Coming Right Up: A Conversation with Peter

 Next up here at TAG

Hey folks, if you have been with us here at TAG, {The Truth According to God} for the past 34 weeks, congratulations, you just read through the entire book of Deuteronomy. That's right, we wrapped up Deuteronomy last week.

Here is a reminder. Some people find it truly difficult, and some see it as nearly impossible, to read through the Word of God. They struggle to stay on target and find themselves falling away, failing to complete what they set out to do so badly. There are a few reasons for this.

1 - The Word of God is not natural. It is supernatural. It is alive. It is real and ever working in this world and in people's lives.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

We are natural, l and we crave the things of the flesh, which is the opposite of and even opposed to the things of God. Sometimes we pick up the Bible and try to read it with our carnal minds. This is a problem.

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:5-8

When you pick up this book (Holding up the Bible), you should pray about it. Ask God to give you eyes to see, and a spirit to receive His Word. Ask Him to give you the Holy Spirit to interpret and to understand what His Word is telling you. The word declares that God is willing to give wisdom and understanding to those who ask Him.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5

2 - The Cares for this world.

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23

Again, when you read God's Word, you should pray to Him and ask for guidance and even time to do so. Set a routine. Get up an hour earlier. Go to bed an hour later. Skip that TV show. Miss that next newscast. Make it a priority to read God's Word, His guidance for your understanding, and never forget that God's Word is absolute and just. Therefore, if it says something that offends you or goes against what the world says, it is true. The world is wrong. It IS just that simple.

3 - Offensive content

To elaborate a bit more on the last topic, you may become offended at something you read in the Word. Abortion is murder. Psalm 139:13-18, Exodus 21:22-25, Homosexuality is sin, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Ezekiel 16:48-51, {Think America} Romans 1: 18-32. Jesus IS the only way to Heaven? John 14:6, Matthew 7:21–27, John 6:63, He promised that those who believe in Him will have Eternal Life, John 3:14–15. He is the gate of the sheep, John 10:7; The Bread of Life, John 6:35; and the Resurrection, John 11:25.

It really is simple. It is in the Book. If the Bible tells you it is sin. It is a sin. It does not matter one iota what you may think about it. What Man says about it. What even the Courts say about it. It does not matter what world leaders, the news, or famous people say about it. If the world chooses to ignore the Word of God, it doesn't change sin to good. Rather, it heaps up the punishment that will eventually come. If you become offended at something you read, pray about it. Ask God why. Seriously, look in the mirror. God is always right and just. His Word is always right and just.

4 - Compassion for others.

Wait. What? Yup. Having a false sense of compassion for others can stop you from reading God's Word. Why? See above. I believe in God. I even believe in Jesus. However, my mother believes in Buddha, or that my best friend is gay, and believes in a loving God where all are welcome and encouraged to just be themselves. There is nothing wrong with that in my eyes. Or you may have something in your past, or know someone that you know the Bible will talk against. Well, I just do not believe that this or that is really sinning. I'm just going to live my life and let God sort it out in the end. That is simply judging the Bible based on what others have told you.

In today's society, Jesus would have detractors on every side. Pretty much like He did then. Jesus does not measure compassion in a merely temporal, circumstantial way. His measure of compassion is eternal and transcendent. His goal, His mission, His compassion, is rooted in something deeper than a feeling. It is based on holiness and goodness. Absolute righteousness. Try reading it for yourself and ask God to put it in proper context and help you to understand. It will change your life.

The Book of Colossians

The Book of Colossians is essentially a "Correction and Connection" letter written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison. It’s short, punchy, and packs a massive theological punch, primarily focusing on one big idea: Jesus is enough.

Paul had never actually visited Colossae. The church there was likely started by his colleague, Epaphras. However, Paul heard that the believers were being swayed by "hollow and deceptive philosophy"—a mix of local mysticism, legalism, and the idea that you needed "secret knowledge" or extra rituals to truly reach God.

Back to what I was saying, if you have been here for the past 34 weeks, you read through the entire book of Deuteronomy. Congrats. We will be diving into the book of Colossians starting next week. One chapter a week. That's it. That's all. Not too tough if you choose you really want to do it. Remember, pray. Ask God to show you what He wants you to see as we go through Colossians together. 

Until next time. Be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord!

A Saints Prayer

Hey folks, welcome. Today, we will be starting a new sermon series entitled  "A Saint's Prayer." We are going to spend the next few weeks in Psalm 25. This is a prayer, a song written by King David, and it is one that all Saints, including you, can pray. Did you know you were a Saint? You are. This prayer of David is definitely worth learning. 

Let us pray, Father. We are so thankful for your love and grace. We come before you today to learn from your Word. We know we cannot do that without your guidance. Please grant us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive your Word, Truth, and Revelation. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

If you have your Bibles, turn to Psalm 25. Again, this is a Psalm of David.

"Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause."

Now notice. The first thing he does is recognize that God is in charge. Although he is the King of Israel, he still states, “Do I lift my soul. O my God, I trust in thee.” Although he does not know it, he is following, if you will, the formula of the “Our Father” prayer that Jesus gave us. Acknowledge God about and before all things.

Then what is he asking for? Truth, and discernment of truth. Notice he is not praying for the world. He is praying for wisdom and discernment to know the truth from lies. Remember, the wisdom of this world is far different than the wisdom of God.

We are told this over and over in the Word.

“Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17

Since it is true, what is right and just? The world's point of view, or God’s Word? Is the truth relevant? Is it led by compassion and love or worldly things? Or is it the living Word of the one true God? How can you tell the difference? This. {Holding up the Bible}

If you want, turn to 1 John 4:1-6

“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.”

This is more true today than ever. All these false churches popping up all over the place, that call sin good, and good sin, or better yet, teach that there is no sin.

“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”

Again, some of these churches and false prophets are convincing, compassionate, and some are often skilled in the Word. I just debated someone who is using the Word in one breath, quoting scriptures, and in the other rejecting scripture and claiming we must do this out of love. What he is doing is attempting to justify sin by using the Word of God.

You really cannot do that. Yet, if I were not skilled in the Word, and if I did not have the spirit of discernment, I may have fallen for the lies. Verse 4

“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. They are from the world; therefore, they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.”

Ever wonder why some “good people,” some friends, maybe even some family, can even possibly believe some of the stuff out there? Some of the stuff the world is spouting? I do often. I think to myself, come on, you're smarter than that. HOW. How do you possibly buy into this, uh, stuff? But then I have to remember, they are not of God. Therefore, no matter how “good” they may be, they cannot nor will they listen to God.

“We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this, we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

It really is this simple. Even if they seem “religious,” it does not mean they are right. Look at this passage in Romans 10: 2-3

“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

Sadly, this is where we seem to be today.

“In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Matthew 15:9

And in 2 Corinthians 11:13

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.”

Of course, 2 Timothy 4:3-5

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Again, some of these are very charismatic. They are very convincing. They tell people what they want to hear. What they want to believe. It sounds good. More importantly, what? FEELS good. Feels right. Feels justified.

If you do not have a solid foundation in this, {Holding up the Bible,} in the truth, you can and will fall for a lie. Remember, they are very skilled. But they will not last. Look at this warning.

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

Know the truth, and it will set you free. Pray for discernment, and it will set you free from the snares of false teaching. Follow this simple truth.

“But even if an angel from heaven, or we, should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

Pretty simple, but important enough to say it twice.

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:8-10

God is constant. God does not change. There are no variations. No grey areas. No compromising. No changing with the times. God is God, the Gospel is the Gospel. Truth is Truth. Lies are lies. Jesus IS LORD.

Here is another simple way to know the truth. Ask God. Not man. Join us next time as we continue Psalm 25: A Saint's Prayer.

Are you a Saint? Would you like to be? Simply "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.

Say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be, no matter what you think of your worthiness, 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.

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' sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent of 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!

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 34

Chapter 34 

The Death of Moses

1 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 2 all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, 3 the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 And the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” 5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, 6 and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. 7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. 8 And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. 10 And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

It Is Finished

 Check out this simple truth.  

We just completed our in-depth study on the Ten Commandments. New Year, new you. What do you want to talk about? How about, since we are in basic mode, why do we not discuss what makes “Christianity” different from ANY other religion out there?

That is what we will be talking about today. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, Lord God, we come before you at the start of the new year, with the desire to grow in faith and to learn your Ways and Will for our lives. We ask for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive the Truth according to God. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Yes Jesus. It is not just Jesus being here. Many religions recognize the man Jesus. Many hold Him to be a great teacher, prophet, and so on. But His entire life is read out before us in Isaiah 53. I encourage you to read the whole chapter when you can. We are going to focus today on 5-9

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

Now you see where we are going with this?

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

We may have to revisit the whole chapter soon. You can read things like this and think that he was simply recording the events around Jesus. Yet, this is some 700 years before Jesus was ever born.

“By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.”

We will do a message about Isaiah 53. This way, you can clearly see where it all lines up. For today, we are discussing Jesus’s death on the cross, rather, what happened after. All these predictions, or prophecies, about Jesus and His death are coming true as they do the things prophesied about them.

Now, we see Him on the Cross. Naked, beaten, bloody, barely recognizable. All those who claimed to love Him? “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way;” They left Him. Out of fear, they ran away, stood afar off, and denied knowledge of their friendship with Him.

Remember this in the Psalms?

“To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”

What about this is Psalm 22:6-8?

“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; "He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!" Psalm 22:1

Again, this is NOT depicting the scene we are looking at. Well, it is, but at the time. Remember, the Psalms of David were written hundreds of years prior.

“And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.” Matthew 27:35

This is Jesus hanging on the Cross.

“And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.” Matthew 27:39-42

Divided His clothes, mocked Him, and then.

“And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, ‘This man is calling Elijah.’ And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. ... And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.” Matthew 27:46-48, 50

In John, we read this.

“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, 'It is finished,' and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30

Remember, no one took our Lord’s life.

“For this reason, the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father." John 10:17-18

Therein lies the difference. Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius, and all the rest were born to human parents. You know, through sex and sin. Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius, and all the rest lived, learned, and died. It is only Jesus who came back. Only Jesus, who is still alive.

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Revelations 1:17-18

If whatever church, religion, or person, whatever they tell you, does not include Jesus as the resurrected one. The LORD of Lords, the King of kings. The Way, Truth, and the Life, you are in the wrong religion, church, and the people talking to you are incorrect. Lying, or otherwise.

It really is simple.

“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.” 1 John 5:11-12

With Jesus. With Yeshua, with God, you find the truth. Without Jesus, without Yeshua, you cannot get to God. Again, how do you get to God if you leave God out? How do you understand who Jesus, God, or anything else is? Without reading The Word. The Bible. You cannot. It is not possible. Therefore, if what your religion, church, and person are telling you does not line up with, or goes contrary to this, {Holding up the Bible}, you are in the wrong religion, church, and the people talking to you are incorrect. Lying, or otherwise.

God never wanted nor does He want any misunderstandings. That is why He gave us the Commandments. This is why He sent prophets. That is why He wrote us this love letter {Holding up the Bible}, and this is why Jesus had to come and die for us.

There is no other way. There are no loopholes. Jesus or nothing. God and Life, or sin and death. It really is just that simple. Now, as we go into the new year, we will get deeper in the Word. We will grow in faith and wisdom. We will get closer to God. We will break the lies of the devil along the way.

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25

Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 33

 Chapter 33

Moses' Final Blessing on Israel

1 This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the people of Israel before his death. 2 He said,

“The Lord came from Sinai

    and dawned from Seir upon us;

    He shone forth from Mount Paran;

He came from the ten thousands of holy ones,

    with flaming fire at his right hand.

3 Yes, he loved his people,

    all his holy ones were in his hand;

So they followed in your steps,

    receiving direction from you,

4 When Moses commanded us a law,

    as a possession for the assembly of Jacob.

5 Thus the Lord became king in Jeshurun,

    When the heads of the people were gathered,

    all the tribes of Israel together.

6 “Let Reuben live, and not die,

    but let his men be few.”

7 And this he said of Judah:

“Hear, O Lord, the voice of Judah,

    and bring him in to his people.

With your hands contend for him,

    and be a help against his adversaries.”

8 And of Levi he said,

“Give to Levi your Thummim,

    and your Urim to your godly one,

whom you tested at Massah,

    with whom you quarreled at the waters of Meribah;

9 who said of his father and mother,

    ‘I regard them not’;

He disowned his brothers

    and ignored his children.

For they observed your word

    and kept your covenant.

10 They shall teach Jacob your rules

    and Israel, your law;

They shall put incense before you

    and whole burnt offerings on your altar.

11 Bless, O Lord, his substance,

    and accept the work of his hands;

crush the loins of his adversaries,

    of those who hate him, that they rise not again.”

12 Of Benjamin, he said,

“The beloved of the Lord dwells in safety.

The High God surrounds him all day long,

    and dwells between his shoulders.”

13 And of Joseph he said,

“Blessed by the Lord be his land,

    with the choicest gifts of heaven above,

    and of the deep that crouches beneath,

14 with the choicest fruits of the sun

    and the rich yield of the months,

15 with the finest produce of the ancient mountains

    and the abundance of the everlasting hills,

16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness

    and the favor of him who dwells in the bush.

May these rest on the head of Joseph,

    on the pate of him who is prince among his brothers.

17 A firstborn bull—he has majesty,

    and his horns are the horns of a wild ox;

with them he shall gore the peoples,

    all of them, to the ends of the earth;

they are the ten thousands of Ephraim,

    and they are the thousands of Manasseh.”

18 And of Zebulun he said,

“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,

    and Issachar, in your tents.

19 They shall call peoples to their mountain;

    there they offer right sacrifices;

for they draw from the abundance of the seas

    and the hidden treasures of the sand.”

20 And of Gad he said,

“Blessed be he who enlarges Gad!

    Gad crouches like a lion;

    he tears off arm and scalp.

21 He chose the best of the land for himself,

    for there a commander's portion was reserved;

and he came with the heads of the people,

    with Israel he executed the justice of the Lord,

    and his judgments for Israel.”

22 And of Dan he said,

“Dan is a lion's cub

    that leaps from Bashan.”

23 And of Naphtali he said,

“O Naphtali, sated with favor,

    and full of the blessing of the Lord,

    possess the lake and the south.”

24 And of Asher he said,

“Most blessed of sons be Asher;

    let him be the favorite of his brothers,

    and let him dip his foot in oil.

25 Your bars shall be iron and bronze,

    and as your days, so shall your strength be.

26 “There is none like God, O Jeshurun,

    who rides through the heavens to your help,

    through the skies in his majesty.

27 The eternal God is your dwelling place,

    and underneath are the everlasting arms.

And he thrust out the enemy before you

    and said, ‘Destroy.’

28 So Israel lived in safety,

    Jacob lived alone,

in a land of grain and wine,

    whose heavens drop down dew.

29 Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you,

    a people saved by the Lord,

the shield of your help,

    and the sword of your triumph!

Your enemies shall come fawning to you,

    and you shall tread upon their backs.”

Ten Commandments 2026, 9 & 10

 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."

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 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.

Today, we will be talking about Commandments 9 and 10

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."

Then we will wrap it up as Jesus did at the end. Let's get to it.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, Lord God, we come before you with thanksgiving and praise today, all the praise and glory be to you, God. We are wrapping up our in-depth study of your Word as it applies to the Ten Commandments. Today, we examine nine and ten. Please, Father, give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and the ability to understand what you wish us to know. In Jesus' name, Amen!

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

Now first, as we talked about before, with Commandment 6, 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.

Let's look at Deuteronomy 19

"A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or 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." Deuteronomy 19:15-20

We can see this throughout the Word, where those falsely accuse innocent people. Adam accused Eve. Satan accused Job. The Jews accused Jesus. ETC. However, false accusations are not the only way you can bear false witness.

Let's say you overhear someone talking about someone. They say this or that. Now, without knowing if it's true, 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.

"Did you hear Sally is sleeping with the Boss?" What you don't know is that 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.

Now, the rumor reaches the "corporate office," and both are fired. Or the rumor reaches Sally's husband or the "Boss's" wife, and it wrecks their families and their lives.

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.

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's." Exodus 20:17

So why is this important? Isn't "keeping up with the Joneses" normal? Maybe. But why does God want you to avoid this? Because of what it can lead to. Turn to 1 Kings 21:1-13

“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."

Now, notice: yes, the King didn't do anything wrong — not yet. He saw Naboth’s vineyard and wanted it. He asked Naboth to enter into a business-like agreement to give him the vineyard.

“But Naboth said to Ahab, 'The LORD forbade that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers."

Naboth said no. Now we see how much Ahab covets the vineyard.

“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, refusing to eat any food.

But Jezebel, his wife, came to him and said to him, "Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?"

He goes on to tell her, and we pick up in verse 7

“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."

She told him the truth. You are king. All of this is yours. But if this is not enough. I will take care of Naboth for you.

“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.”

Ahab coveted the vineyard, which led to bearing false witness, theft, and ultimately murder.

In 2 Samuel 11, starting in verse 1

"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 in Jerusalem. It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, and he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.”

Things happen. Say “Things happen.” It was not his intent to see this. Like if you are out at the mall with your family and a beautiful woman barely dressed walks by you. It was not your intent to look at her. Say “Things happen.” Did King David look away? No. He kept looking. He started to covet and lust. Read on.

“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?"

He was told she was married. This should have been it. Was it?

“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."

David coveted Bathsheba, which led to adultery.

“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, 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.”

Of course, David was hoping for Uriah to sleep with his wife, in which case, his wife Bathsheba would lie and say it was his, covering up her and David’s sin of adultery. But he didn’t.

“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.”

Plan two failed. Get Uriah drunk and hope he goes home. However, Uriah was an honorable and faithful servant of David, so he would never do such a thing.

“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." 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." 2 Samuel 11:1-17

So David coveted Bathsheba, which led to adultery and murder. 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

“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:18

Jesus put it to us this way.

"And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:35-40

In Romans.

"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." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:8-10

"Have no other Gods but God."
"Love Thy Neighbor as yourself."

Then Jesus gave us a new Commandment. A clarification, if you will.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." John 13:34

How did Jesus love us? While we were yet sinners, He laid down his very life for us.

Now you understand why. If you have no other God before God, you will not worship 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 as you want to be treated. You would not steal from yourself, and you would not lie about yourself. You would not kill yourself. You will be content with what you have.

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.

Have you been adopted? 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.

"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!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "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. 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 "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

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 32

 Chapter 32

1 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak,

    and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.

2 May my teaching drop as the rain,

    My speech distilled as the dew,

like gentle rain upon the tender grass,

    and like showers upon the herb.

3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord;

    Ascribe greatness to our God!

4 “The Rock, his work is perfect,

    For all his ways are justice.

A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,

    Just and upright is he.

5 They have dealt corruptly with him;

    they are no longer his children because they are blemished;

    They are a crooked and twisted generation.

6 Do you thus repay the Lord,

    you foolish and senseless people?

Isn't he your father, who created you,

    who made you, and established you?

7 Remember the days of old;

    consider the years of many generations;

Ask your father, and he will show you,

    your elders, and they will tell you.

8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,

    When he divided mankind,

He fixed the borders of the peoples

    According to the number of the sons of God.

9 But the Lord's portion is his people,

    Jacob had his allotted heritage.

10 “He found him in a desert land,

    and in the howling waste of the wilderness;

He encircled him, he cared for him,

    He kept him as the apple of his eye.

11 Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,

    that flutters over its young,

spreading out its wings, catching them,

    bearing them on its pinions,

12 the Lord alone guided him,

    No foreign god was with him.

13 He made him ride on the high places of the land,

    and he ate the produce of the field,

and he suckled him with honey out of the rock,

    and oil out of the flinty rock.

14 Curds from the herd, and milk from the flock,

    with the fat of lambs,

rams of Bashan and goats,

    with the very finest of the wheat—

    And you drank foaming wine made from the blood of the grape.

15 “But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked;

    You grew fat, stout, and sleek;

Then he forsook God who made him

    and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation.

16 They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods;

    With abominations, they provoked him to anger.

17 They sacrificed to demons that were not God,

    to gods they had never known,

to new gods that had come recently,

    whom your fathers had never dreaded.

18 You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you,

    And you forgot the God who gave you birth.

19 “The Lord saw it and spurned them,

    because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters.

20 And he said, ‘I will hide my face from them;

    I will see what their end will be,

for they are a perverse generation,

    children in whom there is no faithfulness.

21 They have made me jealous with what is no god.

    They have provoked me to anger with their idols.

So I will make them jealous with those who are no people.

    I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

22 For a fire is kindled by my anger,

    and it burns to the depths of Sheol,

devours the earth and its increase,

    and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.

23 “‘And I will heap disasters upon them;

    I will spend my arrows on them.

24 they shall be wasted with hunger,

    and devoured by plague

    and poisonous pestilence;

I will send the teeth of beasts against them,

    with the venom of things that crawl in the dust.

25 Outdoors the sword shall bereave,

    and indoor terror,

for young men and women alike,

    The nursing child with the man of gray hairs.

26 I would have said, “I will cut them to pieces;

    I will wipe them from human memory.”

27 had I not feared provocation by the enemy,

    lest their adversaries should misunderstand,

lest they should say, “Our hand is triumphant,

    It was not the Lord who did all this.”’

28 “For they are a nation void of counsel,

    And there is no understanding in them.

29 If they were wise, they would understand this;

    They would discern their latter end!

30 How could one have chased a thousand,

    and two have put ten thousand to flight,

unless their Rock had sold them,

    And the Lord had given them up?

31 For their rock is not as our Rock;

    Our enemies are by themselves.

32 For their vine comes from the vine of Sodom

    and from the fields of Gomorrah;

Their grapes are grapes of poison;

    Their clusters are bitter.

33 their wine is the poison of serpents

    and the cruel venom of asps.

34 “‘Is not this laid up in store with me,

    sealed up in my treasuries?

35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense,

    for the time when their foot shall slip;

for the day of their calamity is at hand,

    and their doom comes swiftly.’

36 For the Lord will vindicate his people

    and have compassion on his servants,

When he sees that their power is gone

    And there is none remaining, bond or free.

37 Then he will say, ‘Where are their gods,

    the rock in which they took refuge,

38 who ate the fat of their sacrifices

    and drank the wine of their drink offering?

Let them rise up and help you.

    let them be your protection!

39 “‘See now that I, even I, am he,

    and there is no god beside me;

I kill and I make alive;

    I wound and I heal;

    And there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

40 For I lift up my hand to heaven

    and swear, as I live forever,

41 If I sharpen my flashing sword

    and my hand takes hold of judgment,

I will take vengeance on my adversaries

    and will repay those who hate me.

42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood,

    and my sword shall devour flesh—

with the blood of the slain and the captives,

    from the long-haired heads of the enemy.’

43 “Rejoice with him, O heavens;

    bow down to him, all gods,

for he avenges the blood of his children

    and takes vengeance on his adversaries.

He repays those who hate him

    and cleanses his people's land.”

44 Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun. 45 And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. 47 For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

Moses' Death Foretold

48 That very day the Lord spoke to Moses, 49 “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession. 50 And die on the mountain which you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, 51 because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel. 52 For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.”