Just Sharing My Heart

I just want to take this post to share with you my heart about where I see Christians standing today.

I wasn't sure we would get to 2018 without the rapture occurring and now I feel more certain that we won't get to 2019.  Rapture could occur before I get this post written or before you finish reading it, and it might occur years after this.  The world today is falling apart just as scripture says and the only hope we have is the return of Jesus Christ to come and rule.

But it saddens me to look around and see how unprepared we are for the last days.  Most of what we call Christian churches are led by false prophets who do not teach scripture.  Most of the truly Christian churches do not reach out to the unsaved.  They leave that to the preacher.  Most Christians do not know their Bible, do not know how to lead a person to Christ and have no idea what a true disciple of Christ is.  Many Christians warm a pew and think they have done their Christian duty.

Churches do not teach about the end times and the rapture.  The congregations know nothing about what is to happen in the end times or what to look for.  The scriptures told when Jesus would come the first time, but when Jesus came the people rejected him because they were not taught about the signs of his coming or the signs of who he would be.  We are making the same mistake.

Christians are following after the world.  True Bible Believing, Born Again Christians are falling into the ways of the world.  Sex before marriage, homosexuality, gluttony, trusting in the Lottery more than God, swearing, addiction (caffeine, alcohol, nicotine), materialism and many other sins Christians are accepting as not that bad.

We are fulfilling, at this very hour, 2 Thessalonians 2:3  which says that before the son of perdition (The Anti-Christ) comes there will be a great falling away.  There are many who call themselves Christians who Biblically are not, and many true Christians who are falling into the deception of the world.

I am not perfect.  I have done wicked things in the past as well as today.  I know I am weak but I am trying to follow what the God says in the Bible.  My desire is to please Him and not to be deceived.  It saddens me when I find something in my life that is not as God desires and with the help of Jesus, I turn from that sin.

I hate this world because of what it is doing to everyone.  The worse part is seeing Christian brothers and sister who fall into the traps of sin this world has forged.  I have a brother in Christ, from the group of believers I worship with, who has fallen into sin and it appears he will be divorcing his wife. I still love him but seeing where he is headed gives me great sorrow.  The world has its hooks in him and he does not want to turn back to God.

Please exam your life.  Read your bible.  Spend time with God.  Tell others about Christ. Put aside your agenda and follow God's agenda.  Don't just read and believe the Bible, live it.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

Photo Credit: The Passion by A.Currell

They are Out to Get Me!

It's a conspiracy to kill me.  No! I am not crazy or paranoid!  They are plotting to steal from me, kill and destroy me.  If they can't kill me, they try to silence me.  They have been after me for as long as I remember.  It is no use hiding.  They know where I am.  They know where I go.  Perhaps the worse part is that they are after you also!

Yes! They are out to kill you as well.  It is a conspiracy that is worldwide, led by our arch enemy Satan. He is enlisting more and more people to do his bidding.  The world is full of people following Satan and fighting against those who follow Christ, as well as those God has deemed to be His Chosen people.

Jesus tells us that Satan is the ruler of this world (John14:30) and (1 John 5:19).  Those who are not God's belong to Satan.  What is Satan's plan?  John 10:10 tells us exactly what he is conspiring to do.  He wants to kill you, steal your blessings and destroy you, your reputation and all that is good in your life.

Satan has been plotting against the people of God since the times of Adam and Eve.  Don't think he won't work to kill you as well.  He hates you!  Do you think you're safe here in the United States?  Hatred is growing.  Laws are written against God and those who follow Him.  The Children of Satan are conspiring to get rid of God and, if you follow God, you as well.

The only hope we have is found in Christ who watches over us and keeps us safe.  As we get closer to the Second Coming of Jesus, things will only get worse.

"And do this, understanding the present time:  The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Romans 13:11

Photo Credit: 061-Evil Eye by Phil Balchin

Judge NOT!!

Have you ever talked to someone about how what they are doing is wrong and they come back to you like a fiery old testament prophet proclaiming, "God says, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.'"?

Whoa!  Look down on the ground and not into their eyes. Slowly back away and run before they go for your jugular.  What do you do?  They are quoting Matthew 7:1.  It does say not to judge, so what more can you do than to just quietly slip away, rebuked by scripture for what you were saying to them?

What you can do is stand up for what Matthew 7:1 is really saying.  This is not concerning telling someone that they are doing something against God.  We are to help others to recognize and repent from sin.  This verse is saying that we are all held to the same standard, so remove the sin in your life first before you point a finger at someone else.

When we do call someone out for a sin, we are never to judge (condemn) that person, for that is God's job, but we are called upon to inspect the fruit of others.  Matthew 7:16a "You shall know them by their fruits...."  If the fruit is bad we should reach out in love to help them to turn from their wicked ways.

To condense this down, we are to inspect the fruit of everyone, (especially ourselves) and help when someone is going against God.  That means speaking up and showing them what GOD says.  You do not judge them, the sinner, for that is God's job.  You do not point a finger at someone's sin when you yourself are in that same sin.  That is the pot calling the kettle black and it just will not work.  You are to point out what God says about their sin and not what you, the church, the government or what anyone else says.  God's word is the only standard we are to measure our actions by. 

"Joe, I have noticed that you keep doing A.  God says in the Bible that doing A is a sin.  If I can help you to stop doing A, I would be happy to help."

"JUDGE NOT THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED!"

"Joe, I didn't say it, God said it. I am only pointing out to you what God is saying about your actions."

"You have done A also."

"Yes, I did in the past but God showed me I was wrong to do that.  I no longer do A.  I can help you to stop as well."

Remember scripture is your standard and God is the judge as to what is right and what is wrong.  You are God's agent to love the person enough to tell them what God says about their sin.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."  2 Timothy 3:16

Photo Credit: gavel by janinsanfran

Biblical PUNishment

Ok, let's have some fun today.  After all, Christianity is not all gloom and doom.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine..." Proverbs 17:22a

What are a dentist's favorite hymns?

Crown Him with Many Crowns
Holy, Holy, Holy

How does Moses make his coffee?

Hebrews it.

Who was the smartest man in the Bible?

Abraham.  He knew a Lot.

What kind of man was Boaz before he married?

Ruthless

Why did the eagle sit on the church's steeple?

It was a bird of pray.

Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?

Samson.  He brought the house down.

What car make did the Apostles drive?

Honda.  The apostles were all in one Accord.

What is a missionary's favorite kind of car?

A convertible.

Which Old Testament prophet took forever to make a point?

"I say...uhhh.." (say it out loud)

At what time of day was Adam created?

A little before Eve

Why did Noah punish the chickens on the Ark?

They used fowl language.

Need an ark?

I noah guy.

What is the difference between Jesus and pizza?

Jesus can't be topped.

Quotes from the Book of Lacerations

There are many "Biblical" quotes from such books as Lacerations and Hezikiah.  Quotes which sound Biblical but actually are not.  Let's take a look at a few.

"Money is the root of all evil."
Close enough to sound good but wrong enough to be blasphemous.  There are no objects that are truly evil.  The evil comes from the heart of men in how they are used.  The true quote is found in
1 Timothy 6:10a "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,..."

"Love the sinner, hate the sin."
This is a Biblical truth but there is no Bible verse that says this.  Don't think you can quote this as if it is scripture.  One problem you will face with this truth is that today people identify themselves with their sin so that if you hate their sin, they see it as you hating them as well.

"God helps those who help themselves"
This quote is actually from Aesop's fable "Hercules and the Waggoner." Not only is it not from the Bible it is totally anti-Biblical.  In truth, when you try something on your own, God will let you.  You can trust your own strength and wisdom and you can fail all on your own.  The Bible calls upon us to trust Him to help us and not to lean on our own efforts.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Some others that I will let you look up and see that they are not in the Bible, but which many people think are Bible quotes are:

"This too shall pass."
"Just follow your heart and believe, and you can do anything."
"The lion shall lay down with the lamb."
"Cleanliness is next to godliness."
"Yea, verily, God wants you to be happy."
"God won't give you more than you can handle."
"If you work hard, you'll be successful."
"God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life!"

Some of those follow the truths of the Bible but are not Biblical Quotes, while others are totally unbiblical.  You need to know the difference.

Never assume something that sounds good is Biblical.  Even from people you respect as a Christian leader.  We must know the Word of God or we will be deceived.  Do not become part of 1 Timothy 4:1  "Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,"

Photo Credit: the Bible, is this too overexposed? by Ashely Rose, 

The Second Eve

God created everything and the finale of His creation was man.  God created Adam and looked for a suitable helpmate but found none.  God put Adam into a deep sleep and took from his side a rib, which He formed into a woman.  This is how God created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, who later fell from grace and brought the curse of sin to the world. Genesis 2:18-24

There is a second Adam, Jesus the Christ.  He came to this world to remove that curse and pay for the sins of the world.  His life was given freely so that we, who are under the curse which the first Adam brought, can be rid of that curse forever.

But if Jesus is the second Adam, is there a second Eve?  Just as Adam had been put into a deep sleep, Jesus went into the deep sleep of death.  Just as Eve came from the opened side of Adam, at the crucifixion Jesus' side was opened and blood and water spilled forth from him.  That blood is the cleansing agent for all of our sins, and from that cleansing is birthed new life in Christ.

God brought new life into the world by way of Christ's blood.   A life that is pure and righteous from all sin.  That new life is the Bride of Christ.  The Bride of the Second Adam.  We the Church are the Second Eve.

The name Eve means "life".  From the first Eve, all human life was birthed.  From the second Eve is birthed eternal spiritual life, found only in Jesus.  We are to bring the good news to others.  The good news of life.

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Ephesians 1:7

Philippians 4:13

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

I want to run and win a marathon.  I am 66 years old.  I have sciatica so standing or walking can be painful.  I know that marathons are run by healthy young people, but if I claim Philippians 4:13 I can win that marathon.  Yeah!  Right!

I could practice my heart out and have complete faith in that verse, but I would still not win any marathons.  Why is that?  Why is it we can not claim this verse and do great things in our lives?  A Christian could claim this verse to become President.  A person could claim this verse to win a game.  Someone could have complete faith in this verse and become the greatest person ever in his or her own field.  So why doesn't it work?  Doesn't God keep His promises?

"I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.  Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:12-13

Paul is not saying we can do all things.  He is talking about accomplishing his mission in all circumstances.  As an Apostle, Paul was spreading the gospel whether he was hungry or not; whether he had much or in need.  No matter the circumstances he was content because he knew that He could do anything when Christ was in it and fulfilled his needs.

This is not a genie verse.  Say Philippians 4:13 three times and POOF you can do anything.  But it is a promise that when God gives you a mission, no matter how difficult it is or how inept you might feel yourself to be, He will provide all your needs to accomplish that task. 

God will never call you to a ministry and then leave you alone to accomplish it.  He will strengthen you with all you need to follow His will.

Photo by Mārtiņš Zemlickis on Unsplash