Why Are You So Strange? Language

They can't hear you.

Hey folks. Last time we talked about the fact that you were once of the world. Meaning, you were a child of the world and you were just as natural as everyone else. We all had a "gang" growing up. Local kids or at least one or two very close friends. We were all the same. We thought the same, did the same things and were all heading in the same direction.

Jesus put it this way,

"If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own" John 15:19

It did. You did the same things they did. You talked like them. Walked like them. You watched the same things as they did. You were them. Then something happened. God called you out. Jesus finished this statement like this.

"but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

You are not the same. 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 said 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's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

You are now strange. So very strange. Especially to those that know you from before. Look what happened to Jesus when He tried to go home.

"And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief." Matthew 13:53-58

You will get the same treatment. They will say things like "Wait, is this not, in my case, Peter? Diana's son. The guy who used to party with us. The guy that could drink any one of us under a table? The guy that is fearless and would do anything on a dare? Who does he think he is? Going to church and talking about Jesus. Like he is holier than us. Better than us? Come on, get lost."

You are now a weirdo to them. Be the weirdo. Be the Child of God you are. Start by using strange language. Learn your new language. Oh, it is not the same as the world. Do not be mislead. You are a new creature and you now should be speaking a more heavenly or righteous language.

Look what Jesus said to the religious leaders of His time on earth.

"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.”" John 8:43-47

It is this simple.

"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14

Turn to Romans 8:7

"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."

You love your friends and family. You want them to be saved just like you. You try to share the gospel with them and some will flat out reject you and your words. They will literally get angry with you for even bringing it up to them. Why?

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

They cannot even hear you. You are talking to them, meaning it from your heart, but all they hear is nonsense. They cannot accept what you are saying. You are talking about an invisible man in the sky that rewards some and throws others into eternal torture and suffering and you are telling them that Jesus came and died, yet rose again and is alive to this day. They cannot accept it because they cannot hear it. As Jesus said.

"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 reason they cannot hear you is that they are not of God. However, this does not mean we should not try. Jesus told us.

"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 28:19-20

Paul wrote this in his letter to the church at Corinth.

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

Our language has to become all about God and His plan for us. Peter put it this way.

"but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15

Yes, some people are going to think you are strange. Yes. Some will think you are a weirdo. Yes. Some will hate you for it. But this does not mean you should not do it. You are speaking POWER. You are bringing the Kindom of God near people. You may be the only Jesus some people will ever see. What do you think is better. Talk about the latest episode of "Love loss" or tell someone they can be adopted into the very family of God and be on their way to heaven?

Will some reject you? Will some hate you? Yes. Jesus explained it this way.

"Remember the word that I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well." John 15:20

As a child of God, you need to understand that your words have the power of God. This is why it is so important for you to follow this instruction of wisdom.

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." Colossians 4:2-6

Yes, you can discuss other things of course. But you should always be looking for the cracked door. The opportunity to share the Gospel. You should use your newfound power to build up. Not to tear down. To embrace with love. Not to attack with judgment and anger. To love. Not to hate. Be strange in your speech. Be the child of God He calls you to be.

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 Isaiah, Chapter 44

 Chapter 44

1 “But now hear, O Jacob my servant,

    Israel whom I have chosen!

2 Thus says the Lord who made you,

    who formed you from the womb and will help you:

Fear not, O Jacob my servant,

    Jeshurun whom I have chosen.

3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,

    and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,

    and my blessing on your descendants.

4 They shall spring up among the grass

    like willows by flowing streams.

5 This one will say, ‘I am the Lord's,’

    another will call on the name of Jacob,

and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord's,’

    and name himself by the name of Israel.”

Besides Me There Is No God

6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel

    and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:

“I am the first and I am the last;

    besides me there is no god.

7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.

    Let him declare and set it before me,

since I appointed an ancient people.

    Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.

8 Fear not, nor be afraid;

    have I not told you from of old and declared it?

    And you are my witnesses!

Is there a God besides me?

    There is no Rock; I know not any.”

The Folly of Idolatry

9 All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. 10 Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? 11 Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together.

12 The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. 13 The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil.[b] He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. 14 He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. 15 Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” 17 And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”

18 They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. 19 No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” 20 He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

The Lord Redeems Israel

21 Remember these things, O Jacob,

    and Israel, for you are my servant;

I formed you; you are my servant;

    O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.

22 I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud

    and your sins like mist;

return to me, for I have redeemed you.

23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it;

    shout, O depths of the earth;

break forth into singing, O mountains,

    O forest, and every tree in it!

For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,

    and will be glorified in Israel.

24 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,

    who formed you from the womb:

“I am the Lord, who made all things,

    who alone stretched out the heavens,

    who spread out the earth by myself,

25 who frustrates the signs of liars

    and makes fools of diviners,

who turns wise men back

    and makes their knowledge foolish,

26 who confirms the word of his servant

    and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’

    and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built,

    and I will raise up their ruins’;

27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry;

    I will dry up your rivers’;

28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,

    and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;

saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’

    and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”

Why Are You So Strange?

Are you a child of God? 

You are weird. Why are you so strange? Why is it people get nervous when you come around? Well? If you have accepted the Spirit of adoption, you are no longer a child of the world, but you are now a child of God. You are no longer a citizen of this world, but you are now a stranger in a strange land.

Let's start off by stating this fact. I understand some may become offended right from the start. However, that does not make it any less true. We are NOT all God's children. We are all created by God, but only by accepting God's plan for salvation can you become a child of God. Genesis 1:26-27

"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."

Stop a second. Who? God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Who is He talking to? The Word, or the Son, and The Holy Spirit. Don't believe me? Look here.

"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." Genesis 1:2

In the beginning, God. The Spirit of God hovered over the face of the deep. Or of the waters. Look at this.

"And God said,"

Over and over again, "And God said." It was the Word of God, that created all things. Turn to John 1:1-3

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was at the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made."

A little bit far we read this. Verse 14

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Jesus. So we see, from the beginning, God the Father, Jesus the Son, and The Holy Spirit have been and are, and will always be. Three, yet one. We are made in the image of God. Our mind, intelligence, and emotions, ETC, after God the Father. Our flesh, our body that allows us to operate in this physical realm after the Son, Jesus the Christ. Lastly, our essence, our spirit, that will live on forever, after the Hold Spirit of God. We are three, yet we are one.

Then came the fall. When Adam, took all that authority, remember this.

"And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Adam took this authority that God gave him and gave it over to Satan. From that day on, we ceased being automatically born into the Family of God and are now born into the family of the devil. We are all God's creation. Yet we are NOT all God's children. There is only one way to be a child of God, and that is Jesus.

"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. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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." Romans 8:5-17

Jesus told us this.

"Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”" John 3:3

He went on to explain it this way.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3: 5-6

Peter put it this way

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5

Then in 1 Peter 1:22-23

"Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God"

Jesus is the Word {John1} Jesus is the Bread of life {John 6:35}, Jesus is the Living Water {John 7:38} Jesus is the door {John 10:7}, Jesus is the Good Shepard {John 10:11} Jesus is the Way {John 14:6}

There is no other way. Jesus IS God. Without Him, you cannot possibly get to God, because Jesus is already God. That would be like someone saying they want to talk to me but do not believe I am me. In other words, they want to talk to Peter, but they do not want to talk to Peter. You get the point.

So?

"That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9.

To BE a child of God. say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus,  Amen!"

That is it. You are now a child of God. Yes. It really is just that simple. Now you should find a church that God leads you to and be baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are no longer of this world. You are 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

You are now citizens of Heaven itself.

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God," Ephesians 2:19

Which means you are no longer citizens of this world. Jesus said this.

"If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:19

Now you are going to get strange. At least to many that are still of this world. Why? Because they cannot even possibly understand. They are strangers and aliens of Heaven. More on this next time. For now? Be strange. Be weird. BE the child of God He calls you to be.

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 Isaiah, Chapter 43

 Chapter 43

Israel's Only Savior

1 But now thus says the Lord,

he who created you, O Jacob,

    he who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

    I have called you by name, you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

    and the flame shall not consume you.

3 For I am the Lord your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I give Egypt as your ransom,

    Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

4 Because you are precious in my eyes,

    and honored, and I love you,

I give men in return for you,

    peoples in exchange for your life.

5 Fear not, for I am with you;

    I will bring your offspring from the east,

    and from the west I will gather you.

6 I will say to the north, Give up,

    and to the south, Do not withhold;

bring my sons from afar

    and my daughters from the end of the earth,

7 everyone who is called by my name,

    whom I created for my glory,

    whom I formed and made.”

8 Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes,

    who are deaf, yet have ears!

9 All the nations gather together,

    and the peoples assemble.

Who among them can declare this,

    and show us the former things?

Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right,

    and let them hear and say, It is true.

10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,

    “and my servant whom I have chosen,

that you may know and believe me

    and understand that I am he.

Before me no god was formed,

    nor shall there be any after me.

11 I, I am the Lord,

    and besides me there is no savior.

12 I declared and saved and proclaimed,

    when there was no strange god among you;

    and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.

13 Also henceforth I am he;

    there is none who can deliver from my hand;

    I work, and who can turn it back?”

14 Thus says the Lord,

    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“For your sake I send to Babylon

    and bring them all down as fugitives,

    even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice.

15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,

    the Creator of Israel, your King.”

16 Thus says the Lord,

    who makes a way in the sea,

    a path in the mighty waters,

17 who brings forth chariot and horse,

    army and warrior;

they lie down, they cannot rise,

    they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:

18 “Remember not the former things,

    nor consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I am doing a new thing;

    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

    and rivers in the desert.

20 The wild beasts will honor me,

    the jackals and the ostriches,

for I give water in the wilderness,

    rivers in the desert,

to give drink to my chosen people,

21     the people whom I formed for myself

that they might declare my praise.

22 “Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob;

    but you have been weary of me, O Israel!

23 You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings,

    or honored me with your sacrifices.

I have not burdened you with offerings,

    or wearied you with frankincense.

24 You have not bought me sweet cane with money,

    or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.

But you have burdened me with your sins;

    you have wearied me with your iniquities.

25 “I, I am he

    who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,

    and I will not remember your sins.

26 Put me in remembrance; let us argue together;

    set forth your case, that you may be proved right.

27 Your first father sinned,

    and your mediators transgressed against me.

28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary,

    and deliver Jacob to utter destruction

    and Israel to reviling.

Anger, Righteous vs Fleshly, Part 2

 Fleshly anger 

Hey folks, last time we discussed the fact that Jesus got angry. We know that God got angry and they both still do from time to time, yet we are told things like this.

"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire." Matthew 5:22

We are told anger is a destructive force that can lead to all kinds of things. Self-harm, destruction of families, up to and even including murder. Statements like this, "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering" Yoda from Star Wars, is proven to be true. So what is anger?

an·ger

noun
1 a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility:

verb
1. fill (someone) with anger; provoke anger in:

So if we spent the whole time last time talking about the times that Jesus Himself got angry, then why would it be wrong, or unwise at the least, for us to get angry? Well, here is a major difference. Jesus is perfect. We are not. Jesus is God. We are not. Jesus got angry, but He never sinned.

Let's look at some of the warnings from God's word to us about anger.

"In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." Ephesians 4:26-31

I know that is saying a lot. Let's unpack that a bit.

"In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."

Did you wake up this morning thinking that you would punch the wall, yell at your loved ones, or curse out a complete stranger? No. Of course not. The problem with us giving into the flesh in the moment of our anger is that we allow our flesh to react. We think about it over and over. On our pillows, we play the what-if game. The devil can use this time to encourage our flesh to take the next step. It festers and grows in us. Sin starts in our minds, grows in the evilness of our hearts, and becomes manifested in various ways through the actions of our flesh.

"Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need."

A little bit of a side note here but yes. If you covet something someone has, it can lead to anger, and it can lead to stealing and even murder. Think King David, Bathsheba, and Uriah. 2 Samuel 11. Did you know this is one of the reasons you should be working? Not only to meet your needs but also that you "may have something to share with those in need."

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

What can gossip cause? Hurt, anger, and harm to others. Don't do it. Hate is always foolish, and love is always wise. Always try, to be nice, and never fail to be kind. Be encouraging. Build up do not tear down. The more positive you become, the less of an effect others will have on you.

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."

The word tells us that we should never tempt the Lord our God. We should not give Him a full-time job just fixing the stupid stuff we do and helping us out of the positions we put ourselves and others in. King Solomon warns us.

"A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back." Proverbs 29:11

Let's be honest here. What can you do? Someone abuses you. You attack them? You may go to jail. You may lose your job. Your Family will suffer. You try to sue them? You lose money and time. Others are hurt and affected. What can you do? Forgive them. Give them to God. Trust me. All you need to do is live on.

James tells us this

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20

Wrath, even if justified, is pointless. It does not produce anything positive. Also, think about this aspect. What does it do to your health? People get extremely sick holding onto long-lasting anger and hate. Scientific evidence suggests that holding onto anger, and or frequent angry outbursts, may increase the long-term risk of everything from heart attacks and strokes to poor and slow healing and a weakened immune system.

All that aside, remember this simple fact we just talked about recently. There is NOTHING you can do to those that use or abuse you that is even worthy to be compared to that of which God can do to them.

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31

This is why The word tells us this.

"Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools." Ecclesiastes 7:9

Do not ever forget what can happen when you allow yourself to get angry without cause or even without a good cause. You can give in to the flesh and strike out against those you love the most. I'm not talking about physical, although it can go that far with some people, just words can cut deeper than you can ever imagine. As much as you may regret, or even as much as they say they forgive you, you can never take back the things you say. Yell "stupid" enough? They will accept that as how you feel about them. Yell "I don't care." enough and they will believe you. Think about how you sound to others before you speak. It is far easier to control your tongue when you are calm and at peace than it is when you allow the anger to fester and grow inside you.

Breath. Pray. Meditate. Think about it. Practice something that can help you to stay calm. Memorize passages like this.

"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11

Or maybe something like Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I do know this. Without God, it is impossible to control your anger. A great first step, if you have not already done so, is to accept Jesus. Say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. 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 Isaiah, Chapter 42

 Chapter 42

The Lord's Chosen Servant

42 Behold my servant, whom I uphold,

    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my Spirit upon him;

    he will bring forth justice to the nations.

2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,

    or make it heard in the street;

3 a bruised reed he will not break,

    and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;

    he will faithfully bring forth justice.

4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged

    till he has established justice in the earth;

    and the coastlands wait for his law.

5 Thus says God, the Lord,

    who created the heavens and stretched them out,

    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people on it

    and spirit to those who walk in it:

6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;

    I will take you by the hand and keep you;

I will give you as a covenant for the people,

    a light for the nations,

7     to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

    from the prison those who sit in darkness.

8 I am the Lord; that is my name;

    my glory I give to no other,

    nor my praise to carved idols.

9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,

    and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth

    I tell you of them.”

Sing to the Lord a New Song

10 Sing to the Lord a new song,

    his praise from the end of the earth,

you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it,

    the coastlands and their inhabitants.

11 Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice,

    the villages that Kedar inhabits;

let the habitants of Sela sing for joy,

    let them shout from the top of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory to the Lord,

    and declare his praise in the coastlands.

13 The Lord goes out like a mighty man,

    like a man of war he stirs up his zeal;

he cries out, he shouts aloud,

    he shows himself mighty against his foes.

14 For a long time I have held my peace;

    I have kept still and restrained myself;

now I will cry out like a woman in labor;

    I will gasp and pant.

15 I will lay waste mountains and hills,

    and dry up all their vegetation;

I will turn the rivers into islands,

    and dry up the pools.

16 And I will lead the blind

    in a way that they do not know,

in paths that they have not known

    I will guide them.

I will turn the darkness before them into light,

    the rough places into level ground.

These are the things I do,

    and I do not forsake them.

17 They are turned back and utterly put to shame,

    who trust in carved idols,

who say to metal images,

    “You are our gods.”

Israel's Failure to Hear and See

18 Hear, you deaf,

    and look, you blind, that you may see!

19 Who is blind but my servant,

    or deaf as my messenger whom I send?

Who is blind as my dedicated one,

    or blind as the servant of the Lord?

20 He sees many things, but does not observe them;

    his ears are open, but he does not hear.

21 The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness' sake,

    to magnify his law and make it glorious.

22 But this is a people plundered and looted;

    they are all of them trapped in holes

    and hidden in prisons;

they have become plunder with none to rescue,

    spoil with none to say, “Restore!”

23 Who among you will give ear to this,

    will attend and listen for the time to come?

24 Who gave up Jacob to the looter,

    and Israel to the plunderers?

Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned,

    in whose ways they would not walk,

    and whose law they would not obey?

25 So he poured on him the heat of his anger

    and the might of battle;

it set him on fire all around, but he did not understand;

    it burned him up, but he did not take it to heart.

Anger, Righteous vs Fleshly,

 Anger 

Do you see that picture above? Sadly, that is me. When I allow my anger to get the best of me. My kids tell me, my wife tells me, others who have witnessed it tell me, that if I allow the anger to grow inside me, it can and does from time to time, turn into rage, and I become like a scary monster. Like the Hulk.

I'm a three hundred and five-pound man. 305. I am strong. Not bragging, just stating a fact. Years of going to the gym and working out and years of hard physical labor on the job have made me this way. I eclipse most people when I stand next to them. A neighbor friend of mine nicknamed me "Planet Pete."

Now I say all that to say this. Imagine if you will, a 305 pound, exceedingly strong, blind rage-filled monster looking at you, as the source of the rage? I have destroyed a few things over the years. Including a cast iron fry pan. including many phones. Including a car.

Now imagine you are a child. You know pretty much nothing more than Daddy is there to love you. To protect you. To keep you safe and to provide for you whatever you need. What if, just think about this, what if, the one that is supposed to protect you from the monsters, becomes the monster. Where is the hope?

an·ger

noun
1 a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility:
verb
1. fill (someone) with anger; provoke anger in:

Is anger not normal? Is it not OK to get angry? I mean, one of my favorite quotes of all time comes from another green fellow,

"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering" Yoda

I mean? He is not wrong. But what about righteous anger? Did you know Jesus got angry? Let's look at a few. One may surprise you depending on which translation you are using. The first is pretty well known.

"So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves, he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”" John 2:15-17

Jesus got angry. He made a whip, yelled, turned over tables. Jesus smash. But why? Because He loves the Church and we, people, turned the church into a flea market. Into a shopping center with most likely loaded scales as well.

Here is another time we see Jesus get angry.

"Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”" Luke 13:10-16

Remember this "But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant " Jesus got angry with him and yelled "You hypocrites!"

Here? Mark 7:33-37

"And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Jesus "Sighed" He was annoyed. Not at healing the man. Do not misunderstand. He knew what healing the man would bring about. This is important to keep in mind.

He was angry over and over with those "Holier than thou" Religious Leaders. Just a couple of examples. Matthew 23:25-32, John 8:33-47. Then here.

"The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side." Mark 8:11-13

Here is the one that many chose to change. Only a few translations use this word. Many change it. Here it is. Mark 1:41-45

"Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Instead, he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere."

Jesus was indignant. Like that ruler of the synagogue. So what is "indignant."

"feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as an unfair treatment"

Now many translations and many "scholars" have changed this one word to "Had or Showed compassion on the man." Jesus would not be indignant for having someone ask Him to be healed. He wasn't. Why did He sigh before? Why was He truly indignant here? Because He knew what it would lead to. Here, read this with me.

"And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it."

And here. Read this with me.

"Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Instead, he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places."

Jesus knew, that once He heals some of these people, they would not be obedient, and remain quiet about it, but would go and shout from the rooftops all about Jesus, in turn, hinder Jesus from continuing to do what He planned to do.

"As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places."

God gets angry. Jesus got angry. He still gets angry. Look at this prophetic passage in Psalms.

"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." Psalm 2:12

You do not want Jesus to be angry with you. Look at this in Revelations. This is Jesus talking to the earthly churches. Look what He says here to those that were not producing fruit.

"I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." Revelations 3:15-16

Jesus got, and gets, angry. God got, can you say flood? and gets angry. So shall we then determine that anger is ok? What about Yoda?!? What about all the destructive results of anger? Destruction of innocents and families are torn apart? Murder even. No. There is a major difference between God getting angry and when we get angry. Jesus? God? He never sinned. That is the difference. 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 hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. 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!