Common Sense Commentary: God says of Jesus, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; ... a man sent from God ... came ... to bear witness of the Light that all ... through him might believe. That was the true Light, which lighteth every (human) that cometh into the world." Jn.1:4-9. Don't miss this ... "the true Light ... lighteth every man that comes into the world." It may only be a gleam of light which whispers to their soul, "There has to be a true and living God ! Ask Him to reveal Himself to you." That kind of awakening will also pray, Oh God, whoever you are, send someone to tell me the truth and I will believe "
He was 90 years old when I met him and heard his testimony of salvation. He spoke at Bible Baptist Seminary in about 1954-55 where I (RB) was a student. He told how, when he was a teenager, he became convinced that there had to be a true and living God besides the false ones he knew about. It became an obsession
for him to know the truth so he could serve the only "real" God and Creator. So he went up on 12,389 ft. high Mount Fuji and prayed a day and night to the unknown God to guide him to the truth. He came down and walked into Tokyo ...up and down the narrow streets looking and listening for God to reveal Himself. As he walked past shop after shop, on the second or third day, he suddenly heard a voice ... reading something. He immediately realized it was words from God. He went into the shop and asked the owner, "What is that you are reading?" The man answered, "The Christian Bible." He accepted Christ and during his long life, founded dozens of churches, a children's home and a Bible School in Japan. I have not seen or heard of him since ... but I know where he is. He saw the Light ... "the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world." Jn.1:9. "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamb (Christ) is the light thereof. Rev.21:23. My old friend would be 145-6 years old now, if he were still here but where he is, he is as young as when he first ... saw the Light ... in Tokyo.
There was a place in Athens, Mars' Hill, where seekers of God gathered to talk, exchange ideas and argue about which god was the true god. They had seen that glimmer of light from God and knew there had to be a Creator. Some already had their minds made up. A few of them, no doubt, were sincere in their quest. So God sent Paul to that exact spot to shine the Gospel spotlight on them. "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' Hill, and said, Ye men of Athens .... as I passed by, and beheld your devotions , I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." Acts17:22-23. A few of them believed and walked away with Paul.
That same light shined into the darkness of a Jew named Nicodemus in Jn.19:39.
God shined it upon an Ethiopian Eunuch, crossing a desert, seeking the true God in Acts.8:27-39. The same was true of a Macedonian named Lydia who was praying and seeking God when God sent Paul across the sea to tell her of Jesus in Acts.16:9-15. That same beam of Light caused a Roman Centurion named Cornelius to be burdened to know the true God in Acts 10. Read the chapter.
Even the cruel Saul of Tarsus, broken and blinded by Jesus, was humbly praying and seeking God when a Christian witness was sent to tell him the Gospel. Acts.9:11.
Many times God has aroused me from sleep to go out in the night and witness to a policeman, a drunk, a broken down traveler or a Fort Worth mobster named Angie Castine ... who was found dead in an abandoned well the week after I gave him the gospel. I believe thousands or maybe millions of lost souls want to know the truth about God ... when He has touched their hearts with "the Light which lighteth every person that cometh into the world." Are you available?
Sep 30, 2011
Sep 29, 2011
Who Is Christ? What Is His Name?
Common Sense Commentary: Before you read this, first read my previous blog, "Who Is God? What Is His Name?" YHWH or YHVH is the Hebrew word translated LORD, GOD, or JEHOVAH (all caps) over 7000 times in the O.T. The first mention of YHWH is as the "LORD" of creation in Gen.2:4"...The LORD God made the earth and the heavens." YHWH is repeated 10 times in that chapter and 9 times in the next, ch.3. We explained in the previous blog that YHWH is God the Father's name. With the Two vowels added it is YAHWAH , or JEHOVAH in English, and means, "The Eternal Existing One". It was this name God was expressing in a pronoun/verb form, to Moses in the first person, singular, when He said, "Tell them I AM hath sent you." ... The Existing One.
JEHOVAH God spoke through His O.T. prophets many prophecies of His Son Jesus Christ (in Gk.) / Messiah (in Heb.) meaning "Anointed". Isaiah prophesied of His birth, "The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Which means, "God With Us." Isa.7:14. 742 years later, this prophecy was fulfilled in Matt.1:20-23 when God told Joseph, "That which is conceived in (Mary) is of the Holy Ghost ... She shall bring forth a son ... call his name Jesus (which means Saviour) for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that ... (Isaiah's prophecy) might be fulfilled ... " Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." It could not be clearer that Jesus (Saviour) Christ (Messiah) was God in the flesh. John 1:1-14, in God's own words, through John, makes it abundantly clear, "In the beginning was the Word (capital W =proper name) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... All things were made by him ... In him is life ... He was in the world, and the world was made by him but the world knew him not. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten (Son) of the Father, full of grace and truth... John (the Baptist) bare witness of him...." Now who could that be? Only Jesus. Jesus is the WORD of God. In Genesis when YHVH (JEHOVAH) God spoke the word, "Let there be ..." Jesus, as the WORD of God went forth and fulfilled God's command. "All things were made by him."
Notice how both God the Father and God the Son are "The Eternal Existing One" as the great I AM... "Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM." Jn.8:15... Amazing verse. Jesus said it many different ways, "I am the bread of life..." Jn.6:8. "I am the light of the world..." Jn.8:12. "I am from above... I am not of this world ..." Jn.8:23. "I am the good shepherd..." Jn.10:11. "I am the true vine..."Jn.15:1.
"Philip said unto him (Jesus) show us the Father, and..." we will be satisfied. "Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father ..." Jn.14:8-9.
Jesus was God reaching down, in a fleshly form, to a sinful world, to sacrifice his body on the altar of the cross for our sins. A physical body was required to do the dying, for God cannot die. But He resurrected it a glorified body, after three days even as He shall resurrect us in a glorified, perfect body. "When we shall see him, we shall be like him ...." 1Jn.3:2
Pass it on.RB
JEHOVAH God spoke through His O.T. prophets many prophecies of His Son Jesus Christ (in Gk.) / Messiah (in Heb.) meaning "Anointed". Isaiah prophesied of His birth, "The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Which means, "God With Us." Isa.7:14. 742 years later, this prophecy was fulfilled in Matt.1:20-23 when God told Joseph, "That which is conceived in (Mary) is of the Holy Ghost ... She shall bring forth a son ... call his name Jesus (which means Saviour) for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that ... (Isaiah's prophecy) might be fulfilled ... " Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." It could not be clearer that Jesus (Saviour) Christ (Messiah) was God in the flesh. John 1:1-14, in God's own words, through John, makes it abundantly clear, "In the beginning was the Word (capital W =proper name) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... All things were made by him ... In him is life ... He was in the world, and the world was made by him but the world knew him not. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten (Son) of the Father, full of grace and truth... John (the Baptist) bare witness of him...." Now who could that be? Only Jesus. Jesus is the WORD of God. In Genesis when YHVH (JEHOVAH) God spoke the word, "Let there be ..." Jesus, as the WORD of God went forth and fulfilled God's command. "All things were made by him."
Notice how both God the Father and God the Son are "The Eternal Existing One" as the great I AM... "Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM." Jn.8:15... Amazing verse. Jesus said it many different ways, "I am the bread of life..." Jn.6:8. "I am the light of the world..." Jn.8:12. "I am from above... I am not of this world ..." Jn.8:23. "I am the good shepherd..." Jn.10:11. "I am the true vine..."Jn.15:1.
"Philip said unto him (Jesus) show us the Father, and..." we will be satisfied. "Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father ..." Jn.14:8-9.
Jesus was God reaching down, in a fleshly form, to a sinful world, to sacrifice his body on the altar of the cross for our sins. A physical body was required to do the dying, for God cannot die. But He resurrected it a glorified body, after three days even as He shall resurrect us in a glorified, perfect body. "When we shall see him, we shall be like him ...." 1Jn.3:2
Pass it on.RB
Sep 28, 2011
Who Is GOD? What Is His Name? YHWH
Common Sense Commentary:
TIME only has three tenses, past, present and future. We are living at exactly the infinitesimally tiny center-point between past and future. The present is not even one second long before it is the past and we are constantly moving out of the past and into the future. The past and future are as infinite as outer space. I don't know that time and space are "created" things. As God is infinite (immeasurable, inexhaustible, limitless and even inconceivable in His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence and omniholiness, so must there be also an eternal, immeasurable past and future in which He has always existed and will always exist. And if time is infinite, so must space be infinite ... where God IS. Omnipresence means that God IS everywhere present in the universe and IS always, eternally present there .... for ever. "If I ascend up into heaven, thou are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there." Psm.139:8.
SPACE seems to be a parallel thing with time. In God's infinite space (universe and beyond), every direction is up to infinity. We, in America, look up at the blue sky in the day-time while those on the other side of earth are looking up at the stars, at night, in the opposite direction of us. The only place, in our human understanding which is down is under our feet toward the center of the earth ... which is the exact same direction wherever one might be on earth. But even so, when your mind looks down to the heart of the earth and passes it by, you are then going up again but in the opposite direction. Directions seem to apply only to the surface of earth and maybe some other planets but not to outer space.
The human mind can no more comprehend infinite time and infinite space than it can comprehend our infinite God of time and space. Maybe that is why God's Word says, "Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He IS ...." Heb.11:6. God is not subject to time or space.
He lives in the eternal present ... "I AM". Nearly 100 times in the Bible God or Jesus said, "I am". When Moses asked God ... When I get back to your people in Egypt and say, "The God of your fathers sent me" to be your leader, "And they shall say to me, 'What is his name?' What shall I say ...? 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.3:13-14. When God says, "I AM", he is summing up all of eternity in time and space within himself. The verb "am" here means "to be" in the first person singular. When we say, "LORD you are", we are praying to the second person singular. Then when we witness to others, we testify, "HE IS". That is exactly what God's name, JEHOVAH, means ....... "THE ETERNAL EXISTING ONE"... YAHVAH. After God revealed to Moses His "first person" way of saying his name "I AM", in the next verse (Ex.3:15), "God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, 'The LORD God of your fathers .... hath sent me unto you: this is my name forever ...." Every use, in the Bible, of "LORD", in all caps, is the Hebrew word
"YHWH" which is unpronounceable. To this tetragamaton the Jewish scholars added two vowels, A and E to make it pronounceable as "YAHWEH" or in English,
JEHOVAH. The added "A" is the first letter of Adonai which is translated Lord 500 times in the O.T. and the added "E" they took from the Hebrew "Elohim" which is translated "God" over 2,300 times in the O.T. Elohim is in plural form but is used with singular verbs. This fact, again, points to the Holy Trinity as did Gen.1:26-27 "Let us make man in our image... So God created man in his own image..." and, "There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, and the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." 1Jn.5:7. YHVH is translated in all caps, "LORD", "GOD" and "JEHOVAH" over 7000 times in the O.T. scriptures.
In 1869, a Jewish Scholar, I.M. Wise, wrote in his book, Outlines of Judaism, "An English word expressing at once, 'He Is, He Was, and He Will Be' would be an equivalent of YHVH or JEHOVAH but it would have to convey the meaning ... also of causation. There is no such word in any language except Hebrew, YHVH."
"And God spake unto Moses ... I am the LORD (YAHWEH/ JEHOVAH): I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them." Ex.6:2-3
"I am the LORD (YHVH/ YAHWEH/ JEHOVAH) that is my name...." Isa.42:8
Pass it on. RB
TIME only has three tenses, past, present and future. We are living at exactly the infinitesimally tiny center-point between past and future. The present is not even one second long before it is the past and we are constantly moving out of the past and into the future. The past and future are as infinite as outer space. I don't know that time and space are "created" things. As God is infinite (immeasurable, inexhaustible, limitless and even inconceivable in His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence and omniholiness, so must there be also an eternal, immeasurable past and future in which He has always existed and will always exist. And if time is infinite, so must space be infinite ... where God IS. Omnipresence means that God IS everywhere present in the universe and IS always, eternally present there .... for ever. "If I ascend up into heaven, thou are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there." Psm.139:8.
SPACE seems to be a parallel thing with time. In God's infinite space (universe and beyond), every direction is up to infinity. We, in America, look up at the blue sky in the day-time while those on the other side of earth are looking up at the stars, at night, in the opposite direction of us. The only place, in our human understanding which is down is under our feet toward the center of the earth ... which is the exact same direction wherever one might be on earth. But even so, when your mind looks down to the heart of the earth and passes it by, you are then going up again but in the opposite direction. Directions seem to apply only to the surface of earth and maybe some other planets but not to outer space.
The human mind can no more comprehend infinite time and infinite space than it can comprehend our infinite God of time and space. Maybe that is why God's Word says, "Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He IS ...." Heb.11:6. God is not subject to time or space.
He lives in the eternal present ... "I AM". Nearly 100 times in the Bible God or Jesus said, "I am". When Moses asked God ... When I get back to your people in Egypt and say, "The God of your fathers sent me" to be your leader, "And they shall say to me, 'What is his name?' What shall I say ...? 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.3:13-14. When God says, "I AM", he is summing up all of eternity in time and space within himself. The verb "am" here means "to be" in the first person singular. When we say, "LORD you are", we are praying to the second person singular. Then when we witness to others, we testify, "HE IS". That is exactly what God's name, JEHOVAH, means ....... "THE ETERNAL EXISTING ONE"... YAHVAH. After God revealed to Moses His "first person" way of saying his name "I AM", in the next verse (Ex.3:15), "God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, 'The LORD God of your fathers .... hath sent me unto you: this is my name forever ...." Every use, in the Bible, of "LORD", in all caps, is the Hebrew word
"YHWH" which is unpronounceable. To this tetragamaton the Jewish scholars added two vowels, A and E to make it pronounceable as "YAHWEH" or in English,
JEHOVAH. The added "A" is the first letter of Adonai which is translated Lord 500 times in the O.T. and the added "E" they took from the Hebrew "Elohim" which is translated "God" over 2,300 times in the O.T. Elohim is in plural form but is used with singular verbs. This fact, again, points to the Holy Trinity as did Gen.1:26-27 "Let us make man in our image... So God created man in his own image..." and, "There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, and the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." 1Jn.5:7. YHVH is translated in all caps, "LORD", "GOD" and "JEHOVAH" over 7000 times in the O.T. scriptures.
In 1869, a Jewish Scholar, I.M. Wise, wrote in his book, Outlines of Judaism, "An English word expressing at once, 'He Is, He Was, and He Will Be' would be an equivalent of YHVH or JEHOVAH but it would have to convey the meaning ... also of causation. There is no such word in any language except Hebrew, YHVH."
"And God spake unto Moses ... I am the LORD (YAHWEH/ JEHOVAH): I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them." Ex.6:2-3
"I am the LORD (YHVH/ YAHWEH/ JEHOVAH) that is my name...." Isa.42:8
Pass it on. RB
Sep 26, 2011
One Jesus, One Miracle, Opposit Conclusions
Common Sense Commentary: Was Jesus a liar, charlatan, deceiver or was he God in a body of flesh? He was one or the other. Were the religious leaders right when they said, "...he hath a devil and is mad..." Jn.10:20. Or were those right who answered, "Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?" Jn.10;21. Who was this unusual man? This Question was as common in New Testament days as it is today. Even though the Jewish, Old Testament Prophets foretold everything about Jesus from His virgin birth, family tree, city of birth, rejection, teachings, death and resurrection, they still did not recognize Him and they did exactly what their prophets had said they would do. In the resulting turmoil, Jesus was arrested and taken to the Roman Governor's court to be interrogated, tried, and put to death.
Who Was Jesus ?
I. Questions, Doubts and Opinions of the unsaved world....
....1. Governor Pilate Questioned Jesus .... "... Art thou the king of the Jews ?" Jn.18:33-38.
....2. The Religious Pharisees accused Jesus ... because He ate food and drink ...
"... Behold a man gluttonous and a winebibber, a friend of publicans (tax collectors) and sinners ...." Matt.11:19.
....3. The High Priest and his "blind followers of the blind" screamed at Jesus ..."... He
has spoken blasphemy ... He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and... smote him with the palms of their hands ... Saying, Prophecy unto us, thou Christ (Messiah), who is he that slapped thee?" Matt.26:65-68. They knew who he was but were steeped in their Religion.
....4. Two demon possessed lunatics met Jesus on the shore of Galilee ... "... and coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce ... and they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" Matt.8:28. They knew who he was but were slaves of Satan.
...5. Many of the Jews thought Jesus was ... John the baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. Matt.16:14.
II. Testimonies of Jesus' disciples:
...1. The last of the Old Testament Prophets, John the baptist, declared of Jesus ... "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Jn.1:28.
....2. The blind man (see intro.) healed by Jesus, when told by the religious hypocrites ... "Give God the praise: we know this man (Jesus) is a sinner...." so who healed you? "He answered and said, Whether he is a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." Jn.1:23-29.
....3. The persecutor or Christians, Saul of Tarsus, before he believed, was struck blind and asked from heaven, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" "And he (Saul) said, Who art thou Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." Acts 9:3-7.
....4. The Roman Centurion who oversaw the soldiers crucifying Jesus, when the earthquake shook the earth and the day became darkness and Jesus cried out, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit ...." the Centurion said, "Truly this man was the Son of God." Mark 15:37-39.
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Rev.1:8
Pass it on. RB
Who Was Jesus ?
I. Questions, Doubts and Opinions of the unsaved world....
....1. Governor Pilate Questioned Jesus .... "... Art thou the king of the Jews ?" Jn.18:33-38.
....2. The Religious Pharisees accused Jesus ... because He ate food and drink ...
"... Behold a man gluttonous and a winebibber, a friend of publicans (tax collectors) and sinners ...." Matt.11:19.
....3. The High Priest and his "blind followers of the blind" screamed at Jesus ..."... He
has spoken blasphemy ... He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and... smote him with the palms of their hands ... Saying, Prophecy unto us, thou Christ (Messiah), who is he that slapped thee?" Matt.26:65-68. They knew who he was but were steeped in their Religion.
....4. Two demon possessed lunatics met Jesus on the shore of Galilee ... "... and coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce ... and they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" Matt.8:28. They knew who he was but were slaves of Satan.
...5. Many of the Jews thought Jesus was ... John the baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. Matt.16:14.
II. Testimonies of Jesus' disciples:
...1. The last of the Old Testament Prophets, John the baptist, declared of Jesus ... "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Jn.1:28.
....2. The blind man (see intro.) healed by Jesus, when told by the religious hypocrites ... "Give God the praise: we know this man (Jesus) is a sinner...." so who healed you? "He answered and said, Whether he is a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." Jn.1:23-29.
....3. The persecutor or Christians, Saul of Tarsus, before he believed, was struck blind and asked from heaven, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" "And he (Saul) said, Who art thou Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." Acts 9:3-7.
....4. The Roman Centurion who oversaw the soldiers crucifying Jesus, when the earthquake shook the earth and the day became darkness and Jesus cried out, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit ...." the Centurion said, "Truly this man was the Son of God." Mark 15:37-39.
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Rev.1:8
Pass it on. RB
Sep 22, 2011
God's Promise Offered ... Most Urgent Decision Must Be NOW !
Common Sense Commentary: Every positive has its opposite negative. Medication has Side Effects, Sweet & Sour, Good & Bad, Right & Wrong, Yes & No, Income & Outgo, Hot & Cold, True & False, Light & Dark, God & Satan, Heaven & Hell. Even Time has a past and a future with a thin line between the two which we call "the Present". And yet, we can only live within that thin line ... which is NOW. We can neither relive the past nor live in the future. We must live in the ever present now. All we have is
the present and the promise.
The Present is the only time a lost soul can accept Christ. It cannot be done in the Past. The Past is eternally gone and recorded in the everlasting "Books" of God. We have no assurance of the Future.
We all have only the Now. "For he (God) saith, I have heard thee in a TIME ACCEPTED, ...in THE day of Salvation ... Behold, NOW is THE ACCEPTED TIME; Behold, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION." 2Cor.6:2. The Apostle warned us, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Prov.27:1. All we truly have for certain is NOW, this very minute and The PROMISE.
The Promise of a future ... an eternal future is completely contained in the eternal Promise of our eternal God... and only there. "...Because I live, ye shall live also." Jesus said to his disciples in Jn.14:9. "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Jn.11:26. and "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou SHALT be saved...." Acts 16:31. That is his Promise and God cannot deceive, mislead, or lie. "...HOPE of eternal life, which God, which CANNOT LIE, PROMISED...." Titus 1:2.
So Who is Jesus that He has control of "Time" and "Eternity" that HE can make such a PROMISE?
Jesus was still speaking to believers when, "Behold a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him."
"Hear ye him" God said. "Hear ye him" Rayburn, Joe, Jane .... "Hear YOU him".
Who is Jesus ? Read the next blog.
Pass it on. RB
the present and the promise.
The Present is the only time a lost soul can accept Christ. It cannot be done in the Past. The Past is eternally gone and recorded in the everlasting "Books" of God. We have no assurance of the Future.
We all have only the Now. "For he (God) saith, I have heard thee in a TIME ACCEPTED, ...in THE day of Salvation ... Behold, NOW is THE ACCEPTED TIME; Behold, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION." 2Cor.6:2. The Apostle warned us, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Prov.27:1. All we truly have for certain is NOW, this very minute and The PROMISE.
The Promise of a future ... an eternal future is completely contained in the eternal Promise of our eternal God... and only there. "...Because I live, ye shall live also." Jesus said to his disciples in Jn.14:9. "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Jn.11:26. and "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou SHALT be saved...." Acts 16:31. That is his Promise and God cannot deceive, mislead, or lie. "...HOPE of eternal life, which God, which CANNOT LIE, PROMISED...." Titus 1:2.
So Who is Jesus that He has control of "Time" and "Eternity" that HE can make such a PROMISE?
Jesus was still speaking to believers when, "Behold a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him."
"Hear ye him" God said. "Hear ye him" Rayburn, Joe, Jane .... "Hear YOU him".
Who is Jesus ? Read the next blog.
Pass it on. RB
Sep 13, 2011
God's sTandard lifted up ...T...
Common Sense Commentary: God's Word is the cloud-capped pinnacle of Common Sense.
Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save ... But your iniquities have separated between you____ and____ your your God .... Your hands are defiled ... Your lips have spoken lies ... None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth .... The way of peace they know not ... they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace ... We wait for light, but behold obscurity .... we grope as if we had no eyes .... We look for justice, but there is none .........
Judgement is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar
off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
Yea, truth faileth and he that departeth from evil makes himself a prey (target).
According to their deeds ... he (God) will repay fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies ...
When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a sTandard against him. Isaiah 59.
Pass it on. RB
Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save ... But your iniquities have separated between you____ and____ your your God .... Your hands are defiled ... Your lips have spoken lies ... None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth .... The way of peace they know not ... they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace ... We wait for light, but behold obscurity .... we grope as if we had no eyes .... We look for justice, but there is none .........
Judgement is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar
off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
Yea, truth faileth and he that departeth from evil makes himself a prey (target).
According to their deeds ... he (God) will repay fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies ...
When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a sTandard against him. Isaiah 59.
Pass it on. RB
Sep 12, 2011
Body, Breath, Life, Spirit ... A Living Soul
Common Sense Commentary: "And the Lord God formed man of the DUST of the ground, and BREATHED into his nostrils the BREATH of LIFE; and man became a LIVING SOUL." Gen.2:7
Lesson One: Like everything else on this earth, out bodies came from the soil.
Lesson Two: The Lord God "formed" us in his own (trinity) "image and likeness". "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness .... So God created man in his his own image...." Gen.1:27-27.
Lesson Three: The Lord God then "breathed" into man's nostrils and lungs his own "breath" (This word translated from Heb. word "neshamah" and is also translated "spirit", "soul" and "inspiration".
Webster defines "inspiration" as "the act of drawing in air or spirit from someone else. God created Adam's body out of dirt and then breathed life (spirit) into him .... and us.
Lesson Four: "And man became a living soul. Man does not "have" a soul. Man "IS" a soul.
Lesson Five: God gives, sustains and preserves our lives as surely as if he were giving us artificial
respiration for each breath of life. When our time of physical life is finished, He does not have to find a way to snuff out our lives, He simply withdraws his hand ... and we are dead. Our body lies there cold and empty of life/spirit/unique personality. We see the empty body but where did the life/spirit go?
Lesson Six: When we have lived out our "appointed" time on earth (Heb.9:27), our Creator, who gave us breath and life/spirit reclaims that life for His eternal will and judgement ... depending on whether we truly accepted His Son Jesus Christ or rejected and ignored Him. That life will "live" somewhere for eternity... with God or "separated" from God which in itself is nothing less than eternal suffering. Separated from all that is good and holy and separated unto all that is bad, unholy and sinful.
Lesson Seven: When the minister says over our casket, "dust unto dust" he is speaking of our dust made body ... not the life/spirit which has departed to it's destined reward ... good or bad. That destiny is already determined by our own decision to accept or ignore Christ. Dust unto dust, life unto life,
spirit unto spirit and evil unto evil. James, the half brother of Jesus said, "We know not what shall be ... tomorrow. For what is your life ? It is even a vapour (of breath) ... that vanishes away." Jm.4:14.
Our respiratory system:
The diaphragm pumps carbon dioxide out of the lungs (exhales) and then inhales oxygen into the lungs where it enters the blood stream and is carried to all parts of the body with new life. At the same time, carbon dioxide is again picked up by the blood and dumped in the lungs to be exhaled out into the air where it is happily breathed in by trees and vegetation which then recycles it and breaths out more oxygen for us to breath in. That is called a symbiotic relationship. The entire universe has many such give and take relationships all in perfect balance. Realizing the action of our blood in carrying new oxygen life to every cell in our bodies, and removing carbon dioxide, we understand this verse: "The life of the flesh is in the blood". Lev.17:11.
Pass it on. RB
Lesson One: Like everything else on this earth, out bodies came from the soil.
Lesson Two: The Lord God "formed" us in his own (trinity) "image and likeness". "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness .... So God created man in his his own image...." Gen.1:27-27.
Lesson Three: The Lord God then "breathed" into man's nostrils and lungs his own "breath" (This word translated from Heb. word "neshamah" and is also translated "spirit", "soul" and "inspiration".
Webster defines "inspiration" as "the act of drawing in air or spirit from someone else. God created Adam's body out of dirt and then breathed life (spirit) into him .... and us.
Lesson Four: "And man became a living soul. Man does not "have" a soul. Man "IS" a soul.
Lesson Five: God gives, sustains and preserves our lives as surely as if he were giving us artificial
respiration for each breath of life. When our time of physical life is finished, He does not have to find a way to snuff out our lives, He simply withdraws his hand ... and we are dead. Our body lies there cold and empty of life/spirit/unique personality. We see the empty body but where did the life/spirit go?
Lesson Six: When we have lived out our "appointed" time on earth (Heb.9:27), our Creator, who gave us breath and life/spirit reclaims that life for His eternal will and judgement ... depending on whether we truly accepted His Son Jesus Christ or rejected and ignored Him. That life will "live" somewhere for eternity... with God or "separated" from God which in itself is nothing less than eternal suffering. Separated from all that is good and holy and separated unto all that is bad, unholy and sinful.
Lesson Seven: When the minister says over our casket, "dust unto dust" he is speaking of our dust made body ... not the life/spirit which has departed to it's destined reward ... good or bad. That destiny is already determined by our own decision to accept or ignore Christ. Dust unto dust, life unto life,
spirit unto spirit and evil unto evil. James, the half brother of Jesus said, "We know not what shall be ... tomorrow. For what is your life ? It is even a vapour (of breath) ... that vanishes away." Jm.4:14.
Our respiratory system:
The diaphragm pumps carbon dioxide out of the lungs (exhales) and then inhales oxygen into the lungs where it enters the blood stream and is carried to all parts of the body with new life. At the same time, carbon dioxide is again picked up by the blood and dumped in the lungs to be exhaled out into the air where it is happily breathed in by trees and vegetation which then recycles it and breaths out more oxygen for us to breath in. That is called a symbiotic relationship. The entire universe has many such give and take relationships all in perfect balance. Realizing the action of our blood in carrying new oxygen life to every cell in our bodies, and removing carbon dioxide, we understand this verse: "The life of the flesh is in the blood". Lev.17:11.
Pass it on. RB
Sep 8, 2011
Fear: Good or Bad ?
Common Sense Commentary: "Study to show thyself approved unto God... rightly dividing the word of truth." 2Tim.2:15.
Many men fail because they quit too soon. They lose faith when the signs are against them. They do not have the courage to hold on, to keep fighting in spite of that which seems insurmountable. If more of us would strike out and attempt the 'impossible,' we very soon would find the truth of that old saying that nothing is impossible... abolish fear and you can accomplish anything you wish." ... Dr. C. E. Welch
I believe what Dr. Welch said... with two conditions. First, success in accomplishing the impossible requires faith in the God of impossibilities. Mk.9:23 "All things are possible to him that believeth ... For with God all things are possible." Mk.10:27. Second, even faith, that God can do the impossible, will not succeed if we are not willing to sacrifice and work to make it happen. "Faith without works is dead." Jm.2:20. Dead faith accomplishes nothing. Put feet to your faith but don't go until you have prayed.
I agree with Welch completely where FEAR is concerned. So, my title question, "Is Fear Good or Bad?" Actually it is sometimes good and sometimes bad.
I. Measured fear is good when faced with physical dangers. Unbridled fear is bad under all circumstances. God has a purpose and a reason for limited fear. His purpose for it, with the humans and animals, is self deliverance from danger. Electricity, fire, flood, weapons, excessive speed, law breaking and judgement are examples. His reason for "controlled fear" is that we might continue life safely, accomplish God's will and the propagation of the race or kind. This includes Humankind. "And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and everything that (moves on its own) after its (own )kind." Gen.1: 25. And God said to Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over fish ...fowl ... and every living thing ... upon the earth." Gen.1:28. Normal, limited fear preserves life to fulfill God's purpose.
Couldn't God preserve us alive without our help? Of course, but why do thousands die
of wrecklessness every day? God expects us to use caution and good judgement.
II. FEAR: The Law of First Mention, the first use of key words in the Bible, has special significance in their meaning. The first mention of "fear" is after the flood judgement when God told Noah that in this new, purged world, "The FEAR of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moves upon the earth, and upon the fishes ... into your hand are they delivered." Gen.9:2. Prior to this, animals were not eaten. The instinct of animals, to fear humans, causes them to flee from man ... or to attack if they feel cornered or threatened... self preservation. It is human intelligence with the permission of God which delivers the animal to our tables and stables.
III. FEAR NOT: The first of fifty mentions, in God's Word, of "fear not" is Gen.15:1. "Fear not Abram: I am thy SHIELD (protection from danger), and thy exceeding great REWARD" (I will bless and prosper you for your obedience). God's purpose and reason for this command, "fear not", is first, because unbridled, phobic fear paralyzes and neutralizes the believer's life, service to God and testimony. It drags us out of God's will and renders us totally ineffective and backsliden. His reason that we should "fear not" is .... "I am thy SHIELD.... (He is there to protect us) ... and thy exceeding great REWARD..." He will bless, reward and prosper us when we give him our fears and faithfully serve and obey his commission to us in spite of those fears. So, some fears are good and some are bad.
IV. It is not God who gives Christians the evil "Fear spirit". "God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2Tim.1:7. When the Christian obeys God and "Goes into the world" with the gospel of Christ, power is his engine, love is his accelerator and a sound mind is his steering wheel .... with God's hand on our hands. The word "fear", in the above verse, is the Greek word "deilia" which actually means "timid fear" which is opposite to "bold courage". This word is used by Jesus in Matt.8:26 "Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith"? They were of limited usefulness in the service of God in that fearful hour. They were in a storm at sea and their faith weakened with timid, nervous fear, which is simply a lack of faith, Jesus said, and they were afraid. In such a state, we too are weakened as witnesses of Christ. Isaiah also used this "timid fear" word in Hebrew in Isa.35:40 "Say to them... of a fearful heart, BE STRONG".
V. Phobic Fear: Another New Testament word translated "fear" is phobos which means "Terror" and is similar to "hysterical". It is found over 100 times in the N.T. The prefix "a" joined to "phobos" (aphobos) neutralizes Phobic Fear into "NO PHOBOS" or "NO FEAR" and is translated "without fear". As "theist" means "God is".... "atheist" means "God isn't" or "no God". The word "aphobos" (no fear) is in Lk.1:74 "We being delivered ... serve Him without fear." And in Phil.1:14 "... more bold to speak the word without fear."
VI. Holy Fear: Another Hebrew word, translated "Fear", is a Holy kind of fear. It is the word "yara" or "yira" which means a "Reverence Fear" as in "Fear the Lord" and "Fear not people". This word is found 250 to 300 times in the Bible.
Pass it on. RB
i
Many men fail because they quit too soon. They lose faith when the signs are against them. They do not have the courage to hold on, to keep fighting in spite of that which seems insurmountable. If more of us would strike out and attempt the 'impossible,' we very soon would find the truth of that old saying that nothing is impossible... abolish fear and you can accomplish anything you wish." ... Dr. C. E. Welch
I believe what Dr. Welch said... with two conditions. First, success in accomplishing the impossible requires faith in the God of impossibilities. Mk.9:23 "All things are possible to him that believeth ... For with God all things are possible." Mk.10:27. Second, even faith, that God can do the impossible, will not succeed if we are not willing to sacrifice and work to make it happen. "Faith without works is dead." Jm.2:20. Dead faith accomplishes nothing. Put feet to your faith but don't go until you have prayed.
I agree with Welch completely where FEAR is concerned. So, my title question, "Is Fear Good or Bad?" Actually it is sometimes good and sometimes bad.
I. Measured fear is good when faced with physical dangers. Unbridled fear is bad under all circumstances. God has a purpose and a reason for limited fear. His purpose for it, with the humans and animals, is self deliverance from danger. Electricity, fire, flood, weapons, excessive speed, law breaking and judgement are examples. His reason for "controlled fear" is that we might continue life safely, accomplish God's will and the propagation of the race or kind. This includes Humankind. "And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and everything that (moves on its own) after its (own )kind." Gen.1: 25. And God said to Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over fish ...fowl ... and every living thing ... upon the earth." Gen.1:28. Normal, limited fear preserves life to fulfill God's purpose.
Couldn't God preserve us alive without our help? Of course, but why do thousands die
of wrecklessness every day? God expects us to use caution and good judgement.
II. FEAR: The Law of First Mention, the first use of key words in the Bible, has special significance in their meaning. The first mention of "fear" is after the flood judgement when God told Noah that in this new, purged world, "The FEAR of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moves upon the earth, and upon the fishes ... into your hand are they delivered." Gen.9:2. Prior to this, animals were not eaten. The instinct of animals, to fear humans, causes them to flee from man ... or to attack if they feel cornered or threatened... self preservation. It is human intelligence with the permission of God which delivers the animal to our tables and stables.
III. FEAR NOT: The first of fifty mentions, in God's Word, of "fear not" is Gen.15:1. "Fear not Abram: I am thy SHIELD (protection from danger), and thy exceeding great REWARD" (I will bless and prosper you for your obedience). God's purpose and reason for this command, "fear not", is first, because unbridled, phobic fear paralyzes and neutralizes the believer's life, service to God and testimony. It drags us out of God's will and renders us totally ineffective and backsliden. His reason that we should "fear not" is .... "I am thy SHIELD.... (He is there to protect us) ... and thy exceeding great REWARD..." He will bless, reward and prosper us when we give him our fears and faithfully serve and obey his commission to us in spite of those fears. So, some fears are good and some are bad.
IV. It is not God who gives Christians the evil "Fear spirit". "God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2Tim.1:7. When the Christian obeys God and "Goes into the world" with the gospel of Christ, power is his engine, love is his accelerator and a sound mind is his steering wheel .... with God's hand on our hands. The word "fear", in the above verse, is the Greek word "deilia" which actually means "timid fear" which is opposite to "bold courage". This word is used by Jesus in Matt.8:26 "Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith"? They were of limited usefulness in the service of God in that fearful hour. They were in a storm at sea and their faith weakened with timid, nervous fear, which is simply a lack of faith, Jesus said, and they were afraid. In such a state, we too are weakened as witnesses of Christ. Isaiah also used this "timid fear" word in Hebrew in Isa.35:40 "Say to them... of a fearful heart, BE STRONG".
V. Phobic Fear: Another New Testament word translated "fear" is phobos which means "Terror" and is similar to "hysterical". It is found over 100 times in the N.T. The prefix "a" joined to "phobos" (aphobos) neutralizes Phobic Fear into "NO PHOBOS" or "NO FEAR" and is translated "without fear". As "theist" means "God is".... "atheist" means "God isn't" or "no God". The word "aphobos" (no fear) is in Lk.1:74 "We being delivered ... serve Him without fear." And in Phil.1:14 "... more bold to speak the word without fear."
VI. Holy Fear: Another Hebrew word, translated "Fear", is a Holy kind of fear. It is the word "yara" or "yira" which means a "Reverence Fear" as in "Fear the Lord" and "Fear not people". This word is found 250 to 300 times in the Bible.
Pass it on. RB
i
Sep 4, 2011
Our Out Of Control Government Threatens Us All
Common Sense Commentary: An out of control man is a danger to himself and his family. An out of control National Government is a danger to all its citizens, laws, freedoms, and life itself for generations into the future. It can't do much to us old short-timers who won't be around very long to see it, but it will reap havoc on our children and grandchildren for many years into the future or until Jesus comes.
Our present, government, debt dilemma will result in either total default of this unimaginable debt or hyper-inflation (printing money to pay it) which will destroy the dollar plus increase taxation. If we paid it off at the rate of $1,000,000 every day, it would take 40,000 years, not counting interest. Just our annual budget deficit is increasing the gov. debt at over $4,000,000 a day. True! Do the math yourself. So what's bigger than gargantuan, humongous, or gigantic? Plan for radical tax increases besides the ones we are already paying......
If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet.
Taxes we already pay:
1. Ad Valorem Tax
2. Building Permit Tax
3. Commercial Driver’s License Tax
4. Cigarette Tax
5. Corporate Income Tax
6. Dog License Tax
7. Excise Taxes
8. Federal Income Tax
9. Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
10. Fishing License Tax
11. Food License Tax
12. Fuel Permit Tax
13. Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
14. Gross Receipts Tax
15. Hotel/Motel Tax
Our present, government, debt dilemma will result in either total default of this unimaginable debt or hyper-inflation (printing money to pay it) which will destroy the dollar plus increase taxation. If we paid it off at the rate of $1,000,000 every day, it would take 40,000 years, not counting interest. Just our annual budget deficit is increasing the gov. debt at over $4,000,000 a day. True! Do the math yourself. So what's bigger than gargantuan, humongous, or gigantic? Plan for radical tax increases besides the ones we are already paying......
If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet.
Taxes we already pay:
1. Ad Valorem Tax
2. Building Permit Tax
3. Commercial Driver’s License Tax
4. Cigarette Tax
5. Corporate Income Tax
6. Dog License Tax
7. Excise Taxes
8. Federal Income Tax
9. Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
10. Fishing License Tax
11. Food License Tax
12. Fuel Permit Tax
13. Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
14. Gross Receipts Tax
15. Hotel/Motel Tax
16. Hunting License Tax
17. Inheritance Tax
18. Inventory Tax
19. Liquor Tax
20. Luxury Taxes
21. Marriage License Tax
22. Medicare Tax
23. Personal Property Tax
24. Property Tax
25. Real Estate Tax
17. Inheritance Tax
18. Inventory Tax
19. Liquor Tax
20. Luxury Taxes
21. Marriage License Tax
22. Medicare Tax
23. Personal Property Tax
24. Property Tax
25. Real Estate Tax
26. Rental Car Tax
27. Service Charge Tax
28. Social Security Tax
29. Road Usage Tax
30. Sales Tax
31. Recreational Vehicle Tax
32. School Tax
33. State Income Tax
34. State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
35. Telephone Federal Excise Tax
36. Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
37. Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
38. Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
39. Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
40. Telephone State and Local Tax
41. Telephone Usage Charge Tax
42. Utility Taxes
43. Vehicle License Registration Tax
44. Vehicle Sales Tax
45. Watercraft Registration Tax
46. Well Permit Tax
47. Workers Compensation Tax
Beginning with the commodities producer, then the product manufacturer, then the supplier, then the business store, then the owner, employee, and their wives purchases are all taxed on the same money passed from one to the other.
Even considering this, half our Congress and President want to add taxes and increase the amounts on the list.
Teach him taxes with a stick
Then he'll pay up mighty quick
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries, then
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass ets
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he whines and begs us to quit,
Attach his wage and all he earns
Bleed him til he throws a fit,
Then fine him good til he learns.
Now Tax his coffin ,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.
Put these words
upon his tomb,
" Taxes drove me
to my doom..."
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Pass it on. RB
27. Service Charge Tax
28. Social Security Tax
29. Road Usage Tax
30. Sales Tax
31. Recreational Vehicle Tax
32. School Tax
33. State Income Tax
34. State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
35. Telephone Federal Excise Tax
36. Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
37. Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
38. Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
39. Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
40. Telephone State and Local Tax
41. Telephone Usage Charge Tax
42. Utility Taxes
43. Vehicle License Registration Tax
44. Vehicle Sales Tax
45. Watercraft Registration Tax
46. Well Permit Tax
47. Workers Compensation Tax
Beginning with the commodities producer, then the product manufacturer, then the supplier, then the business store, then the owner, employee, and their wives purchases are all taxed on the same money passed from one to the other.
Even considering this, half our Congress and President want to add taxes and increase the amounts on the list.
Teach him taxes with a stick
Then he'll pay up mighty quick
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries, then
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass ets
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he whines and begs us to quit,
Attach his wage and all he earns
Bleed him til he throws a fit,
Then fine him good til he learns.
Now Tax his coffin ,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.
Put these words
upon his tomb,
" Taxes drove me
to my doom..."
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Pass it on. RB
Sep 3, 2011
Talent + Knowledge + Understanding + Wisdom + Inspiration
Common Sense Commentary: Growing in grace is a progression from inborn talent to the Spirit filled life. The Lord gifted and called Bezaleel, a talented, knowledgeable, perceptive, wise and Spirit filled
man to build God's Holy Tabernacle with all its intricate, message filled meanings. There God would dwell among His people. "I have filled him (Bezaleel) with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship (talent). Ex.31:3
Talent:
Talent is an inborn gift from our Creator. It comes in many and varied types and degrees; it usually makes itself known in childhood. It is one of the thousands of differences in our genes and DNA. It first shows up in trivial, childish expression of a talent with language, art, music, design, construction, agility, memory or playing nurse or doctor. Every single person on earth has at least one talent, including handicapped people. But the same talent will vary with each person who has it and will be expressed in some unique way. Talent must be cultivated, trained, educated and used or it will wither away and be lost. But if used, it must be used for good not evil or it will be worse than useless, it will be an offence to God who gave it. Matt.25:14-30 ( Talents ... valuable gifts given to individuals by the Master to invest).
Knowledge:
The earth is full and overflowing with knowledge, free to be enjoyed, learned and used for the good of humanity and the service of God. It may be studied and understood or not studied and not understood ...
but it is there ... in your face ... to be absorbed by willing minds and hearts. All true knowledge is the LORD's as all truth is the LORD's truth. It is neutral as truth is neutral. It is what it is and always shall be what it is, recorded in the everlasting record books of God. "... The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD ...." Isa.11:9
Understanding:
Understanding the facts or information contained in knowledge is an inborn talent (IQ) given by our Creator as are music, art, language, teaching, analytical and medical aptitudes to be cultivated and used in all human endeavour and the service of God. Understanding is the gift of comprehension which is often called instinct but is a higher level of perception. It is individual and unique to those who have it in varying degrees. These gifts are shared in some measure with all of humanity so they are not "the gifts of the Spirit" which are for Spirit filled Christians 0nly as outlined in 1Cor.12:4-9.
Wisdom:
Wisdom is also a gift of God but not inborn. Its divine purpose is in the correct use of knowledge and understanding in conforming to reality and basic truths. Wisdom is God's gift to all who sincerely want it for spiritual purposes. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth .... and it shall be given him." James1:5. Wisdom separates truth from error, and friend from foe. Wisdom is rational and at peace with nature, reality, his neighbor and with God. Wisdom is perceptive of simple basic truth. It is of rarer and higher quality than knowledge or understanding. A genius of particular knowledge may be grossly unwise. A teacher of knowledge who understands her subject may also be without an ounce of wisdom.
Inspiration:
Inspiration is a wholly holy different thing. The word "inspire" means "In the Spirit" in similarity to your
lungs "inhaling air", your spirit inhales the Spirit of God. True inspiration therefore, is limited to the true children of God whose "bodies are the temple of God". "What? know ye not that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own." 1Cor.6:19.
All true Christians have the Spirit of God. "... If any man (human) have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom.8:9. So true Christians have all there is of the person and presence of God's Spirit but most often, He does not have all there is of us. That is the problem... NOT having "more of God" but Him having more of us. God's Spirit is not vapor, liquid or weight that may be given in measured amounts. He is a person. He either lives in you or He doesn't. It is we Christians who do not yield every crack and crevice of our lives to God. That is the problem. "God giveth not the Spirit by measure ..." Jn.3:34. The words "to him" are in italics which means they were not in the original manuscripts but were added by the translators. If God had wanted extra words in His pronouncement He surely would have said them. So true "inspiration" is only experienced by those in whom the Spirit of God resides. Inspiration is the highest level of thought, feeling, and accomplishment because it is God's guidance in our lives. The world is crying out of desperation for true, honest and wise leadership. Who will go for God ?
Pass it on. RB
man to build God's Holy Tabernacle with all its intricate, message filled meanings. There God would dwell among His people. "I have filled him (Bezaleel) with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship (talent). Ex.31:3
Talent:
Talent is an inborn gift from our Creator. It comes in many and varied types and degrees; it usually makes itself known in childhood. It is one of the thousands of differences in our genes and DNA. It first shows up in trivial, childish expression of a talent with language, art, music, design, construction, agility, memory or playing nurse or doctor. Every single person on earth has at least one talent, including handicapped people. But the same talent will vary with each person who has it and will be expressed in some unique way. Talent must be cultivated, trained, educated and used or it will wither away and be lost. But if used, it must be used for good not evil or it will be worse than useless, it will be an offence to God who gave it. Matt.25:14-30 ( Talents ... valuable gifts given to individuals by the Master to invest).
Knowledge:
The earth is full and overflowing with knowledge, free to be enjoyed, learned and used for the good of humanity and the service of God. It may be studied and understood or not studied and not understood ...
but it is there ... in your face ... to be absorbed by willing minds and hearts. All true knowledge is the LORD's as all truth is the LORD's truth. It is neutral as truth is neutral. It is what it is and always shall be what it is, recorded in the everlasting record books of God. "... The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD ...." Isa.11:9
Understanding:
Understanding the facts or information contained in knowledge is an inborn talent (IQ) given by our Creator as are music, art, language, teaching, analytical and medical aptitudes to be cultivated and used in all human endeavour and the service of God. Understanding is the gift of comprehension which is often called instinct but is a higher level of perception. It is individual and unique to those who have it in varying degrees. These gifts are shared in some measure with all of humanity so they are not "the gifts of the Spirit" which are for Spirit filled Christians 0nly as outlined in 1Cor.12:4-9.
Wisdom:
Wisdom is also a gift of God but not inborn. Its divine purpose is in the correct use of knowledge and understanding in conforming to reality and basic truths. Wisdom is God's gift to all who sincerely want it for spiritual purposes. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth .... and it shall be given him." James1:5. Wisdom separates truth from error, and friend from foe. Wisdom is rational and at peace with nature, reality, his neighbor and with God. Wisdom is perceptive of simple basic truth. It is of rarer and higher quality than knowledge or understanding. A genius of particular knowledge may be grossly unwise. A teacher of knowledge who understands her subject may also be without an ounce of wisdom.
Inspiration:
Inspiration is a wholly holy different thing. The word "inspire" means "In the Spirit" in similarity to your
lungs "inhaling air", your spirit inhales the Spirit of God. True inspiration therefore, is limited to the true children of God whose "bodies are the temple of God". "What? know ye not that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own." 1Cor.6:19.
All true Christians have the Spirit of God. "... If any man (human) have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom.8:9. So true Christians have all there is of the person and presence of God's Spirit but most often, He does not have all there is of us. That is the problem... NOT having "more of God" but Him having more of us. God's Spirit is not vapor, liquid or weight that may be given in measured amounts. He is a person. He either lives in you or He doesn't. It is we Christians who do not yield every crack and crevice of our lives to God. That is the problem. "God giveth not the Spirit by measure ..." Jn.3:34. The words "to him" are in italics which means they were not in the original manuscripts but were added by the translators. If God had wanted extra words in His pronouncement He surely would have said them. So true "inspiration" is only experienced by those in whom the Spirit of God resides. Inspiration is the highest level of thought, feeling, and accomplishment because it is God's guidance in our lives. The world is crying out of desperation for true, honest and wise leadership. Who will go for God ?
Pass it on. RB
Sep 2, 2011
Restoration Memoriam: Don't Forget To Remember 9-11
Common Sense Commentary: "I think it proper, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance...." 2Pet.1:13. Remembrance of the truths of Christ ... including the 9-11 attacks, by fanatical Islamic Religionists, upon this free nation and upon Christianity. All truth is God's truth.
As I watched the National Geographic special of the events surrounding the 9-11 attacks upon our country, ten years ago, I felt physically ill and ashamed. Sick at seeing anew the horrors of that day and ashamed ... before God, that, as terrifying as it was, America has long since forgotten its importance and indescribable loss. America has put that memory in a little box and hid it away so we don't have to take defensive steps and seek justice for the thousands who died at the hand of a devilish religion. This religion controls all Middle Eastern nations, is taking over several European nations and wants this one as well. This demonic religion is far more aggressive, determined and deceptive than Atheistic Communism or Nazism. Unlike Japan and Germany who surrendered, Islam will never surrender because it is their religion. It is a tenet of their Koran that suicide, in conquering non-Muslim nations with the goal of converting them to Sharia Law is rewarded in heaven for eternity. They will never quit conquering those who yield.
Pacifistic type Christians speak only of "forgiving them" and would have pleaded Charlie Manson's case to the Judge and Jury to "Forgive his crime and he will repent". I speak of Justice first and armed strength in our defence before we talk of "forgiveness" for the serial killer.
This religion does not respond to kindness and human forgiveness any more than Hitler, Stalin or
Charlie Manson. They respond to strength, courage, and unceasing determination on the part of their enemies (non-Muslim nations and people). Justice is the only acceptable outcome of this gigantic evil done to the soul of America on 9-11. As with all sociopaths, you can only witness Christ to them after you have broken their legs and are sitting upon them awaiting the arrival of legal authority. You can still witness to them in America but not in Muslim countries. So give them the plan of Salvation through Jesus Christ, but watch your back, while you trust God as any Christian Soldier does in all wars. And, don't lie to yourself, this is a WAR against the "powers of darkness" which may also be the platform Anti-Christ stands upon.
All through the Old Testament, justice upon evil and the enemies of God was continually executed. Moses, God's righteous man, challenged God's people to "Go armed before the LORD
to war." Num.32:20. And why didn't Jesus just forgive those callous, wicked money changers in God's Holy Temple? He drove them out with a whip in Jn.2:14-15. And why did He tell His Disciples, "...He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."? Lk.22:36. Jesus also cautioned them, "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace." Lk.11:21. He never approved of weapons except in defence against an enemy.
Our country is presently entering its darkest hour since the Great Depression and W.W.II but possibly longer lasting than either of those. Muggers and wild carnivores recognize weakness in their prey or enemies and attack them while they are vulnerable. Our enemies, the devil, Islamic Terrorists and their supporters .... most of Islam itself, see our present weakness. They know the time is right or nearly so, to hit us again and again to break our weak will and force us into acceptance of their pseudo "religion of peace". Jeremiah condemned those who say "...peace, peace, when there is not peace." Jer.6:14. We must trust God to deliver us, but... Go Armed
Pass it on.RB
As I watched the National Geographic special of the events surrounding the 9-11 attacks upon our country, ten years ago, I felt physically ill and ashamed. Sick at seeing anew the horrors of that day and ashamed ... before God, that, as terrifying as it was, America has long since forgotten its importance and indescribable loss. America has put that memory in a little box and hid it away so we don't have to take defensive steps and seek justice for the thousands who died at the hand of a devilish religion. This religion controls all Middle Eastern nations, is taking over several European nations and wants this one as well. This demonic religion is far more aggressive, determined and deceptive than Atheistic Communism or Nazism. Unlike Japan and Germany who surrendered, Islam will never surrender because it is their religion. It is a tenet of their Koran that suicide, in conquering non-Muslim nations with the goal of converting them to Sharia Law is rewarded in heaven for eternity. They will never quit conquering those who yield.
Pacifistic type Christians speak only of "forgiving them" and would have pleaded Charlie Manson's case to the Judge and Jury to "Forgive his crime and he will repent". I speak of Justice first and armed strength in our defence before we talk of "forgiveness" for the serial killer.
This religion does not respond to kindness and human forgiveness any more than Hitler, Stalin or
Charlie Manson. They respond to strength, courage, and unceasing determination on the part of their enemies (non-Muslim nations and people). Justice is the only acceptable outcome of this gigantic evil done to the soul of America on 9-11. As with all sociopaths, you can only witness Christ to them after you have broken their legs and are sitting upon them awaiting the arrival of legal authority. You can still witness to them in America but not in Muslim countries. So give them the plan of Salvation through Jesus Christ, but watch your back, while you trust God as any Christian Soldier does in all wars. And, don't lie to yourself, this is a WAR against the "powers of darkness" which may also be the platform Anti-Christ stands upon.
All through the Old Testament, justice upon evil and the enemies of God was continually executed. Moses, God's righteous man, challenged God's people to "Go armed before the LORD
to war." Num.32:20. And why didn't Jesus just forgive those callous, wicked money changers in God's Holy Temple? He drove them out with a whip in Jn.2:14-15. And why did He tell His Disciples, "...He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."? Lk.22:36. Jesus also cautioned them, "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace." Lk.11:21. He never approved of weapons except in defence against an enemy.
Our country is presently entering its darkest hour since the Great Depression and W.W.II but possibly longer lasting than either of those. Muggers and wild carnivores recognize weakness in their prey or enemies and attack them while they are vulnerable. Our enemies, the devil, Islamic Terrorists and their supporters .... most of Islam itself, see our present weakness. They know the time is right or nearly so, to hit us again and again to break our weak will and force us into acceptance of their pseudo "religion of peace". Jeremiah condemned those who say "...peace, peace, when there is not peace." Jer.6:14. We must trust God to deliver us, but... Go Armed
Pass it on.RB
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