Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 19

 Chapter 19

Laws Concerning Cities of Refuge

1 “When the Lord your God cuts off the nations whose land the Lord your God is giving you, and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses, 2 you shall set apart three cities for yourselves in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess. 3 You shall measure the distances and divide into three parts the area of the land that the Lord your God gives you as a possession, so that any manslayer can flee to them.

4 “This is the provision for the manslayer, who by fleeing there may save his life. If anyone kills his neighbor unintentionally without having hated him in the past— 5 as when someone goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down a tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live, 6 lest the avenger of blood in hot anger pursue the manslayer and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him fatally, though the man did not deserve to die, since he had not hated his neighbor in the past. 7 Therefore, I command you, you shall set apart three cities. 8 And if the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as he has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land that he promised to give to your fathers— 9 provided you are careful to keep all this commandment, which I command you today, by loving the Lord your God and by walking ever in his ways—then you shall add three other cities to these three, 10 lest innocent blood be shed in your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, and so the guilt of bloodshed be upon you.

11 “But if anyone hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes him fatally so that he dies, and he flees into one of these cities, 12 then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there, and hand him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may die. 13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it may be well with you.

Property Boundaries

14 “You shall not move your neighbor's landmark, which the men of old have set, in the inheritance that you will hold in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

Laws Concerning Witnesses

15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. 16 If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, 17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. 18 The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil[c] from your midst. 20 And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. 21 Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Five lies of the Devil, Lie Four

 Lie four, Who are you?

Who do you think you are? You can’t teach or lead others. Who are you? This is what we will be discussing today. Let us pray. 

Heavenly Father, LORD God, we come before you today with all praise and worship. You are the Alpha and the Omega. You are the great I AM, and we thank you for the ability to become your children. As your children, we ask for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive Your Truth and Revelation in Your Word. In this, we ask and pray in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Are you a good person? I have always considered myself a good person. If you ask, most will view the question in an earthly, worldly sense. They would reason it out. "Let's see, I haven't been arrested. I love my spouse and kids. I give to charity, attend church on Sundays, and try never to speak ill of anyone. Yes. I would say I was a good person."

If you look at it strictly in a worldly sense, you would be right. However, remember what Jesus said when Peter called him "Good Master?"

“And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19

Yeshua, the King of Kings, the Alpha and Omega, the Lord himself, corrected it when he was called good. If “Jesus” did not consider himself worthy to be called good. Then are you better than he? You see, Jesus was in the flesh, the same as we all are. Therefore, the temptations of the flesh were the same for him. The fruits of the flesh would have had the same result for him if he had given in, as they would and do for all of us.

The Word declares the very distinct difference in walking in the flesh and in the Spirit. If you have your Bible and wish to, turn to Galatians 5, start at verse 16

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:16-21

All these things mankind, men and women, do daily. Walking in the flesh and the things of the flesh are natural. They are human nature. The result of them all is the same: death.

Oh, society may, and has, become numb to some of them. It may even have become acceptable, or at least seen as "no big deal." But none of that changes the fact of what these things are. Most of these are self-explanatory. The others?

Lascivious? Characterized as or by expressing lust. Tending to incite lust. Look at the TV? Look at movies. Go to the malls and see how our young women are dressing. The Internet? You get the point.

Sedition?       Stirring up rebellion.
Revellings?   To rebel or take much merry in oneself.
Effeminate?  Characterized by weakness or self-indulgence.
Covetous?     Excessively desirous of something. Greedy.
Emulations? To try to surpass or become equal to something greater than you.

These are all the fruits of the fresh. The works we do in the flesh. These are the normal desires of one walking in the flesh. 1st Corinthians 6:9-11 says it this way.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Before you accept the gift, before you become a child of God, you must do these things. Many of the 12 did these things. These are the works of the flesh. But wait, we are all God's children, right? Wrong. We are all God's creation, but not all are God's children. The only way to become a child of God is through Jesus.

If you look at it in a worldly sense, the devil would be right. Who are you to sow the seed? To share the Truth? You are an ignorant, wretched person. You are not a Pastor. You have no degree in Scripture. You are not ordained. Who are you? You cannot teach or lead others.

Again, if we were looking at this in a worldly sense, the devil would be telling the truth. However, we know that the devil is “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 character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 You see, if you ARE a child of God, if you did say a prayer like this;

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!

Then you are no longer that person. You are NOW a child of the living God. One of the simplest ways I know to look at this for a newborn, if you will, in Christ, is to turn to Romans 8, start at verse 15

“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 so that we may also be glorified with him.”

Only now can you claim to be a child of God. Now? Drop down to verse 31

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

"For your sake, we are being killed all day long;
We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Amen? Amen! Now and only now, can you fulfill what Jesus asked everyone of us to do.

“And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

Now, here is an important thing to remember. Well, maybe a couple. First, if you are a child of God, then YES, God is calling you to be a sower of the seed, teller of truth, and shower of the way. However, He is not asking you to change the world. The world is what it is, and the world’s fate is sealed. In His prayer in John 17:6-11, Yeshua does not pray for the world. He prays for you. He said: "I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours." He did not say, I pray them out of the World, rather to "keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one."

He taught us that the basics of being a child of God hang on two Commandments. All ten can be summed up in these two. "Love God with all your heart, mind, and body, and love your Neighbor as yourself." He even told us," Do this, and you will do well."

You hold the keys, and with them comes responsibility. You are fortunate to have the ability to make a difference. However, always remember this crucial fact: others have free will, just like you do. They can choose to accept or reject the truth. They can decide to repent or continue to sin freely.

Will you lose loved ones? I hope not, but it is a possibility. This is why we are warned about it; it is part of the cost of discipleship. Are you able to do whatever it is that God calls you to do? Yes. Are you significant? Are you sufficient? Are you called? Yes. As a child of God, you have whatever it takes to do whatever He calls you to do.

Do not listen to the lies of the devil. Even if he tells you you cannot do this or that. Do not believe the devil if he tells you it is impossible.

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.’ Mark 10:27

You are now a child of God. The one who created the Heavens and the earth, the one who spoke all things into existence, is now your Father. I’m pretty sure He can handle anything that comes your way.

Join us next time, when we discuss the fifth lie. This one is not as clear and simple as you may think. Is going to church important? What is the main question you need to ask? This is what we will be discussing next time.

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 you and be with you always.

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

The Rapture

The Rapture

Hey folks, welcome to a special Thursday edition of TAG. I really feel like I need to address this. If you have been on ANY Social Media as of late, you have been told by some “Biblical Scholars,” “Pastors,” or “Children of God” that the Rapture is about to happen.

Folks, people are truly believing this. To the point of selling all they have, stopping paying bills, working, just basically giving up all to stand somewhere and look to the sky, awaiting our LORD to return.

First, it was October 6th. Nothing happened. Oh, wait, October 7th. Nothing happened. Would you believe October 8th? Nothing happened. So now I understand that some are now saying October 24th, or maybe the 25th. Guess what. Nothing is going to happen then either. Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to learn the truth according to you. There is a lot of misinformation going around in the world, as you warned us there would be. Please give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive and understand your truth in this manner. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!

If anyone, and I mean anyone, tells you they know the day or the time, they are lying. How can I be so sure? Because no one can know. God said so. Want proof? The entire chapter of Matthew 24 is a good place to start. Let's focus on Verse 36-39

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

Stop. NO ONE knows except for God the Father. Even when Jesus, this is who is talking, even when Jesus was in the flesh, He did not know, because the flesh serves the world. Are you following?

“For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

What does this mean? Does it mean everyone sells or gives away their stuff and walks out into the field and waits for Jesus? No. Jesus explains more clearly.

“For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:36-39

People will simply be living their lives. Then it will happen. On a normal, nothing special Tuesday. Or perhaps a Monday, Thursday? Truth is, it could be today. However, it will not be while everyone is waiting and looking for it.

Jesus also told us this.

“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen.” Revelation 16:15, Matthew 24:43, 1 Thessalonians 5:2.

No one knows. If anyone tells you that they know the hour or the day, they are lying to you. Even if they mean well, they are lying to you. If Jesus did not know while HE was in the flesh, then how does someone else, anyone, know? Are they greater than our Lord? Of course not.

In the parable of the talents, Jesus made this statement as the rich ruler. “Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ What Jesus is telling us here is that we should continue to live our lives, as children of God, we should continue to invest in the Kingdom, sharing the Gospel, telling the Truth, sowing the seed, and showing the way until? He returns.

If you so choose, turn to Titus 2, starting at verse 11

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,”

Who is that? Jesus.

“training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

In case there was any doubt.

“who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

Will Jesus return? YES! Absolutely. He even told us what He is doing between leaving and returning. He said this.

“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 14:3

If you are a child of God, Jesus is returning for you. When the time comes, you will be with Him. God’s timing. Not some “influencer,” or Joe Schmoe on social media. God alone.

Now, what about this other thing that I heard making the rounds? Jesus already returned secretly, but don’t worry, He will be back.? I do not even know where people get this stuff. When this happens, do not worry. You will not miss it.

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.” Revelation 1:7

If you have to, read that again. “Every eye will see him.” It will not be a secret. Again, this is Jesus talking.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31

Does this sound like a secret happening? No. It will be quite impossible for you to miss this. It is the end of the world as we know it. You are not going to wake up, walk out, and everything will be gone. You will be part of it.

Paul issues this warning to all of us, led by the Spirit.

“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;”

Be the child of God that God calls you to be.

“But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” Romans 2:6-8

For us, we should be looking for Jesus’s return. For those who are not His children, it will not be a happy time. Either way? You will not miss it.

Please, do not quit your job, sell or give away everything you have, and say, you no longer have to worry, because our Lord will return on this day. Please do not follow those who say Christ is here, or He is there. Or that He already came.

As with all things, please follow what the Creator says. Stop listening to the creature. Believe it or not, He really does know more than we do. I know, right? Think about this. Jesus tells us plainly.

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

Follow what He says. Occupy until He comes. Live your life, invest in the Kingdom, and look for His return in the meantime.

“I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Revelation 3:11

Of course, if you are not His, then this is indeed a scary and dark time coming. Do you want the assurance? Do you want peace? Do you want to not doubt that Jesus is preparing a place for you and will come again to receive you? Say this prayer. Right now, 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!

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 Ghost 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 18

 Chapter 18

Provision for Priests and Levites

1 “The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the Lord's food offerings as their inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them. 3 And this shall be the priests' due from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether an ox or a sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. 4 The firstfruits of your grain, of your wine and of your oil, and the first fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. 5 For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for all time.

6 “And if a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel, where he lives—and he may come when he desires—to the place that the Lord will choose, 7 and ministers in the name of the Lord his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand to minister there before the Lord, 8 then he may have equal portions to eat, besides what he receives from the sale of his patrimony.

Abominable Practices

9 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, 12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations, the Lord your God is driving them out before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, 14 for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.

A New Prophet like Moses

15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

Five Lies of the Devil, Lie Three

Faith in God is so restrictive.

Ever hear that? “Oh, you want to be one of those? Well, that’s boring—no drinking, no sex, no swearing. You can't read this, or you can’t watch this, or that. You cannot even be friends with those who do. It’s boring, restrictive, and it will keep you from doing what you want to do. Oh, and it is racist, homophobic, transphobic, chauvinistic, and hateful. You want to be one of those?”

This sort of thing usually goes along with the Bible is not real, religion is a scam, and there is no devil or hell. Just live your life and have fun. Is any of this true? Of course not. However, this is one of the lies the devil whispers in your ear. Let's talk about it today. Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, Lord God, we thank you for everything, and we come before you with praise for allowing us to be adopted into your family. We ask for wisdom and revelation as we enter your Word today. Help us to discern truth from lies, Heavenly wisdom from worldly foolishness, and fill our spirits as we learn your truths and your ways. In Yeshua’s name, we ask and pray, Amen!

Before I was saved, I drank a lot, smoked, and partied with my friends. I did not have any concern for the things I watched or sex in any form. It is what it is, and if it made you happy, hey, go for it. If it feels good, do it. As long as you are not hurting anyone, who cares? Right?

When I got saved, I began to feel convicted about everything. It was quite a struggle to stop just learning things and to truly understand the reasons behind them. Do you know what else happened? People started to think I was becoming “holier than thou.” They believed I thought I was better than them. I lost friends. I started to be called, say it with me, racist, homophobic, transphobic, chauvinistic, and hateful. There was a whisper in my ear, “Is it worth it?”

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But remember all the fun you used to have? You were not worried about upsetting some sky daddy. You were just being you and true to yourself. Life is short. Enjoy it. Right?

If you have your Bible, turn to John 14.

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

Who is talking? Yeshua, or Jesus, as translated.

“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. And you know the way to where I am going."

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Read that again. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is no other way. Not religion, not self, not the world, and being good. Only through Him can you get to God. Why? “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." He IS God. You cannot get to God if you leave God out of the equation.

“Philip said to him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’"

Philip was not paying attention.

“Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.”

We have talked about this before; this life is short. Your time on earth IS brief. Remember when we did the math? Clear your mind. Breathe. Count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Now, open your eyes. That moment in time is gone. Those 5 seconds have come and gone and will never be repeated. Ever. They are gone for good. They are in the past. History. Soon to be forgotten.

Now, picture 75 years. Nice long life in a worldly sense. Your life. Those 5 seconds are just a tiny fraction — like 5 seconds out of one minute, or one hour, day, week, month, or year of those 75 years. You probably won’t even miss it—those 5 seconds. Now, picture 100 years. During that time, you were born, raised, became an adult, married, and had kids; they had kids, and now you have been gone for 25 years. What about 500 years? A thousand? How about an eternity? Forever. How long is that little 75 years in the scope of eternity?

When you choose the world’s ways over God’s, it is like you saying, “Yeah, I will spend an eternity in hell, in pain and suffering, for sex.” “I will spend an eternity in hell, in pain and suffering, just to be me and do the things I like to do.” Does this make any sense? Of course not.

But why is it so restrictive? It is not. You see, I have to be careful here, but we have the freedom to do whatever we want. This is one hundred percent true.

"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.” 1 Corinthians 10:23

As a child of God, we are free. Truly free. We can indeed sin, and He is willing to forgive us. Yet we should not be willingly sinning.

“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:21

So when we read the Word. And we learn what God says about this or that, we need to understand that God is not trying to make our lives harder or more restrictive, but rather to keep us from harm and the snares of the evil one. It is all really in here {Holding up the Bible.}

Homosexuality- Leviticus 18:1-5, 22-24, 29, Leviticus 20:13, Ezekiel 16:49-51, Romans 1:18-32, just to name a few.

Transgenderism- Deuteronomy 22:5, Romans 1:18-32, 1 Corinthians 11:14-15, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

Pedophilia - Mark 9:42, Luke 17:1-37, 2 Timothy 3:1-17, 1 Corinthians 5:1-6

Beastiality- Leviticus 18:19-30, Exodus 22:19

Sex is a beautiful gift shared between a husband and wife. Don’t want to get pregnant? Don’t want a sexually transmitted disease? Don’t have sex. I know, right? Don’t want to be guilty of theft? Don’t steal. Don’t want to be a murderer? Don’t commit murder. I know this can be complicated for some.

God spells it out for us. Don’t want to do stupid stuff that could hurt you or those you love? Don’t get drunk. Don’t use drugs. Want a long and healthy life? Eat right and exercise. Too much pork is bad for you. Is it unlawful for you to eat pork? Nope. Remember what God told Peter. He was hungry and saw this vision of a blanket coming down with all kinds of animals on it, and he heard a voice say, “Kill and eat.”

“But Peter said, 'By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common or unclean.’" And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common." Acts 10:14-15

However, is it wise to eat a pound of bacon every day? Of course not. Jesus said this.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

God wants you to have an abundant life. Now, do not get that twisted into thinking I’m talking about the "Prosperity Gospel," but God wants the best for His children. Just like an earthly parent, God wants a Father/child relationship with us. He wants to be there when we go to sleep and keep us safe. He wants to be there when we get up. He wants to teach us, care for us, and meet our daily needs. He wants us to come to Him with anything.

Just as you would warn your child against playing with fire or running into traffic, God cautions us about things that are not in our best interest. Yes, He may share some truths we might not enjoy hearing. However, it is always for our benefit. Furthermore, God also disciplines us.

“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” Hebrews 12:6

The evil one will tell you to follow your heart. Just be you. That you do not need God or His Word. That religion stuff is for the simpltons and those who hate others that do not look or act like them. The evil one will tell you that anything goes. You only live once, and then there is nothing. So you can enjoy it.

Make no mistake about it. The time that you are here on this earth is briefer than you can even imagine. You will live on. Remember this?

“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” John 5:28-29

It does not matter if you believe this or not. It does not matter if you accept this or not.

“By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'” Isaiah 45:23

“For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." Romans 14:11

“So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” Philippians 2:10

It will happen. Trust me, the evil one will not save you in the end. What is it you feel would justify enteral judgment? What would you consider to be worth your soul? Think about it.

Join us next time when we will discuss the lie number 4 that the devil loves to tell you, that you aren’t significant or special, and you cannot teach or lead others. 

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

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

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

Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 17

 Chapter 17

1 “You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep in which is a blemish, any defect whatever, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.

2 “If there is found among you, within any of your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, in transgressing his covenant, 3 and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden, 4 and it is told you and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel, 5 then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones. 6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness. 7 The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

Legal Decisions by Priests and Judges

8 “If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the Lord your God will choose. 9 And you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision. 10 Then you shall do according to what they declare to you from that place that the Lord will choose. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they direct you. 11 According to the instructions that they give you, and according to the decision which they pronounce to you, you shall do. You shall not turn aside from the verdict that they declare to you, either to the right hand or to the left. 12 The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel. 13 And all the people shall hear and fear and not act presumptuously again.

Laws Concerning Israel's Kings

14 “When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ 15 you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ 17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

18 “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

Five Lies of the Devil, Lie Two

 Lie two

The Physical World Is More Important than the Spiritual World.

All religions are the same. They should all be respected and kept out of general society. Worship whoever and however you choose, just do it in the privacy of your home. Don’t offend anyone. Just keep it to yourself. We live in a secular world, so keep that religion stuff to yourself.

This is what we will discuss today. Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, LORD God, we give you thanksgiving for all we have had, or ever will have. This includes life itself to life everlasting. You are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. The great ‘I Am.’ As we go to your Word today, we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive and understand your Word and your ways. Show us today that this physical world is nothing to be compared to what truly is, and what is to come. We ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

First, understand this important fact: the world and everything in it are temporary. They exist now but will not always be here. A time is coming when all things as we know them will cease to exist.

“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”1 John 2:17

Look what Jesus said to His disciples when they were admiring the beautiful buildings and synagogues of the time.

"Jesus left the temple and was going away when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:1-2

He said this as well.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35

We read things like this in His Word.

"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." Revelation 21:1

And this

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind." Isaiah 65:17

Think about this for a moment. Forget the "End Times" for a second. Imagine a tornado. Now, consider a hurricane. What about an earthquake, a flood, or a fire? The day before, everyone in that town was simply living their lives. They were going to work or school, dating, getting married, and taking vacations. They were saving up for the next big thing. They argued about what to have for dinner and which movies to watch. The kids played and laughed. Then, in some cases, with minimal warning, it was all gone in an instant.

Think about 9/11/2001. Over 3000 people woke up for the last time that day on this earth. It was an ordinary, mundane Tuesday. I was off that day. Nothing planned. I turned on the news and saw a plane crash into the World Trade Center. Then another. In a moment, with little warning, everything was gone, and things changed forever.

The point is, what will happen tomorrow? What about before we even finish this discussion today? The truth is, we do not know. Today may be your end time. Today may be your last day on earth. If you have your Bible, turn to Luke 12, starting at verse 15

“And he said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’ And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'

But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." Luke 12:15-21

Think about this. Every secular goal that we can have on this earth is bound to death and decay. Think about that. I will say it again. Every secular goal is bound to death and decay.

That car you love so much? Temporal.
That house, or houses, you like to brag about? Temporal.
That money hidden where you hid it? Temporal.
Your clothes? Temporal
Everything you have or ever will have, while here on this earth? Temporal.
That includes even your very body.

“Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'-- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4:13-14

A mist. Vapor. A moment in time. It goes by faster than you realize. Even a long life of over 75 years is just a brief moment in time. The world does not have to end for it to be “Your time.”

This is why we are encouraged in God’s Word not to worry about the world.

“As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

When your time comes, like the rich fool, it won’t matter what your bank account says. It won’t matter how famous you are or how many “Followers” you have. It won’t matter your status, your religion, your belief system, or whether you believe in God at all. Nothing will matter on that day. It is simply your time. Do not waste your precious time here on earth aligning yourself with the world and its values.

James warns us of this as well in James 4:4

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

Forget what the world tries to tell you. It will lie to you. Why? Because it is run by the devil. We are no longer of this world, yet we are still in it. We are children of God.

“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19

What do you, as a child of God, have to do with the evil one? As our Lord asked, perhaps you may want to give it thought.

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36

What is there in this world that you would consider worth trading for an eternity in hell? Oh, and no, you cannot have it both ways. Turn to Romans 8, starting at verse 5.

“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

However, this is no longer you. Verse 9

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

Stop for a second. Are we all children of God? No. “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” We are all God’s creation, but we are not all God’s children.

“But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:9-11

This is why the devil wants you to concentrate on the world. Why does he want you to see ‘how easy it is’ to post videos online and get millions of ‘followers’ and become famous? If you have enough followers, you will also get rich. You will have power. You will be like a god. Sound familiar?

Forget the Bible, it means nothing. Keep that religion to yourself. If it makes you feel good to pray to the ‘non-existent sky daddy,’ then by all means, go for it. In your own home. Leave everyone else alone. We live in the real world where we have real goals and don’t have time for your ‘spiritual nonsense.’

They can say this all they want; however, the time is coming, and the Bible makes it clear.

“For it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:11

It does not matter one iota if you believe or not. It does not matter if you accept this fact or not.

“So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11

This will happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but you will live on. Where do you choose to live? What do you feel is the most important thing to focus on? The temporal or the eternal? You really should make the wise choice today.

This is also the reason why the devil wants you to think like this. He wants you to believe that he is the one to hold your happiness. Join us next time as we explore this topic further. “That Happiness Is Unattainable without him.”

Of course, if you already belong to him, then he needs to do nothing. Are you a child of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us pray.

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 Yeshua's 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!

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 Ghost 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!