Christian

Study and Verify

I believe the best way to learn God’s law is to read about it in the Holy Bible King James Version yourself. You can even pray for guidance and understanding as you read and study. James 1:5

When a preacher or teacher says, “the Bible says…”, you are better prepared having read the Bible to verify that statement. Don’t be afraid after Church to ask for a direct verse if you have a question about one of your pastor’s points. Send an email or make a phone call. They may even appreciate your interest.

There is a lot of errant doctrine out there and ultimately you are responsible for your own salvation.

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Christian

Do You Love Me?

Hebrews 8:10 KJV For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

The only way to learn the law is through hearing. You can hope to hear all you need to know in Church or you can read the Holy Bible for yourself. I recommend both. Read the Holy Bible and use it to study and verify what you hear from every speaker.

A great place to start is Exodus 20 and the Ten Commandments. To fully comprehend the law you’ll need to read both the Old and the New Testament of the Holy Bible.

What laws then should I follow? Follow what the Lord writes on your heart. What he’s written on mine I am obliged to share.

In Matthew 28:19-20 KJV, Jesus said, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Ten Commandments are valid, present day Commandments of Jesus. In fact, Jesus taught them. Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20 He also instructed that mercy and love are to be a part of the law. John 8:7

The law did have two significant changes between the Old and New Testament. Here are those changes God made to the law:

  • The dietary laws were revoked in Peter’s dream opening the Gospel to the Gentiles. Acts 11:9
  • Sacrificial law or animal sacrifice for sin ceased at the death of Christ on the Cross. John 3:16, Hebrews 10:12

Do you love Jesus enough to keep his Commandments? How much do you actually value his sacrifice?

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Christian

Reform School

What is more important to the modern day Church, reform or revival?

I think the answer is reform. What good does it do to have 10,000 or 10 million new potential Christians if you will not teach them the fundamentals of baptism and the law?

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20 KJV,
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Paul in Galatians describes the law as a school master. Why then do none of the modern churches teach and in many instances even fail to comprehend what is the law? They can divide it into patriarchal, Mosaic, Old, and New, but they can’t tell you correctly which ones to follow.

Let the Church go back to its schoolmaster the law. And if through faith they can let the Lord write his Commandments on their heart, then a flood of revival will come.

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Christian, Inspirational

As a Practical Matter

There are some deep matters in the Holy Bible and this article is not intended to detract from any of them. It is intended to simplify, explain, and promote the sacrifice of Jesus.

Jesus died showing us how to walk before our LORD, the Heavenly Father. He walked in the truth and did not sin.

He was killed by those who would ask, what is truth and not care for the answer.

He was killed by those who could not or would not give up their sin.

He was killed by people who were afraid of judgment.

Jesus wanted us to walk in the light: Accept the truth, confess your sins one to another, be baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and strive every day not to sin.

Simply put, Christianity and how you live it out depends on how much you value Jesus’ sacrifice.

Does it matter that Jesus was God? Does it matter he was the anointed one? Is there really something special about his blood? Should it matter he was resurrected? These are a few of the deeper matters this article will not cover.

He died showing us how to live!

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Christian

That’s Interesting

I’ve heard Rabbis tell stories of how the ancient Jewish wedding parallels the story of Christ. Nobody knows the time of the wedding but the Father. I’ve heard Rick Renner create an elaborate background story of how women could not be seen or speak in public in historic Israel – causing Paul to write the commandment of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, just to explain away its modern applicability.

What I want you to realize is — interesting doesn’t necessarily mean the truth. They say Jesus’ Jewish name was Yeshua. I say show me the proof. Show me any ancient text where Jesus is called Yeshua.

As Christians we are to question what we hear and verify it. And that means being familiar with the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible King James Version is 100% truth. Anything else we need to take with a grain of salt and ask:

Is it true?

Where’s your proof?

Question everything superfluous to the Holy Bible KJV. It may be interesting, but is it true and if so how will I let it personally affect my own beliefs and values?

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Christian

Twice Isn’t Nice

I was watching the Jim Bakker show and the guest Perry Stone was talking about how God instructed him to be baptized a second time in order to clear away things that were weighing upon him.

Bah humbug. B.S. Nonsense. People who are baptized multiple times don’t understand baptism. You can only be cleansed of your sins and baptized into the family of God once. Confess that Jesus is Christ, ask forgiveness of your sins, and be baptized by immersion in water by another in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38, Acts 19:5, Matthew 28:19.

The only mechanism to be cleansed of your sin after baptism is 1 John 1:9! It doesn’t matter if your afraid to confess. Your sins can’t be washed away in a second or third baptism.

If you’re seeking a verse that says you can only be baptized once I can’t provide one. I can say there is no example of a second water baptism of anyone in the Holy Bible. If you truly believed the first time, subsequent baptisms are futile.

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Christian

Taking Sides

So I’ve seen two things on television in the past few weeks that kinda bothered me.

On CBN one of the Q&A questions was if there is unity in the Church, why are some Christians advocating for vaccination for Covid 19 and some others opposing it. Pat Robertson’s response was why assume those against the vaccine are part of the Church, strongly suggesting they were not.

You’re about to get my judgment. I’ve seen the commentary on Daystar. There appears to be strong proof that the Covid vaccines are not safe. Why Pat Robertson is advocating for the vaccine I do not know. However, my view is if you want to exclude others, you should first examine yourself. You might be the one who is not part of the one unified Church.

On the Jim Bakker Show there was a woman advocating the modernized Jewish nuevo name of Jesus, Yeshua. She said she had a word from God concerning those who stand by the name Jesus. She said God told her that those that are his bride love his name. She basically said people who stand firmly by the name Jesus are not part of his bride.

Here’s my judgment. She’s a liar. God’s Son name is Jesus. Yeshua is a modern Jewishization of Jesus name so that the Jews can feel more comfortable with our God. If anyone is not part of the bride of Christ it would be her. There is no ancient text proving Jesus was ever called Yeshua.

Talking yourself out of something good, like the Church, is a real danger for some. It reminds me of the old saying, check yourself before you wreck yourself.

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Miranda

You have the right to remain silent.

I once told my cousin about 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. She said to me – no one is going to take my voice. I imagine most ladies feel this way about these verses. But ladies consider this: ignorant and weak men have allowed you to speak in Church against the word of God.

These men have no right to say that you can speak in Church. They have overstepped their bounds.

We’ve all heard the expression silence is golden. And to be honest some men on judgement day would be better off having exercised their right to remain silent.

Ladies you may be put off by this New Testament law of Christ, but hear it and observe it and in the end Christ will honor your female spirit for honoring his word in subjection.

1 Timothy 2:12-13 KJV
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. [13] For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

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Christian

Is Skepticism Healthy?

I don’t have a quick answer.

I want to believe in the word of God. I want to believe prophets exist today. I want to believe in modern day miracles.

But honestly I’m a skeptic. When I hear someone on television say “God told me” or “God said”, my immediate inner response is bs or bullsh*t. Sorry for the curse word, but I don’t know a better way to express that inner feeling. It’s that strong and usually that immediate.

Let’s take a moment and look at God’s word.

What about prophets today?

Acts 2:17 KJV
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

So we know that there was no end to the time of prophets. There will be prophets in the future. I hope if I encounter one I will believe. Unfortunately I have a preset notion. I don’t believe the ones I see on tv. I haven’t heard one yet, where I said yes it happened and it happened when and how you said it would.

I’ve seen some on tv who say stuff like there’s someone in the audience who has this condition. And they can guess their name, maybe their address or other bits of information. I’m sorry but these guys remind me of magician acts which have a basis in evil spirits. They do not strike me as true prophets of God.

What about modern day miracles? I cannot limit God. He can heal however he likes, but in my opinion he would most likely heal people according to his word.

James 5:14-15 KJV
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: [15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

I think skepticism is healthy. I hope with the fear of the Lord and biblical knowledge my spirit will recognize a true man or woman of God. I hope the same for you.

Iron may sharpen iron, but all I see is rust. If you think you are iron or want to be like iron, follow me on Twitter, I will follow you back, and perhaps we can start a friendship strengthening and encouraging one another in the Lord. @DeanNelsonHoff. Or you can just use the link at the top. DM me and introduce yourself.

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Christian

Reciprocated

While flipping through the channels I caught a few minutes of Joyce Meyer saying that God doesn’t say if you obey me I will love you.

I think she missed a few verses.

John 14:23 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Jesus also said in John 14:15-17 KJV
If ye love me, keep my commandments. [16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

What these verses show us is that God reciprocates love. If we love him and obey him, the Godhead will come and dwell in us.

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