I don't know what to expect.
We live in a goals oriented society, and so I think that part of me wants to have expectations and goals to seek as I fast, yet the sense is that I just need to fast because I think it's what God wants me to do right now.
No, I haven't heard voices or been given a word of knowledge by another believer. Just a a feeling of a calling to my soul. A word saying to come. Come because of all the difficult things in my life and the lives of my family, and the lives of friends and acquaintances.
How long will I fast for? I don't know. I am so weak in the flesh. Even this morning I woke up hungry, knowing it was the day to start. Will I get past today? I am sure I will. Will I fast again tomorrow? God only knows.
I've never fasted even three days, yet a part of me thinks I should go at least a week, maybe longer. I have a fear of failure, and a fear of the unknown.
Mainly, I want to hear from God, I want to have a vision for the life of my family, and for myself. I want to seek Him for healing for my mouthful of bad teeth. For a place large enough for my family. For a friends marriage that he is causing to crumble. Does He desire me to take my family into the mission field? To start a fellowship right here? To teach? To pursue business interests so that He can fund others ministries?
If you find this, say a prayer for me that I can fast as long as God desires, and that I hear what He has to say to me, and what He would have me say to others as well.
13.4.11
5.1.11
Some Thoughts on Joseph.
I've taken on what some might call an ambitious goal this year. I want to try to read through the Bible at least twice, but preferably at least three times.
I have e-sword installed on my computer, which is a free bible study software. It lets you set an individualized Bible reading plan, and I have mine set for three months through the Word.
I've already faltered a bit, having started with the New year, but I have managed to read three out of five days so far.
This mornings reading started with Jacob deceiving his father Isaac, stealing his brothers blessing, and fleeing to Laban for refuge. It ended with Joseph and Potiphars wife.
What got me thinking this morning was that Joseph served his masters and jailers, in fact his heart was one of service even to other captives, and I wondered if perhaps the rough treatment that he took as a child from his brothers had become an asset rather than a liability?
I heard in a talk the other night, that God doesn't necessarily exempt us from suffering, but he develops our character through it. In E.M. Bounds books on prayer, "The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer", he talks of troubles and prayer. He seems to think that trouble is God's way of creating depth in the believer. It seems that nothing gains strength by lack of resistance. Think of men who train for sports, war, or business. The effort that went into developing the skills and abilities were not gained by merely thinking good thoughts or sleeping the day away. What's the old adage? No Pain, No Gain?
So, back to Joseph. We are told his brothers hated him (Genesis 37:4). They hated him with a jealous hatred, because his father loved him the most, and because he revealed their evil doings. His brothers were violent bloodthirsty men, Judah was willing to seek after a harlot, yet willing to kill his daughter in law for harlotry. Harlotry that he himself was the cause of.
Joseph brothers despised him, sold him into slavery, and lied to their father for years about it. They told him that they did not know what happened to Joseph, only that they had found his blood soaked coat of many colors.
Through it all, I think that perhaps Joseph had learned to serve his unrighteous, wicked, mean spirited, hate filled brothers so that he could avoid their wrath. I think he suffered under their hands, and I think that he probably hated every minute of trouble they gave him, and wondered if there were any escape, any one to deliver him. I think that maybe he would have wondered how God could ever allow him to go through such trials.
Maybe though, all that trouble paid off. The powerful men that Joseph worked under, Potiphar, the jailers, and Pharaoh himself all may have been hard men to work under, but were they as wicked in action as his brothers? I don't think we can know for sure, but those men may have been easier to serve under than the ten sons of Jacob that could murder an entire city of men, and sell their own brother into slavery. I think God used the trials of Josephs youth to prepare him to serve and be lifted up later in life.
Just a thought or two, but maybe trials, troubles, and suffering really can build us up and prepare us for the work God has for us.
I have e-sword installed on my computer, which is a free bible study software. It lets you set an individualized Bible reading plan, and I have mine set for three months through the Word.
I've already faltered a bit, having started with the New year, but I have managed to read three out of five days so far.
This mornings reading started with Jacob deceiving his father Isaac, stealing his brothers blessing, and fleeing to Laban for refuge. It ended with Joseph and Potiphars wife.
What got me thinking this morning was that Joseph served his masters and jailers, in fact his heart was one of service even to other captives, and I wondered if perhaps the rough treatment that he took as a child from his brothers had become an asset rather than a liability?
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I heard in a talk the other night, that God doesn't necessarily exempt us from suffering, but he develops our character through it. In E.M. Bounds books on prayer, "The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer", he talks of troubles and prayer. He seems to think that trouble is God's way of creating depth in the believer. It seems that nothing gains strength by lack of resistance. Think of men who train for sports, war, or business. The effort that went into developing the skills and abilities were not gained by merely thinking good thoughts or sleeping the day away. What's the old adage? No Pain, No Gain?
So, back to Joseph. We are told his brothers hated him (Genesis 37:4). They hated him with a jealous hatred, because his father loved him the most, and because he revealed their evil doings. His brothers were violent bloodthirsty men, Judah was willing to seek after a harlot, yet willing to kill his daughter in law for harlotry. Harlotry that he himself was the cause of.
Joseph brothers despised him, sold him into slavery, and lied to their father for years about it. They told him that they did not know what happened to Joseph, only that they had found his blood soaked coat of many colors.
Through it all, I think that perhaps Joseph had learned to serve his unrighteous, wicked, mean spirited, hate filled brothers so that he could avoid their wrath. I think he suffered under their hands, and I think that he probably hated every minute of trouble they gave him, and wondered if there were any escape, any one to deliver him. I think that maybe he would have wondered how God could ever allow him to go through such trials.
Maybe though, all that trouble paid off. The powerful men that Joseph worked under, Potiphar, the jailers, and Pharaoh himself all may have been hard men to work under, but were they as wicked in action as his brothers? I don't think we can know for sure, but those men may have been easier to serve under than the ten sons of Jacob that could murder an entire city of men, and sell their own brother into slavery. I think God used the trials of Josephs youth to prepare him to serve and be lifted up later in life.
Just a thought or two, but maybe trials, troubles, and suffering really can build us up and prepare us for the work God has for us.
16.8.10
Jehovah's Witnesses
A very nice Jehovah Witness came by my house not too long ago. He was an older guy, and like so many others that have come before him, he was unable to answer a very simple question. If Jesus is not God, then how come the Bible tells us here in John 1:1 that nothing came into being apart from Christ?
They tell me they do not believe Jesus is God, but merely "a god" that God the Father used to create the world and all things in it. They usually like to say that Jesus is like a secretary that does the things the boss tells him to do. Show me in the Bible where that is found.
So, going to the Bible, we are told that everything was made by Jesus. Nothing came into being apart from Jesus. This creates a host of problems if Jesus is not God, but then, I am getting ahead of myself. Here's the first point.
In John 1:3, it says, speaking of the Word (Jesus) "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Isaiah 44:24 tells us God was alone when He created the world
"Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; "
so unless Jesus is either God, or a liar unable to save anyone, how is it that John 1:3, John 1:10, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2. and Hebrews 3:3 all declare that Jesus created all things?
Well, the logical place to start then is in the beginning. Even John starts there, and one can't read John chapter one without having Genesis chapter one brought to mind.
compare that with Genesis
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth
Genesis claims it was God that created the heaven and the earth. But that's not all God created. Look at verse 21.
Gen 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Then after God created everything, He rested the seventh day from the work of creation.
Gen 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Gen 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
Gen 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
God evidently made man too. That is what the Bible says
Gen 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
Gen 5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
When God declares that He will destroy the earth by the flood, he says again that He is the creator
Gen 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
In fact, there are numerous places where we are told that God created all things.
Deu 4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?
Psalm 89:11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fullness thereof, thou hast founded them.
Psalm 89:12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
Psa 148:2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
Psa 148:3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
Psa 148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
Psa 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
Read all of Isaiah Chapter 40,
Isa 40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
sa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Isa 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Isa 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Isa 40:27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Isa 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Isa 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
So, you see, the Bible is clear, that God created all things by His hands, and that there are no other gods, no other saviors, none else but Him. If Jesus created all things, and nothing has been made apart from Him, them we must conclude that the Bible also tells us that He is God in the flesh.
They tell me they do not believe Jesus is God, but merely "a god" that God the Father used to create the world and all things in it. They usually like to say that Jesus is like a secretary that does the things the boss tells him to do. Show me in the Bible where that is found.
So, going to the Bible, we are told that everything was made by Jesus. Nothing came into being apart from Jesus. This creates a host of problems if Jesus is not God, but then, I am getting ahead of myself. Here's the first point.
In John 1:3, it says, speaking of the Word (Jesus) "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Isaiah 44:24 tells us God was alone when He created the world
"Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; "
so unless Jesus is either God, or a liar unable to save anyone, how is it that John 1:3, John 1:10, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2. and Hebrews 3:3 all declare that Jesus created all things?
Well, the logical place to start then is in the beginning. Even John starts there, and one can't read John chapter one without having Genesis chapter one brought to mind.
compare that with Genesis
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth
Genesis claims it was God that created the heaven and the earth. But that's not all God created. Look at verse 21.
Gen 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Then after God created everything, He rested the seventh day from the work of creation.
Gen 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Gen 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
Gen 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
God evidently made man too. That is what the Bible says
Gen 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
Gen 5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
When God declares that He will destroy the earth by the flood, he says again that He is the creator
Gen 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
In fact, there are numerous places where we are told that God created all things.
Deu 4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?
Psalm 89:11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fullness thereof, thou hast founded them.
Psalm 89:12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
Psa 148:2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
Psa 148:3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
Psa 148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
Psa 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
Read all of Isaiah Chapter 40,
Isa 40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
sa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Isa 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Isa 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Isa 40:27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Isa 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Isa 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
So, you see, the Bible is clear, that God created all things by His hands, and that there are no other gods, no other saviors, none else but Him. If Jesus created all things, and nothing has been made apart from Him, them we must conclude that the Bible also tells us that He is God in the flesh.
12.8.10
Entertaining Angels Unawares
Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
You never know who or what you'll see and when.
We live on a dark country road, and last night I took the back road home. It's 11 miles to town that way, and nearly 2/3 of the way is dirt. I took our 5 oldest children to the opening of the fair in Yreka, and they did real well with all sorts of blue ribbons. My entry didn't even get an honorable mention...I've been shown up by my children.
Well, coming home we saw a man walking on the road, no flashlight, in the middle of nowhere. I stopped to see if he needed any help, and all he wanted was some water, of which we had none. I gave him a box of mints we had, and then went home, and packed him a bag of water, graham crackers, fruit, nuts, raisins, and a gospel tract.
By the time I went back out to find him, he was nowhere in sight.
Other Encounters
There have been other instances either in my own life, or the stories of others, of angelic encounters. I can't classify them as I could this one, which was likely just a vagrant man passing through.
For instance. There was one time where in college, I was driving a VW bus, and the engine seized up. I was headed from Azusa to Pomona, and managed to limp to the exit at Arrow Highway. Back then there was nothing there but for a gas station, now there's a huge Target strip mall in that spot.
The VW died completely at the end of the offramp. The service station was closed, and there were no cars on the road. I looked up and down both ways. This was in the days before cell phones. I dropped my head for a second and prayed, God help me.
I got out of the van, and started to try to push the bus by myself out of the road and over to the service station, but it wasn't going anywhere. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a guy pops his head around the front of the van and offers to help. I accepted his offer, and we pushed the van into the service station lot. Before I could set the hand brake, he was gone. There was no one anywhere on the street again. All I can think is it was an angel.
I don't know if it was, but I know that from the passage, we can't always tell by appearances who is an angel and who isn't.
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, upon arriving at the sepulcher of Christ early Sunday morning, found a "a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment" who frightened them. I don't know about you, but getting to a tomb that is supposed to be occupied by a dead man, and finding a very alive young man sitting in the tomb at daybreak would frighten me too. Mostly because it is not what I am expecting to see.
The guy on the road last night startled me. I don't expect to see anyone on the road walking at night without a flashlight at least. I guess Mary and Mary were more than a little shaken, not just by his appearance, but by what He told them as well, because it tells us that "they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. "
What exactly did he tell them that might have scared them so?
he saith unto them, "Don't be frightened: You seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: Look at the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goes before you into Galilee: there you will see him, as he said unto you. "
He told them, Jesus told you what to do and what would happen, and you didn't believe it. In fact, the entire last chapter of mark focuses on not believing the words of Jesus Christ. You would think that there would be some credibility given to the words of the various witnesses, but each time there is a high level of unbelief. We usually only think of Thomas as the doubter, but evidently they all had an issue with belief. Maybe we do too.
Check it out
Mark 16:10 And she(Mary Magdalene went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
Mar 16:11 And they, when they had heard that he(Jesus) was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
Mar 16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. (the road to Emmaus)
Mar 16:13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
Mar 16:14 Afterward he(Jesus) appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided (charged with something wrong or disgraceful) them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
Do You Believe?
Mark 16:16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.
These are harsh words, do you believe them? The words that follow are even more difficult for most of us, because He tells us the signs that will follow those that believe.
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
I need to pray along with the man whose child was possessed of a devil, Lord I believe, help my unbelief.
Mark 9:23-24 Jesus said unto him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.
If someone were to ask me if I believe that the signs Jesus Christ said would follow those that believe, and if I have experienced any of them, I would cringe a bit, because I have not experienced all of them, only one or two. Let me ask you, have you experienced any of the signs?
- Have you cast out demons?
- Have you spoken with a new tongues?
- Have you taken up serpents?
- Have you drank anything deadly without harm?
- Have you laid hands on the sick and seen them recover?
Do you believe? For real? Or,do you need to pray, along with the man with the possessed son, Lord, help my unbelief?
That is my prayer today, for myself, my family, and the whole church of Jesus Christ. We say we believe, yet no signs follow us, we say we believe, but we are no better than the disciples who failed to believe all they had been told face to face by Christ himself. Oh God, please help us all to believe what you have said! Please help us to live believing, instead of making excuses for our lack of belief. Help us to quit saying that those things were only for the "early church" or those things were only for those who did not have the whole counsel of God in 66 books, and we no longer need the miraculous or the gifts. God, let me stand with those who believe you and what you have told us in your word, without excuse, without wavering, without doubt, without fear, and without question. Oh God our Father, help our unbelief!
10.8.10
How I wish
The pastor of our church lost his ranch and moved from the area, and we were without a fellowship. This wouldn't be as much of a problem in a larger area, but being from the very small town of Fort Jones, California(600+ residents) there are not a lot of choices in churches.
So few Choices...
There's the Methodist church, pastored by an extremely liberal woman from the New Age Mecca of the Mountains, Mount Shasta.There's the Catholic Church, which tells men and women that salvation is through the Roman Catholic Faith alone, and that anyone who would say you can be saved by grace alone is anathema, that is accursed and cut off from God.
There's the local well known and lesser known cults of the Jehovah's witnesses and the 7th Day Adventists.
Within the surrounding valley, I do not know of one single church that teaches the Bible word for word. Sure, some will walk through passages loosely following the text and gist, but none that teach the whole counsel of God.
Even those that claim the name of Christ
One church here has fallen into the latest heresy trap of contemplative and formative prayer. I was taught to pray that way by a hippie teacher at summer school in Laguna Beach when I was a child. They didn't rename it, they called it meditation or relaxation exercises. It was demonic then and it is still demonic.
My complaints against contemplative prayer are several. They have renamed the mantra "centering prayer" and ignore Scriptures warning to " And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." Matthew 6:7 but rather instruct people to grab a word from their thoughts or a Bible verse and repeat it over and over to "center" themselves and clear their mind.
What's wrong with contemplative prayer?
God never tells us to empty our minds, rather He gives us a list of things to think on.
Phillipians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
But, they answer back, what about the verse that says "Be still, and know that I am God"? It is from Psalm 46, and rather than being in reference to prayer, it is a reference to the facts that whether the Earth is in the midst of change, or there are earthquakes, or the sea and waves rage, or the nations war , or the heathen rage, or there be battles and tumults, He is still God, and He will be exalted through it all. Read it for yourself.
"Psalm 46:10-11 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Jehovah of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah."
Show me just one verse, one place in Scripture where "the presence of Jesus is brought into the trauma of someones life" through contemplative prayer. It can't be done.
Also, this idea of bringing Jesus to a person, well it's backwards I think. The idea that we bring Jesus to others by getting them to practice eastern meditation is a Babylonian mix of Sufi, Zen, Buddhist and Roman Catholic notions that somehow we can use Jesus like our genie in a bottle to grant wishes.
The Jesus that comes to you in contemplative eastern meditation is not likely to be the Jesus Christ of the Bible, Maker of Heaven and Earth, God made flesh, our substitutionary sacrifice, but rather the Jesus that comes to talk to you in your altered state of consciousness at best is likely to be a figment of your imagination, and is likely to be a demonic manifestation to deceive you with smooth words. You will be communing with a false Christ.
"Deuteronomy 18:9-12 When thou art come into the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah: and because of these abominations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee."
The practice of contemplative and formative prayer is come out from the Buddhist, the Zen, and the Sufi, and was adopted by the Roman Catholics, and you think a tree with bad fruit can bear good fruit because you changed its name? Listen to what God said. "thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations" and again,there shall not be found among you anyone that is " a consulter with a familiar spirit". What in the name of the Lord do you think you are doing when you practice the ways of the world and go into eastern mysticism and meditation. Can't you see that the warnings of the early 1980's have gone unheeded and the New Age Movement has seized the churches of America?
Let us be Bereans, not foolish Galatians. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
22.9.08
Do Christians Have to Obey the 10 Commandments?
What about those 10 Commandments? Are Christians required to observe them all, including the law of Sabbath?
There are some who make a distinction between the Law of Moses and the 10 Commandment Law. First off, I want to see what the Bible says about that.
The reason I even got wrapped up in the issue of the 10 Commandments and the issue of the Sabbath keeping cults was largely because of a 7th Day Adventist I know who thought we'd be a trophy family for their dwindling group.
I'm not going to dwell on the food laws that some of them observe, but suffice it to say, we as Christians were warned that in the last days some would forbid to eat meat( 1 Timothy4:1-6) What I struggled with was the usual tactic employed by cults to change the accepted meanings and interpretations of words into fodder fit for their own use.
For instance, the term "the law" suddenly develops a multitude of new meanings under the interpretation skills of the Adventists. The law is no longer just "the law". Now there is "the Law of Moses", and the "law of sin and death" and "the law of God", and "the 10 Commandment Law", and depending on what the Adventist wants you to believe about a Bible passage, the interpretation varies.
So, rather than give a ton of instances, I went to see what God says about "the law", and specifically "the 10 Commandments".Jesus declared the 10 Commandments to be the Law of Moses when he said
Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mar 7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
And Joshua declared Moses' Law to be one and the same with the 10 Commandments
Jos 8:30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,
Jos 8:31 As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
Jos 8:32 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
Do you think that he wrote all 600 plus laws of Moses there or just the 10 Commandments?
You see, the 10 Commandments are not for the Christian, but for the unregenerate. If you are a Christian, you are no longer under the Old Covenant, which is the 10 Commandments.
Deu 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
Exo 34:27 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
Exo 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Notice in Exodus 34:27, that God commanded Moses to write the words. Those words became the Book of the Covenant, or the Law of Moses. The law of Moses is the complete instruction on how to keep the 10 Commandments. It is why we cannot do it, and why Christ had to die. We are all condemned under the law, we are guilty of being unable to keep His laws. We deserve death, as the author of Romans said " "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God". There is none righteous, no not one.
Dan 9:10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Dan 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him
More to come…..
29.8.08
Green Like Envy: An Ex-pagan Looks at Blue Like Jazz
This article was published this week at lighthousetrailsresearch.com, and I thought it pointed some of the inadequacies of a popular emergent authors doctrines. This book has sold over 800,000 copies since it was published, and from this review, it appears to be antithetical to Orthodox Chritianity, the Sciptures, and the message of Jesus Christ.
Green Like Envy: An Ex-pagan Looks at Blue Like Jazz
Green Like Envy: An Ex-pagan Looks at Blue Like Jazz
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