Book of John, Chapter 11

 Chapter 11 

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.  So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this, he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died,  and for your sake, I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” So Thomas called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.  Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Many of the Jews, therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know so that they might arrest him.

Learning from Experience, Self

 Learning from your own experience,

We have been talking about learning from experience. One of the best ways to learn in life. Pretty much anything you learn is best learned from experience. We talked about how our Father, God, gave us His Living Word and instruction manual for life. We also talked about how through both the Word of God and simple observation, we can learn from others. Today, we will be discussing possibly the most effective way we learn, from our own personal experience.

I want to share a story with you. It really was not my intent to discuss tithing, yet this is the second week it came up. However, it does illustrate the point. We know God said this.

"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." Deuteronomy 11:26-28

As you know, they do turn away from God and they do fail to keep His Commandments. Then God says this in Malachi

"For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 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. 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." Malachi 3:6-10

Now PLEASE do not misunderstand what I am saying to you here. THIS IS NOT THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL! I am not advocating the Prosperity Gospel. The Prosperity Gospel is a lie straight from Hell itself. DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND.

Having said that, tithing and the giving of offerings, are Biblical. It is Commanded. It is God-ordained. So what and why is it? When I first got saved, I thought a lot like many today do. This is a scam. It is simply a way to get people to part with their money. It is a way to get people to give their money to the Pastor. Then I learned what it is all about. It is NOT all about this.

"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."

Some translations put it this way.

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

This is not what it is all about. THIS is.

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house."

Does your Church feed the Homeless? Help Widows and Children? Does it meet the needs of those less fortunate in the congregation? Do you have electricity in your House of Worship? Do you like AC? Heat? Do you have a living breathing Pastor? People, who also take care of things? Guess what? That all takes money. This is why God set up the Tithe System. Ten percent. Everyone. Always. Simple to understand. Make $100.00, you paid $10.00 in tithe. Make $10,000, pay $1,000.00 so on. Not the loose change you have in your pocket. Not a twenty if you feel you can. Ten Percent.

I learned this, and like many, I was a little skeptical, but it does say,

"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."

So I did. I was working as a Security Officer at the time making an ok wage. I started tithing. I got a raise. I started to "Seek first the Kingdom of God." {Matthew 6:33} and I got fired. That is a whole other sermon. But I got angry with God. "This is how you take care of people? I was barely holding on and I was giving you your tithe, and now I do not even have a job?" God said, "Are you done?" I said "Yeah." He then said, "How can you get a better job until you lose the one you have?" I shut up. Then I got a better job. Then I got two jobs. Then I became a Manager for a Major Hotel Brand in New York. I had credit cards with basically no limits. I had some money in the bank. In my pocket. As long as I gave, I kept being blessed.

Then life interrupted. I ended up moving across the country and walked away from God. I stopped tithing, going to Church, or doing pretty much anything. I ended up losing my Hotel Career, going into five-figure debt, and having various problems of various types. I found out the hard way, there is a curse attached to the blessing and curse.

See. I was giving 10 percent. I was actually giving more. But I was faithful. I was obedient. I did what I was told to. I was blessed. Richly. Not just in finances, but in relationships, things, living quarters, peace of mind, All things. When I walked away? God did not walk away, I did. When I walked away? I was now dealing with that 100 percent. What happened? I went into debt, failed relationships, problems all over the place, and my peace was taken from me.

I finally woke up. I went back to church. I went back to tithing. Why? Because I KNOW from experience that it is true and it works. I am now disabled, head-on car crash along with some other things, but I am the Father of three beautiful Children, Husband to a Wife that takes extremely good care of me, and we have NEVER been in need. Why? God has returned His blessings to me because I returned to Him. I AM the Prodical Son. I know from experience that as long as you are in your Father's House, He is going to love you, bless you, meet your every need. He will take care of you as you take care of your children. I read it. I did it. I learned from it. No one needs to convince me, I know it because I experienced it.

You can read all kinds of things. You can hear all kinds of things from all kinds of people. I still have people, now three years into my disability, say things like, "How?" "How do you make it with three kids and only your Wife working?" God provides. Simple. Easy to understand. Hard to accept and believe totally for people who have never experienced it. "How do you still tithe if you do not have a job?" God provides, so I tithe.

It is not just about tithing of course. It is about all things and it is about learning from every experience. See, meeting my needs is only one little minor aspect of my relationship with God. Like my children, feeding them is only a little bit of my relationship. I love them. I see them succeed and fail, I hold them when they cry. I laugh with them. I discuss their hopes and dreams, and yes, whenever possible, I bless them with all kinds of things. Why? Because they are my children and I am their father. They know that if daddy says something, it is as he says, because my "yes" has always been yes, and my "no" is usually no. Sometimes a no can become a yes, but mostly, whatever daddy says, it is what it is.

God is our Daddy. He loves us and wants the best in all things for us. We just need to trust in Him and know that regardless of us, He is always faithful and just. 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 heal 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 and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised 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 really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "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 shalt 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

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of John, Chapter 10

 Chapter 10

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 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 authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”

The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’?  If he called them gods to whom the word of God came and Scripture cannot be broken do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.

Learning from Experience, Through Others

 Learn from other people mistakes,

Ever do that? See a story in the news, or hear someone tell a story, of the misfortune of others, and think to yourself, "Well, I'm never going to do that." Have you? Why? Simply because you do not like the outcome that happened to them.

The man has his hand blown off playing with fireworks. Don't play with fireworks. The woman puts her eye out by being reckless with a BB Gun. Don't be reckless with a BB Gun. A person burns themselves while ironing the shirt on their person. Do not iron while wearing clothes. You get the point. Learning from other's misfortunes and poor judgment is simply wise.

This is one of the aspects of reading the Word of God. This {Holding up the Bible} Not only is this our letter from Dad telling us what is good and not so good for us, but we also read of other's misfortunes and poor judgment.

We do not have to learn what happens if we have Pride firsthand. We see the devil and his fall. We do not have to wonder about the sin of homosexuality and failing to help the poor and needy. We read about Sodom and Gomorrah. We do not have to learn firsthand about adultery and murder. We read about King David. Through the Word of God or the Bible, God speaks directly to us. He warns us outright and plainly in many things. Then He gives us examples in the stories of others who have come before us. 

Take tithing for an example. Do you believe that tithing is really important to God? Look in Malachi 3:8-10

"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. 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."

Well, that is Old Testament stuff. What happens if I don't? God cannot bless you if you are a thief. He puts before you a blessing and a curse. Tithe and be blessed in ways you cannot imagine. Choose not to? God is not going to be happy. Let's look at a New Testament story of Ananias and Sapphira. You can find it in Acts 5

"But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge, he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things."

Do not tempt God. Do not lie to God. Trust what He tells you about Tithing and try it. He says, "put me to a test." Trust me, from my experience, I can tell you clearly, that 90 percent will go far farther than the 100 percent ever will. Why? Because you are putting God in charge of your finances and being obedient to Him and His Word. More on this personal experience next time.

What about adultery? I mean, it is 2020 after all. Over 42 percent of all first marriages will end in divorce. Many now go into it say this is my first marriage. After all, who really cares? God does.

"And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning, it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." Matthew 19:3-9

As a matter of fact, Commandment number 7 says simply,

"You shall not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14

Why do we feel it is ok now? The concept is simple. The God Plan is easy to understand. One man, One woman, Come together, as one flesh.

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Genesis 2:24

Marriage is now and has always been, one man, and one woman. It doesn't matter what we say about it. That IS God's plan of marriage. One man and one woman, for life.

"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

"He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself." Proverbs 6:32 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.

We can see the cost of Adultery in the story of David and Bathsheba.

We can see the cost of worshiping any other but the one true God by seeing what happened to the Jewish people as we read the Book of Exodus.

We can see the cost of lying and stealing when we read the story of Ahab & Naboth's Vineyard in 1 Kings 21

Over and over again, we read the stories of those who have come before us. They did this, this happened. They did that, that happened. Do you want to be like this or that? I think it was President Trump who said this. "Always try to learn from other's mistakes, not your own. It's cheaper that way." You can add safer, less painful, and wiser all at the same time.

If I see someone do something silly and I see the outcome, I simply do not do it. I learned from their mistakes. The stories that are in the Bible are there for this very reason. So we can learn from them and not have to repeat them for ourselves.

However, when we do, are we actually going to learn from it? More on that next time. 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 heal 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 and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised 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 really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "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 shalt 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}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of John, Chapter 9

 Chapter 9

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.  We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

So for the second time, they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment, I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

Learning From Experience, The Bible

The Bible

Hello, welcome today. Today we are going to start a new series entitled "Learning from Experience." The easiest and most natural way for us to learn is from experience. Hit your thumb with a hammer. Hurts. Don't do that again. On purpose anyway. Toothaches? Not fun. So we brush our teeth. We go to the dentist. You get the point. We really do not need anyone to tell us if we touch a hot stove we could get burned. If we have and did.

We will talk more about this concept of learning from our own personal experiences soon. However, we, as children of God, have an extreme advantage over everyone else. Yes, we learn from our own experiences. We also learn from our family. Fellow brothers and sisters that have been through life and the process before us. Then again, God is our Father. The Creator of the Universe, the Alpha, and Omega, the great I Am, is now your Daddy.

I have three children. I love them with all my heart. I try to teach them the best things for them. Things to not only keep them safe but to make things easier and more enjoyable while they are here on the earth. I teach them things like not touching a hot stove. I know what happens if they do. 

Do not play in traffic. Do not touch the hot stove. Do not play with matches. Do not jump off the roof. Eat these kinds of food and get 8 hours of sleep. Say your prayers and trust in God. Always try to be kind. You can be blessed by simply blessing someone else.

Do I tell my kids these things to make their lives boring, or more difficult? No, I teach my kids the best things because I seek the best things for them. God is our Daddy. He loves us. He seeks the best things for us. He gave us this. {Holding up the Bible} His Word.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

Some look at this as a list of don'ts. Some of it is. Don't steal. Don't lie. Don't murder. Sounds like stuff I say to my kids. Don't cheat on the one you love. Do unto others as you would like them to do to you. Greater to give than to receive. Yeah, there are some don'ts. There are also some dos.

What this is. is a living conversation between us, and our Daddy.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7

God corrects those He loves {Hebrews 12:7} and shows us the best ways for us to go. He treats us as His children. If He warns us of something in His Word, like a good parent does to their child, He is doing it for our good and for our protection. We may like the idea of doing something, but He knows that the end result of us doing it is death. Like our kids playing with a loaded gun. Sin is just like that loaded gun. It will go off at some point if we pull the trigger enough, and the end result can be our death.

Jesus tells us this.

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:29-30

He also tells us this.

"Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me." John 7:16

We do not have to suffer the same fate as others. We do not have to travel down that wide and straight path that leads to hell. Jesus made it easy to understand when He tells us this.

"Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." Luke 6:47-49

There is no mystery nor trouble that we can face that Jesus has not already overcome. There is nothing that is going to happen to you, that has not already happened. The Word tells us this in 1 Corinthians 10:13.

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

We do not have to be surprised or have fear of anything. We are children of God. God is our Daddy. We just need to learn from Him. His Word. Through the Holy Spirit who God gives us and who teaches us all things and brings all things to our remembrance that Jesus told us {John 14:26}

This is why Jesus says this to us in John 14:21

"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

We do not have to learn what happens if we have Pride firsthand. We see the devil and his fall. We do not have to wonder about the sin of homosexuality and failing to help the poor and needy. We read about Sodom and Gomorrah. We do not have to learn firsthand about adultery and murder. We read about King David. Through the Word of God or the Bible, God speaks directly to us. He warns us outright and plainly in many things. Then He gives us examples in the stories of others who have come before us.

We have every answer to any question we can ask, right here in our hands. {Holding up the Bible}There is nothing that we can not answer. There is nothing not known to God. There are no contradictions. No mistakes. No compromising either. Sin is sin. Good is good. There really is a devil and there really is a place called hell. There is also a way to escape it. His name is Jesus.

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 heal 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 and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised 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 really is just that simple. 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}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of John, Chapter 8

 Chapter 8

[The earliest manuscripts do not include 7:53–8:11.]

8:1-11 { but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning, he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]

 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law, it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”  So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”  So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Peace of Mind, Death

 A far better place to that of which we go.

First and foremost, we are going to be talking about death. Plain and simple. If this offends you, perhaps you should not continue. If it scares you, PLEASE do continue. Death is not something to be feared. Not for Christians. Life on earth is like everything else on earth. Life on earth is temporal. It is for but a time, then it is on to the next stage of existence. Death is as natural as birth. It is as natural as living itself. It will come for all living things.

I understand that many fear death. It is natural to fear the unknown. But it doesn't have to be the unknown. Being a child of God, you know what to expect. You understand, that when that time comes for you, it is not a punishment. It is not a horrific event. It comes because it must. Turn to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

"For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace."

A little bit later it says this. 

"For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return."

In other words, death will come. There is an appointed time. We all must face our immortality in this temporal world. I truly believe that our fear is in what comes next. However, Jesus tells us what comes next...

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." John 14:1-3

In the book of  Revelations, it tells us what the capital, if you will, of the new Earth looks like. In  Revelation 21

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life."

This is after the tribulation. The end time. But I want you to think about this. "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son." And "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." Imagine that? It is a far better place to that of which we go, than this of which we leave. A place where God Himself will wipe away our tears. A place where there will be no more sorrow, pain, sickness, death itself. You see, it is appointed to man {Humans} to die twice. Yup. Twice.

The first is physical death. The body will die. As stated in Ecclesiastes 3: 2

"a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;"

The second is spiritual death. The old man is put away. In Revelations, it declares.....

"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." Revelation 21:8

This is the aftermath of the White Throne Judgement. Revelation 20:10-15

"and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

So let us look at the two deaths. And how do you get your name written in the Book of Life? The first is obvious. A physical death. The body fades away. From dust to dust. Every living thing faces this death. The second is spiritual.

You must remember, because of one man, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are born into sin. We are born into the family of the devil. We are NOT all children of God. We are all God's creation. But not all children.

"that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." John 3:15-18

Remember, he was talking to the "religious folks" when He said this in John 8:43-45

"Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me."

Just because they were religious, doesn't mean they were saved. Doesn't mean that they were children of God. He called them the children of the devil. The only way you can become a child of God is through the adoption of the Spirit. Romans 8:13-18

"For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

Then, and only then, you can be called a child of God. Do you know for certain, you are, without doubt, a child of God? If not, please 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. Say this Prayer...

"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 and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised 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 really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "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 shalt 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}

From the beginning of time, man has sought out ways to extend his life here on Earth. They seek immortality. They want to live forever. However, would that be a blessing or a curse? Have you really thought about that?

We know that the Word declares "absent the body, present with the Lord." If you do not leave your body? You can not be with the Lord. For the Lord and the kingdom of heaven is spiritual. The body is material. It's physical. We are in physical bodies to enjoy this gift God gave us. Besides all that. How long would you want to live in a place where there IS sickness, disease, sorrow, pain, etc? One hundred years? Two hundred years? Remember, for God, our time on Earth is nothing. Even time as we know it. The world as we know it will come to an end. In 2 Peter 3:8-18

"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,  as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

This is why Jesus tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God. We are His children, He will meet our needs. All this "stuff" the world has to offer is nothing. It's here one moment and gone the next. As a child of God, you ARE immortal. You are going to live forever.

But what about the sorrow we feel when a loved one passes on? I hate funerals. I really do. The person laying in the box is not there anymore. They are not at their own funeral. Funerals are for those left behind. The deceased is gone. If they were a child of God, they are with Him. If they weren't. It's too late for them. Whatever God decides in the afterlife, is between them and God. Jesus is telling us that once we become children of God, nothing else matters. Those that did not accept the spirit of adoption, they are dead already. They have no part in the Kingdom. But you DO. You are a child of God. You should never worry about the past. You have no past. You are a new creature. A new man. A new woman. You are an heir to the Kingdom of God. Your name is written in the Book of Life. You should have no fear.

So when a Child of God, "dies" what really happens is that they are transformed. They leave the physical and become spiritual. They go to a place where God Himself will wipe away their tears. Who is better off? Us? Or them? I submit to you, they are. By FAR.

Death is a time of celebration for a child of God. Of course, you will have sorrow. That is normal. I get sad if someone I love takes a trip. I miss them. I know I will see them again in time. But I miss them. When a loved one dies, they are simply taking a very long trip. But the good news is, if they are a child of God, as are you, you will see them again. Celebrate their passing, and look forward to seeing them again. Live on and seek first the Kingdom of God. Continue to spread the word. Your time will come as well. As well will the time come for the end of everything. But as a child of God, these things are not to be feared, but things to be looked forward to.

Until next time, be well, be blessed, and Jesus IS Lord!