Category Archives: Inspirational

Christian, Inspirational

Faith

Romans 10:17 KJV So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I rented The Case for Christ today. I had hoped for some inspiration in my own Christian path. What I got instead was an hour and fifty minute book promo.

The case for Christ as presented in the movie was the number of surviving copies of the New Testament, the fact that women discovered the empty tomb, and a doctor’s interview establishing that Jesus indeed died on the cross because blood and water came out when he was stabbed in the side. Additionally, one expert states 500 witnesses couldn’t have the same hallucination. She said that 500 witnesses having the same hallucination of seeing Jesus after his death would be a bigger miracle than the resurrection.

Are you convinced? I am a believer, here’s why and it has very little to do with the movie.

I believe the KJV is the authorized inerrant Word of God. If you are a believer, you either believe that or you believe your version is substantially accurate.

Don’t go to outside sources looking for corroboration. Anything that is not the Holy Bible is suspect. The Bible is called Holy for a reason. My faith tells me the Bible is truth. I am not resigned to it, but with Hope I accept it. It is why I was baptized not as a public declaration of faith, but for the remission of sins and to be under the atoning blood of Jesus.

Romans 9:18 KJV Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy , and whom he will he hardeneth.

The inspiration of The Case for Christ if any is the wife. She read, she studied, she prayed, and she let her own heart be open to accepting the Truth. May you and I do likewise.

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Christian, Inspirational

Rightly Dividing the Word of God

Unfortunately when it comes to this verse the focus seems to be on divide rather than rightly.

Biblical scholars divide the Holy Bible in many ways, making one wonder sometimes what is left?

One bothersome division in the Old Testament is the Minor Prophets. They are all major in my opinion. They spoke for God, there are only 66 books in the Holy Bible, and they made the editorial cut.

In the New Testament some say the Church didn’t start until Acts. Thus they argue we don’t need to follow the example of Sabbath keeping as seen in the Gospels.

I have pointed out New Testament Commandments written in Corinthians. They say they were written to the Church of Corinth at that time and thus we need not follow them.

And of course the biggest error. We don’t follow the Old Testament because we are under the New. Throwing out valid law which is incorporated into the New and immeasurable wisdom.

By the end – of some people dividing the Word of God we are left with a very, very thin Bible.

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Christian, Inspirational

The Law of Jesus

You can sit through a year’s worth of sermons and not be taught any law. Perhaps longer, as the law, if taught at all, is not taught correctly where I’ve attended for many years. It is also not taught correctly in many, many other congregations from what I’ve witnessed on television and trips to other churches.

We are told where I attend that we are under the law of Jesus and the New Testament. This is true, but their understanding of the law is flawed and their discernment limited.

What is the law of Jesus?

Jesus said it repeatedly. Keep my Father’s will. To get an understanding of the Father’s will, which includes the law, we must not exclude the Old Testament. When asked by one man which commandments we should keep, Jesus listed off 5 or 6. Matthew 19:17-19. It would have been nice if he had listed all ten in these oft cited verses, but all ten are covered in the New Testament. Not 6. Not 7. Not 8. Not 9, but 10. The Ten Commandments can be found in Exodus 20 and through doctrine taught in the New Testament.

There is an argument as to when the Church began. We are told that a Testament takes effect when the Testator dies. However, we cannot throw out the body of work – the Testament – at Acts. The Testament includes the four gospels where Jesus taught we should keep the commandments.

Can we then say that the Mosaic law is dead or the Old Testament shouldn’t be followed?

It’s alive in those that keep it.

One significant change in the New Testament was in dietary law. Peter’s dream opening salvation to the Gentiles made the unclean or common clean. Paul affirms this when saying all things eaten with thanksgiving to the Lord are clean – keep in mind this yet excludes food sacrificed to idols.

If God asked them to do something then – it’s wise for us to also do it now. Jesus brought us mercy and truth. What mercy and truth did he bring us? It is better to be merciful than to demand an eye for an eye. It is better to turn the other cheek than to strike back. It is okay to do good on the Sabbath. These among many things. He brought us a better understanding of the law and the Father’s will, he did not abolish it.

Matthew 5:17 KJV Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

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Christian, Inspirational

The Meaning of Life

An age old question is what is the meaning of life.

It gets harder when people keep changing the definitions of words. Marriage is a Holy union between a man and a woman. But what then they say is a man or a woman?

One of my favorite movie qoutes is from Moulin Rouge, The greatest thing is to love and be loved in return.

But like Pontius Pilate asking what is truth?, there is a whole new generation asking what is love?
God is love. Sincere love naturally comes with rules and conditions. It is not chaos. It is not possession or ownership. The rules and conditions of love are based in Hope. God gave his son for us and just like us he hope’s to be loved in return.
Jesus died to show us how to live. Keep Jesus’ words, honor the Father’s will, and fear should be relegated to the past.

Accept Jesus as the Son of God today. Repent of your sins and be baptized by immersion in water in his name.

Mark 16:16 KJV He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
If you love God and want to show him you do check out the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. They are a detailed explanation of how to love God with all your heart, mind, spirit, and strength and how to love your neighbor as yourself.

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Christian, Inspirational

Thy Kingdom Come

Why is there such resistance to praying Matthew 6:9-13?

I suppose because Jesus asked us to.

Many claim Jesus’ Kingdom is already come. Has it? Are you face to face with Jesus or the Devil? You can claim Jesus’ Kingdom came when he died and was resurrected or you can claim Jesus’ Kingdom came on the Day of Pentecost, but the truth is that it will not come to fruition until immediately after Judgment Day, after the last foe which is death is defeated.

The Lord’s Prayer refers to the Father’s Kingdom which technically isn’t different than Jesus’ Kingdom. Has Jesus received his bride, has the wheat been separated from the chaff?

Thus I pray … thy kingdom come thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven…, and I encourage you to do the same. Matthew 6:9-13. 

May it be prayed more often as the public prayer in churches rather than men finding their own words!

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Christian, Inspirational

Unconditionallie

There are those that claim God’s love is unconditional. Some claim they love their children unconditionally.

I think the closest thing to unconditional love is a pet’s love, so I thought about that. What if I stop giving my cats food and water? I imagine for three or four days they would be extra loving and then eventually their love would stop. What if my cats made my bed their litter box for a week or if they attacked me when I went to sleep. Hopefully that would never happen, but they might become outdoor pets or put up for re-adoption.

God’s love is conditional. Jesus said if you love me keep my commandments. The Bible also tells us God loved Jacob, but Esau have I hated. Do you really think Esau is the only person God ever hated?

Jesus died to show us how to live. We are told, touch not the unclean thing and you shall be sons and daughters of the most high God. The unclean thing is sin. Jesus told others, go forth and sin no more. Heed his words and walk with joy in the conditional love of God.

What is the first condition? John 3:16. We must believe Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, the Christ, the promised Messiah.

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Christian, Inspirational

The Closemindedness of Denominationalism

Today I heard a strange invitation to Bible Study, Come to our Wednesday morning Bible Study, I’m sure it will benefit you more than us.

Two things I notice right away. Your comment reveals a sense of division rather than unity and you are assuming that you know more than me.

I have noticed similar statements on TBN, Trinity Broadcasting Network, one of which was Cafe Theology. They said something like, We don’t welcome disputation of the word or argument is not welcome at our church.

That would be fine if everyone taught the truth, but the Word was given for reproof and instruction. The manner reproof is delivered can make a difference and certainly church services should be orderly.

BUT, what these statements reveal is your closemindedness. Like the scribes and Pharisees of old, you have passed learning, and everything you profess is true and correct. Jesus said that out of the treasures of our heart we speak. If you are right don’t be afraid to speak the truth. If your church group puts you out, remember likewise did the synagogues of old to those that confessed Jesus is Christ.

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Christian, Inspirational

Yes

“I used to think God was a God of rules, that I could gain or lose his favor and love based on my performance.” – CBN guest Monday, August 7, 2017.

Yes, you had it, for a moment understanding was yours. Go back to your first thought. Job 28:28 KJV And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

We depart from evil by following those pesky rules. The rules, God’s rules, such as the Ten Commandments, are there to keep us safe and guide our way.

There are preachers and teachers that damage and degrade God’s word by preaching unconditional love, but the Bible is clear.

Revelation 20:12 KJV And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

We will be judged based on how we lived our lives and God’s love does come with conditions. Romans 6:23 KJV For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God may indeed love his enemies, but after judgment day, he is willing to love them from afar, his sheep in Heaven, but many in Hell. Matthew 7:13-14 KJV Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

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Christian, Inspirational

I Know What Love Is

Do you ever empathize with Forrest Gump? I do. He once said, I know what love is. This fictional movie character has a better understanding of love than many preachers.

Unconditional love is a lie and a worthless thing. If someone says God loves you unconditionally or I’ll love you no matter what you do, run the other direction.

John 3:16 is the first condition to God’s love and salvation. It is one of many. Love hopes for reciprocity. It demands respect. 

To quote another movie, Moulin Rouge, the greatest thing is to love and be loved in return. In the same way a person’s actions reflect their love for another, our actions can either alienate or endear God.

Jesus did say, If you love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

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Christian, Inspirational

Authorized

There are many bible translations available today. I am aware of only one that was authorized by God, the King James Authorized translation.

How do we know this. God appoints Kings and gives them authority. Daniel 2:21, Romans 13:1 I believe it was put into the King’s heart based on reading the KJV preface letter to translate the Holy Bible from the Greek and Hebrew into English for his people.

Not everyone has the authority to create a translation, yet we know King James of England did. My faith and study tells me this.

When a preacher wants to contradict the KJV keep in mind they must put their trust in other translators. Some choose their own translation abilities, some choose the work of other men. I choose the learned men, the translators chosen by King James and the Holy Ghost.

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