tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82113819983584185492024-03-17T01:00:32.497-04:00TAGTruth According to GodTAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.comBlogger1222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-23212167391350478582024-03-17T01:00:00.004-04:002024-03-17T01:00:00.351-04:00Getting to know "The Force" 5<p><b> An attitude or disposition</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWmmx7YcNdtvKTIL13w4DVjvPKBvXjW-FIWJBWFndw_7BF-H_F67LUd7Ms1hAYlMwixFXnpz-eW0idksRMXMCaJcQ97qcqz7l4i-Ob24hhOWJaDGySppPpz4pOj2qqeHcJJCVTQrtPcsZ2RCeT-K0IZmzmeZVjIIcV9Oc_405erP2ADzUWnSaopgPNUI/s1280/disposition.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWmmx7YcNdtvKTIL13w4DVjvPKBvXjW-FIWJBWFndw_7BF-H_F67LUd7Ms1hAYlMwixFXnpz-eW0idksRMXMCaJcQ97qcqz7l4i-Ob24hhOWJaDGySppPpz4pOj2qqeHcJJCVTQrtPcsZ2RCeT-K0IZmzmeZVjIIcV9Oc_405erP2ADzUWnSaopgPNUI/w400-h225/disposition.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We are talking about the eight applications of the word “Spirit” as they are in the Bible. They are, <br /><br />1-The Divine Spirit: Referring to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, God himself.<br /><br />2-The human spirit: The immaterial part of a human being, distinct from the soul and body, responsible for our thoughts, emotions, and will.<br /><br />3-The breath of life: The animating force that gives life to all living creatures.<br /><br />4-The wind: Often used as a metaphor for God's presence or power.<br /><br />5-An attitude or disposition: Referring to a person or group's prevailing mental or emotional state.<br /><br />6-A supernatural being: Angels, demons, and other spiritual entities are sometimes called spirits.<br /><br />7-A gift or talent: Certain abilities or skills are attributed to the spirit in some contexts.<br /><br />8-The essence or meaning of something: A thing's core quality or nature.<br /><br />Today, we will be discussing the fifth.<br /><br />5-An attitude or disposition: Referring to a person or group's prevailing mental or emotional state.<br /><br />Just like “the Force” in this application, you have both sides. The Dark, and the Light side of “The Force” or the Spirit. The concept of "spirit" in the Bible transcends a mere mental or emotional state; it encompasses the very essence of an individual or group, influencing their thoughts, actions, and destiny.<br /><br />The Darkside or the negative states: How does a negative spirit, such as fear, anger, or jealousy, affect individuals and groups? Let's start with a few examples in The Word. <br /><br />Envy and Jealousy. Covetness. Cain slew Able because He was jealous of his brother’s gift being accepted. <br /><b><blockquote>“Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose against his brother Abel and killed him.” Genesis 4:8</blockquote></b>Joseph’s brothers? They were jealous of their father’s love for their brother. This led to a desire to kill him. Ruben talked them out of it so they decided to get rid of him another way. <br /><b><blockquote>“Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him” <br /><br />“Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.” Genesis 37:3-4, 28</blockquote></b>What about fear? Look at the story of Jonah.<br /><b><blockquote>“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me." But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.” Jonah 1:1-3</blockquote></b>This did not end well for Jonah. When the storm came, he admitted he was afraid and was running away from God and he even told them to throw him into the sea. <br /><b><blockquote>“So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows. And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:15-17</blockquote></b>Fear of death leads Peter to deny Jesus. The spirit of hatred led them to crucify Jesus Himself. Hatred leads us, now the children of God, to be persecuted and killed every day. In the flesh, we live in and are a part of, the dark side if you will. We are born into sin, and we have no power over it. But here is the good news. We do not have to remain as such. <br /><br />Positive states of the Spirit, or the light side of “the force,” is where you want to be. How does a positive spirit, such as joy, hope, or courage, manifest itself in individuals and groups? <br /><b><blockquote>“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13</blockquote></b>Paul exhorts children of God to be hopeful in all things. He also encourages us to focus on positive things.<br /><b><blockquote>“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:7-8</blockquote></b>Jesus Himself tells us we should have no fear whatsoever.<br /><br />Meeting our daily needs?<br /><b><blockquote>“<span style="color: red;">Therefore do not be anxious</span>, <span style="color: red;">saying</span>, '<span style="color: red;">What shall we eat</span>?'<span style="color: red;"> or </span>'<span style="color: red;">What shall we drink</span>?' <span style="color: red;">or</span> '<span style="color: red;">What shall we wear</span>?' <span style="color: red;">For the Gentiles seek after all these things</span>, <span style="color: red;">and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all</span>. <span style="color: red;">But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness</span>, <span style="color: red;">and all these things will be added to you</span>.” Matthew 6:31-33</blockquote></b>Fearing about tomorrow?<br /><b><blockquote>"<span style="color: red;">Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow</span>, <span style="color: red;">for tomorrow will be anxious for itself</span>. <span style="color: red;">Sufficient for the day is its own trouble</span>.” Matthew 6:34</blockquote></b>Fear of the world?<br /><b><blockquote>“<span style="color: red;">So have no fear of them</span>,<span style="color: red;"> for nothing is covered that will not be revealed</span>, <span style="color: red;">or hidden that will not be known</span>. <span style="color: red;">What I tell you in the dark</span>, <span style="color: red;">say in the light</span>, <span style="color: red;">and what you hear whispered</span>, <span style="color: red;">proclaim on the housetops</span>. <span style="color: red;">And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul</span>. <span style="color: red;">Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell</span>. <span style="color: red;">Are not two sparrows sold for a penny</span>? <span style="color: red;">And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father</span>. <span style="color: red;">But even the hairs on your head are all numbered</span>. <span style="color: red;">Fear not</span>, <span style="color: red;">therefore</span>; <span style="color: red;">you are of more value than many sparrows</span>.” Matthew 10:26-31</blockquote></b>Fear of death?<br /><b><blockquote>“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 </blockquote></b>Jesus said this.<br /><b><blockquote>“Jesus said to her, “<span style="color: red;">I am the resurrection and the life</span>. <span style="color: red;">Whoever believes in me</span>, <span style="color: red;">though he dies</span>, <span style="color: red;">yet shall he live</span>,” John 11:25</blockquote></b>Not only can you have no fear walking in the Spirit. You can and WILL be transformed. King David repented and his spirit was renewed in Psalm 51. Saul becomes Paul in Acts 9. The Word even tells us that we die to our flesh and we become a NEW creature. <br /><b><blockquote>“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17</blockquote></b>As a matter of fact, you cannot in any way, walk in the darkness, walk in the flesh, and enter the Kingdom of God.<br /><b><blockquote>“Jesus answered him, “<span style="color: red;">Truly</span>,<span style="color: red;"> truly</span>, <span style="color: red;">I say to you</span>, <span style="color: red;">unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God</span>.” John 3:3</blockquote></b>This is why Jesus would give us a new name. Saul to Paul, Simon to Peter, etc. He did this because they were truly a new person. Now filled with the light. Filled with the Life. Filled with the Holy Spirit. <br /><br />Human Spirit. This refers to the inner essence of a person, encompassing their emotions, desires, and will. Group Spirit is the collective mentality, morale, or motivation that drives a community. The Holy Spirit signifies the divine force indwelling believers, transforming them, and empowering them to live Christ-like lives.<br /><b><blockquote>“so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:14-16</blockquote></b>Paul is referring to a process of spiritual maturity that will keep us solidly grounded and on a steady course to the Kingdom of God. Two of the phrases Paul uses in this passage deserve expounding by commentator Albert Barnes:<br /><br /><b>"“So that we may no longer be children”</b> Children have other characteristics besides simplicity and docility. They are often changeable {Matt 11:16}; they are credulous, and are influenced easily by others, and led astray. In these respects, Paul exhorts the Ephesians to be no longer children but urges them to put on the characteristics of [adulthood]; and especially to put on the firmness in a religious opinion which became maturity of life. . . .<br /><br /><b>“And carried about with every wind of doctrine” </b>With no firmness; no settled course; no helm. The idea is that of a vessel on the restless ocean, that is tossed about with every varying wind, and that has no settled line of sailing.<br /><br />As we know, children have short attention spans; they change directions seemingly in an instant. They will begin to play with one toy only to be distracted by another a moment later. A parent will tell them to do something, and the intention to obey escapes them as soon as something else comes up.<br /><br />While Jesus tells us that, in our conversion, we are to "<span style="color: red;"><b>become as little children</b></span>" {Matthew 18:3}, He is not referring to this kind of simplicity, changeability, and distractibility. Putting these two admonitions together, Christians are to be mature in their convictions and faith, yet open and humble as little children. In this way, they are receptive to God's truth and the guidance of His Spirit, yet sure and uncompromising in their beliefs."<br /><br />We need to be children of God but mature in Christ. Walk in the Spirit. Live in the light. Be the child of God, that God calls us to be. <br /><br />Have you been adopted into the Family of God? Would you like to be? It is simple. Say this prayer. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.<br /><br /><b>"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"</b><br /><br />That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. <b>"That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9.</b> You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You <b>"have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10</b><br /><br />Email if you wish to contact me, it's <a href="mailto:truthbygod1@gmail.com"><b>truthbygod1@gmail.com</b></a><br /><br />May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.<br /><br />Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-49108771890564452332024-03-13T00:30:00.025-04:002024-03-13T00:30:00.222-04:00Book of Genesis, Chapter 45<p><b> Chapter 45</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzfB0M30cFS9K7tsOOq5f_8-vLwrzk0scDkyHYe8b-dfOW5TAb_sLhqyaCjMJWiN65YnvL0yhVuZ2QWRALkpN-TOtM7V9ZQMjr9RIz_Hb8wDo3J5vpkF7oAqOxJUOA3lVryZw08sc3LdlO5VMH5ldGcPCszQUJ_G52K_wm99C36bpy5RCY3bo0VOROps/s1280/Genesis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzfB0M30cFS9K7tsOOq5f_8-vLwrzk0scDkyHYe8b-dfOW5TAb_sLhqyaCjMJWiN65YnvL0yhVuZ2QWRALkpN-TOtM7V9ZQMjr9RIz_Hb8wDo3J5vpkF7oAqOxJUOA3lVryZw08sc3LdlO5VMH5ldGcPCszQUJ_G52K_wm99C36bpy5RCY3bo0VOROps/w400-h225/Genesis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Joseph Provides for His Brothers and Family</b></p><p><b>1 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.</b></p><p><b>4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that, his brothers talked with him.</b></p><p><b>16 When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, “Joseph's brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”</b></p><p><b>21 The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin, he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. 23 To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”</b></p><p><b>25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”</b></p>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-78630252952120130082024-03-10T01:00:00.096-05:002024-03-10T01:00:00.156-05:00Getting to Know "the Force", 4<p><b> The wind</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRLF4Mkqb_JsB6yQGl_2vpvySqv9rtHEWffHQLlsP8f-R2oYPKlgonsq5I_94eeqKEZkom0AGVazv48h6eAGtlX4twtRW7_XMOMPvy5G4koe7ECoW9IV5kP47W67ecdKm8Tax1uFmqshGDqLRYELtcwbEjRODdB14WO-jNRs_N5o-Cj31vr1pglk0tv4/s1300/wind.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRLF4Mkqb_JsB6yQGl_2vpvySqv9rtHEWffHQLlsP8f-R2oYPKlgonsq5I_94eeqKEZkom0AGVazv48h6eAGtlX4twtRW7_XMOMPvy5G4koe7ECoW9IV5kP47W67ecdKm8Tax1uFmqshGDqLRYELtcwbEjRODdB14WO-jNRs_N5o-Cj31vr1pglk0tv4/w400-h300/wind.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />We are talking about the eight applications of the word “Spirit” as they are in the Bible. They are, <br /><br />1-The Divine Spirit: Referring to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who is God himself.<br /><br />2-The human spirit: The immaterial part of a human being, distinct from the soul and body, responsible for our thoughts, emotions, and will.<br /><br />3-The breath of life: The animating force that gives life to all living creatures.<br /><br />4-The wind: Often used as a metaphor for God's presence or power.<br /><br />5-An attitude or disposition: Referring to a person or group's prevailing mental or emotional state.<br /><br />6-A supernatural being: Angels, demons, and other spiritual entities are sometimes called spirits.<br /><br />7-A gift or talent: Certain abilities or skills are attributed to the spirit in some contexts.<br /><br />8-The essence or meaning of something: A thing's core quality or nature.<br /><br /><div>Today, we will be discussing the fourth.<br /><br />The wind is a powerful symbol used throughout scripture to represent God's presence and power in various ways. <br /><br /><b>1- God's Creative Power</b><br /><b><blockquote>"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light." Genesis 1:2-3</blockquote></b>The gentle movement of the Spirit hovering over the waters can be seen as a metaphor for God's creative power, bringing forth order and light from chaos. If you think about it. This is what God, through His Word, and as His Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us, has and continues always to do. Bring forth order and light from chaos. The whole reason Jesus came. Now the whole reason we are here. <br /><b><blockquote>"<span style="color: red;">You are the light of the world</span>. <span style="color: red;">A city set on a hill cannot be hidden</span>. <span style="color: red;">Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket</span>,<span style="color: red;"> but on a stand</span>, <span style="color: red;">and it gives light to all in the house</span>. <span style="color: red;">In the same way</span>, <span style="color: red;">let your light shine before others</span>, <span style="color: red;">so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven</span>.” Matthew 5:14-16</blockquote></b><b><blockquote>"From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds. By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast." Job 37:9-10</blockquote></b>The wind's diverse nature, capable of both warmth and cold, reflects the vastness and multifaceted nature of God's creative power.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>2- Unseen Force and Transformation</b><br /><blockquote><b>“<span style="color: red;">The wind blows where it wishes</span>, <span style="color: red;">and you hear its sound</span>, <span style="color: red;">but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes</span>. <span style="color: red;">So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit</span>." John 3:8 </b></blockquote>The wind's unpredictable nature, its unseen presence yet tangible effects, mirrors the working of the Holy Spirit, guiding and transforming lives in unseen ways.<br /><b><blockquote>"And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.." Acts 2:2</blockquote></b>The powerful gust of wind on Pentecost symbolizes the descent of the Holy Spirit, bringing transformative power and unity to the disciples.<br /><br /><b>3- Judgment and Purification</b><br /><b><blockquote>"And Moses stretched out his staff over the sea. And the Lord caused a strong east wind to blow all that night, and drove the sea back by the wind to the morning, and made the sea dry land, and the depths of the sea were uncovered." Exodus 10:13</blockquote></b>The strong wind separating the waters in Exodus signifies God's power to judge and deliver His people. Look also here in Malachi<br /><b><blockquote>“But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD." Malachi 3:2-3</blockquote></b>The refining fire and cleansing soap are images often associated with the wind, symbolizing God's purifying judgment and bringing about renewed righteousness.<br /><br /><b>4- Guidance and Inspiration</b><br /><b><blockquote><blockquote>"He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;<br /><br />he makes the clouds his chariot;<br /><br /> he rides on the wings of the wind;<br /><br />he makes his messengers winds,<br /><br /> his ministers a flaming fire." Psalm 104:3-4</blockquote></blockquote></b>The wind can be seen as a messenger of God, carrying His guidance and inspiration. As the Holy Spirit comes rushing to those new believers and the faithful, we can not see it, but we see evidence that it is here. We receive eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive the things of God.<br /><b><blockquote>"And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper." 1 Kings 19:12</blockquote></b>After the powerful demonstrations of nature, God reveals Himself in the still, small voice, reminding us that He can speak through the gentlest of breezes as well.<br /><br />These are just a few examples. The Wind of God, or the “Spirit” can be and is a powerful source that no one can fully understand, control, or even stand against. Think Tornados. Think Hurricanes. If we have a hard time standing against these natural forces, how do you think we as a people, would be able to stand against God? No wonder the wind is an attribute of the Spirit of God. <br /><br />Next time we will be discussing number <b>5-An attitude or disposition.</b> Referring to a person or group's prevailing mental or emotional state. This is an example of how “the Force” can be used for good, or evil. Won’t you join us next time? <br /><br />Have you been adopted into the Family of God? Would you like to be? It is simple. Say this prayer. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.<br /><br /><b>"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"</b><br /><br />That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done.<b> "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9</b>. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You <b>"have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10<br /></b><br />Email if you wish to contact me, it's <a href="mailto:truthbygod1@gmail.com"><b>truthbygod1@gmail.com</b></a><br /><br />May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.<br /><br />Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!</div>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-53665734081142303032024-03-06T01:00:00.021-05:002024-03-06T01:00:00.140-05:00Book of Genesis, Chapter 44<p><b> Chapter 44</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgtUNPyX-juGWCBELj1lQ0fN28ZHZUwQpZ50Hf3qtTbp7eDwEFCzopKj8SgZ5VWFTqLITd03cw569QHUOp2ujwPCRK5rtcL2RkyMXbi6NTMkEVfKVgHrz9jZrYFhESa5pdWN4_Es43AJpVT6FQ1Cg0rDYlhOzxpf1OEPzDkFObk4hcW0Vvi-x8HmwLG0/s1280/Genesis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgtUNPyX-juGWCBELj1lQ0fN28ZHZUwQpZ50Hf3qtTbp7eDwEFCzopKj8SgZ5VWFTqLITd03cw569QHUOp2ujwPCRK5rtcL2RkyMXbi6NTMkEVfKVgHrz9jZrYFhESa5pdWN4_Es43AJpVT6FQ1Cg0rDYlhOzxpf1OEPzDkFObk4hcW0Vvi-x8HmwLG0/w400-h225/Genesis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Joseph Tests His Brothers</b></p><p><b>1 Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack, 2 and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him.</b></p><p><b>3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. 4 They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’”</b></p><p><b>6 When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. 7 They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! 8 Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord's house? 9 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord's servants.” 10 He said, “Let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent.” 11 Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.</b></p><p><b>14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. 15 Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” 16 And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord's servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.”</b></p><p><b>18 Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ 20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him.’ 21 Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ 22 We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ 23 Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall not see my face again.’</b></p><p><b>24 “When we went back to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ 26 we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down. For we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. 28 One left me, and I said, “Surely he has been torn to pieces,” and I have never seen him since. 29 If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.’</b></p><p><b>30 “Now therefore, as soon as I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy's life, 31 as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol. 32 For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ 33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. 34 For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”</b></p>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-83518949144297339962024-03-03T01:00:00.072-05:002024-03-03T01:00:00.272-05:00Getting to know "The Force" 3<p><b> The breath of life</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DkQMWt86Q1HVqXjTjgNPXUbLxwrrh8iFPB8WUs9WS_v5b-E9Kqujqi3ackBWuPrZ94U3T0FbvM_4kfxVcwkv-u_dnV_ZjBFd0nAZ20tXvJRHcdBqZZ0xZ69L4L1ZyX4UIPZGQ6u7K6KGMZil-ZdfttXjwtfOE3H6dLFTPgP6B-UDkR-fbeTtITH2x9M/s1280/Breath%20of%20Life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DkQMWt86Q1HVqXjTjgNPXUbLxwrrh8iFPB8WUs9WS_v5b-E9Kqujqi3ackBWuPrZ94U3T0FbvM_4kfxVcwkv-u_dnV_ZjBFd0nAZ20tXvJRHcdBqZZ0xZ69L4L1ZyX4UIPZGQ6u7K6KGMZil-ZdfttXjwtfOE3H6dLFTPgP6B-UDkR-fbeTtITH2x9M/w400-h225/Breath%20of%20Life.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />We are talking about the eight applications of the word “Spirit” as they are in the Bible. They are, <br /><br /><br />1-The Divine Spirit: Referring to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who is God himself.<br /><br />2-The human spirit: The immaterial part of a human being, distinct from the soul and body, responsible for our thoughts, emotions, and will.<br /><br />3-The breath of life: The animating force that gives life to all living creatures.<br /><br />4-The wind: Often used as a metaphor for God's presence or power.<br /><br />5-An attitude or disposition: Referring to a person or group's prevailing mental or emotional state.<br /><br />6-A supernatural being: Angels, demons, and other spiritual entities are sometimes called spirits.<br /><br />7-A gift or talent: Certain abilities or skills are attributed to the spirit in some contexts.<br /><br />8-The essence or meaning of something: A thing's core quality or nature.<br /><br />Today, we will be discussing the third. <br /><br />3 The Breath of Life.<br /><br />The concept of the "breath of Life" appears in various forms throughout the Bible, carrying with it a profound meaning about God's creative power, our inherent connection to him, and the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Let's look through The Word to explore this application of the “Spirit” <br /><br /><b>1. Creation and the Divine Spark:<br /><blockquote>"Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:7</blockquote></b>This well-known verse in Genesis presents the creation of humanity as a distinct act from the creation of other living things. God forms Adam from the dust, but it is only when he breathes his breath into him that Adam becomes a "living being." This suggests that the "breath of life" is something more than just physical air; it is a divine spark, a portion of God's life-giving essence infused into humanity.<br /><br /><b>2. Renewal and restoration:<br /><blockquote><blockquote>"When you hide your face, they are dismayed;<br /><br /> when you take away their breath, they die<br /><br /> and return to their dust.<br /><br />When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,<br /><br /> and you renew the face of the ground.<br /><br />May the glory of the Lord endure forever;<br /><br /> may the Lord rejoice in his works," Psalm 104:29-31</blockquote></blockquote></b>Then in Ezekiel, we read how the “Valley of Dead Bones” became a great army. <br /><b><blockquote>"Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live." So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army." Ezekiel 37:9-10</blockquote></b>These passages portray the "breath of God" as an agent of renewal and restoration. In Psalm 104, the Spirit's breath is seen as the force behind ongoing creation and the constant rejuvenation of the earth. In Ezekiel 37, the prophet is called upon to prophesy to the breath and breathe life back into a valley of dry bones, symbolizing God's power to restore even the seemingly dead and hopeless.<br /><br /><div><b>3. The Holy Spirit and New Life:</b><br /><b><blockquote>"Jesus said to them again, "<span style="color: red;">Peace be with you</span>. <span style="color: red;">As the Father has sent me</span>, <span style="color: red;">even so</span>, <span style="color: red;">I am sending you</span>." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "<span style="color: red;">Receive the Holy Spirit</span>.'" John 20:21-22</blockquote></b>We read this in Acts.</div><div><b><blockquote>“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:1-4</blockquote></b>In the New Testament, the "breath of life" becomes explicitly identified with the Holy Spirit. Jesus breathes on his disciples after his resurrection, granting them the Holy Spirit and empowering them for their mission. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends upon the believers in the form of tongues of fire, filling them with new life and the ability to speak in other languages.<br /><br /><b>4. Our Continued Dependence on God:</b><br /><b><blockquote>"In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:10</blockquote></b>Then you have one of my favorite oversees of all time.<br /><b><blockquote>"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!" Psalm 150:6</blockquote></b>The Bible also reminds us that our continued existence depends on God's breath. Every moment, we rely on God to sustain us with the gift of life. This awareness fosters a sense of gratitude and humility, recognizing our complete dependence on our Creator. Every hair on our head is numbered. We are created exactly the way God wished us to be, and every breath we take is granted and is a gift from God Himself. <br />As you reflect on the theme of the "breath of Life" in your personal Bible study, consider these questions:<br /><br />How does understanding the "breath of life" as a divine spark affect your view of human dignity and worth?<br /><br />How can you cultivate a dependence on God for your daily life and breath?<br /><br />How can you participate in God's work of renewal and restoration in the world around you?<br /><br />We all have a plan and purpose for our lives orchestrated by God Himself. A reason we even exist. Happy are those that find it. Ask God to show you what He wants you to do. However, as The Word declares. <br /><b><blockquote>“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. ” Colossians 3:23-24</blockquote></b>Are you His child? Have you accepted His call? If you have not already done so, you need to ask Jesus into your life, then say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.<br /><br /><b>"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"</b><br /><br />That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. <b>"That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9</b>. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You <b>"have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10</b><br /><br />The email, if you wish to contact me, is <a href="mailto:truthbygod1@gmail.com"><b>truthbygod1@gmail.com</b></a><br /><br />May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.<br /><br /></div><div>Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!<br /></div>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-76243285288282943682024-02-28T01:00:00.022-05:002024-02-28T01:00:00.252-05:00Book of Genesis, Chapter 43<p><b> Chapter 43</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-jXANeuY2NYEv7t-xmgyWiDRC39uAPJDK9cp8HdgKQ5si8k311zZKnZCDUcl1dEWwuuYK1gog_WxEmYu34slg5dTu4lfMbSbkoG4OeHimBvmIqwdmOBHSpeNEiV_iqItsB3uk_FOVkuwCNkTMCSnDostqMDw-gTHQCPvKVGYy9pEjId16OBQDycYs9Q/s1280/Genesis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-jXANeuY2NYEv7t-xmgyWiDRC39uAPJDK9cp8HdgKQ5si8k311zZKnZCDUcl1dEWwuuYK1gog_WxEmYu34slg5dTu4lfMbSbkoG4OeHimBvmIqwdmOBHSpeNEiV_iqItsB3uk_FOVkuwCNkTMCSnDostqMDw-gTHQCPvKVGYy9pEjId16OBQDycYs9Q/w400-h225/Genesis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Joseph's Brothers Return to Egypt</b></p><p><b>1 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” 6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” 7 They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”</b></p><p><b>11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”</b></p><p><b>15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.</b></p><p><b>16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph's house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.” 19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. 21 And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man's money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, 22 and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph's house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkey's fodder, 25 they prepared the present for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.</b></p><p><b>26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. 27 And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. 29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” 30 Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.” 32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement. 34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.</b></p>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-14168723265911572022024-02-25T01:00:00.109-05:002024-02-25T01:00:00.147-05:00Getting To Know "The Force" 2<p><b> The Human Spirit </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-Hd7QVhzMzzWr5kbQA4sIYigX8PeuizEsnWNAudMHy_kcgSzA03tH0JvcXUMpdrHnAoRp9VUOcbR7UoQIgPT6a5irtOHecS0AEPRsvnyMSRkGuy7u6vq9m5-BYNufx43iIz1NVD6Je_L9BHJr8bU7IjeyyDZj-1AH2-DR7tqfadwozcXq0h5WHddw-w/s900/Human%20spirit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="900" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-Hd7QVhzMzzWr5kbQA4sIYigX8PeuizEsnWNAudMHy_kcgSzA03tH0JvcXUMpdrHnAoRp9VUOcbR7UoQIgPT6a5irtOHecS0AEPRsvnyMSRkGuy7u6vq9m5-BYNufx43iIz1NVD6Je_L9BHJr8bU7IjeyyDZj-1AH2-DR7tqfadwozcXq0h5WHddw-w/w400-h155/Human%20spirit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Today we will continue our series entitled “Getting to Know the Force.” Sounds like something right out of Start Wars. I know. I can hear Luke asking Obi-Wan Kenobi “You mean it controls your actions?” And Obi-Wan answered “Partially, but it also obeys your commands.” Of course, what we are talking about is the word “Spirit.” The Hebrew word Ruach is translated as "Spirit". The Greek word Pneuma is also translated as "Spirit". The English word "Spirit" all mean the same thing. The same general implication underlies all their applications: that of an often powerful, invisible, immaterial, motivating force. This unseen force inspires or encourages people to do something, good or bad. Its quality needs to be more relevant at this point.<br /><br />We are talking about the eight applications of the word “Spirit” as they are in the Bible. They are, <br /><br />1-The Divine Spirit: Referring to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who is God himself.<br /><br />2-The human spirit: The immaterial part of a human being, distinct from the soul and body, responsible for our thoughts, emotions, and will.<br /><br />3-The breath of life: The animating force that gives life to all living creatures.<br /><br />4-The wind: Often used as a metaphor for God's presence or power.<br /><br />5-An attitude or disposition: Referring to the prevailing mental or emotional state of a person or group.<br /><br />6-A supernatural being: Angels, demons, and other spiritual entities are sometimes called spirits.<br /><br />7-A gift or talent: Certain abilities or skills are attributed to the spirit in some contexts.<br /><br />8-The essence or meaning of something: A thing's core quality or nature.<br /><br />Last time we were introduced to the Holy Spirit. We talked about who He is and His impotence. Today, we will be talking about number two. The human spirit. <br /><br />The living human spirit. It's a concept that has captivated philosophers and artists for millennia, and for good reason. It's what makes us human, what sets us apart from the rest of the natural world. It's our capacity for love, hope, creativity, and resilience.<br /><br />But what exactly is the living human spirit? It's a difficult question to answer, as it can only be easily defined and measured. But I can offer you a few different perspectives:<br /><br /><b>The spiritual perspective</b>. Many people believe that the human spirit is something that transcends the physical world. It's our connection to something greater than ourselves, God. This perspective can offer comfort and meaning in the face of life's challenges.<br /><br />Look here in the Word. <br /><b><blockquote>"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”</blockquote><blockquote>So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:26-27</blockquote></b>In the original language, the word "our" means three or more. We are created in the image of God. We have our brains. or mind. Our knowledge wisdom, will, and emotions, are fashioned after God the Father. Our body. Fashioned after the flesh of God, or the Word of God in the flesh, Jesus. Our spirit. Who we are, the thing that lives on, fashioned after the Holy Spirit. We are three, yet one. This is why, when we leave this earth, a person's being, or spirit leaves their body and goes to heaven.<br /><br /><b>The psychological perspective.</b> Psychologists often talk about the human spirit in terms of our sense of self, our values, and our motivations. It's what drives us to get out of bed in the morning, to pursue our goals, and to connect with others. A strong spirit is often associated with resilience, optimism, and a sense of purpose.<br /><br /><b>The creative perspective.</b> The human spirit is also what gives rise to our creativity. We can imagine, to innovate, and to express ourselves in unique and beautiful ways. Art, music, literature, and all forms of creative expression are testaments to the power of the human spirit. <br /><br />When you are saved, as Jesus said, “<b><span style="color: red;">born again</span></b>.” You are born of the Spirit. Jesus said this. <br /><b></b><blockquote><b>“Jesus answered him, "<span style="color: red;">Truly</span>,<span style="color: red;"> truly</span>, <span style="color: red;">I say to you</span>, <span style="color: red;">unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God</span>." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" <br /><br /></b><div><b>Jesus answered, "<span style="color: red;">Truly</span>, <span style="color: red;">truly</span>, <span style="color: red;">I say to you</span>, <span style="color: red;">unless one is born of water and the Spirit</span>,<span style="color: red;"> he cannot enter the kingdom of God</span>. <span style="color: red;">That which is born of the flesh is flesh</span>, <span style="color: red;">and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit</span>.” John 3:3-6</b></div></blockquote><div>What does that mean? Jesus is saying you must be born of water, or a natural birth into this world. However, because of the fall, we must now be born of the spirit as well, or accept God's gift of salvation through what Jesus did for us on the cross. As He rose from the dead, our flesh is put to death and we rise from the dead as new creatures. <br /><b><blockquote>“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 </blockquote></b>We talked about the Holy Spirit and how He, Jesus, God, comes and lives in us at the time of salvation. We now have a higher, more important purpose for our lives. His purpose. His Will. His ways. <br /><br />But make no mistake about it. You ARE your human spirit You ARE an eternal being. You were made that way. <br /><b><blockquote>“Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” Genesis 2:7</blockquote></b>However, without the Holy Spirit, we cannot even know God. <br /><b><blockquote>“But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.” Job 32:8</blockquote></b>We have to be reconciled with God through the spirit because the flesh belongs to the world. Due to the fall, we are born into and of the world. The only way to overcome that is through the connection, or the joining together with the Holy Spirit. <br /><b><blockquote>“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14<br /><br />“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” Romans 8:9</blockquote></b>We are now children of God and need to have faith in Him and allow Him to work in our lives. We have no idea what tomorrow may bring. But He does. We can plan all we want but He knows the truth of what lies ahead and He has a plan for us. <br /><br />Remember, the living human spirit is a powerful force. It's what allows us to overcome challenges, achieve our dreams, and make the world a better place. As long as we connect with something Higher than ourselves. God. Without Him, our powerful living human spirit is also quite capable of evil. Remember what God saw following the flood? <br /><b><blockquote>“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5</blockquote></b>In <b>Jeremiah 17:9-10</b> we read this.<br /><b><blockquote><blockquote>“The heart is more deceitful than all else<br /><br />And is desperately sick;<br /><br />Who can understand it?<br /><br />“I, the Lord, search the heart,<br /><br />I test the mind,<br /><br />Even to give to each man according to his ways,<br /><br />According to the results of his deeds.” </blockquote></blockquote></b>Left alone to our own devices, we are evil and wretched. We are capable of doing evil and wretched things. It is only with the joining of the Holy Spirit that we become the light of the world. Child of God, let your spirit shine bright, and never give up on the power of hope, love, and kindness. Faith in Jesus, and trust in God. Used that power of the living human spirit for good, and not for evil. Blessings and not curses. Be the child of God, God is calling you to be. <br /><br />Of course, if you are not a child of God, then you have no other choice than to remain sinful and evil. If you still need to do so, PLEASE and I am begging you PLEASE reconsider today. Now is the time. Today is the day, that you can become a new creature. A light in this world. A true child of God. Say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.<br /><br /><b>"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"</b><br /><br />That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done.<b> "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9</b>. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You <b>"have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10</b><br /><br />The email, if you wish to contact me, is <a href="mailto:truthbygod1@gmail.com"><b>truthbygod1@gmail.com</b></a><br /><br />May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.<br /><br />Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!</div>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-13342964610596434402024-02-21T01:00:00.026-05:002024-02-21T01:00:00.279-05:00Book of Genesis, Chapter 42<p> <b>Chapter 42</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PCnbVhnS0nzIqgcUlbQ-vmQSXLBF1gRW5PnJIU4K_QlL0Ax7qKRmOC2jiWHPMpA_zsuqkLFyFfK13QtGZ6R92Aym238xrzN6dUlEDX3DyzjWC5nQVBtrrWNGuTwEd4dTaHBuhuQjLw_8ZAXAvLo5c7lhyphenhyphenbLzUCwPUkyfcp_pTiVDN_EaeSitFKIXrZg/s1280/Genesis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PCnbVhnS0nzIqgcUlbQ-vmQSXLBF1gRW5PnJIU4K_QlL0Ax7qKRmOC2jiWHPMpA_zsuqkLFyFfK13QtGZ6R92Aym238xrzN6dUlEDX3DyzjWC5nQVBtrrWNGuTwEd4dTaHBuhuQjLw_8ZAXAvLo5c7lhyphenhyphenbLzUCwPUkyfcp_pTiVDN_EaeSitFKIXrZg/w400-h225/Genesis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Joseph's Brothers Go to Egypt</b></p><p><b>1 When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 2 And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” 3 So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him. 5 Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.</b></p><p><b>6 Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. 7 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” 8 And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” 10 They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.”</b></p><p><b>12 He said to them, “No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see.” 13 And they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.” 14 But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you. You are spies. 15 By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” 17 And he put them all together in custody for three days.</b></p><p><b>18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 19 if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, 20 and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. 21 Then they said to one another, “In truth, we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” 22 And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” 23 They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. 24 Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. 25 And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man's money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.</b></p><p><b>26 Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this, their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”</b></p><p><b>29 When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, 30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we have never been spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.’ 33 Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this, I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’”</b></p><p><b>35 As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” 37 Then Reuben said to his father, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” 38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”</b></p>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-64360825687128886102024-02-18T01:00:00.175-05:002024-02-18T01:00:00.140-05:00Getting to Know "The Force"<b>The Force, in this case, could be translated into “The Spirit”</b><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChVnfdnRjFKRCbq_c17ILAc-V4OMBW4-b76zFN2da7nANBJ727J6A1kwjOmUFk2hHaf0kwBIpIdwBarERPm3DiPFQaFKD-uRMdE1ZmWdVxpk8GeFg6eqPzdiIPy4shMCTtQq90xHJKXFonDYEwTbIlLwOR7_Fzqhha0pRNeZMls3xtCxDhK8tvmE30z4/s1080/The%20Force.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChVnfdnRjFKRCbq_c17ILAc-V4OMBW4-b76zFN2da7nANBJ727J6A1kwjOmUFk2hHaf0kwBIpIdwBarERPm3DiPFQaFKD-uRMdE1ZmWdVxpk8GeFg6eqPzdiIPy4shMCTtQq90xHJKXFonDYEwTbIlLwOR7_Fzqhha0pRNeZMls3xtCxDhK8tvmE30z4/w400-h400/The%20Force.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sounds like something right out of Start Wars. I know. But in a way, it is true. The Hebrew word Ruach is translated as "Spirit". The Greek word Pneuma is also translated as "Spirit". The English word "Spirit" all mean the same thing. The same general implication underlies all their applications: that of an often powerful, invisible, immaterial, motivating force. This unseen force inspires or encourages people to do something, good or bad. Its quality needs to be more relevant at this point. <br /><br />We see things like this. <br /><b><blockquote>“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do ” Galatians 5-16-17”</blockquote></b>We read things like this.<br /><b><blockquote>“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1</blockquote></b>What does it mean? Spirit? The Bible will use the Hebrew or Greek word for "Spirit" for such invisible, motivating forces as "feelings" and "attitudes" and even "talents." E.W. Bullinger says in his Companion Bible that the Bible gives the word "spirit" eight applications.<br /><br />It's important to note that these applications are not always clear-cut, and the meaning of "Spirit" in a particular passage can depend on the surrounding context. However, understanding these eight categories can help us to more accurately interpret the many uses of the word "Spirit" throughout the Bible.<br /><br />1-<b>The Divine Spirit</b>: Referring to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, God himself.<br /><br />2-<b>The human spirit</b>: The immaterial part of a human being, distinct from the soul and body, responsible for our thoughts, emotions, and will.<br /><br />3-<b>The breath of life</b>: The animating force that gives life to all living creatures.<br /><br />4-<b>The wind</b>: Often used as a metaphor for God's presence or power.<br /><br />5-<b>An attitude or disposition</b>: Referring to a person or group's prevailing mental or emotional state.<br /><br />6-<b>A supernatural being</b>: Angels, demons, and other spiritual entities are sometimes called spirits.<br /><br />7-<b>A gift or talent</b>: Certain abilities or skills are attributed to the spirit in some contexts.<br /><br />8-<b>The essence or meaning of something</b>: A thing's core quality or nature.<br /><br />Today, we are going to introduce you to THE Spirit. The Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us that if you accept Him and His sacrifice for you. His blood for your blood. His suffering for your suffering. His death, that you may live. Then the Holy Spirit comes and adopts you into the family of God. Jesus said.<br /><b><blockquote>“<span style="color: red;">If you love me</span>, <span style="color: red;">you will keep my commandments</span>. <span style="color: red;">And I will ask the Father</span>, <span style="color: red;">and he will give you another Helper</span>, <span style="color: red;">to be with you forever</span>, <span style="color: red;">even the Spirit of truth</span>, <span style="color: red;">whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him</span>. <span style="color: red;">You know him</span>,<span style="color: red;"> for he dwells with you and will be in you.</span>" John 14: 15-17</blockquote></b>He said we should not mourn Him not being with us, or long for Him to be with us, because He will ALWAYS be with us. In the very next verse, Jesus said this.<br /><b><blockquote>“<span style="color: red;">I will not leave you as orphans</span>; <span style="color: red;">I will come to you</span>. <span style="color: red;">Yet a little while and the world will see me no more</span>,<span style="color: red;"> but you will see me</span>. <span style="color: red;">Because I live</span>, <span style="color: red;">you also will live</span>. <span style="color: red;">On that day you will know that I am in my Father</span>, <span style="color: red;">and you in me</span>, <span style="color: red;">and I in you</span>. <span style="color: red;">Whoever has my commandments and keeps them</span>, <span style="color: red;">he it is who loves me</span>. <span style="color: red;">And he who loves me will be loved by my Father</span>, <span style="color: red;">and I will love him and manifest myself to him</span>.” John 14:18-21</blockquote></b>You need to understand what Jesus is saying here. Read on some more starting at verse 25<br /><b><blockquote>“<span style="color: red;">These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you</span>. <span style="color: red;">But the Helper</span>, <span style="color: red;">the Holy Spirit</span>, <span style="color: red;">whom the Father will send in my name</span>,<span style="color: red;"> he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you</span>."</blockquote></b>Who will teach us the things of God, and bring to our remembrance the Words Jesus has taught us? The Holy Spirit. However, to fully understand the reality, you must fully understand who the Holy Spirit is.<br /><b><blockquote>'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1</blockquote></b>In the beginning God. God was in the beginning.<div><br />Next verse.<br /><b><blockquote>"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."</blockquote></b>When there was yet nothing, The Holy Spirit was there. Do you see that? But wait, Where does it say Jesus was there?<br /><b><blockquote>"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1: 1</blockquote></b>A little bit later.<br /><b><blockquote>"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14</blockquote></b>God, The Word, {Which became flesh, Jesus} and the Spirit were there in the beginning and have always been. Then to fully understand who the Holy Spirit is, we need to return to John 14.<br /><b><blockquote>"<span style="color: red;">I will not leave you comfortless</span>: <span style="color: red;">I will come to you</span>."</blockquote></b>He said "<b><span style="color: red;">I</span></b>" shall come to you. Is he already there? Of course. What He is telling them, is that the Holy Spirit is Him, He is God. Three yet one. That when the flesh dies, and He goes to be with the Father, the Spirit, who never dies, will come and dwell in us.<br /><b><blockquote>"<span style="color: red;">Yet a little while and the world will see me no more</span>, <span style="color: red;">but you will see me</span>. <span style="color: red;">Because I live</span>, <span style="color: red;">y</span><span style="color: red;">ou also will live</span>. <span style="color: red;">In that day you will know that I am in my Father</span>,<span style="color: red;"> and you in me</span>, <span style="color: red;">and I in you</span>."</blockquote></b>Again, "<b><span style="color: red;">I</span></b>" in you. Not some spook. "<b><span style="color: red;">I</span></b>." Jesus. The Holy Spirit is equal to Jesus. He IS Jesus. Jesus IS God. Are you following?<br /><b><blockquote>"<span style="color: red;">Whoever has my commandments and keeps them</span>, <span style="color: red;">he it is who loves me</span>. <span style="color: red;">And he who loves me will be loved by my Father</span>, <span style="color: red;">and I will love him and manifest myself to him</span>.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “<span style="color: red;">If anyone loves me</span>, <span style="color: red;">he will keep my word</span>,<span style="color: red;"> and my Father will love him</span>, <span style="color: red;">and we will come to him and make our home with him</span>."</blockquote></b>Read that again. <b>"<span style="color: red;">If anyone loves me</span>, <span style="color: red;">he will keep my word</span>,<span style="color: red;"> and my Father will love him</span>, <span style="color: red;">and <u>WE</u> will come to him and make<u> OUR </u>home with him</span>."</b> What is He saying? Remember, <b>OUR</b> means three or more. Jesus said <b><span style="color: red;">WE</span></b> will make <b><span style="color: red;">OUR</span></b> abode with him. The very real person Jesus, the very real person the Holy Spirit, and even God Himself will live <b><span style="color: red;">IN</span></b> us.<br /><br />Now perhaps you can fully appreciate this passage.<br /><b><blockquote>"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."1 John 4: 4</blockquote></b>Once you say the prayer of salvation, once you ask God to set you free from the laws of sin and death, the old you, the flesh dies. You are dead. You are then transformed into a new creature where the real you, the Spirit you, is the one who is now in total control. Second, The Holy Spirit comes down from heaven and dwells in you, with you. You now have the power of faith. You are now going to live on long after the body dies. Who is the Holy Spirit? Think about that. The Creator of all that is was or ever will be is now living in you. This is why you can hear and see. This is why you can receive the things of God when the rest of the world cannot. They do not have the greatest gift. They do not have the Holy Spirit.<br /><br />We all have that little voice in our heads. Most of us anyway. We know right from wrong. We know what we should or should not do. Some call it a conscience. As a child of God, you can call it the Holy Spirit. You could, and you would be accurate, call it God Himself.<br /><br />What about the ones that hear negative or hurtful or even outright evil voices in their head? More on that coming up in this series. If you truly have the Holy Spirit, you do not have those other voices. If you do, you need to examine the validity of your salvation. <br /><br />God will never leave you nor forsake you. He is with you always. Unless YOU choose to walk away. Unless YOU choose not to listen. Unless YOU choose to put the cares of this world over His Will. His plan and purpose for your life. He is with you always. Be with Him always. Trust in Him to know better than you. Learn to listen to that voice. Understand what that voice is. Who that voice is. He is there for you.<br /><br />Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.<br /><br /><b>"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"</b><br /><br />That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. <b>"That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9</b>. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "<b>have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10</b><br /><br />The email, if you wish to contact me, is <a href="mailto:truthbygod1@gmail.com"><b>truthbygod1@gmail.com<br /></b></a><br />May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.<br /><br />Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!</div>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-70610734220993043052024-02-14T01:00:00.042-05:002024-02-14T01:00:00.141-05:00Book of Genesis Chapter 41<p><b> Chapter 41</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyBSm7JapGP5JLyQbVZ7mZwDvHjbOZ5zjhbBZvk2DDmQ_2yVIIxsx0q_HgDZIkQG1m1pL92m_io9fsDf6SnMuHzsiaayuDBzBMrQxgZXNXr2B6vnbxW7PVZIY_2i2BaEEJUCmQlQGvt5zFPK5vYMhwuKNNOl8oJdeEwYtYy1xpq5Dkdt1o2DNuvdcemU/s1280/Genesis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyBSm7JapGP5JLyQbVZ7mZwDvHjbOZ5zjhbBZvk2DDmQ_2yVIIxsx0q_HgDZIkQG1m1pL92m_io9fsDf6SnMuHzsiaayuDBzBMrQxgZXNXr2B6vnbxW7PVZIY_2i2BaEEJUCmQlQGvt5zFPK5vYMhwuKNNOl8oJdeEwYtYy1xpq5Dkdt1o2DNuvdcemU/w400-h225/Genesis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b>Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams</b></p><p><b>1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. 3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.</b></p><p><b>9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, 11 we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”</b></p><p><b>14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. 18 Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. 19 Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, 21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. 22 I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. 23 Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”</b></p><p><b>25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years old, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. 33 Now, therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”</b></p><p><b>Joseph Rises to Power</b></p><p><b>37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent, no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.</b></p><p><b>46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.</b></p><p><b>50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”</b></p><p><b>53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was a famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt, there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”</b></p><p><b>56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold them to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.</b></p>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-88979220027996066282024-02-11T01:00:00.004-05:002024-02-11T01:00:00.216-05:00The Ten Commandments 2024, The Law of God, 9,10<p><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor</span></b></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5817527083159453688" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6543113141277094024" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3653933333547409551" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8894183441543777569" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Thou shalt not covet </b><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3s-SWEVqYQ6Ds0D8AvIpnQuwmh1fTnEg_SlkedAbbkRl6an0aR_2_XpkC7Om3-fLnebtIafkC0R7nmLAuM94RfTgYle7vnj0NlrmHmubRfql6Ui1P8I4XumofzG0GRvNpbTrxeFg5UbQ/s1600/Ten+Commmandments+Revisited.jpg" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3s-SWEVqYQ6Ds0D8AvIpnQuwmh1fTnEg_SlkedAbbkRl6an0aR_2_XpkC7Om3-fLnebtIafkC0R7nmLAuM94RfTgYle7vnj0NlrmHmubRfql6Ui1P8I4XumofzG0GRvNpbTrxeFg5UbQ/s320/Ten+Commmandments+Revisited.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Welcome back. Today we will wrap up our in-depth study of the Ten Commandments. These are the all-but-forgotten Laws of God. They are not something little Johnny and Suzy should learn how to say in order in Sunday School. They are not a nice Biblical story. When someone asks you, what are the Ten Commandments, you should not say something like, "Have no other God but God, Uh, don't kill, uh, don't cheat on your Wife. Yeah, that's a bad one. Uh, oh yeah, don't steal." You need to KNOW what these are. As a child of God, these are given to you, not to make your life more difficult, but easier, and to keep you from the snares of the Devil.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Today we will be talking about </span><b>Commandments 9, and 10</b><br /><br /><b>Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.</b><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Then we will wrap it up, the same way Jesus did at the end. Let's get to it.</span><br /><br /><b>"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Exodus 20:16</b><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Now first, as we talked about before, with </span><b>Commandment 6</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">, if you bear false witness against someone, not only can you hurt them, but you can also cause them to be put to death. Look at what they did to Jesus.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Let's look at </span><b>Deuteronomy 19</b><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you."</b> D<b>euteronomy 19:15-20</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">We can see all throughout the Word, of those falsely accusing innocent people. Adam accused Eve. Satan accused Job. The Jews accused Jesus. ETC. But false accusations are not the only way you can bear false witness.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Let's say you overhear someone talking about someone. They say this or that. Now, without knowing if it's true or not, repeat what you heard about that person. It's not true. Yet, now that person is hurt or has to deal with the consequences of the lie you took part in.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">"Did you hear Sally is sleeping with the Boss?" What you don't know is, Sally isn't. You see, the Boss has a medical issue, and Sally has a relative with the same issue, and is very educated in ways to help. They became friends and Sally helps the "Boss" from time to time with his condition. There is nothing wrong or seedy about their relationship.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Now the rumor gets to the "corporate office" and both are fired. Or now the rumor gets back to Sally's husband or the "Boss's" wife, and it wrecks their families and their lives.</span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8894183441543777569" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8894183441543777569" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Never gossip. Even if Sally is sleeping with the "Boss," it's none of your concern. Deal with each other with love. Would you want others walking around talking about you? Treat others as you would like to be treated.</span><br /><br /><b>Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span><b>Exodus 20:17</b><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">So why is this important? Isn't "keeping up with the Jones" normal? Maybe. But why does God want you to avoid this? Because of what it can lead to.</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b><b>Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And after this Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.” But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.</b><b></b></span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?” And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” And Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”</span></b></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. And she wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, they proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.”</span></b></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.</span></b></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood.”’”</b> <b>1 Kings 21:1-20</b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">So Ahab coveted Naboth's field, which led to bearing false witness, which led to the murder of Naboth.<br /><br />In <b> 2 Samuel</b> ...<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was doing and how the people were doing and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?” Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.” And as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant men. And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite also died. Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting. And he instructed the messenger, “When you have finished telling all the news about the fighting to the king, then, if the king's anger rises, and if he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>So the messenger went and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to tell. The messenger said to David, “The men gained an advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate. Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.” David said to the messenger, “Thus shall you say to Joab, ‘Do not let this matter displease you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.’ And encourage him.”</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord." </b><b>2 Samuel 11:1-27</b></span></blockquote></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">So David coveted Bathsheba, which led to Uriah being killed for the sin of David. It also cost David the life of his son. You see when you start coveting something, it then leads to other sins. This is why God told us<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:18</span></b></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus put it to us this way.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?<br /><br />Jesus said unto him,<span style="color: red;"> Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart</span>, <span style="color: red;">and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind</span>. <span style="color: red;">This is the first and great commandment</span>. <span style="color: red;">And the second is like unto it</span>, <span style="color: red;">Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself</span>. <span style="color: red;">On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets</span>." </b><b>Matthew 22:35-40</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Romans...<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”</span></b></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:8-10</span></b></blockquote></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can almost hear some of you saying it now. You mean to tell me, that we could have summed all this up, this now five-part series and all the pages were written, explaining the Ten Commandments, we could have summed it up this way?<br /><br /><b>"Have no other Gods but God."</b><br /><br /><b>"Love Thy Neighbor as yourself."</b><br /><br />Yup. Then Jesus gave us a new Commandment. A clarification if you will.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> "<span style="color: red;">A new commandment I give unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">That ye love one another</span>; <span style="color: red;">as I have loved you</span>, <span style="color: red;">that ye also love one another</span>."</b> <b>John 13:34</b> </span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">How did Jesus Love us? While we were yet sinners, He laid down his very life for us.<br /><br />Now you understand why. If you have no other God before God, you will not worship before Idols. You will not take His name in vain. You will obey His commandments. If you love your neighbor as yourself, you will treat them how you would want to be treated. You would not steal from yourself, and you would not lie about yourself. You would not kill yourself. You would be content with what you have.<br /><br />You see, the forgotten Laws, The Ten Commandments, were truly NOT given to make our lives more difficult, but they were given to us to make our lives easier, and to keep us from the snares of the devil.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.</span><br /><br /><b>"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"</b><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. <b> "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved."</b></span><b> Romans 10:9</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You </span><b>"have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10</b><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">If you want to tell me, comment, questions, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is </span><a href="mailto:truthbygod1@gmail.com"><b style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">t</span></b>ruthbygod1@gmail.com</a><br /><b><br /></b><b>The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13</b><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!!</span></span></div></div></div></div>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-34147410271781977752024-02-07T01:00:00.000-05:002024-02-07T01:00:00.322-05:00Book of Genesis Chapter 40<p> <b>Chapter 40</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXNhHJ7WhUTyPhv9036lr6uDsn-OAL5MvqIKe9qLRyht_qLFRVk-EGZcGpvB8x44e5yE45A9hhhsSYKVXSaUrlD7DoWF5DwAtSSq2Pz8JekNV9zHcEq3eve0vcW07G7pbqx1TSIKNNnjdAUSsHwbumqVjJT0WvzRjcF5g4u-ikUjsr8oAX496ac5QXR0/s1280/Genesis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXNhHJ7WhUTyPhv9036lr6uDsn-OAL5MvqIKe9qLRyht_qLFRVk-EGZcGpvB8x44e5yE45A9hhhsSYKVXSaUrlD7DoWF5DwAtSSq2Pz8JekNV9zHcEq3eve0vcW07G7pbqx1TSIKNNnjdAUSsHwbumqVjJT0WvzRjcF5g4u-ikUjsr8oAX496ac5QXR0/w400-h225/Genesis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Joseph Interprets Two Prisoners' Dreams</b></p><p><b>1 Sometime after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.</b></p><p><b>5 And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his master's house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” 8 They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”</b></p><p><b>9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream, there was a vine before me, 10 and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.” 12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly when you were his cupbearer. 14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”</b></p><p><b>16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” 18 And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. 19 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.”</b></p><p><b>20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph but forgot him.</b></p>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-26804215310157882462024-02-04T01:00:00.114-05:002024-02-04T01:00:00.132-05:00 The Ten Commandments 2024, The Law of God, 7, 8<p><b style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thou shall not commit Adultery</span></b></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6933764308878417409" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2709891258907236525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3923767312306746636" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7197689737819217845" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b>Thou shall not steal.</b></span><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3s-SWEVqYQ6Ds0D8AvIpnQuwmh1fTnEg_SlkedAbbkRl6an0aR_2_XpkC7Om3-fLnebtIafkC0R7nmLAuM94RfTgYle7vnj0NlrmHmubRfql6Ui1P8I4XumofzG0GRvNpbTrxeFg5UbQ/s1600/Ten+Commmandments+Revisited.jpg" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3s-SWEVqYQ6Ds0D8AvIpnQuwmh1fTnEg_SlkedAbbkRl6an0aR_2_XpkC7Om3-fLnebtIafkC0R7nmLAuM94RfTgYle7vnj0NlrmHmubRfql6Ui1P8I4XumofzG0GRvNpbTrxeFg5UbQ/s320/Ten+Commmandments+Revisited.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /><b>"Thou shalt not commit adultery."</b><b>Exodus 20:14</b><br /><br />The concept is simple. The God Family Plan is easy to understand. One man, one woman, come together, as one flesh.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."</b> <b>Genesis 2:24</b></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Marriage is now and has always been, and sorry if it offends you, but will always be one man, and one woman. It doesn't matter what we say about it. That IS God's plan for marriage. One man and one woman, for life.</span><br /><b><blockquote>"My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil,but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it." Proverbs 5:1-6</blockquote></b></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7197689737819217845" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;">If you are married, you have a Wife. You have a best friend. You have a life partner. You need not look elsewhere. A little bit later it says this. </div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7197689737819217845" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white;"><span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"</b><span style="color: #222222;"><b>For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life. </b></span></span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="color: #222222;"><b>Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; none who touches her will go unpunished. People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house. He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away. For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts.</b></span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"</b><b style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Proverbs 6:23-35</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>"But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul."</b> When you find the one you love, your soul mate, the one you love more than anything else on Earth, they become, and are, part of you. You are one. To go out and give yourself to another, in the most intimate way, that should be reserved for only your Spouse, is not just playing some kind of game, it is the most hurtful and evil thing you can do to your other half. It's NOT just sex. It's not just fooling around. It is the deepest hurt you can possibly cause, to the one, you claim to love the most.<br /><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7197689737819217845" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">How about if I told you, that you do not even have to commit that actual act to be guilty of adultery in God's eyes.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"<span style="color: red;">Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time</span>, <span style="color: red;">Thou shalt not commit adultery</span>: <span style="color: red;">But I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart</span>. <span style="color: red;">And if thy right eye offend thee</span>, <span style="color: red;">pluck it out</span>, <span style="color: red;">and cast it from thee</span>: <span style="color: red;">for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish</span>,<span style="color: red;"> and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell</span>. <span style="color: red;">And if thy right hand offend thee</span>, <span style="color: red;">cut it off</span>, <span style="color: red;">and cast it from thee</span>: <span style="color: red;">for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish</span>, <span style="color: red;">and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">It hath been said</span>, <span style="color: red;">Whosoever shall put away his wife</span>,<span style="color: red;"> let him give her a writing of divorcement</span>: <span style="color: red;">But I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">That whosoever shall put away his wife</span>, <span style="color: red;">saving for the cause of fornication</span>, <span style="color: red;">causeth her to commit adultery</span>: <span style="color: red;">and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery</span>." </b><b>Matthew 5:27-33</b></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">So what is Jesus saying here? Sin always starts in the heart, mind, then deeds. He is telling you that if you start looking at others, undressing them in your mind, or fantasizing about them, it's not harmless, normal, behavior. It is planting a seed to be harvested later. You have committed adultery already.<br /><br />So what about divorce? Is divorce legal in the sight of God? Jesus tells us there is <u>ONE</u> reason, that divorce would be recognized by God. Adultery. If you really want to get technical, there are three ways the obligation you have to another is nullified and recognized in the Word.<br /><br />Death. Obviously.<br />Fornication. Adultery.<br /><br />And then you have this...<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.<br /><br />For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace."</b> <b>1 Corinthians 7:12-15</b></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Now notice the first thing I want you to understand is this.<b> "But to the rest <u>speak I, not the Lord</u>," </b>This is what<b> </b>Paul said. Makes sense. I understand it. If you are the child of God in your home, and even if your spouse doesn't believe, you cover them. They become "clean" because of you. But if they leave, Paul tells us we should let them go. So that they do not corrupt the whole house.<br /><br />Accept what you will when it comes to divorce. Jesus said, Adultery? No problem. Anything else is a sin. Regardless of what man says. Or you can cling to what Paul says about a non-believer leaving. This is why the Word tells us we should never be <b>"unequally yoked together with unbelievers."</b> <b>2 Corinthians 6:14</b> Most of the time, it does not end well. </span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7197689737819217845" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7197689737819217845" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, if neither of you were children of God when you married, and now you accept Christ after, and they chose to reject Him, you as a new creature, no longer guilty nor responsible for your old self. I get that. But I would not go out and find someone who is not of God and decide to marry that person. You do so at your own peril and God will require YOU to follow His plan for marriage, even if you do not wish to. Be careful.</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7197689737819217845" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Marriage, if done the right way, is a blessing from God. The wrong way could become a nightmare. It is not to be taken lightly. Next, to salvation, marriage is the holiest and most honorable thing you can do. Two in it as one. A lifelong friend, helper, comforter, playmate, ETC. Why do you think marriage is under such attack? Think about it.<br /><br />What if I told you there is a THIRD way to commit Adultery? <br /><br />Spiritual adultery. These all, idolatry, covetousness, and apostasy are spoken of as spiritual adultery. Some examples are <b>Jeremiah 3:6, 8-9, and Ezekiel 16:32, Hosea 1:2-3, Revelation 2:22.</b> An apostate church is an adulteress according to <b>Isaiah 1:21, Ezekiel 23:4, 7, 37<u>,</u></b> and the Jews are described as “an adulterous generation” in <b>Matthew 12:39</b>, and in <b>Revelations 12</b>.<br /><br />Is God concerned about adultery? I think so. <br /><br /><b>"Thou shalt not steal."</b><b>Exodus 20:15</b><br /><br />Do you? Do you steal? Are you sure? There are three primary ways to steal. One, outright. The taking of something that does not belong to you. money, property, ETC. The second way to steal is the "theft of services." You take advantage of something that is provided for a cost, yet, you choose not to pay for it. The third is destruction.<br /><br /><u><b>Outright.</b></u><br /><br />It doesn't matter to God if you use the word "borrow." If it is not your property, and it is not permitted for you to take it, you are stealing it. Even if your intention is to give it back. You are still stealing it. What about those pens you took home from work? What about that food you ate at the end of your shift at a restaurant when it is company policy to dispose of it, not consume it? What about that ten dollars that you took from the one who has millions? In any of this, you are stealing. It doesn't matter what you think of it. What society says about it. What does God say about it?<br /></span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double." Exodus 22:1-4,5,6</span></b></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, pretty cut and dry here. If you steal something outright, you are violating this commandment. You are a thief. You are guilty under the Law.<br /><br /><u><b>Theft of services</b></u><br /></span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard." </b> </span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ever "dine and dash?" Ever take a taxi, and not pay for it? Ever get "free" cable? Use someone else's phone or the internet, without their permission? You are guilty of this commandment. You are a thief. You are guilty under the Law.<br /><br /><u><b>Destruction</b></u><br /></span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution."</span></b></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It really does not matter why. Say you are jealous? Say you do not feel that someone who has something should have it. If you can't have it no one will? You decide to destroy what they have. You are a thief. You are guilty under the law.<br /></span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. </b><b>You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning.." </b><b>Leviticus 19:11-13</b></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are many ways to steal. If you agree to buy something from someone, and you know that the cost of it is low, yet you tell them the cost is great, just to make a profit, you are a thief. If you are in charge of protecting someone else's property, and you allow it to be stolen, God calls you a theft. You are guilty under the law.<br /><br />There is one more way you can be considered a thief in the eyes of the Lord. This one has been so convoluted, so twisted, that whenever someone discusses this, people turn it off. They get images of a preacher with a mic in one hand, and the other outstretched, seeking money. But the word tells us, that if you do not Tithe, you ARE guilty of being a thief. You are stealing from God Himself.<br /></span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.</span></b></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."</b> <b>Malachi 3:8-10</b></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is scarce, that a Millionaire does nothing but serve the Lord. Most of the time, it is average, everyday folks that are called to serve. A church should be concerned with teaching, of course, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, ETC. To do that, they need money.<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7197689737819217845" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You may or may not believe me. I have no way to prove it to you. However, the laws of tithing and giving work. That ninety percent will go far further than that one hundred percent ever will. When I was first saved, I was a security guard working at a local mall. I started obeying this law and started giving as much as I could. When I walked away, as I talked about in MY Story, I was a hotel manager.<br /><br />The more I gave, the more I received. As Malachi said,<b> "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."</b> It really does work.<br /><br />When I walked away, my excess became negative. Fast. Now, these things do not happen overnight. Try it. God will see where your heart is, and He WILL bless you. It really does work.<br /></span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." Ephesians 4:28</span></b></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Trust me, this really does work. I'm living proof of it. Try it. Ask God to show you what this is all about. You will be blessed.<br /><br />We will wrap it up next time with<b> "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." </b>and <b>"Thou shalt not Covet,,,."</b> We will also discuss how it is that Jesus summed all these up as two. Plus how the new commandment Jesus gave us, plays into all this. But if you are not a child of God, then none of this matters to you at all.<br /><br />Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.<br /><br /><b>"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"</b><br /><br />That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. <b>"That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9</b>. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You <b>"have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10</b><br /><br />If you want to tell me, comment, questions, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is </span><a href="mailto:Truthbygod1@gmail.com"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Truthbygod1@gmail.com</span></b></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /><b><br /></b><b>The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God's love, and the Holy Ghost's communion be with you all. Amen. </b><br /><br />Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!!</span></span></div></div></div></div>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-49339272499339170732024-01-31T01:00:00.001-05:002024-01-31T01:00:00.311-05:00Book of Genesis Chapter 39<p><b> Chapter 39</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPjR4r0w_PlH-wN4-NP8yjVABQq7QnnKCQFlYbTh-nXmuh63oU-zVD05c2nChkGwiyRGbflLJW9WfM7QrmDUdzMuxJoWdPmTdFRcRLSqSkd2W164d3ZKxipyF_pXrO5E5b65y7pMna-nSkXw9S_qFe5lc21ZmgiPBSwAA2APnBDrTHqIlsUTk6v5hLuU/s474/Genesis%20%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="474" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPjR4r0w_PlH-wN4-NP8yjVABQq7QnnKCQFlYbTh-nXmuh63oU-zVD05c2nChkGwiyRGbflLJW9WfM7QrmDUdzMuxJoWdPmTdFRcRLSqSkd2W164d3ZKxipyF_pXrO5E5b65y7pMna-nSkXw9S_qFe5lc21ZmgiPBSwAA2APnBDrTHqIlsUTk6v5hLuU/w400-h228/Genesis%20%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Joseph and Potiphar's Wife</b></p><p><b>39 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him, he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.</b></p><p><b>Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.</b></p><p><b>11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. 13 And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came into me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” 16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, 17 and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came into me to laugh at me. 18 But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”</b></p><p><b>19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.</b></p>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-59687361674389906542024-01-28T01:00:00.057-05:002024-01-28T01:00:00.217-05:00The Ten Commandments 2024, The Law of God, 5, 6<p><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Honor your mother and Father</span></b></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2329684488289944911" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7630315572814883369" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6452472378173646665" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1895757840572613844" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Thou shalt not kill.</b><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3s-SWEVqYQ6Ds0D8AvIpnQuwmh1fTnEg_SlkedAbbkRl6an0aR_2_XpkC7Om3-fLnebtIafkC0R7nmLAuM94RfTgYle7vnj0NlrmHmubRfql6Ui1P8I4XumofzG0GRvNpbTrxeFg5UbQ/s1600/Ten+Commmandments+Revisited.jpg" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3s-SWEVqYQ6Ds0D8AvIpnQuwmh1fTnEg_SlkedAbbkRl6an0aR_2_XpkC7Om3-fLnebtIafkC0R7nmLAuM94RfTgYle7vnj0NlrmHmubRfql6Ui1P8I4XumofzG0GRvNpbTrxeFg5UbQ/s320/Ten+Commmandments+Revisited.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."</b> <b>Exodus 20:12</b></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br />Here is God's plan for the Family. Children grow, leave their mother and father, join together, and become one.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."</b> <b>Genesis 2:24</b></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">And so the cycle goes. But it is important to realize that children are a gift from God.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."</b> <b>Psalm 127:3-5</b></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Also in Psalms...<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.<br /><br />Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel."</b> <b>Psalm 128:1-6</b></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">This is why it is so outrageous, whenever you hear of a parent abusing their own children. A child is the most precious gift one can have. You need to teach them all things. How you teach them, is how they will go.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." </b>P<b>roverbs 22:6</b></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">However, be aware of this one thing. If you lead by example, they will follow. They will do more like you DO than what you say.<br /><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then they will grow, and they will find another. They will become one with them. In turn, in your later years, when you need help, it has always been God's plan, that your children will be there for YOU. It is a man who created nursing homes. Man created ways to avoid this obligation. God's plan is that family is the most important thing here on earth, next to doing His Will.<br /><br />Some read this, and they may even teach it to their children. See, God says you honor me and obey me. Men also read this and say to their wives, see, God says you submit to me and do whatever I say. That's not true. None of it.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.<br /><br />Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.<br /><br />Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.<br /><br />Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." </b><b>Colossians 3:18-21</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">So let's look at this. Also in Ephesians.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother this is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."</b> <b>Ephesians 6:1-4</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">Husbands and Wives are what? Yup. One flesh. We are to love and respect each other. Is Man the head of the house? Yup. No doubt about it. But that means that MAN is responsible for all in the house. He is responsible for his wife, his children, and yes, himself. Wives? Equal to the Husband? Yup. They are. They are to raise the children and care for the house. I know, I know, some of you may not like that. But that is because you misunderstand the meaning.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"</b> <b>Ephesians 5:25</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your wife is the mother of your greatest gift, obviously, I'm talking to the men here, your children. She is to be loved and honored. She should not have to go out there in the world and deal with the things YOU, as the husband should be doing. You should be out there, toiling and sweating, working hard, to supply for your family.<br /><br />This is also the reason God did not invent daycare. It was never his intent to send your child off to strangers to raise. But I understand, again, that we live in a 24/7 society, and money is needed to simply survive. If the man is unable to earn enough, then the woman is forced to help out in that area. But that was never God's intent.<br /><br />Then, God commands the child to honor their father and mother. To obey them because believe it or not, for the most part, they know better than you. First, they gave you life. That alone, like with God Himself, should be worthy of your honor. Second, they care about and for your every need. Perhaps not your every want, but your every need. Now that you have grown, it's your turn to care for them.<br /><br />But then God commands the parents, to honor their children. Treat them with love and kindness. According to the Will and Word of God, teach them how they should go. Then, when they grow, they will not have deep-seated anger or hatred towards you.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"He answered and said unto them, <span style="color: red;">Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites</span>, <span style="color: red;">as it is written</span>, <span style="color: red;">This people honoureth me with their lips</span>,<span style="color: red;"> but their heart is far from me</span>. <span style="color: red;">Howbeit in vain do they worship me</span>, <span style="color: red;">teaching for doctrines the commandments of men</span>. <span style="color: red;">For laying aside the commandment of God</span>, <span style="color: red;">ye hold the tradition of men</span>, <span style="color: red;">as the washing of pots and cups</span>:<span style="color: red;"> and many other such like things ye do</span>.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>And he said unto them, <span style="color: red;">Full well ye reject the commandment of God</span>, <span style="color: red;">that ye may keep your own tradition</span>. <span style="color: red;">For Moses said</span>, <span style="color: red;">Honour thy father and thy mother</span>;<span style="color: red;"> and</span>, <span style="color: red;">Whoso curseth father or mother</span>, <span style="color: red;">let him die the death</span>:<span style="color: red;"> But ye say</span>, <span style="color: red;">If a man shall say to his father or mother</span>, <span style="color: red;">It is Corban</span>, <span style="color: red;">that is to say</span>, <span style="color: red;">a gift</span>,<span style="color: red;"> by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me</span>; <span style="color: red;">he shall be free</span>. <span style="color: red;">And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother</span>; <span style="color: red;">Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition</span>, <span style="color: red;">which ye have delivered</span>: <span style="color: red;">and many such like things do ye</span>." Mark 7:6-13</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what does that mean? Nursing Homes, Money, Private Care. Etc. Instead of meeting our obligations according to God, we created loopholes. Jesus said that is not good enough. We need to meet our obligations.<br /><br />Just like all the rest of the Commandments given to us by God, these are not to make our lives more difficult, but to make our lives easier and to keep us from the snares of the devil. Honor your Father and Mother, for God says, that is the right thing to do. But make no mistake about it, Parents, you are to honor your kids, and husbands and wives, and each other. Family is the most important thing to God. It should be to us as well.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Thou shalt not kill." </b><b>Exodus 20:13</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">First, the translation here is poor. It should be, Thou shalt not commit Murder. We kill things all day long. Weeds, trees, mosquitoes, ants, animals for food, etc. What God is concerned about in this Commandment, is the taking of innocent human life. In <b>Genesis 9:1-6</b><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. </span></b></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Whoever sheds the blood of man,</b><b> by man shall his blood be shed, </b><b>for God made man in his own image." </b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">So you see, God makes a very clear distinction between the two things here. First, the killing of anything but man is OK with God. He gave us all the things to meet our needs. He also is the one who set up the Death Penalty. <b>"He who sheds man's blood, shall by man, his blood will be shed." </b>That is how important God sees the life of human beings. Remember, in <b>Genesis 1:26</b>, God tells us this.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”"</span></b></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are made in the image of God. Our mind is the thing that makes us, us. Our intelligence, will, emotions, desires, reasoning, ETC. fashioned after God the Father. Our flesh, after Jesus, the flesh of God. Then our spirit. What lives on when the flesh dies, after the Holy Spirit. Three, yet one.<br /><br />Now remember, we all sin and come short of the glory of God. We were so evil that God sought to destroy us all and start over until He found Noah faithful. He sets up this death penalty, this cost for innocent life, AFTER the flood. <br /><br />There are four primary ways to end human life.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Premeditated Murder</b><br /><b>Justified Killings</b><br /><b>Accidental Death</b><br /><b>Abortion, Yes Abortion is the murder of an innocent Life.</b><br /><br />In Psalms...<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"For you formed my inward parts;</b><b> you knitted me together in my mother's womb.</b><b> I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. </b><b>Wonderful are your works;</b><b> my soul knows it very well.</b><b> My frame was not hidden from you, </b><b>when I was being made in secret,</b><b> intricately woven in the depths of the earth.</b><b> Your eyes saw my unformed substance; </b><b>in your book were written, every one of them,</b><b> the days that were formed for me,</b><b> when as yet there was none of them.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!</b><b> How vast is the sum of them!</b><b> If I would count them, they are more than the sand.</b><b> I awake, and I am still with you." </b><b>Psalm 139:13-18</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember, God made us. He created us. He created you. You were fashioned per God's Will. You are, the way you are, for a reason. You are the most important thing on Earth to God. You are.<br /><br /><u><b>Premeditated Murder</b></u><br /><br />In Numbers...<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. Or if he struck him down with a wooden tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, lying in wait, so that he died, or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him." Numbers 35:16-21</span></b></blockquote></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pretty clear-cut here. If you murder someone intentionally, for the purpose of their dying, you are guilty of murder, and God says, you should be put to death.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Justifiable Killing</span></u></b></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1895757840572613844" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">A justifiable killing is anything Commanded by God. The killing of a murderer. The killing of a sinner of other sins. In war sanctioned by God. This sort of thing. <br /><br /><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b>Accidental Death</b></u><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait or used a stone that could cause death, and without seeing him dropped it on him, so that he died, though he was not his enemy and did not seek his harm, then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood, in accordance with these rules. And the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.</span></b></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the boundaries of his city of refuge to which he fled, and the avenger of blood finds him outside the boundaries of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood. For he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. And these things shall be for a statute and rule for you throughout your generations in all your dwelling places." Numbers 35:22-29</span></b></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">So God understands, that stuff happens. He understands that you may place yourself in a position where you cause the death of another, unintentionally. By accident. So he set up the trial by jury system.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness." Numbers 35:30</span></b></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what is this City of Refuge thing? If you kill someone accidentally, the Police come, investigate, and find you innocent of any wrongdoing. You are not even arrested for anything. There was nothing you could have done to prevent the death of the person. I can not even imagine that. You are indeed innocent. However, the family of that person, may not be forgiving towards you. They may indeed seek to kill you, even though it was an accident. So God set up cities, where someone in this type of situation, could go to escape the wrath of the family of the lost loved ones. If they killed you, would they be guilty of murder? Of course. You are innocent. So they would be arrested and charged with murder and would indeed be guilty and worthy of death themselves. That would not change the fact you are dead already.<br /><br />So God, in His wisdom, set up places that you could go, free from this, some may even say understandable, the wrath of the family of the person you killed. So you would not be murdered yourself. In today's world, you may have to take it upon yourself to move. I would. Far away from the family of the person, I killed. Even though I would be guiltless.<br /><br />God understands and makes a very CLEAR distinction between accidental death and murder. He also lets us know, that the taking of the life of a murderer, IS a justifiable killing.<br /><br /><u><b>Abortion.</b></u><br /><br />Even though abortion is becoming illegal in many states, thank God, it is said, that for every 1,000 live births in the U.S., 219 pregnancies end with a murdered child, through abortion. Yes, abortion IS the murder of innocent life. I understand some do not want to accept that. I understand that we had a group of people in black robes, in the sixties, say that a woman can "choose" to murder her child. That doesn't make it right. Just because something is legal in the country, doesn't mean it's OK. No one has the "right" to murder an innocent child. No one. Thankfully that has been overturned and we are starting to win that battle. <br /><br />God knows you before you are you. You are YOU because God said so. Remember the five steps of an Anointed Life? God foreknows you, sets up a destiny, a plan, and purpose for you and calls you to accept it, justifies you, and then glorifies you.<br /><br />We talked about this before. You are fashioned according to God's Will. Remember...<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>""For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.</b><br /><br /></span></blockquote></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are created the way God wants you to be. You have blue eyes, brown eyes, you are this tall, you are right-handed, left. You are the way you are, because God fashioned you that way, for a reason. When does life begin? I say BEFORE conception. No doubt, at conception. You are a plan. Then conception happens, and you become a physical life.<br /><br />Think about this. We are all born into sin. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Now picture that child that has not been born yet. It is murdered before they get the chance to be born. They are completely sinless. They are PURE. Completely innocent. God takes this very seriously. In Exodus...<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine."</b> <b>Exodus 21:22-25</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">So the accidental death of an unborn child is even punishable according to God. Of course, if the intent IS to harm the unborn, then one is guilty of murder. Here is one of those passages that are constantly misunderstood. In many cases, it is taught incorrectly.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."</span></b></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is talking about an unborn child here. God says that if men strive to hurt a woman "with child," or do so with the intent to harm that child, they are guilty of the murder of the most innocent of life. If they interfere with God's plan, then the price is simple. If God said, you will have two legs and two arms, and man interferes with that, causing the child to be born with only one arm, then the one that caused it, is required to give up theirs. That is how important that God sees the unborn. His greatest gift to us, save salvation itself, is children. Of course, abortion is murder. The murder of the most innocent of all life.<br /><br />Next time we will be discussing Commandments 7 <b>"Thou shalt not commit adultery."</b> and 8<b> "Thou shalt not steal."</b> You may be surprised to find that you may be guilty of both. The only way to ensure that you are forgiven of these, and all sins, is to be adopted into the Family of God.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.</span></span><br /><br /><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. </span></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9.</b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"> You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You </span></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">If you want to tell me, comment, questions, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is </span></span></span><a href="mailto:Truthbygod1@gmail.com"><b>Truthbygod1@gmail.com</b></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God's love, and the Holy Ghost's communion be with you all. Amen. </b><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!!</span></span></span></div></div></div></div>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-58787150427253706042024-01-24T01:00:00.028-05:002024-01-24T01:00:00.128-05:00Book of Genesis Chapter 38<p><b> Chapter 38</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYsLFNZMFboxE_rP994ijmEoN1GADP6BGDLH28LW52PJFkTrap5sEBYtS-B6Z5WxW7t0DFTiEXeBmI01UaHf1kE29VH5SPQZMeWPg8sPLP3argglKsk0KI-kk2Dba-2t_y-8UJah9za2NNgQMLF2t_9o0j8rHHe1bcg0TFl_e4GzmUCt0_mFmADzSWf4/s474/Genesis%20%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="474" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYsLFNZMFboxE_rP994ijmEoN1GADP6BGDLH28LW52PJFkTrap5sEBYtS-B6Z5WxW7t0DFTiEXeBmI01UaHf1kE29VH5SPQZMeWPg8sPLP3argglKsk0KI-kk2Dba-2t_y-8UJah9za2NNgQMLF2t_9o0j8rHHe1bcg0TFl_e4GzmUCt0_mFmADzSWf4/w400-h228/Genesis%20%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Judah and Tamar</b></p><p><b>38 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went into her, 3 and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him.</b></p><p><b>6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Go into your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went into his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. 10 And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also. 11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father's house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father's house.</b></p><p><b>12 In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua's daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And when Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,” 14 she took off her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 He turned to her at the roadside and said, “Come, let me come into you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come into me?” 17 He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge until you send it—” 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went into her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood.</b></p><p><b>20 When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman's hand, he did not find her. 21 And he asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim at the roadside?” And they said, “No cult prostitute has been here.” 22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I have not found her. Also, the men of the place said, ‘No cult prostitute has been here.’” 23 And Judah replied, “Let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her.”</b></p><p><b>24 About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.” And Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.” 25 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.” 26 Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous than I since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again.</b></p><p><b>27 When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. 28 And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” Therefore his name was called Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.</b></p>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-72287283024629479162024-01-21T01:00:00.041-05:002024-01-21T01:00:00.151-05:00The Ten Commandments 2024, The Law of God, 3, 4<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <span>"</span></span><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.</b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"</b></span></span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4300011337846005253" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8657088396840730927" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8858358554761498728" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8243220332746186562" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3s-SWEVqYQ6Ds0D8AvIpnQuwmh1fTnEg_SlkedAbbkRl6an0aR_2_XpkC7Om3-fLnebtIafkC0R7nmLAuM94RfTgYle7vnj0NlrmHmubRfql6Ui1P8I4XumofzG0GRvNpbTrxeFg5UbQ/s1600/Ten+Commmandments+Revisited.jpg" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3s-SWEVqYQ6Ds0D8AvIpnQuwmh1fTnEg_SlkedAbbkRl6an0aR_2_XpkC7Om3-fLnebtIafkC0R7nmLAuM94RfTgYle7vnj0NlrmHmubRfql6Ui1P8I4XumofzG0GRvNpbTrxeFg5UbQ/s320/Ten+Commmandments+Revisited.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">The Ten Commandments were not given to us for our kids to learn how to say in order in Sunday School. In </span><b>Deuteronomy 11</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">, God Makes it clear.</span><br /></span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known."</b> <b>Deuteronomy 11:26-28</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Last time we talked about Commandments One, and Two. </span><b>Have no other Gods before God, and Do not Commit Idolatry.</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> Today we will be discussing Commandments Three and Four.</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."</b> <b>Exodus 20:7</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">There are a few different ways, but here are the three ways most common, that you can take the Lord's name in vain. They are:</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">To Curse</span><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">To Denounce</span><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">To Swear By</span><br /><br /><u><b>To Curse</b></u><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Do you really mean that if someone curses, God </span><b>"will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">? Yup. But it's just words. Or a figure of speech. What's the big deal? The big deal is if you are a child of God, and you call out His name, He is going to be there. So whatever you say, actually means something. If you do not mean it, then why say it?</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Now an Israelite woman's son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. And the Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel fought in the camp, and the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. And they put him in custody, till the will of the Lord should be clear to them.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death." </b><b>Leviticus 24:10-16</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Is God serious? Why? One, to use His name in vain is a sign of disrespect. He is God. Yet, using His name in vain, by cursing, you bring Him to nothing. You denounce His God Head and authority. You turn Him into a figure of speech with your words.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Two, words have power. God created all that is, was, or ever will be, with words. The Word declares, </span><b>"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was true at the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made." </b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Later, </span><b>"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." </b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Jesus told us<b>,</b></span><b> "<span style="color: red;">Heaven and earth shall pass away</span>, <span style="color: red;">but my words shall not pass away</span>."</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> You as a Child of God?</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="color: red;">For verily I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">That whosoever shall say unto this mountain</span>, <span style="color: red;">Be thou removed</span>, <span style="color: red;">and be thou cast into the sea</span>; <span style="color: red;">and shall not doubt in his heart</span>, <span style="color: red;">but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass</span>;<span style="color: red;"> he shall have whatsoever he saith</span>." Mark 11:23</span></b></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">So think about this. You are a child of God. You have the Spirit of God in you. You are driving in traffic, working, walking down the street, or whatever, and someone offends you in some way. What do you do? You now have a choice. Here are two possible scenarios to think about.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">First, you could get mad, and yell something like "God Damn You." Or something like "Jesus H Christ, drop dead already." You get the point. Now that person goes on with their life. Say they are channel surfing or scanning the Internet, or walking down the street when they come onto one of those corner preachers. They hear or see,</span><b> "God so loved the world, He gave his only begotten Son."</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> "Jesus Saves" Or something to that effect. They ignore it and move on. They go the rest of their lives never accepting the truth. They die.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Now let's say you say something like "God bless you." Or "Jesus loves you." Now when that person is channel surfing or scanning the Internet, or walking down the street when they come onto one of those corner preachers. They hear or see, </span><b>"God so loved the world, He gave his only begotten Son."</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> "Jesus Saves" Or something to that effect. They may actually remember YOU. Instead of just ignoring it, YOU pop into their head. They think to themselves, "Oh yeah, like that person I cut off, or bumped and then cursed out. Whatever. They were so calm about it. I would want to rip someone's head off if they did that to me, yet, they blessed me? What is this all about anyway?" They learn the Truth and are now saved. Do you know it? Nope. Will you even meet that person again? Nope. But what you did and what you said at that moment in time, made all the difference in the world to that person.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">You are a child of God. You have the Spirit of God in you. YOU have the same power and authority as Christ Himself. YOU have a responsibility to watch what you say and how you say it. There is power in words. Being a child of God, you have even more power. Be careful. God does not take His name being used in vain lightly.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">After all, Jesus told us</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"<span style="color: red;">Verily I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven</span>: <span style="color: red;">and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven</span>."</b> <b>Matthew 18:18</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b>To Denounce</b></u><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Jesus told us</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"<span style="color: red;">But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness</span>,<span style="color: red;"> but is in danger of eternal damnation</span>." </b><b>Mark 3:29</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Blaspheme? "the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God; the act of claiming the attributes of deity; irreverence toward something considered sacred." Simply put, if you reject Him, you reject Jesus. If you reject Him, He cannot save you. You will die in your sin.</span><br /><br /><u><b>To Swear By</b></u><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">In other words, saying something like this. "I swear to God, I will....." Or, "By God, I will...." As a matter of fact, God does not want you swearing by anything.</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"<span style="color: red;">Again</span>, <span style="color: red;">ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time</span>, <span style="color: red;">Thou shalt not forswear thyself</span>,<span style="color: red;"> but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths</span>: <span style="color: red;">But I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">Swear not at all</span>;<span style="color: red;"> neither by heaven</span>; <span style="color: red;">for it is God</span>'<span style="color: red;">s throne</span>: <span style="color: red;">Nor by the earth</span>; <span style="color: red;">for it is his footstool</span>:<span style="color: red;"> neither by Jerusalem</span>; <span style="color: red;">for it is the city of the great King</span>.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><span style="color: red;">Neither shalt thou swear by thy head</span>, <span style="color: red;">because thou canst not make one hair white or black</span>. <span style="color: red;">But let your communication be</span>, <span style="color: red;">Yea</span>, <span style="color: red;">yea</span>; <span style="color: red;">Nay</span>, <span style="color: red;">nay</span>: <span style="color: red;">for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil</span>." </b><b>Matthew 5:33-37</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">We are talking, and you say "Promise?" I say "I swear to God." What if I do not fulfill my promise? What if I do not keep my word? What then? What can I possibly do to God? God wants your Yes to be Yes, and your No to be No.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">So to recap. Do not curse, denounce, or swear by, God or His name. Honor Him, and respect Him. He is God. and again, He will not hold those blameless that do.</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 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 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." </b><b>Exodus 20:8-11</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Now this one is one of those that have been completely forgotten. It has also been twisted and changed, and some can not even understand what it means, due to the lack of teaching. First, Saturday is now and has always been the Sabbath. That is what Saturday means. Sabbath Day. Sunday is now, and always has been, the first day of the week. So if you want to go by the letter of the Law, you should be keeping Saturday as the Sabbath.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">How do you "</span><b>Keep it Holy</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">?" There are four ways you can "</span><b>Keep it Holy</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">."</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">1 - </span><u><b>Pray, and spend time with God.</b></u><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">You should, of course, Pray to God always. But when you have more than that five minutes before you go to work, school, or whatever it is you are doing, you should spend more time with Him. We have learned that God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. The Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. He is the Creator of all that is, was, and ever will be. He is now, also, your Daddy.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Do you want to know who God is? Spend time with Him. Talk to Him. Tell Him what is happening in your life. Share with Him your hopes and dreams. Let Him know what your concerns are. Ask Him why this or that is. Ask Him to teach you His way. His plan for you. Just talk to Him.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">2 - </span><u><b>Read the Bible.</b></u><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">One way you can get to know who God is is by reading His Word. Spend extra time on the Word. Don't just scan it, but actually digest it. Get to fully understand what it means. Talk with God while you are doing it. Ask Him how this could be, or the reason for that. Allow the conversation to be a two-way conversation. You may be surprised. God can and will communicate with you.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">3- </span><u><b>Go to Church.</b></u><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">You can learn much about God, by spending time with your brothers and sisters in Christ. You can also feed your spirit. It can, and will, make you stronger. Not only can God communicate with you in your prayer closet, by use of His Word, but He can communicate with you through others. You would be surprised by what you learn when you are actually helping others. Even if it doesn't seem like it at the time.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">The ideal concept of the Sabbath is to do nearly nothing. That is why the early Church picked Sunday to gather. You rest on Saturday, the Sabbath, the last day of the week. You start your week on the first day, gathering together to worship God. Now, if you only have one day, and it is Sunday, I'm not sure God will be too upset with you about you going to Church on your Sabbath. Even if it is more than 3637 feet.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">What's that? What are 3637 feet? That is a Sabbath Day journey. Some religions have decided that if you go more than that, then you are considered working on the Sabbath, and in turn, you are in violation of the Law.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">In Deuteronomy.....</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you."</b> <b>Deuteronomy 4:2</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Where in the Word, does GOD say, you can not walk more than 3637 feet on the Sabbath? It doesn't. Nowhere in the Word, does GOD say, Thou shalt eat, or not eat, this or that on the Sabbath. Nowhere in the Word does GOD say, that you can change this or that, according to your concept or idea.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">As a matter of fact. Jesus did quite a bit on the Sabbath Days.</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.<br /><br />But he said unto them, <span style="color: red;">Have ye not read what David did</span>, <span style="color: red;">when he was an hungred</span>, <span style="color: red;">and they that were with him</span>; <span style="color: red;">How he entered into the house of God</span>, <span style="color: red;">and did eat the shewbread</span>, <span style="color: red;">which was not lawful for him to eat</span>, <span style="color: red;">neither for them which were with him</span>, <span style="color: red;">but only for the priests</span>?<span style="color: red;"> Or have ye not read in the law</span>,<span style="color: red;"> how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath</span>, <span style="color: red;">and are blameless</span>?<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">But I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">That in this place is one greater than the temple</span>.<span style="color: red;"> But if ye had known what this meaneth</span>, <span style="color: red;">I will have mercy</span>,<span style="color: red;"> and not sacrifice</span>,<span style="color: red;"> ye would not have condemned the guiltless</span>. <span style="color: red;">For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day</span>."</b> <b>Matthew 12:1-14</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Jesus told them that HE is Lord over the Sabbath, and what He does, or what those who have His Spirit in them do is not a violation. But the Sabbath is for man. Continuing...</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>And he said unto them, <span style="color: red;">What man shall there be among you</span>, <span style="color: red;">that shall have one sheep</span>, <span style="color: red;">and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day</span>, <span style="color: red;">will he not lay hold on it</span>,<span style="color: red;"> and lift it out</span>? <span style="color: red;">How much then is a man better than a sheep</span>? <span style="color: red;">Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days</span>.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Then saith he to the man, <span style="color: red;">Stretch forth thine hand</span>. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him."</b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, Jesus told them the truth. All that was there knew, that they would indeed rescue the sheep on the Sabbath. But their traditions still say it is against the law, so they were still angry and sought to kill Jesus for violating their traditions. Their religion. Then in Mark.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"He answered and said unto them, <span style="color: red;">Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites</span>, <span style="color: red;">as it is written</span>, <span style="color: red;">This people honoureth me with their lips</span>, <span style="color: red;">but their heart is far from me</span>. <span style="color: red;">Howbeit in vain do they worship me</span>, <span style="color: red;">teaching for doctrines the commandments of men</span>. <span style="color: red;">For laying aside the commandment of God</span>, <span style="color: red;">ye hold the tradition of men</span>,<span style="color: red;"> as the washing of pots and cups</span>: <span style="color: red;">and many other such like things ye do</span>.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>And he said unto them,<span style="color: red;"> Full well ye reject the commandment of God</span>, <span style="color: red;">that ye may keep your own tradition</span>."</b> <b>Mark 7:6-9</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">What Jesus is saying to them is that they should be following what God says, more so, than what they have decided is their traditions. It is far more important to do good on the Sabbath, or any day than it is to blindly follow man-made traditions.<br /><br />In Luke...<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.<br /><br />But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, <span style="color: red;">Rise up</span>,<span style="color: red;"> and stand forth in the midst</span>. And he arose and stood forth.Then said Jesus unto them, <span style="color: red;">I will ask you one thing</span>; <span style="color: red;">Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good</span>, <span style="color: red;">or to do evil</span>? <span style="color: red;">to save life</span>,<span style="color: red;"> or to destroy it</span>? And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, <span style="color: red;">Stretch forth thy hand</span>. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other." </b><b>Luke 6:6-10</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, <span style="color: red;">Woman</span>, <span style="color: red;">thou art loosed from thine infirmity</span>. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.<br /><br />And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day."</b> <b>Luke 13:10-17</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">OK, first, it seems funny to me that the ruler of the synagogue was not even amazed that the woman was healed. But was angry that Jesus healed her on the Sabbath. He was so blind with indignation that Jesus violated his religion and did what he {The Ruler} did not authorize.<br /><br />You see, even today, many people in organized religions feel that they are the highest power. The final authority. That THEY are the is-all and end-all of all things. Here is Jesus telling them, NO. They are not, God IS.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"The Lord then answered him, and said, <span style="color: red;">Thou hypocrite</span>, <span style="color: red;">doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall</span>, <span style="color: red;">and lead him away to watering</span>? <span style="color: red;">And ought not this woman</span>,<span style="color: red;"> being a daughter of Abraham</span>, <span style="color: red;">whom Satan hath bound</span>,<span style="color: red;"> lo</span>,<span style="color: red;"> these eighteen years</span>, <span style="color: red;">be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day</span>?</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him."</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">No, I did not forget number 4. Remember, I said there are 4 ways to keep the Sabbath Holy. Number 4 is the simplest, and yet, for many, the hardest one to keep. Ready? Are you sure?<br /><br />Number 4 - <u><b>REST!!!</b></u><br /><br />Yup. REST. We have turned life, into a 24/7 life. work, school, and even play. We need this NOW. We got to get that NOW. If you want to work for some companies, you have to work 24/7. Overnights, Holidays, weekends. You do not have a choice in some cases.<br /><br />Do you know what happens if you go full bore 24/7? You run out of gas. You wear out your body. You can end up killing yourself. We end up training ourselves to go on four hours of sleep, overcome tiredness with caffeine and other, uh, assistance, and we go till we can't go anymore.<br /><br />We must learn to REST. Just simply STOP! Just relax. You need time to spend learning the really important things, and your body needs time to recharge. Learn how to REST.<br /><br />To recap a bit here. The Sabbath is made for YOU. It is a day of rest. Pray, and spend time with God. Read the Word, and spend time with God. Go to Church, and spend time with God and others whom you can learn from and grow from. Last? Actually, REST.<br /><br />These first Four Commandments are simple to understand.<br /><br />1-Have no other gods before God.<br />2-Do not commit Idolatry.<br />3-Do not take The Name of the Lord God in vain.<br />4-Remember the Sabbath, and keep it Holy.<br /><br />Jesus Himself summed them all up with this.<br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>"<span style="color: red;">Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart</span>, <span style="color: red;">and with all thy soul</span>, <span style="color: red;">and with all thy mind</span>. <span style="color: red;">This is the first and great commandment</span>."</b> <b>Matthew 22:37-38</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">God will not take a back seat to anyone, or anything. He loved you so much that even though you were a sinner, Jesus came and died for you. He loves you so much, that even though you still sin daily, He cleanses you with His own blood. He has become your Father, and you, His child. You must put Him first, above and before all. Who do you serve? The creature, or the Creator?<br /><br />Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.<br /><br /><b>"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"</b><br /><br />That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. <b>"That if you shalt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9.</b> You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You <b>"have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10</b><br /><br />If you want to tell me, comment, ask questions, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is <a href="http://truthbygod1@gmail.com"><b><span style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">t</span></span>ruthbygod1@gmail.com</b></a><br /><br /><b>The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God's love, and the Holy Ghost's communion be with you all. Amen. </b><br /><br />Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!!</span></div></div></div></div></div>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-36209426089169674652024-01-17T01:00:00.026-05:002024-01-17T01:00:00.132-05:00Book of Genesis Chapter 37<p> <b>Chapter 37</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6frQBMN3aLZVbbgu40LZi1M99M5CYgMgMgYHG0SH7AMkzhhl9NXlg8ZvCNXU-JyXm_9ucmtNwrt43_8ltL-eaZHlwDjm1J7HH9PyN1M8nxbe6ULbyWGfEYevP0gxB5I-vLD2MKnz1l1yJx-4hDN6JAi5yZnSKWplq0usM6AdOZ6hccZ1rb3SrB_xQKU/s474/Genesis%20%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="474" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6frQBMN3aLZVbbgu40LZi1M99M5CYgMgMgYHG0SH7AMkzhhl9NXlg8ZvCNXU-JyXm_9ucmtNwrt43_8ltL-eaZHlwDjm1J7HH9PyN1M8nxbe6ULbyWGfEYevP0gxB5I-vLD2MKnz1l1yJx-4hDN6JAi5yZnSKWplq0usM6AdOZ6hccZ1rb3SrB_xQKU/w400-h228/Genesis%20%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Joseph's Dreams</b></p><p><b>1 Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan.</b></p><p><b>2 These are the generations of Jacob.</b></p><p><b>Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.</b></p><p><b>5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.</b></p><p><b>9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.</b></p><p><b>Joseph Sold by His Brothers</b></p><p><b>12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” 14 So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” 16 “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.</b></p><p><b>18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” 21 But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.</b></p><p><b>25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.</b></p><p><b>29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes 30 and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?” 31 Then they took Joseph's robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son's robe or not.” 33 And he identified it and said, “It is my son's robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.</b></p>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-12724499832523979832024-01-14T01:00:00.043-05:002024-01-14T01:00:00.179-05:00The Ten Commandments 2024, The Law of God, 1, 2<b>We need to know these, not just memorize them in order.</b><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-892800899379374399" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4135787098890174108" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.52px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5349169832700955186" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 15.972px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div style="font-size: 14.52px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14.52px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISiyocZWJe3Dy-6qMZmH6UxGmH8mw1wrR2WEGn7Nxs9LLrnnND1-LKDmYUFDK8lsyHmoxevt8orhfPaJysx5Y8WV0luGFnSfF-vY3uaOm9s8h7jqxCJ5HkD6CXSxmYYQ1NU-U3JDTDJk/s1600/Ten+Commmandments+Revisited.jpg" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISiyocZWJe3Dy-6qMZmH6UxGmH8mw1wrR2WEGn7Nxs9LLrnnND1-LKDmYUFDK8lsyHmoxevt8orhfPaJysx5Y8WV0luGFnSfF-vY3uaOm9s8h7jqxCJ5HkD6CXSxmYYQ1NU-U3JDTDJk/s320/Ten+Commmandments+Revisited.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Teaching our children the list of the Ten Commandments, in Sunday school, is not a bad thing. Understanding that <b>Commandment 6</b> says <b>Thou shall not kill,</b> is a good thing. Knowing that <b>Commandment 5 </b>is the first with promise, is a good thing. However,,,</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."</b> <b>Deuteronomy 6:4-9</b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Understanding the Ten Commandments is more than just counting. 1,2,3,4,5,,6,7,8,9,10.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: </b>" <b>Proverbs 6:20-23</b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Ten Commandments were not given to man to make man's life more difficult. To refrain man from the things he loves. They were given to man to make man's life easier. To keep him from the snares of the devil. Understanding, not only what they are, but what they mean, is crucial to every child of God's growth and well-being.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can find them in.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Exodus 20:1-17</span></b></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 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: 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.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Thou shalt not kill.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Thou shalt not commit adultery.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Thou shalt not steal.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. "</b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also in <b>Deuteronomy 5</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">These commandments given to us by God Himself, are simple to understand. They are not something to be learned how to say in order in Sunday school. Nor something we should look at and say, yeah, makes sense. They are something given to us by God, to keep always.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The sad thing is, a lot of our churches today, have stopped actually teaching them. What do they mean? Are they really important? That is the failure of many of our churches to teach them. People have a basic understanding, Have faith in God, don't kill, uh, don't cheat on your spouse. Oh and love your mom and dad. Or something like that. Right? Wrong.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what do they mean? If it is, and it is, more important to actually know what they mean, than simply what they are, then what do they mean? This is what we will be looking at.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods before me."</b><b> </b><b>Exodus 20:2-3</b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems pretty simple.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Genesis 1:1</span></b></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7</span></b></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">God IS. He is the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. He is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. He is the great <b>"I Am."</b> He is the one who created all things. He is a God of Love. He IS Love. He is God. Not some made-up thing. Not some concept or idea. Not something to take as casually as, say, Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny. He IS God.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">"But I was never in Egypt. I was never in bondage. So this does not really apply to me." Wrong. You were in the worst bondage you could ever be in. The bondage of sin and death. It was God that, through Jesus, set you free from that.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."</span></b></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Romans 8:1-2,15</span></b></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is the one that sets you free. Jesus is the one who paid the price. Yes. God DID bring you out <b>"from the house of bondage."</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why is the truth of God diminishing? Becoming a concept and idea more so than reality? Many reasons. One of the main ones is that some have stopped teaching who He is.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The "theory" of evolution has replaced God in our schools. Even though evolution minus God is both scientifically, and mathematically, impossible, they forbid the possibility of including God in the equation. Some in society say that it's OK to believe in whatever god you choose. If that big Purple Bunny in your backyard is your god. Good for you. We will say that it is equal to the God of the Bible. It's all good.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even some of our churches have stopped teaching who God is. Instead, they are teaching man-made traditions called religion. What does God say about this or that? "The church says." Yeah well, the commandments say. "But Jesus came and taught us another way." No, he didn't. Jesus even warned us about that. He told those religious leaders of the day.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"<span style="color: red;">Think not that I am come to destroy the law</span>, <span style="color: red;">or the prophets</span>: <span style="color: red;">I am not come to destroy</span>, <span style="color: red;">but to fulfil</span>. <span style="color: red;">For verily I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">Till heaven and earth pass</span>, <span style="color: red;">one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments</span>, <span style="color: red;">and shall teach men so</span>, <span style="color: red;">he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven</span>:<span style="color: red;"> but whosoever shall do and teach them</span>, <span style="color: red;">the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven</span>. <span style="color: red;">For I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees</span>, <span style="color: red;">ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven</span>."</b> <b>Matthew 5:17-20</b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus then went on to explain, that not only does He fulfill the Law, He enhances it.<b> 21-48</b></span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="color: red;">Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time</span>, <span style="color: red;">Thou shalt not kill</span>; <span style="color: red;">and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment</span>:<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">But I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment</span>:<span style="color: red;"> and whosoever shall say to his brother</span>,<span style="color: red;"> Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say</span>, <span style="color: red;">Thou fool</span>, <span style="color: red;">shall be in danger of hell fire</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar</span>, <span style="color: red;">and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee</span>;<span style="color: red;"> Leave there thy gift before the altar</span>, <span style="color: red;">and go thy way</span>;<span style="color: red;"> first be reconciled to thy brother</span>, <span style="color: red;">and then come and offer thy gift</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Agree with thine adversary quickly</span>, <span style="color: red;">whiles thou art in the way with him</span>; <span style="color: red;">lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge</span>, <span style="color: red;">and the judge deliver thee to the officer</span>, <span style="color: red;">and thou be cast into prison</span>. <span style="color: red;">Verily I say unto thee</span>, <span style="color: red;">Thou shalt by no means come out thence</span>, <span style="color: red;">till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time</span>, <span style="color: red;">Thou shalt not commit adultery</span>: <span style="color: red;">But I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart</span>.<span style="color: red;"> And if thy right eye offend thee</span>,<span style="color: red;"> pluck it out</span>, <span style="color: red;">and cast it from thee</span>:<span style="color: red;"> for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish</span>,<span style="color: red;"> and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell</span>. <span style="color: red;">And if thy right hand offend thee</span>, <span style="color: red;">cut it off</span>, <span style="color: red;">and cast it from thee</span>: <span style="color: red;">for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish</span>,<span style="color: red;"> and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">It hath been said</span>, <span style="color: red;">Whosoever shall put away his wife</span>, <span style="color: red;">let him give her a writing of divorcement</span>: <span style="color: red;">But I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">That whosoever shall put away his wife</span>,<span style="color: red;"> saving for the cause of fornication</span>, <span style="color: red;">causeth her to commit adultery</span>: <span style="color: red;">and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Again</span>, <span style="color: red;">ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time</span>, <span style="color: red;">Thou shalt not forswear thyself</span>, <span style="color: red;">but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths</span>: <span style="color: red;">But I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">Swear not at all</span>; <span style="color: red;">neither by heaven</span>; <span style="color: red;">for it is God's throne</span>: <span style="color: red;">Nor by the earth</span>; <span style="color: red;">for it is his footstool</span>: <span style="color: red;">neither by Jerusalem</span>;<span style="color: red;"> for it is the city of the great King</span>. <span style="color: red;">Neither shalt thou swear by thy head</span>, <span style="color: red;">because thou canst not make one hair white or black</span>. <span style="color: red;">But let your communication be</span>, <span style="color: red;">Yea</span>, <span style="color: red;">yea</span>; <span style="color: red;">Nay</span>,<span style="color: red;"> nay</span>: <span style="color: red;">for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Ye have heard that it hath been said</span>, <span style="color: red;">An eye for an eye</span>, <span style="color: red;">and a tooth for a tooth</span>: <span style="color: red;">But I say unto you</span>, <span style="color: red;">That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek</span>, <span style="color: red;">turn to him the other also</span>. <span style="color: red;">And if any man will sue thee at the law</span>, <span style="color: red;">and take away thy coat</span>, <span style="color: red;">let him have thy cloak also</span>.<span style="color: red;"> And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile</span>, <span style="color: red;">go with him twain</span>. <span style="color: red;">Give to him that asketh thee</span>, <span style="color: red;">and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Ye have heard that it hath been said</span>, <span style="color: red;">Thou shalt love thy neighbour</span>, <span style="color: red;">and hate thine enemy</span>. <span style="color: red;">But I say unto you, Love your enemies</span>,<span style="color: red;"> bless them that curse you</span>, <span style="color: red;">do good to them that hate you</span>, <span style="color: red;">and pray for them which despitefully use you</span>, <span style="color: red;">and persecute you</span>; <span style="color: red;">That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven</span>: <span style="color: red;">for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good</span>, <span style="color: red;">and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust</span>. <span style="color: red;">For if ye love them which love you</span>, <span style="color: red;">what reward have ye</span>? <span style="color: red;">do not even the publicans the same</span>? <span style="color: red;">And if ye salute your brethren only</span>, <span style="color: red;">what do ye more than others</span>? <span style="color: red;">do not even the publicans so</span>? <span style="color: red;">Be ye therefore perfect</span>, <span style="color: red;">even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect</span>."</span></b></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus did not come to do away with The Law. He enhanced it. He summed them up this way</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"<span style="color: red;">Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart</span>,<span style="color: red;"> and with all thy soul</span>, <span style="color: red;">and with all thy mind</span>. <span style="color: red;">This is the first and great commandment</span>. <span style="color: red;">And the second is like unto it</span>, <span style="color: red;">Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself</span>. <span style="color: red;">On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets</span>."</b> <b>Matthew 22:36-40</b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Churches, and religions, get so caught up in the teaching of their traditions, that they lose track of God Himself. They teach things that are contrary to God. In some cases, they leave God out altogether. God is also not some old man, sitting on a throne, waiting to throw you into hell. Get to know the real God. Our Father. Worship Him alone.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we forget God, it then becomes easy, and perhaps even human nature, to create and worship Idols.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."</b> <b>Exodus 20:5-7</b></span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.<br /><br />And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the Lord. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.<br /><br />And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:<br /><br />Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation." Exodus 32:1-10</span></b></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is serious about this folks. He was ready to destroy the Jewish people that He brought out of bondage in Egypt. Then Moses convinced God to repent. Can you imagine? Moses is telling God to repent....<b>11-14</b></span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.</b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people."</b></span></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">So because of Moses, again, the Jews were saved from utter destruction.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Deuteronomy 4:15-19</span></b></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:"</span></b></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">That statue of Mary? That statue of Jesus Himself? The cross? None of these things have any life in them.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven."</span></b></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you say astrology? Horoscopes and such? I have known people who will not leave their homes until they find out what their horoscopes say about their day. The sun, moon, and stars will not protect you, nor keep you safe. When you look at them, you are looking at a creation. They are to God, what the most beautiful building is to man. All of them are just created things. They have no life in them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm a big guy. I have even been told that when I am in my gym gear, all black, with my sunglasses on, I look evil. Very intimidating so I'm told. So you are my neighbor. You are going out of town. You decide I will take a picture of this guy. {Pointing to myself} I will blow it up to life-size, and I will place it, right inside my front door. This way, when a thief comes in, he will see the big guy in black, and he will get scared and run away. My house will be protected.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">So you do this. The thief comes. He kicks the door in and sees the life-size image of me standing there. He gets startled. But he is a brave thief. He takes a second look and realizes, it is not real. So he steals your stuff and takes the image of me with him. You wonder what happened?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now you are going out of town, you come to ME. You ask ME to watch your house. I agree. The thief comes and kicks in your door. This time, I really am there. I seize him and protect your home. The difference? I'm real. I'm alive. I can do whatever I choose. That image of me? It's dead. There is no life in it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is the same way. Remember the key? Jesus.<b> "<span style="color: red;">I am the way</span>, <span style="color: red;">the truth</span>, <span style="color: red;">and the life</span>: <span style="color: red;">no man cometh unto the Father</span> <span style="color: red;">but by me</span>."</b> Not this saint or that one. Not Mary. Not the statue of Jesus, but Jesus Himself. That Statue of whatever has no life in it. It will do you no good. Neither will any other than Jesus Himself. Mary, the prophets, John, Paul, Peter, whatever, were for a time, and are now in heaven with God. Just like you will be when you leave. So they can not do anything for you themselves. Let alone their likenesses.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul told the early Church when a dispute arose about forcing gentiles {Non-Jews} to be circumcised and follow the law, That all the gentiles needed to do to be saved was believe in Jesus and keep God's commandments,</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.</b></span></span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.</b></span><b>." </b><b>Acts 15:24-29</b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also in.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jeremiah 10:1-25</span></b></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord:</b></span><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>“Learn not the way of the nations,</b></span><b> nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens</b><b> because the nations are dismayed at them,</b><b> for the customs of the peoples are vanity. </b><b>A tree from the forest is cut down</b><b> and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. </b><b>They decorate it with silver and gold;</b><b> they fasten it with hammer and nails</b><b> so that it cannot move.</b><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b></b></span></span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field,</b></span><b> and they cannot speak; </b><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>they have to be carried,</b></span><b> for they cannot walk. </b><b>Do not be afraid of them,</b><b> for they cannot do evil,</b><b> neither is it in them to do good.”</b><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>There is none like you, O Lord;</b></span><b> you are great, and your name is great in might. </b><b>Who would not fear you, O King of the nations?</b><b> For this is your due; </b><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>for among all the wise ones of the nations</b></span><b> and in all their kingdoms</b><b> there is none like you.</b><b> They are both stupid and foolish;</b><b> the instruction of idols is but wood!</b><b> Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish,</b><b> and gold from Uphaz. T</b><b>hey are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith;</b><b> their clothing is violet and purple;</b><b> they are all the work of skilled men.</b><b> But the Lord is the true God;</b><b> he is the living God and the everlasting King. </b><b>At his wrath the earth quakes,</b><b> and the nations cannot endure his indignation.</b><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”</b></span><b> It is he who made the earth by his power,</b><b> who established the world by his wisdom,</b><b> and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.</b><b> When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,</b><b> and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. </b><b>He makes lightning for the rain,</b><b> and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.</b><b> Every man is stupid and without knowledge;</b><b> every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, </b><b>for his images are false,</b><b> and there is no breath in them.</b><b> They are worthless, a work of delusion;</b><b> at the time of their punishment they shall perish.</b><b> Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,</b><b> for he is the one who formed all things, </b><b>and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; </b><b>the Lord of hosts is his name.</b><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>Gather up your bundle from the ground,</b></span><b> O you who dwell under siege!</b><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>For thus says the Lord: </b></span><b>“Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land </b><b> at this time, </b><b>and I will bring distress on them,</b><b> that they may feel it.”</b><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>Woe is me because of my hurt!</b></span><b> My wound is grievous. </b><b>But I said, “Truly this is an affliction,</b><b> and I must bear it.”</b><b> My tent is destroyed,</b><b> and all my cords are broken; </b><b>my children have gone from me,</b><b> and they are not; </b><b>there is no one to spread my tent again</b><b> and to set up my curtains.</b><b> For the shepherds are stupid</b><b> and do not inquire of the Lord; </b><b>therefore they have not prospered,</b><b> and all their flock is scattered.</b><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>A voice, a rumor! Behold, it comes!</b></span><b> a great commotion out of the north country </b><b>to make the cities of Judah a desolation,</b><b> a lair of jackals.</b><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself,</b></span><b> that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.</b><b> Correct me, O Lord, but in justice;</b><b> not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.</b><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>Pour out your wrath on the nations that know you not,</b></span><b> and on the peoples that call not on your name, </b><b>for they have devoured Jacob;</b><b> they have devoured him and consumed him,</b><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b> and have laid waste his habitation.</b></span><b>"</b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, what the Word is telling us is that these things, created by man, will perish with time. A fire will consume that statue as well as it will destroy anything else. It will not protect you. It will not benefit you in any way. Only the true and living God can, and will.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">We'll wrap it up today with...</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?</b></span><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><b>This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.</b><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><b>I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.</b><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.</b></span><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.</b></span><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.</b></span><br /><br /><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif"><b>And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.</b></span><b>" </b><b>1 John 5</b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Coming up next time is part two, where we will discuss:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">3 - <b>"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain."</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">4 - <b>"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done.<b> "</b><b>because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.</b><b>"</b> <b>Romans 10:9</b>. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You<b> "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."</b><b>Colossians 3:10</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you want to tell me, comment, questions, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is <a href="mailto:truthbygod1@gmail.com"><b><span style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;">t</span>ruthbygod1@gmail.com</b></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. </b> <b>2 Corinthians 13</b></span></div></div></div></div></div>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-37407034210327694732024-01-10T01:00:00.027-05:002024-01-10T01:00:00.263-05:00Book of Genesis Chapter 36<p><b> Chapter 36</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1keTARvIw3ygrrUX7GpVMEEi0H0ky8OArK3rY5z2SmSkoWZUSmjg3_oZfIS0B1LuM-R08K_dM6f4DaIbYbA6OI_OD7Xm7T1Kg-PaZGoMUxAPAgn4Z28x4SUZgc7M4lZn9borwHbkFz7yzg0ne4zetvGevwi_YYKbXQGP0aatGiaibpZFsHbDXngwJmf0/s474/Genesis%20%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="474" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1keTARvIw3ygrrUX7GpVMEEi0H0ky8OArK3rY5z2SmSkoWZUSmjg3_oZfIS0B1LuM-R08K_dM6f4DaIbYbA6OI_OD7Xm7T1Kg-PaZGoMUxAPAgn4Z28x4SUZgc7M4lZn9borwHbkFz7yzg0ne4zetvGevwi_YYKbXQGP0aatGiaibpZFsHbDXngwJmf0/w400-h228/Genesis%20%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Esau's Descendants</b></p><p><b>1 These are the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). 2 Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, 3 and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, the sister of Nebaioth. 4 And Adah bore to Esau, Eliphaz; Basemath bore Reuel; 5 and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.</b></p><p><b>6 Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock, all his beasts, and all his property that he had acquired in the land of Canaan. He went into a land away from his brother Jacob. 7 For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together. The land of their sojournings could not support them because of their livestock. 8 So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. (Esau is Edom.)</b></p><p><b>9 These are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir. 10 These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau. 11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 (Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son; she bore Amalek to Eliphaz.) These are the sons of Adah, Esau's wife. 13 These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife. 14 These are the sons of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.</b></p><p><b>15 These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: the chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 16 Korah, Gatam, and Amalek; these are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Adah. 17 These are the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: the chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah; these are the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife. 18 These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau's wife: the chiefs Jeush, Jalam, and Korah; these are the chiefs born of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife. 19 These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.</b></p><p><b>20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; these are the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam, and Lotan's sister was Timna. 23 These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24 These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah; he is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he pastured the donkeys of Zibeon his father. 25 These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah. 26 These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 27 These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. 28 These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These are the chiefs of the Horites: the chiefs Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; these are the chiefs of the Horites, chief by chief in the land of Seir.</b></p><p><b>31 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites. 32 Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, the name of his city being Dinhabah. 33 Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. 34 Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. 35 Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his place, the name of his city being Avith. 36 Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. 37 Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his place. 38 Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. 39 Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place, the name of his city being Pau; his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezahab.</b></p><p><b>40 These are the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their clans and their dwelling places, by their names: the chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel, and Iram; these are the chiefs of Edom (that is, Esau, the father of Edom), according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession.</b></p>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-5417470708663668602024-01-07T01:00:00.031-05:002024-01-07T01:00:00.170-05:00Introduction to the Ten Commandments, 2024<p> <b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Coming up here at T.A.G.</b></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8279794675997094717" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2621583856604511116" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.52px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1B1Nsw7H9uuzKXaRZ5y3e2E-sY5c3lKTut5PRfFzOXjUgh0E9tq-ssMDdxN8s6FpylxtbTPEj-6vDRFkjWgS1NIfqCpymGKbaWZTh4H0kTA-9-6WsdVIs0Lfp1-VfVjRaduX5ErkSlEU/s1600/Chat+2.jpg" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1B1Nsw7H9uuzKXaRZ5y3e2E-sY5c3lKTut5PRfFzOXjUgh0E9tq-ssMDdxN8s6FpylxtbTPEj-6vDRFkjWgS1NIfqCpymGKbaWZTh4H0kTA-9-6WsdVIs0Lfp1-VfVjRaduX5ErkSlEU/s1600/Chat+2.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Hey folks,</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Happy New Year to ya. I hope you all had a good and safe celebration of the end of 2023 and the beginning of this new year. New beginning. Starting off with a clean slate. A chance to begin anew. A time when we make New Year's resolutions. Promises to improve our lives and to make things better for ourselves and our families.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">You are going to hear all kinds of things. You may even say some of them yourself. "I promise to lose weight." "Eat less, or healthier." "I promise to quit smoking, drinking, and swearing." Yes, I know there is a joke there somewhere. "Work less?" "Spend more time with the family?" "Go to church more?" "Be a better person?" ETC.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Well, why not start the year, learning what the Law of God really is. Seriously. Do you know the forgotten Laws of God? Does your church teach them? I'm not talking about knowing where to find them. I'm not talking about how to say them in order. Do you actually know them? Do you REALLY know what they are? Do you, or our nation, violate them daily? Is it really that big a deal to know them, and to follow them?</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b><b>My son, keep my words </b><b>and treasure up my commandments with you;</b><b> keep my commandments and live;</b><b> keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; </b><b>bind them on your fingers;</b><b> write them on the tablet of your heart.</b><b>" </b><b>Proverbs 7:1-3</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Does that sound like just knowing how to say them in order? What about this?</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b><b>My son, do not forget my teaching,</b><b> but let your heart keep my commandments,</b><b> for length of days and years of life</b><b> and peace they will add to you.</b><b> Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;</b><b> bind them around your neck;</b><b> write them on the tablet of your heart.</b><b>" </b><b>Proverbs 3:1-3</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Teaching our children the list of the Ten Commandments, in Sunday school, is not a bad thing. Understanding that </span><b>Commandment 6 </b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">says </span><b>Thou shall not kill</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">, is a good thing. Knowing that </span><b>Commandment 5</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> is the first with promise, is a good thing. However,,,</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b><b>“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.</b><b>" </b><b>Deuteronomy 6:4-9</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Understanding the Ten Commandments is more than just counting. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. </span><b>" For the length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee." </b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Did you know that? God even gives us a promise. Follow My Law, and live.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">It's not just memorizing them. It's not just doing one study on them. God tells us this.</span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Proverbs 6:20-23</b><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"M</b><b>y son, keep your father's commandment,</b><b> and forsake not your mother's teaching.</b><b> Bind them on your heart always;</b><b> tie them around your neck.</b><b> When you walk, they will lead you;</b><b> when you lie down, they will watch over you;</b><b> and when you awake, they will talk with you.</b><b> For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,</b><b> and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,</b><b> "</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">The Ten Commandments were not given to man to make man's life more difficult. To refrain man from the things he loves.</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." </b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b>1 John 5:3</b></span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">When asked what we must do to be saved, what did Jesus tell us?</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b><b>And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “<span style="color: red;">Why do you ask me about what is good</span>? <span style="color: red;">There is only one who is good</span>.<span style="color: red;"> If you would enter life</span>, <span style="color: red;">keep the commandments</span>.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “<span style="color: red;">You shall not murder</span>, <span style="color: red;">You shall not commit adultery</span>, <span style="color: red;">You shall not steal</span>, <span style="color: red;">You shall not bear false witness</span>, <span style="color: red;">Honor your father and mother</span>, <span style="color: red;">and</span>, <span style="color: red;">You shall love your neighbor as yourself</span>.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “<span style="color: red;">If you would be perfect</span>, <span style="color: red;">go</span>, <span style="color: red;">sell what you possess and give to the poor</span>, <span style="color: red;">and you will have treasure in heaven</span>; <span style="color: red;">and come</span>, <span style="color: red;">follow me</span>.”</b><b>" </b><b>Matthew 19:16-21</b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Jesus put the Law of God, ahead of even Himself. He told us plainly.</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b><b><span style="color: red;">Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets</span>;<span style="color: red;"> I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly</span>,<span style="color: red;"> I say to you</span>,<span style="color: red;"> until heaven and earth pass away</span>,<span style="color: red;"> not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven</span>,<span style="color: red;"> but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven</span>. <span style="color: red;">For I tell you</span>, <span style="color: red;">unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees</span>,<span style="color: red;"> you will never enter the kingdom of heaven</span>.</b><b>" </b><b>Matthew 5:17-20</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">If you love Jesus, you must follow the Ten Commandments.</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b><b><span style="color: red;">If you love me</span>,<span style="color: red;"> you will keep my commandments</span>.<span style="color: red;"> And I will ask the Father</span>,<span style="color: red;"> and he will give you another Helper</span>,<span style="color: red;"> to be with you forever</span></b><b>;" </b><b>John 14:15-16</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">The Ten Commandments were given to man to make man's life easier. To keep him from the snares of the devil. Understanding, not only what they are, but what they mean, is crucial to every child of God's growth and well-being. If we keep them?</span><br /></span></div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b><b><span style="color: red;">If you keep my commandments</span>,<span style="color: red;"> you will abide in my love</span>,<span style="color: red;"> just as I have kept my Father</span>'<span style="color: red;">s commandments and abide in his love</span>.</b><b>" </b><b>John 15:10</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">You see how important it is to not only know what they are but to </span><b><u>KNOW</u></b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> what they are. It is really hard to follow something if you have no idea what it is you are supposed to follow. Therefore, for the next few times we get together, we will go into an in-depth study of these, the forgotten Laws of God, the Ten Commandments.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">I remember a long time ago when I was first saved and one came to me asking me about the Ten Commandments. I remember thinking "Everyone knows them." Well, it was at that moment that I learned, that not everyone does. To the lost, the simple things of God, are not so simple. To the religious, the simple things of God, are not always so simple. To the child of God, sometimes it is in that simplicity, that we get lost.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Won't you join us, as we get back to the basics? Like anything else, if you do not have a solid foundation, you can, and will, be moved. The Law of God is alive and well. The Law of God is to not only be learned but followed. It has not changed. It will not be done away with. Whatever, and however, man, attempts to discard it, does not mean it is not still there, and that God will not hold you blameless for ignoring it.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Peter</span></span></div></div></div></div>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-7067067906400341542024-01-03T01:00:00.028-05:002024-01-03T01:00:00.211-05:00Book of Genesis Chapter 35<p> <b>Chapter 35</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYIC6buYNY4Cd-losfca-Cp5IodzQCJTlhZUoNgPBQU1NF3QVhKBm1vyP9lMyr3cHKI6hbYPsvMGtFfmR46hfl3UAaVWdtp1Ll9zkai3JOtTGWHE5RPI9mZe5fmQIikbce53AbWG5CI0WzMoVY0vafp9dUwhiBXT4XGdHl8bbOcKmbbqDPwPSHZSDXR4/s474/Genesis%20%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="474" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYIC6buYNY4Cd-losfca-Cp5IodzQCJTlhZUoNgPBQU1NF3QVhKBm1vyP9lMyr3cHKI6hbYPsvMGtFfmR46hfl3UAaVWdtp1Ll9zkai3JOtTGWHE5RPI9mZe5fmQIikbce53AbWG5CI0WzMoVY0vafp9dUwhiBXT4XGdHl8bbOcKmbbqDPwPSHZSDXR4/w400-h228/Genesis%20%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>God Blesses and Renames Jacob</b></p><p><b>1 God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem.</b></p><p><b>5 And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, 7 and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. 8 And Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So he called its name Allon-bacuth.</b></p><p><b>9 God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel. 11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. 12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.” 13 Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. 15 So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.</b></p><p><b>The Deaths of Rachel and Isaac</b></p><p><b>16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. 17 And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” 18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni;[g] but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), 20 and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day. 21 Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.</b></p><p><b>22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine. And Israel heard of it.</b></p><p><b>Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant: Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.</b></p><p><b>27 And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. 28 Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. 29 And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.</b></p>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-52518600531749557542023-12-31T00:30:00.079-05:002023-12-31T00:30:00.286-05:00Happy New Year? 2024 <p><b>Refection rather than Resolutions</b> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0JItus4jq3pinQXgmYBL1XgYOBQZtJ8LXo31SJ3uh9Urmf63tpTMffEwmW1-NnblHulA6_RVTewVJZvmDjKo8iK06jDQOxvQA0NvLEBlDrhp9PFSvN2JZrRtBgP-AvIIDrOs3QVT4mNbyc-uqAmS3qB2xH3f5hH5rRM_t1GP51Fue-V8q4rLtOGwpfM/s1600/Happy%20New%20Year.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0JItus4jq3pinQXgmYBL1XgYOBQZtJ8LXo31SJ3uh9Urmf63tpTMffEwmW1-NnblHulA6_RVTewVJZvmDjKo8iK06jDQOxvQA0NvLEBlDrhp9PFSvN2JZrRtBgP-AvIIDrOs3QVT4mNbyc-uqAmS3qB2xH3f5hH5rRM_t1GP51Fue-V8q4rLtOGwpfM/w400-h266/Happy%20New%20Year.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I’ll tell you, I wish I could say this was my idea. It wasn’t I got a call from a friend who said he heard this from his Pastor. The idea is to stop for a little bit. "Instead of looking ahead into 2024, which Jesus Himself tells us we should not do, why not look back?" <div><br /></div><div>I agree and find this completely Biblical. Instead of looking for, coming up with, and breaking, New Year Resolutions, why not take some time in the past year's reflections? <br /><br />Resolutions sometimes feel restrictive and overwhelming, while reflection encourages introspection and growth. It's like shifting from pushing a boulder uphill (resolutions) to taking a scenic hike on a winding path (reflection).<br /><br />You can explore areas like these.<br /><br />Achievements and accomplishments: What are you proud of? What challenges did you overcome?<br /><br />Growth and learning: What new skills or perspectives did you gain? What lessons did you learn?<br /><br />Relationships and connections: Who were the important people in your life this year? How did those relationships evolve?<br /><br />Gratitude and appreciation: What are you thankful for? What brought you joy?<br /><br />Challenges and setbacks: What did you struggle with? What did you learn from those experiences?<br /><br />Where was God in this past year? Where was He working in your life? I know it seems simplified, but every breath you take is a gift from your Heavenly Father. Why not take some time to thank Him?<br /><br />Why are we so quick to forget yesterday and look towards tomorrow? Look what the Bible says. <br /><b><blockquote>"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth." Proverbs 27:1</blockquote></b>This verse reminds us of the unpredictable nature of life and encourages humility in the face of the unknown.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus Himself emphasizes living in the present moment and trusting in God's care for the future.<br /><blockquote><b>"<span style="color: red;">Therefore do not worry about tomorrow</span>, <span style="color: red;">for tomorrow will worry about itself</span>. <span style="color: red;">Each day has enough trouble of its own</span>." Matthew 6:34</b></blockquote><div>We read this in James. </div><b><blockquote>"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, do business, and make a profit.' But you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:13-14</blockquote></b>This verse reminds us of the fleeting nature of life and encourages reliance on God's guidance.<br /><b><blockquote>"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28</blockquote></b>This verse offers hope and assurance, reminding believers that even in uncertain times, God's plan for good prevails.<br /><br />Tomorrow, or 2024, is what it is. You may lose a loved one. You may lose your job. You may get sick. You may be blessed with good fortune. It is what it is. What will be will be. Why worry? As a child of God, we are to rely on Him. His wisdom. His strength. His provisions. His love. <br /><br />“I will quit smoking.” Will you? <br /><br />“I will quit drinking?” Are you sure? <br /><br />“I will stop swearing.” Really? <br /><br />“Will no longer lie?” OK. <br /><br />I only made one New Year resolution that I ever kept. <br /><br />“I will not make nor keep any New Year resolutions.” <br /><br />Instead of lying to yourself and others, how about taking the time to see God in your life? We go through our days at the speed of life. We do. We get into routines and we live our lives in such a way we miss SO VERY MUCH! We talked about this in the past. So many times, myself included, we travel through our every day at the speed of life. We get up. We eat breakfast or don't. We drink our coffee, watch the morning news, or whatever. We get dressed and head out the door. We, most of us, have a routine. We stop here or there. We get stuff, we head off to work, or school, or whatever. We complete our assigned tasks. We head home. We wonder what we will eat for dinner. We miss our loved ones. We think of Birthdays or now at this time, the New Year coming up. We plan trips. We pay bills. For the most part, we live in our happy little bubbles.<br /><br />Who is the person who sold us the coffee? What is your mail person's name? Why is there that thing there? What is this over here? Did you see that person on the corner? What were they doing? Did you know that the person who just cut you off in traffic was on their way to the Hospital? Did you see the old person on the bench? What did you miss? You would be surprised. <br /><br />We talked about tomorrow. What if this is your last day on earth? How would you spend it? Think about this. If we were to put God in our terms, a thousand years to us, is but one day to God. <b>2 Peter 3:8</b>. By the time God has his first cup of coffee, you were born, grow, hope and dream, live your life, and pass on. Wars are fought and won. Wars are fought and lost. Saints walked the earth and demons have slithered. Picture the last 130 years. We went from horse and carriage, fire and horse-carried mail, to laser beams and space travel. To carry around with us little computers in our pockets. All in the last 130 years. A cup of coffee in the morning of God's day. In that, is you. <b>"A vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."</b><br /><br />God is not asleep. He is with you. He is not concerned with time. We are. He tells us that we need not be concerned with it. We need to live in the moment. Live in today.<br /><b><blockquote>“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16</blockquote></b>In <b>Colossians 4:5-6 </b><br /><b><blockquote>“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” </blockquote></b>He tells us, not to fear. He is with us.<br /><b><blockquote>“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10</blockquote></b>Instead of us, blindly rushing toward 2024, let us take some time to reflect on God and His working in our lives and remind ourselves that we should do as Jesus tells us. <br /><b><blockquote>“<span style="color: red;">But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness</span>, <span style="color: red;">and all these things will be added to you</span>.” Matthew 6:33</blockquote></b>What things? Food, clothing, shelter, money to pay bills, you know, our daily needs. Be thankful that we are children of a timeless and limitless God who is with us always and will never leave us nor forsake us. A God that will defend us and fill us with His Spirit to make us invincible, <br /><b></b></div><blockquote><div><b>“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? <br /><br />Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.<br /><br /></b></div><div><b>Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. <br /><br />For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39</b></div></blockquote><div>2024 will be what it will be. You just need to be what you are, a blood-bought, washed clean, renewed as a new creature, a child of God. Let Him control your coming year. We cannot possibly be in better hands.<div><br /></div></div>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-41714769272530516092023-12-27T01:00:00.032-05:002023-12-27T01:00:00.142-05:00Book of Genesis Chapter 34<p> <b>Chapter 34</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9fwAIcuFPdRGZwAKEFxvRNgBl-ooFaLt90eXjRcM7TqX_r1cHOpgCQ1hQc3vZnYSmKrPjRtO6TFSzmJK_-3bUBq2UTWplZyRRfKAklLs6DK4MuKUJvGAhYPCMRpB-D-jjCMcEUIjFuvC5WCDz9Wxbpqwff0nSFrLos85CgHCC78LOpqPDuhl-Z56Nr4/s474/Genesis%20%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="474" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9fwAIcuFPdRGZwAKEFxvRNgBl-ooFaLt90eXjRcM7TqX_r1cHOpgCQ1hQc3vZnYSmKrPjRtO6TFSzmJK_-3bUBq2UTWplZyRRfKAklLs6DK4MuKUJvGAhYPCMRpB-D-jjCMcEUIjFuvC5WCDz9Wxbpqwff0nSFrLos85CgHCC78LOpqPDuhl-Z56Nr4/w400-h228/Genesis%20%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>The Defiling of Dinah</b></p><p><b>1 Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. 3 And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. 4 So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this girl for my wife.”</b></p><p><b>5 Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 7 The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, for such a thing must not be done.</b></p><p><b>8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife. 9 Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it.” 11 Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. 12 Ask me for as great a bride price and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife.”</b></p><p><b>13 The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully because he had defiled their sister Dinah. 14 They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us. 15 Only on this condition will we agree with you—that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised. 16 Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will dwell with you and become one people. 17 But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will be gone.”</b></p><p><b>18 Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor's son Shechem. 19 And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob's daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his father's house. 20 So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying, 21 “These men are at peace with us; let them dwell in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us to become one people—when every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised. 23 Will not their livestock, their property, and all their beasts be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us.” 24 And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.</b></p><p><b>25 On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males. 26 They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword took Dinah out of Shechem's house and went away. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field. 29 All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered.</b></p><p><b>30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.” 31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?”</b></p>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211381998358418549.post-58762120834019715652023-12-24T06:05:00.000-05:002023-12-24T06:05:13.443-05:00Merry Christmas, 2023<p><b> Merry Christmas</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGSu6kmKzbSFHdBQdvmfSbSRceJfwb4EPAQQYqfqqYrcWnUx6SalW9GWEL_pupLiFEucCksAbjBhIhhaUSrH-R1FNJd03K3YuR-DsQ8it9WtJMzh1IGytWPQtlkQkP64nOoGjPDw8H9ozShrRVUpnX-je7XkalpuqIgiV2YkVgM75aaflORemK1HZ-PU/s1920/Merry%20Christmas%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGSu6kmKzbSFHdBQdvmfSbSRceJfwb4EPAQQYqfqqYrcWnUx6SalW9GWEL_pupLiFEucCksAbjBhIhhaUSrH-R1FNJd03K3YuR-DsQ8it9WtJMzh1IGytWPQtlkQkP64nOoGjPDw8H9ozShrRVUpnX-je7XkalpuqIgiV2YkVgM75aaflORemK1HZ-PU/w400-h225/Merry%20Christmas%202023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><b></b></p><blockquote><p><b>"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.</b></p><p><b>And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.</b></p><p><b>And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.</b></p><p><b>For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,</b></p><p><b>Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." Luke 2:1-14</b></p></blockquote><p>Dear children of God,</p>On this special Christmas morning, as we gather to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I want to invite you to reflect on the profound significance of this day. Christmas is not merely a time for exchanging gifts and indulging in festive cheer; it is a commemoration of God's greatest gift to humanity – the gift of hope.<br /><br />In a world often shrouded in darkness and uncertainty, the birth of Jesus brought forth a beacon of hope, illuminating the path toward salvation and eternal life. Through his humble arrival in a manger, God demonstrated his unwavering love for humankind, descending from his heavenly throne to walk among us, sharing in our joys and sorrows, our triumphs and struggles.<br /><br />Jesus' life was a testament to the power of hope, a life dedicated to teaching, healing, and offering solace to those in need. He challenged the prevailing norms, spoke truth to power, and embodied compassion and forgiveness. His message resonated with the downtrodden, offering them a glimmer of hope amidst their despair.<br /><br />The culmination of Jesus' earthly journey, his ultimate sacrifice on the cross, stands as the ultimate symbol of hope. Through his death and resurrection, he conquered sin and death, opening the gates of heaven to those who believe in his redemptive power. His sacrifice offered a promise of eternal life, a hope that transcends the limitations of this earthly existence.<br /><br />As we celebrate Christmas this year, let us not forget the true essence of this season – the gift of hope. Let us embrace the hope that Jesus brought into the world, a hope that empowers us to face life's challenges with courage and resilience.<br /><br />Let us extend this hope to others, sharing it with those who may feel lost in darkness or overwhelmed by despair. Let us be beacons of light, reflecting the love and compassion that Jesus exemplified.<br /><br />Remember, dear friends, that hope is not merely wishful thinking; it is an active force, a driving motivation that compels us to strive for a better future, a future aligned with God's divine plan for our lives.<br /><br />May the spirit of Christmas fill your hearts with joy, peace, and the unwavering hope that only Jesus Christ can provide.<br /><br />Merry Christmas!TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483432759128545278noreply@blogger.com0