Christian

Do You Know Him?

You may know who Jesus is. He is the only begotten Son of Jehovah, our Heavenly Father. He is God himself who died on the cross for our sins. He is our Savior, the promised Messiah.

But do you know him? Are you his follower?

Jesus is our example. Jesus died showing us how to live. He kept the law. He never sinned. He always did the Father’s will. Knowing this and that the wages of sin is Death, we should strive to not sin. Be perfect even as he was perfect. Matthew 5:48, Hebrews 4:15.

Believing in Jesus we must repent and be baptized. Acts 2:38. While it is true that love can cover a multitude of sin, the only sure forgiveness after baptism is confession. 1 John 1:9. Followers of Jesus do not continue in sin. Hebrews 10:26-27. Rather we strive to be as our Master, Jesus, who lived perfectly before the LORD.

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Christian, Inspirational

Proud To Be

As an American I don’t really know what it’s like to have a King. I say Jesus is my Lord and my King, but honestly it feels a little like empty words. I do know what it’s like to have had a Father. I also know what it’s like to have a brother.

Jesus is my Lord. He is the King of Kings. I hope that will sink into my soul, but in the meantime it’s nice to know that God considers me family if I keep his word and walk in the light.

Jehovah is my Father and Jesus is my brother.

They can be your family too.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 KJV
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Mark 3:35 KJV
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

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Christian

My Sin

The Lord has helped me to quit looking at porn. He has also helped me to quit smoking. However, I have not been keeping the Sabbath as I should. If you happen to be reading this, your prayers to do better are appreciated.

Exodus 20:8-11 KJV
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: [10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: [11] For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Isaiah 58:13-14 KJV
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: [14] Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord ; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

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Christian, Inspirational

A Day to Worship

I just watched an Adventist show, Beyond the Search, promoting the worship of the Lord on Saturday. I largely agreed with it, especially with the historical investigation on how a counterfeit Sunday took it’s place.

So what day should I worship? Is it Saturday or is it Sunday?

My answer is: wouldn’t it be nice if we met to worship the Lord seven days a week? And kept the Sabbath? The Sabbath is actually to be celebrated Friday eve to Saturday eve. Leviticus 23:32. If you ever desired to keep the Sabbath, a perfect keeping is described in Isaiah 58:13-14.

I was once interested in joining the Amish. I read an article where an Amish writer said if you want to live as the Amish do – go ahead and do so. You don’t need to come and join an Amish community. What’s my point? You don’t need to join the Seventh Day Adventists to observe the Sabbath. If you wish to continue church services on Sunday, you can still honor the Lord by keeping his Sabbath on Saturday and worshipping on Sunday.

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Christian

Citing the Book of Job

Context does matter. If you see someone citing a quote from the book of Job, it may require further inquiry on the reader or hearer’s part.

It matters greatly who is speaking. Is it Job, God, Job’s friends, or Elihu. When we see a quote from Job it can be incorrectly assumed that it is Job himself speaking or the word of the Lord.

In my opinion Elihu was a self-righteous young man ultimately taken away by the whirlwind. Yet some quote him as gospel.

For someone reading Job or a quote from Job you must discern and weigh the words in question.

Keep in mind what God said in Job 42:7 KJV: And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

So when considering the book of Job, God’s words and Job’s words are of the most importance. Other speakers are of questionable value and accuracy.

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Christian, Inspirational

Authority

I usually enjoy watching the 700 Club for the Q&A, generally to see if I agree or disagree.

Someone asked about 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. Pat Robertson erroneously said it was only a tradition of Jews at the time. What does 1 Corinthians 14:37 say. I hear the commandment. Why don’t you?

No man not even Pat Robertson has authority to change or overrule a commandment of God. Yet foolish preachers do it all the time. Foolish women respond to those preachers shaming themselves in the house of the Lord.

A Proverbs woman might be nice, but where is the New Testament woman who hears a command from our Lord?

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Christian, Inspirational

A Morning Moment

I often forget to acknowledge the Lord in the morning. I typically read the Bible and pray before going to sleep.

It occurred to me, the Lord’s Prayer is intended to be prayed in the morning. Matthew 6:9-13. Here’s why:

Matthew 6:11 KJV
Give us this day our daily bread.

It doesn’t make much sense to pray for our daily bread before we go to sleep and the day is over unless we are praying for the next day.

After several years of praying the Lord’s Prayer, I can’t believe I only noticed it now. We should think when we pray, not just recite.

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Christian, Inspirational

A Special Place

I was thinking, half jokingly, wouldn’t it be justice if there were a special place in Hell for those that use this phrase and wish this sentiment upon others?

No one gets an air-conditioned apt. Seriously, the phrase devalues Hell. I cannot say whether there will be levels or various degrees of punishment as some denominations theorize, but I can say with certainty the greatest pain of Hell will be loss of Hope. 

Hell is eternal. There remains no hope of Salvation, no Hope in God, No Hope. The author who once penned that the sign over the entrance to Hell reads “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here” could have formed no greater epitaph and warning.

Call upon the Lord and Keep Hope.

1 Chronicles 16:8 KJV Give thanks unto the Lord , call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

Psalm 20:9 KJV Save, Lord : let the king hear us when we call.

Psalm 55:16 KJV As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.

Psalm 145:18 KJV The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Acts 2:21 KJV And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Isaiah 55:6-7 KJV Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: [7] Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord , and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

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Fear of the Lord

Many preachers on television downplay the phrase Fear of the Lord. I have heard it referred to as respect the Lord, hold the Lord in awe, or reverence of the Lord.

These preachers downplay the truth. The correct interpretation – Fear of the Lord means Fear of the Lord. When we sin and fail to confess our sin and fail to turn from it we risk eternal damnation.

Matthew 10:28 KJV And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

God is a great and terrible judge. Hebrews 10:30-31 KJV For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. [31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

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