Kill, Kill, Hate, Hate, Murder, Murder, Mutilate

 

Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder. This is the Sixth Commandment of God’s Moral Law. In Deuteronomy 5:17, the Mosaic Law mirrors the Moral Law of “You shall not murder.” The King James version of the Bible  translates this commandment as “Thou shalt not kill.” The Hebrew word  is “rāṣaḥ”, meaning to murder, slay, or kill; premeditated with malice and forethought. 

 

Bible Commentator Matthew Henry states that the sixth commandment concerns our own and our neighbor’s life: “Thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not do anything hurtful or injurious to the health, ease, and life, of thy own body, or any other person’s unjustly.” This is one of the laws of nature [a law of “right” or “justice”, and was strongly enforced by the precepts given to Noah and his sons in  Genesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.” There is an inalienable Right to life and liberty derived from nature’s God. It does not forbid killing in lawful war, or in our own necessary self-defense, nor the magistrate’s putting capital crime offenders to death, for those things tend to the preserving of life; but it forbids all malice and hatred to the person of any, and all personal revenge arising therefrom; also all rash anger upon sudden provocations, and hurt or harm said or done, or aimed to be done, in passion. And, as that which is worst of all, it forbids persecution, laying wait for the blood of the innocent and excellent ones of the earth. Proverbs 6:16-19 confirms, “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,  a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren."

 

We desensitize ourselves and make light of violence and death there days. My father’s High School Football team’s Cheerleader squad raised the spirit of the crowd in games against their opposing team by cheering: “Kill, Kill, Hate, Hate, Murder, Murder, Mutilate”. You may hear someone yell to their tram: “Knock ‘em dead” or "Murder them!”. They don't actually want killing and dead players on the field; their intent is to inspire their team players to play hard, aggressively compete and win the game, but they don’t know what they are actually saying by these statements. Words have meaning.

The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer’s Prayer of Confession states: “Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.” The reality is, it is sinful to allow oneself to indulge in thoughts that lead to actions named in all the Ten Commandments. They are grasping thoughts that lead to grasping deeds. we step from the outer world of word and deed into the secret place where all good and evil begins: the heart. The inner life actually determines a person's destiny, as the desires of a person's life are held and nurtured there. Christ explains in Mark 7:21-22  “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.”

 

Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ expounds this Sixth commandment in Matthew 5:21-22 elucidating that, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ [you senseless, empty headed man] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” James 1:14-15 explicates that “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Every word you speak and every action you take begins with a thought. Thought precedes action and hatred precedes murder. If we hate someone, we break the sixth commandment. That is why 1 John 3:15 can warn us, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” 

 

Isaiah 55:7 declares, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. God is love, not hate. God made life; death entered due to sin. Murder doesn’t cross the mind of God. God changes the heart to be like His and Jesus is our model; not to say: “I won’t hate, harm or kill someone because that is wrong in the eyes of God”, but to the level of a transformative mindset and thinking: “Why would I do that?” Love God and love others.

 

Love, joy and peace in Christ,

Brian

 

Respect Your Parents

 

Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” This is the fifth Commandment of immutable God’s Moral Law. It was written in stone by the finger of God to be obeyed by all people till the end of time. It is even repeated in Deuteronomy 5:16, “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

 

God created the “family unit” as a part of procreation in order to provide a health support system; a household, including parents and children - father and mother, sister and brother loving and caring for each other. Parents naturally bond with their children and vice-versa. Blood-relations refers to kin, kinfolk, kindred in a parent/child relationship; a relation by natural descent from a common family; properly by consanguinity or blood, but perhaps sometimes used for relation by affinity or marriage. The parent is a father or mother; he or she that produces young; offspring. The duties of parents to their children are to maintain, protect and educate them. Parents work and provide a safe and nurturing home environment for their children to live and grow. Blood is thicker than water.

 

When parents are wanting in authority, children are wanting in duty. Children learn from their parents. Proverbs 22:6 instructs parents, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it.” The progenies learn about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, saints and sinners, right from wrong, and what is good and bad from their moms and dads. The kids learn about caring and sharing, tight-kin family interaction, working together on household chores and upkeep, crafts and cooking, honesty and fair play from watching and listen to their folks. The extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and great-grandparents play a role in the healthy development of children. It doesn’t take a village; it takes a family and it takes respect.

 

Because of “the Fall of Man” (the transition of the first man [Adam] and woman [Eve] from a state of innocent obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience because of “original sin”), the sinful desires of the flesh (adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, addictions, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like) entered the world. Today, unconditional respect of family [children of parents and parents of children] as God intended must be communicated, demonstrated, reinforced and protected. God emphasizes this designed attribute of family dynamics in this Fifth Commandment of His Moral Law – a model to read, know and obediently live by. 

 

The ultimate example of this reality is in the heavenly family of God. John 1:12-13 tells us that, “as many as received Him [Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their life], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” So, in Matthew 6:9-10 Jesus tells us, “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Creator God is our heavenly father and those who repent of sin, accept and receive Jesus Christ, who sacrificially took their place on the cross to pay for their sins, are His children. Romans 8:15 explains, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

 

Ephesians 4:4-6 proclaims the truth that “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Respect and obey your parents, both earthly parents and your heavenly Father God.

 

In Christ, Brian

You Cannot Take It With You When You Go

Luke 12:15-21 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Psalm 49:16-17 “Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.”

It has been the greatest questions of life are, what is life all about? Why am I here? What is my purpose? I guess that we all have those questions at sometime in life, while we are trying to figure out, but life is all about. or many, life is all about financial growth, and gain in order to live a better life. But, that leaves the question of what is the definition of a better life? Let me on easy Street and having every material possession, having the finest possessions, eating at the finest places, traveling to beautiful, exotic locations, and living in luxury everything that our hearts desire material Is the dreaming goal of many people. But this egocentric ideology is covetousness at the core and greedy on the edges. And in the final analysis, knowing through the word of God, it is not pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. This life is not about personal gain and wealth, because it is a dead end Philosophy; we can’t take it with us when we go.

2  Ecclesiastes 6:2 says, “God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.”

The greatest commandment in the Bible is to love your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength. In order to fulfill that commandment, we must know the will of God through the word of God, through prayer that God and divine revelation by the Holy Spirit. Secondly, is to love your neighbor as yourself. This implies that everybody already loves themselves, much like the golden rule, which states to due to others, as you would have them do on to you. These statements are to have us reflect love onto others as the focus; Because it is already implied that we have focus on ourselves. Luke 12:22-41 has some great advice for us all on worrying about our lives and storing up treasures. Take a minute to read that passage. But wait, there is more! Luke 12:42-48 has even more rated advice on being watchful, Faithful and serving the Lord, The end of this life is the beginning eternal life in heaven. 

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 asks us, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners inherit the kingdom of God.” Why? Our Creator God defines sin, what is moral and what is immoral, what is right and what is wrong in His eye, and what keeps us out of Heaven plus Who and what will allow you in.” The 10th Commandment of God’s moral law found in Exodus 20:17 is “you shall not covet.” We all know people are greedy, covetous And desire to be rich and famous at the expense of everyone else. It’s not worth it. It is not God’s design for life and in the end there’s health to pay. Love God, and love others to do what God wants you to do, and what Jesus modeled for us to do in this life for the good of all and the kingdom of heaven. You can’t take it with you when you go, so let’s not get all caught up In the things of this world and focus on being the best godly individual on this side of heaven, we can be.

In Christ, Brian

Jesus’ Diet Plan

This week apologist Michael writes: There’s a new “Flexitarian” diet, a mostly vegetarian diet that allows occasional meat, poultry, and fish. This is an inclusive and not an exclusive diet. Similarly, most Christians are flexitarian Christians, meaning that they are inclusive of the world’s secular doctrine even where the Bible says, “Abhor that which is evil.” There is only one true standard.

In John 6, a large multitude had just listened to Jesus’ teaching. Many had witnessed the miracles Jesus did. He had healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, made the lame walk and even raised the dead to life. However, some in the crowd were jealous that the people were following him and leaving the traditional synagogue. Then Jesus figuratively said, in order to follow me you need to eat my flesh and drink my blood. I am the water of life and the true bread of life. These things he said in the synagogue. Many of the traditional Jews could not receive Jesus’ words. Then Jesus asked them, are you offended? The very words I speak are spirit and life. No one can come unto me unless the Father gives them to me. 

Many of those who had followed him around stopped pursuing him when he spoke these words. They thought Jesus’ teachings were “too exclusive.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, Will you also leave? Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Jesus didn’t teach a flexitarian diet. He didn’t beg the people to follow him. Acceptance of Jesus Christ is on God’s terms, not the world’s terms. Jesus culled the crowd. His was an exclusive, divisive, “intolerant” doctrine. Holiness begins with separation ... Separation from the world in order to follow after the kingdom of heaven.

Today, Jesus would be accused of speaking “hate speech.” Though he invites all to believe and be saved, He would be condemned for not being inclusive. His doctrine was close-minded, exclusive, elitist, and intolerant. Jesus said, unless you take up your cross daily, you cannot follow me. The cross is the instrument of death. If you are not willing to die to self, Jesus said, you cannot follow me as my disciple. A Disciple is a disciplined follower, one who is disciplined in following the teachings of Jesus, the word of God made manifest. Discipleship means to follow Jesus intentionally, purposefully, and deliberately. To confess Jesus is Lord means that I’m no longer in charge; that he is the lord, owner, and master of my life. The holy way is the battle for hearts and minds… beginning with our own heart.  

There’s trouble in the temple of human authority. Jesus confronted the Pharisees and said, Why do you forsake the commands of God to follow your tradition. Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil? I’ll heal a man on any day I choose. I always do my Father’s will.  

There was trouble in the temple two thousand years ago. There is still trouble in the temple today. The great Commission to spread the Gospel has not been obeyed. The Christian church in America has not grown through new converts in the last thirty years. There has been no net increase in the number of Christians and now the trend is that the Christian church is in decline by twenty five percent each decade. Churches grow in number temporarily when they add new worship music, small groups, events for youth and for elderly couples, and new youth pastors. However there is no increase in church membership when there is no challenge to spread the gospel of salvation.

The apostle Paul said eight times in the epistles, speak the truth and call others to follow Christ. Plant and water the Word of God in people’s hearts and God will give the increase. Go and make disciples of everyone I have called you to minister… as Jesus said, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.

How do you fish for men and women? 1. Focus on the name of one person whom God has given you to fish for. 2. Use the right bait (friend, where are you going when you die?). 3. Share the gospel with them one on one. When you hook someone, they “fight like hell” to get away. Light exposes everything in the darkness. The world tries to pull them back into the ocean of doubt. The Lord Jesus Christ himself is the “Hound of Heaven” who pursues those whom God has chosen from the beginning of time. Existing outside of time, He sees the end from the beginning. 

Mission before commission. That which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou unto faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. To fish for men, ask God to help you… he will work in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. He has made us all ministers of the New Testament. Our calling is to call others to Christ; We are God’s fruit. The fruit is where the seed is. Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it cannot reproduce. We must die to self to produce fruit for God. In dying to self, you teach what you know, but you reproduce who you are.  

Our mission before commission is: Go give ‘em heaven! God will give the increase that together we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace! Your brother in Christ, Michael

Thanksgiving 2023

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Today, I included the original three proclamations by he Pilgrim's Bradford, the Father of our country Washington & the Great Emancipator Lincoln to remember the original intent of this holiday that we set aside in America. We live today in a very egocentric and materialistic world, society and culture (and maybe it has always been that way in varying degrees due to our fallen human nature). Americans have freedoms and blessings in abundance that most other nations and peoples never know, but we must remember that freedom isn't free. On Thursday, we give thanks to God for our liberty and those many freedoms and blessings. 

Bradford wrote: "Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.

Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings." --William Bradford, Ye Governor of Ye Plymouth Colony, November 29, 1623

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Washington wrote: WHEREAS, It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor;

WHEREAS, Both the houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted' for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. -- President George Washington - October 3, 1789

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Lincoln wrote: The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience. --- President Abraham Lincoln - Oct. 3, 1863

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Psalm 100 – "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

I love President Lincoln’s assessment “To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come. Do we take our lives for granted and neglect the freedoms and liberty that we enjoy, our families and loved ones, the bounties of our possessions, and the source of them all (Almighty God)? We need an “attitude of gratitude” towards God and a life of Thanksgiving, not only for the things that happen in our lives but also for the things that did not happen by His providence. We need to give thanks in the “good” times and the “bad” times, in all places and in all things despite our current circumstances because of who He is, what He does, how He loves us, what He did for us in Jesus Christ, our adoption into the family of God and our eternal home in Heaven to come. That is Thanks living!

Do we thank God and rejoice for our day [a day that He has made], our faith, for the gift of Heaven and eternal life? Is it not Jesus Christ who loves us, seeks us, guides us and protects us as the “Good Shepherd? Despite our faults and failures, God still loves us, still accepts those who are His; we are still his child, and still His desire. We can come to Him with our dreams and our problems without fear because of our redeemed relationship, restoring our standing and our position with God. Our decision to repent and receiving salvation through Jesus Christ brings hope, forgiveness, prayer, peace, blessings, holiness, and an eternal prospective of the world to come in Heaven.

Are our lives in conformity with His will? Do we desire and strive to live a life pleasing to Almighty God? Do we claim to be a “Child of God”, and give no thanks to God? The selfish sin of ingratitude displeases our Holy Father in Heaven. Where our heart is at, this is where our treasure is. Where is our treasure? Where are our hearts? We need to begin each day with thankful gratitude, end each day with gratitude and fill in the middle with thanksgiving. We are not lucky, but blessed and need to thankfully rejoice as Christians! What do we have that we didn’t receive from God? May the gracious name of God have all the praise! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, but every day should be Thanksliving Day!

Psalm 136:1-3, 26 "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever."

I wish you and your families a blessed and happy Thanksgiving Day. 

Thanks be to God.

In Christ, Brian

The Thankful Heart

This Sunday, we drove up to Bass Lake and attended the Little Church in the Pines Worship Service. Pastor Herk stated that “Thanksgiving” is  more than a holiday day that get off work, more than families gathering together, more than feasting on a great turkey dinner with all the trimmings, and more than prepping for great Black Friday sales. Ture thanksgiving is a lifestyle of daily gratitude for our many blessings (gifts, benefits or advantages; that which promotes temporal prosperity and welfare, or secures immortal felicity). The divine favor of God is the greatest blessing.

 

The lack of true thanksgiving leads to blindness, confusion and poor stewardship of heart. Entitlement is an enemy of the thankful heart. To believe that we are entitled to something is a lazy attitude. To feel that we have earned something leads to an unthankful heart also. We need to remember that it is God who created us, gives us our intellect and ability to work, provides all and sustains all. Due to our sin nature,  we are not worth of God’s steadfast love, marvelous mercy and amazing grace. Truly, it is by the grace of God go I. The Lord is right beside us every step in life, so if we do not feel His presence, who moved?

 

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

There hope, peace and contentment in thanksgiving, that we may do good in this world. The Lord has led us to Salvation through the Holy Spirit at work in our hearts. We are sustained by God’s mercies every day in food, shelter, clothes, health and protection. Redeemed unto Salvation Child of God, have a thankful heart because God is with you. Count your many blessings every day.

 

Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

In Christ, Brian

To Tell the Truth

 

Exodus 20:16 “You shall not testify falsely [that is, lie, withhold, or manipulate the truth] against your neighbor (any person). This is the ninth Commandment of God’s Moral Law to His people. Do we takes God's Commandments seriously?

 

The world today seems to have become desensitized to telling a lie in order to get whatever you want, a desired result or to hide the truth. In court, witnesses swear an oath to God with a hand on the Bible that they will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. This is based upon the ninth Commandment because God is the authority and the standard which we all are measured by. Proverbs 6:16-19 states, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”  

 

Proverbs 15:8-9 explains that all sin is evil defilement and pollution, stating “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves him who follows righteousness. To “lie” is defined as to utter falsehood with an intention to deceive, or with an immoral design; an intentional violation of truth. To exhibit a false representation; to say or do that which deceives another, when they have a right to know the truth, or when morality requires a just representation. Lying makes the list of the top things that God hates, yet how much do we think about this fact?                     

 

The Lord Jesus states it simply in Matthew 5:37, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” Yes, the “evil one” is the adversary that lied to our original parents in the Garden of Eden and brought sin and death into this world. The Apostle Paul describes those that acquiesce as dead in trespasses and sins, in which they walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath. 

 

Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the world had a harsh rebuke for the sons and daughters of disobedience in John 8:44 declaring, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” Why do we take lying so lightly? The Prophet in Isaiah 59:1-4 proclaims, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.”

                                                                                                                                                

The Apostle Paul writes to the born-again Christian Believer in Colossians 3:8-11 “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” Paul speaks to the body of Christ, the church, in Ephesians 4:11-15 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.” 

 

The children of God are sanctified by the truth of God’s Truth found in His holy Word, in sacred Scripture of the Bible. To tell the truth, that is exactly what we need.

 

In Christ, Brian

The Thief

Exodus 20:15 “You shall not steal.”

What in the world is going on when elected officials and public-representative government agencies in this country state put in place to serve the public good that they will not arrest or prosecute shoplifters from local merchants? Store owners suffer loss as law-enforcement is commanded to turn a blind eye as outright thief is turned into immoral government sanctioned robbery. Have we lost our moral compass in society? What determines "right" from "wrong"? 

 

Laws are made and enforced to protect the public and public commerce, provide safety and security, and ensure a stable community. By definition, shoplifting is the criminal act of intentionally stealing merchandise from a place of business; an act of larceny and thievery. One who steals is a thief. A thief is one who secretly, unlawfully and feloniously takes the goods or personal property of another. The thief takes the property of another privately, secretly, in the dark, without a witness; but the robber by open force. President George Washington stated that “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” 

 

Morals relate to the practice, manners or conduct of people as social beings in relation to each other, and with reference to right and wrong. The word “moral” is applicable to actions that are good or evil, virtuous or vicious, and has reference to the law of God as the standard by which their character is to be determined. Morality is defined as the quality of an action which renders it good; the conformity of an act to the divine law, or to the principles of rectitude. This conformity implies that the act must be performed by a free agent, and from a motive of obedience to the divine will [the will of God].  

 

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 

 

The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines God’s Moral Law as, the law of God which prescribes the moral, religious and social duties to God and to each other, and prohibits the transgression of them. The laws which enjoin the duties of piety and morality, are prescribed by God and found in the Scriptures. The moral law is summarily contained in the decalogue or ten commandments, written by the finger of God on two tables of stone, and delivered to Moses on mount Sinai. Immutable God’s Moral Law is absolutely immutable. The eighth commandment in God’s Moral Law is “You shall not steal”. Therefore, stealing is immoral, wrong, a sin against God, against God’s people and ultimately damming by the wrath of God. 

 

In Revelation 21:7-8, 24-27 God says, “He who overcomes [the God-rejecting world by adhering faithfully to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior] will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My children. But as for the cowards, the unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity, and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and drug abusers with intoxicating drugs, and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” The nations of born-again believers will walk by the kingdom of Heaven’s light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful in the eyes of God, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Jesus [the Good Shepherd, the Gate to the sheepfold] confirms in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

 

But, the born-again, repentant sinner confesses their sins and accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, is forgiven, regenerated and transformed by the Holy Spirit, given a godly heart, mind and soul to obediently walk in righteousness and holiness by the light of God’s Word. Though the sinful flesh desire remain on this side of eternity until glory, the Christ-following disciple walks in the Spirit and does not fulfill sinful flesh desires. Ephesians 4:28 instructs the “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” Leave the thief behind. 

 

The Bible is the authoritative standard of living. As 2 Timothy 3:14-17 explains, “continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Stand on the promises of God.

 

In Christ, Brian

Always Faithful

 

Exodus 20:14 “You shall not commit adultery.” 

 

The term “Semper fi” is a shortened form of the Latin phrase semper fidelis, meaning "always faithful," and is the motto of the U.S. Marine Corps. We know the term Wi-Fi, stands for “wireless fidelity” in Information Technology, just as Hi-Fi stands for “high fidelity” in stereo equipment. Yet, most people do not know that fidelity means faithful, but almost everyone knows that “infidelity” means “unfaithful”, especially in the marriage covenant as God intended in Genesis 2:24 where “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” We have been taught and know that the seventh Commandment of God’s Moral Law is related to fidelity in marriage, and Mark 10:9 confirms this by saying, “what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

 

The Mosaic Law takes marriage in the sight of God deadly serious as Leviticus 20:10 proclaims: “The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death. To pervert God’s design for exclusive dedication, devotion and desire between husband and wife is a devasting betrayal on multiple levels and the ripple-effect of this fallen flesh desire damages all involved, whether acted out or just thought out. Proverbs 6:32 declares, “Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul.” The Lord Jesus explains in Matthew 5:27-29, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”

 

Sin is the root cause of the fallen flesh desires which are contrary to the will of God. Galatians 5:19-21 tells us, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, drug abuse, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Since sin is true rebellion against sovereign God, all sin incurs that wrath of God, in which the wages of sin is death, for the payment of inequity of man. So not inheriting the kingdom of God, not having their name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and being cast into the lake of fire in hell with the devil is justified. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 substantiates this fact by asking us, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” Why is this? 1 Corinthians 6:13 goes on to tell us, “Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.”

 

Yet, adultery goes much deeper as it is also defined as idolatrous worship [worship of idols, self or anything loved more than God], which leads one to apostatize, to forsake God or the Christian faith which one has professed. That is spiritual adultery; an unfaithfulness that is cosmic treason against our just and holy Creator – our very Maker and Sustainer. Romans 2:22 asks, “You who say, ‘Do not commit adultery [physically],’ do you commit adultery [mentally and spiritually]? In Jeremiah 7:8-10 the Prophet asks, “Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’?” 

 

In Ezekiel 23:37 the Prophet confirms, “For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols, and even sacrificed their sons whom they bore to Me, passing them through the fire, to devour them.” In James 4:4 the Apostle warns us, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the [God-rejecting] world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Who or what do you love more that God, your Heavenly Father? The Lord Jesus declares in Mark 8:38, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

 

The first Commandment of God’s Moral Law in Exodus 20:3 is “You shall have no other gods before Me.” In Matthew 22:37 Jesus clarifies, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. Let us not commit adultery against God or our fellow man. Let us love God and love others. Let us be always faithful.

 

In Christ - the Way, the Truth and the Life, our Lord, our strength and our Redeemer.

Brian

“If I were the Devil…” - Part 2

Michael continues: If I were the Devil I'd make the symbol of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas.... a bottle. If I were the Devil I would take from those who have, and give to those who wanted, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And what will you bet I couldn't get whole states to promote gambling, as the way to get rich. I would caution against extremes: In hard work, In patriotism, In moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old fashioned, that adulterous swinging is more fun. That what you see on TV, is the way to be. And thus I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed, with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words if I were the Devil I'd just keep right on doing what he's doing.” The devil says, don’t follow the Lord, instead march to your own drumbeat of your own cadence. Just be a casual Christian. Don’t over-commit but do what you want to do when you want to do it. if it feels good do it. Motivate yourself by the God-rejecting world’s priorities. The pursuit of happiness through wealth, fame, and fortune, and self-satisfaction.  

Robert Unger wrote a pamphlet about coming home. He described a house with a living room, a bed room, a dining room, a kitchen and a storage attic, and a den. There is a library with easy chairs and books. The Lord said, let’s spend a few minutes each morning for a little time together. You start to get to know the Lord. One morning, you need to get to work for an early morning meeting. You don’t have time to visit the library to spend time with the Lord. As the affairs of life take a priority, you rush out of the house to make your commitments at work. Then after a few weeks you walk by the library and notice that Jesus is sitting in the easy chair. He says, I’ve missed you. Only Jesus Christ can balance grace and truth. Jesus said, I’ve notice that at work you took liberty with your business dealings. You stretched the truth and you were not dealing in good faith as you had before. When you spent time with Me you were blessed in blessing others from a heart that loves Me and loves others. What has happened to your heart?

Christianity is not a casual pursuit once a week on Sunday morning. Jesus said, “walk with me.” Regarding the daily walk with our Lord, Jesus said, apart from me you can do nothing. You can’t do life on your own. You need Me and the fellowship of Christian believers in the body of Christ, those whom the Lord has called out from the darkness of this world to walk in the light. This is why the Scripture says, walk in light as He is in the light and the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all unrighteousness, Therefore, take no thought about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of the things of tomorrow. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Walk with me because each day is a day’s journey; walk with me one step at a time and one day at a time.

Life is like a train. There is an engine, representing faith, a coal car, representing the Spirit, and a caboose which represents feelings. If you’re led by the caboose of feelings, then the train will derail. The engine of faith must pull the load. For neither uncircumcision, nor uncircumcision avails anything, but believing faith which worketh in love. After King David was confronted about His sin with Bathsheba, he wrote a psalm of repentance: “Lord, you know my every thought and have numbered the hairs of my head. search me O God and know my heart and see if there be any hurtful way of unrighteousness thing in me. Cleanse me and lead me in your way everlasting.” When we get to the end of the rope, in desperation, we will come to the realization that when He’s all we’ve got, He’s all we need. As Mother Theresa said, God works best with nothing. I must decrease that He may increase to the point that it’s all of thee and none of me.

As the psalmist said, Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful…. Why? Because his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night… What will this produce? He shall be like a tree that is planted by the rivers of water that brings forth his fruit in due season… his leaf also shall not wither, but what he doeth shall prosper. We live for the ones we love. When we love God above all, it’s no burden to do that which is well pleasing, acceptable unto Him. Therefore, cleanse my heart O Lord. Make me a vessel of thy peace that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart may be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer, that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of Thy grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael

 

“If I were the Devil…” - Part 1

 

Michael writes: God’s Word reminds us to look around and see the troubles of this world from a spiritual perspective, for from God’s viewpoint of eternity we are already seated with Him in heavenly places. Christians do not perceive the distresses of this world as others who have no hope; For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that spiritual deposit which he’s committed unto me against that day of the Lord… that day of God’s righteous judgement.

The kingdom of “self” is heavily defended territory. The spiritual stronghold of self can only be breached by the Spirt of God, in Christ in us; For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual to the pulling down of spiritual strongholds. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. A disciple is a disciplined follower of Jesus Christ. Therefore, as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

To fight the spiritual battle , Ephesians 6:10-12 says: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The devil schemes to separate our hearts from God’s heart. He questions God’s commandments. He shows the bait but hides the hook. He said to Eve, If you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will not surely die…. Instead you’ll be like God knowing good and evil. The lie that our adversary gives us that God doesn’t love you and His Word is not true. Eve succumbed to the devil’s lies when she doubted the Word of God and the Love of God.

Paul Harvey said these prophetic words in his radio program “The Rest of the Story” in 1965: “If I were the Devil..... if I were the Prince of Darkness, I'd want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And I would have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population. But I wouldn't be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree, thee. So I'd set about however necessary to take over the United States. I'd subvert the churches first, I'd begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve, "Do as you please." To the young I would whisper that the Bible is a myth, I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what's bad is good and what's good is.. 'square'. And the old, I would teach to pray after me.... "Our Father, which art in Washington." And then I'd get organized. I'd educate authors in how to make lurid literatures exciting so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I'd threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I'd peddle narcotics to whom I could, I'd sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction, I'd tranquilize the rest with pills.

If I were the Devil I'd soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves. Until each in it's turn, was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings, I'd have mesmerizing media fanning the flames. If I were the Devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects but neglect to discipline emotions, just let those run wild! Until before you knew it, you'd have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door. Within a decade, I'd have prisons overflowing, I'd have judges promoting pornography. Soon I could evict God from the courthouse, Then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls and church money.

Let's continue Michael's message in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

God Judges Sin

 

Psalm 51:3-4 “For I know my transgressions [revolts, rebellions against sovereign God   ], and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.”

 

Sin is the willful and voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. Sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God's commands or law. In Isaiah 13:11 God tells us, “I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.” Our Creator God is holy and just, so must punish sin. Sin is never ignored or bushed under the rug by the Lord Almighty. 

 

All sin is seen, recorded and must be paid for. Though many treat sin lightly, it is dead serious. Jeremiah 2:22“For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, Yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord God.” And nothing slips by the all-seeing eyes of the Lord in Heaven. He proclaims in Jeremiah 16:17, “My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.” And He confirms in Hosea 7:2, “but they do not realize that I remember all their evil deeds. Their sins engulf them; they are always before me.”

 

Romans 2:12-15 explains that, “He will punish sin wherever it is found. He will punish the heathen when they sin, even though they never had God’s written laws, for down in their hearts they know right from wrong. God’s laws are written within them; their own conscience accuses them, or sometimes excuses them. And God will punish the Jews for sinning because they have his written laws but don’t obey them. They know what is right but don’t do it. After all, salvation is not given to those who know what to do, unless they do it.” Sin is original or actual; both being positive acts of disobedience to the divine will, or by the voluntary neglect to comply with the express commands of God, our Maker. Everyone agrees that nobody is perfect, so Romans 3:23 rightfully states, “For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All deserve the wrath of God against sin as a just punishment. The disobedient sin nature of man is wicked and evil, yet God is love and merciful and does not desire to punish sin. So, our heavenly Father sent a redeeming Savior, that whoever would believe in Him and receive Him as Lord would be saved, have spirit regenerated, soul transformation, and be given the right to become children of God, and granted eternal life as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

Then, they know the blessed assurance of Ephesians 2:1-6, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” In baptism, we die to sin and are raised in victory with Christ, our Savior and Lord.

 

Ephesians 5:5-12 goes on to explain to the sanctified convert in Christ, “For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean [impure and immoral in thought and life] person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of  disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 

 

It is truth that as 1 Corinthians 4:4 declares, “He who judges me is the Lord.” But, Jesus paid the price for the sins of the world for all who believe, accept, receive and follow Him.

In Christ, Brian

 

Messenger of Good News

John 1:22-23 What do you say about yourself? He [John the Baptist] said: “I am

‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’

 

John the Baptist was not “the message”, but the messenger. By definition, he was one on an errand from God, who bears a message. Messengers are the bearer of a verbal or written communication, notice or invitation from one person to another, or to a public body. John the Baptizer’s prophetic ministry was a fulfillment foretold by the eighth century BC Israelite prophet Isaiah by divine authority. Both divinely appointed men were persons illuminated, inspired or instructed by God to announce a God’s message to people then and a message still true now. 

 

Truly, all ministers are but the voice, the vehicle, the messenger by which God is pleased to communicate His mind and truth. John’s message was, Make straight the way of the Lord. He came to prepare and dispose people for the reception and entertainment of Christ and his gospel. It is an allusion to the harbingers of a prince or great man, that cry, “Make room”. Matthew 3:1-2, adds that in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” In order to make a way straight, it must be first crooked or obstructed. We need to repent [to sorrow or be pained for sin, as a violation of God's holy law, a dishonor to his character and government, and the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence, honestly admit guilt and willfully turn from wicked ways to wholehearted godliness], remove the errant beliefs and sinful passions that impede our view and path to righteousness and holiness found only in Christ, our Savior and Lord. In John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. There is garbage in temptations, deceptions, lies and distractions to put aside in our lives

 

The Lord Jesus said in  Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it,” Now John Baptist came to prepare and dispose people for the reception and entertainment of Christ and His gospel. In John 1:29 John the Baptist testifies about Jesus proclaiming: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” 

 

As disciples of Jesus Christ and Children of God, Christians are messengers with this same message to a lost and dying world that is walking in darkness on the wide road to destruction. The basic Gospel message is in Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The message orders were given by Jesus Himself in Matthew 28:19-20, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Jesus is the message of hope and redemption. Be the messenger of this “Good News”. 

In Christ, Brian