pass at the end of 430 years .... that the host of the LORD went out of the land of Egypt." Out of bondage ! Ex.12:41
LEADERSHIP has a beginning time and an ending time. "After the death of Moses ... it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Joshua ..." Josh.1:1. One ministry ends and a new one begins. As God chose Moses to lead His people OUT of bondage, He chose young Joshua to lead them INTO the Promised Land: And "It came to pass" as God had promised.
OLD AGE always "comes to pass" if life continues. "And it came to pass ... that Joshua grew old ..." Josh.23:1
Old age is the only option other than death. All who live will get old, weak, sick, invalid or die first.
DEATH is as certain as birth and life. Since the moment original sin began in Eden, the human body is destined to grow old or die or both in the passage of time. "And it came to pass... that Joshua ... the servant of the Lord, died .... Josh.24:29.
BIBLE PROPHECY always "comes to pass". Christ's virgin birth, the city he was born in and all related prophecies came to pass in Luke 2. "And the angel said ... I bring you good tidings of great joy , which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." v.11. " AND IT CAME TO PASS ..." v.15.
EVEN THE DEMONIAC OF GADARA had a special time of redemption and healing. "And it came to pass on a certain day, that (Jesus) went into a ship with his disciples; And he said unto them, Let us go over to the other side ...." Lk.8:22. They set sail to cross the ten miles over to Gadara. They sailed through a raging storm which nearly capsized the boat but arrived safely on the other side of the sea of Galilee. There they were met by a lunatic, demon possessed naked man who lived among the tombs crying and cutting himself. Jesus healed this Demoniac of Gadara, saved his soul and sent him to bear witness to his home town and relatives. That is all Jesus did there... Save and heal one crazy man. The people who saw that miraculous healing, demanded that Jesus leave. He immediately got back in the boat and sailed back to the opposite side of the stormy sea from whence He came, and was welcomed by those who lived there. "And it came to pass, that when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him." v.40. If Jesus would spend an entire day sailing, with His Apostles, through stormy seas to save and heal such a person, He certainly cares for YOU. As, "It came to pass" for this poor man, it will "come to pass for you" ... IF you are willing !
THERE IS A CLIMACTIC TIME OF OBEDIENCE AND SACRIFICE FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN WHETHER THEY ACCEPT IT OR NOT. Jesus accepted His calling. "And it came to pass, WHEN THE TIME WAS COME , that (Jesus) should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem ..." knowing that when he arrived there, he would be arrested, abused and crucified according to the prophecies and God's will for his life. Even knowing it would happen, he went on to his destiny and our salvation. Lk.9:51. But it didn't end on the cross or in the tomb ....
A TIME OF RESURRECTION. God promised it for Jesus and for all His followers. "Now upon the first day of the week .... when Jesus' disciples came to his tomb, "AND IT CAME TO PASS ....two (angels) stood by them in shining garments .... and they said unto them, Why seek the living among the dead ? He is not here but is risen ...." Lk.24:1-7. Also "...and the dead in Christ shall rise ...." 1Thess.4:16
Yes, sometimes the days and months of trial and suffering seem never to pass but remember, "This too shall pass" .... It SHALL come to pass. In his trouble, David prayed in Psm.31:15 "My times are in thy hands".
Pray that prayer with David.
Time always passes. Not the clock or calendar time but the rotation of earth, day and night, the passing of one season and arrival of another: The circuit of the sun and quartering of the moon, the infinite, all inclusive motion of the universe, the thought and actions of God..... His plan unfolding, His record books filling ... and endless time flows in perfect harmony with the river of life.
The passage of universal time is revealed in the existence of Christ. He is " The first and the last: The beginning and the ending, who was and is and is to come." Rev.1:8. His past, present and future are summed up in the name He identified himself with when Moses asked Him, "when the people ask me who sent me, what shall I say"? YHVH answered, "And God said unto Moses, I AM that I AM : and He said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" Ex.3:14. His true name is YHVH which is unpronounceable without the added vowels .... JEHOVAH, or YAHVAH. YHVH actually means, "The Existing One" .... I AM. I AM that I AM. He is the great I AM of eternity, past, present and future. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb.13:8. " And thus it shall be for believers in Christ .... when we see Him in the rapture, we shall be like Him. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God ... but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is." 1 Jn.3:2. Christ, our future, our destiny !
He promised heaven and revealed the reality of hell and they shall "Come to pass" in their TIME.
He promised eternal life for believers or eternal ruin for others. Both shall "Come to pass" in God's TIME.
He promised to return to earth for us and that Second Coming of Christ shall also "Come to pass" in His TIME.
Throughout eternity we shall repeat His promises to us and then sing out, "It came to pass, it came to pass, PRAISE GOD it came to pass".
Pass it on. RB
God's Word says, "To every thing there is a season, and a TIME to every PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN; a TIME to be born and a TIME to die...." Ecc.1:1.
God knows the past, present and future ... each as thoroughly as the other. He plans all the big things, lets nature run on automatic pilot, and leaves our decisions up to us ... but with unseen encouragement to do His will and surrender our lives to His divine guidance. But still leaving us with a free will to yield our will to His perfect will or to rebel. Prophecy proves God's perfect knowledge of the future. What He does not determine, He, nevertheless, knows and could stop it if He chose to, and sometimes does, but still leaves our free will in tact. His Holy Spirit is constantly working in our lives to "guide us into all truth", convict us of sin, convince us of the need for righteousness and certainty of judgement. Jn.16:8 & Jn.16:13
Every plan and purpose of God and His established order of things, shall "come to pass". This little sentence, "It came to pass" is found 457 times in the Bible. Time always passes. Everything that God knows will happen, does happen. It always comes to pass whether it is His plan and purpose or a result of our free will which He gave us and allows us to exercise but also which we must give account for in the day of judgement.
There is what is known as "The Law Of First Mention". This law says that the first mention of any word or phrase in the Bible has special significance to it's meaning. The first mention of "It came to pass" , in God's Word, is in Genesis 4:3 "And in PROCESS OF TIME IT CAME TO PASS ...." The "process of time" is required for anything to "come to pass". Needless to say that God's Word ALWAYS comes to pass. His prophecies always come to pass. His promises always come to pass.
NOAH, in obedience to God, preached and prophesied that a world wide flood was coming and he built an ark in preparation for the certainty of God's Word. Then, Gen.7:10-13 says ...."It came to pass".
BONDAGE may last years or a life time but God promised Israel deliverance ... and chose Moses to lead His people OUT of Egyptian bondage ..."And it came to pass at the end of 430 years .... that the host of the LORD went out of the land of Egypt." Out of bondage ! Ex.12:41
LEADERSHIP has a beginning time and an ending time. "After the death of Moses ... it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Joshua ..." Josh.1:1. One ministry ends and a new one begins. As God chose Moses to lead His people OUT of bondage, He chose young Joshua to lead them INTO the Promised Land: And "It came to pass" as God had promised.
OLD AGE always "comes to pass" if life continues. "And it came to pass ... that Joshua grew old ..." Josh.23:1
Old age is the only option other than death. All who live will get old, weak, sick, invalid or die first.
DEATH is as certain as birth and life. Since the moment original sin began in Eden, the human body is destined to grow old or die or both in the passage of time. "And it came to pass... that Joshua ... the servant of the Lord, died .... Josh.24:29.
BIBLE PROPHECY always "comes to pass". Christ's virgin birth, the city he was born in and all related prophecies came to pass in Luke 2. "And the angel said ... I bring you good tidings of great joy , which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." v.11. " AND IT CAME TO PASS ..." v.15.
EVEN THE DEMONIAC OF GADARA had a special time of redemption and healing. "And it came to pass on a certain day, that (Jesus) went into a ship with his disciples; And he said unto them, Let us go over to the other side ...." Lk.8:22. They set sail to cross the ten miles over to Gadara. They sailed through a raging storm which nearly capsized the boat but arrived safely on the other side of the sea of Galilee. There they were met by a lunatic, demon possessed naked man who lived among the tombs crying and cutting himself. Jesus healed this Demoniac of Gadara, saved his soul and sent him to bear witness to his home town and relatives. That is all Jesus did there... Save and heal one crazy man. The people who saw that miraculous healing, demanded that Jesus leave. He immediately got back in the boat and sailed back to the opposite side of the stormy sea from whence He came, and was welcomed by those who lived there. "And it came to pass, that when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him." v.40. If Jesus would spend an entire day sailing, with His Apostles, through stormy seas to save and heal such a person, He certainly cares for YOU. As, "It came to pass" for this poor man, it will "come to pass for you" ... IF you are willing !
THERE IS A CLIMACTIC TIME OF OBEDIENCE AND SACRIFICE FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN WHETHER THEY ACCEPT IT OR NOT. Jesus accepted His calling. "And it came to pass, WHEN THE TIME WAS COME , that (Jesus) should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem ..." knowing that when he arrived there, he would be arrested, abused and crucified according to the prophecies and God's will for his life. Even knowing it would happen, he went on to his destiny and our salvation. Lk.9:51. But it didn't end on the cross or in the tomb ....
A TIME OF RESURRECTION. God promised it for Jesus and for all His followers. "Now upon the first day of the week .... when Jesus' disciples came to his tomb, "AND IT CAME TO PASS ....two (angels) stood by them in shining garments .... and they said unto them, Why seek the living among the dead ? He is not here but is risen ...." Lk.24:1-7. Also "...and the dead in Christ shall rise ...." 1Thess.4:16
Yes, sometimes the days and months of trial and suffering seem never to pass but remember, "This too shall pass" .... It SHALL come to pass. In his trouble, David prayed in Psm.31:15 "My times are in thy hands".
Pray that prayer with David.
Time always passes. Not the clock or calendar time but the rotation of earth, day and night, the passing of one season and arrival of another: The circuit of the sun and quartering of the moon, the infinite, all inclusive motion of the universe, the thought and actions of God..... His plan unfolding, His record books filling ... and endless time flows in perfect harmony with the river of life.
The passage of universal time is revealed in the existence of Christ. He is " The first and the last: The beginning and the ending, who was and is and is to come." Rev.1:8. His past, present and future are summed up in the name He identified himself with when Moses asked Him, "when the people ask me who sent me, what shall I say"? YHVH answered, "And God said unto Moses, I AM that I AM : and He said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" Ex.3:14. His true name is YHVH which is unpronounceable without the added vowels .... JEHOVAH, or YAHVAH. YHVH actually means, "The Existing One" .... I AM. I AM that I AM. He is the great I AM of eternity, past, present and future. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb.13:8. " And thus it shall be for believers in Christ .... when we see Him in the rapture, we shall be like Him. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God ... but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is." 1 Jn.3:2. Christ, our future, our destiny !
He promised heaven and revealed the reality of hell and they shall "Come to pass" in their TIME.
He promised eternal life for believers or eternal ruin for others. Both shall "Come to pass" in God's TIME.
He promised to return to earth for us and that Second Coming of Christ shall also "Come to pass" in His TIME.
Throughout eternity we shall repeat His promises to us and then sing out, "It came to pass, it came to pass, PRAISE GOD it came to pass".
Pass it on. RB
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