Monthly Archives: February 2023

Christian

Pesky Details

Once again I recently heard a preacher saying that fear of the Lord doesn’t actually mean fear. He added that you can’t have an intimate relationship with the Lord if you fear him, you can’t have a healthy relationship with someone you fear.

God chooses love for us and even prefers it to our fear, but for love to replace fear we have to get past one pesky detail. Malachi 1:6 KJV says, A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? . . ..

Do you love the Lord enough to separate yourself and not touch the unclean thing? 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

Do you honor the Lord enough to do what he asks and not sin? John 14:15

If you let love and honor of God lead you, then there is no need to fear. You have found the more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:31

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Christian

A Vow Not Taken

Lately I’ve been watching mostly Christian television, specifically Loveworld.

They have been preaching and telling personal stories of how making a vow to God moved him to help them out of their troubles. That’s what Benny Hinn and his friends say, but what does the Bible say?

In James 5:12 KJV it says, But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

A vow is a serious matter, especially one made to God. This is seen in Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 and in James 5:12 above.

Loveworld is advocating that you make a vow in order to increase their donations. If you want to donate that is your business, but I ask that you wisely do not make it a vow.

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Christian

In His Presence

I don’t really have anything negative to say about revivals these days. If people are getting together for hours or days to worship and honor God, that appears to be a good thing. Who are we to judge someone else’s servants? Roman’s 14:4.

But if you are driving or flying hundreds of miles to experience the presence of God, you haven’t read the Holy Bible. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 KJV, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

This means you can be in the presence of God in your own home, at the coffee shop, virtually anywhere with a friend or a spouse or even a new acquaintance. Jesus said it, he meant it. Why crave the “Holy Ghost experience” elsewhere when Jesus will come to you.

It reminds me somewhat of Jesus telling us that people will say look here or look there. It shouldn’t be about catching a feeling. Strike up a conversation, literally anywhere, We are gathered here today in the name of Jesus Christ or simply visit your local Church.

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Christian

Of Heaven or Of Man

In Genesis 40:8 KJV Joseph asks, Do not interpretations belong to God?

I believe that whether an interpretation of dreams or of Bible verses they only belong to God when they are correct and accurate. Yet, men too often interpret incorrectly and of their own accord. Following are some notable examples:

Hebrews 9:27 KJV And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: . Men treat this as an immutable law seeking to bind God to it. They say Enoch and Elijah must come back as the two Prophets of Revelation in order to die.

Amos 3:7 KJV Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Again, some treat this as a law. Should an observation by Amos bind the Lord from doing whatever he wants, when he wants?

1 Corinthians 16:2 KJV Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. Used by virtually every Church to pay their bills and claim donations to the Lord every Sunday. It was originally a comment by Paul to the Church at Corinth concerning donations to the saints in Jerusalem.

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